The rufous-necked snowfinch (''Pyrgilauda ruficollis'') is a species of bird in the

sparrow Sparrow may refer to: Birds * Old World sparrows, family Passeridae * New World sparrows, family Passerellidae * two species in the Passerine family Estrildidae: ** Java sparrow ** Timor sparrow * Hedge sparrow, also known as the dunnock or hedg ...

family.

Identification

Rufous-necked_Snowfinch_north_Sikkim_India_15

These birds are around 15cm and are very distinctive in their zone. Quite brightly colored for a snowfinch, adults and juveniles are distinguished because of their appearance. Adults have black lores and whitish faces except for their chestnut or reddish-brown rear ear-coverts and sides of neck. The rest of the

plumage Plumage ( "feather") is a layer of feathers that covers a bird and the pattern, colour, and arrangement of those feathers. The pattern and colours of plumage differ between species and subspecies and may vary with age classes. Within species, ...

is light brown, straked darker on mantle and scapulars. The wings have two white wingbars formed by the tips of the coverts. Juveniles are paler than adults, without a well-defined face pattern. It can be confused with

Blanford's snowfinch Blanford's snowfinch (''Pyrgilauda blanfordi'') or the plain-backed snowfinch, is a species of bird in the sparrow family. It is found in China, India, Nepal, and Pakistan. Its natural habitat is temperate grassland. The species epithet and co ...

, but ''Pyrgilauda ruficollis'' has two black stripes on the face. They also have evolved a higher rate of metabolism than most other birds, a better tolerance of low temperatures, and a greater capacity for moving.

Voice

''Pyrgilauda ruficollis'' has a soft voice and a chattering alarm call. It also emits buzzing noises while flying.

Behaviour

It is locally very common, usually found in the

breeding Breeding is sexual reproduction that produces offspring, usually animals or plants. It can only occur between a male and a female animal or plant. Breeding may refer to: * Animal husbandry, through selected specimens such as dogs, horses, and rab ...

season in close association with mouse-hares or pikas, in whose burrows it breeds and hides. When breeding season is over, it is more likely to be found in small

flocks Flocking is the behaviour exhibited when a group of birds, called a flock, are foraging or in flight. Computer simulations and mathematical models that have been developed to emulate the flocking behaviours of birds can also generally be applie ...

, when it ranges over a wide variety of mountainous terrain in company of other finches like Blanford's snowfinches. Flight is weak and low, and rarely over long distances. It feeds on the ground, on a variety of small seeds and insects.

Distribution and habitat

It is naturally found in Tibet and adjacent areas of central and western China, in the alpine temperate grassland and barren stony steppes and plateaus; it winters south to Uttarakhand, Nepal, Sikkim and Bhutan, sometimes to lower altitudes. Therefore, it is found on wide, open steppe meadows, pastures and near human settlements. They are mainly sedentary, only making irregular altitudinal movements in response to particularly bad weather conditions and never doing long-distance movements.

References

Bibliography

* * * *Clement, P.; Harris, A.; Davis, A. (2013)
Finches & Sparrows
London: Christopher Helm.

External links

Image of a rufous-necked snowfinch
— Oriental Bird Club {{Taxonbar, from=Q27075721

rufous-necked snowfinch The rufous-necked snowfinch (''Pyrgilauda ruficollis'') is a species of bird in the Old World sparrow, sparrow family. Identification These birds are around 15cm and are very distinctive in their zone. Quite brightly colored for a snowfinch, ad ...

Birds of Tibet

Taxonomy articles created by Polbot