Wildlifeof Vietnam
Common Rosefinch
Finches, Sparrows & Buntings
Photo: (c) Tandin Wangdi, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY
Carpodacus erythrinus
Rare visitor: recorded only occasionally in this country
Basic stats
Habitat
Nest placed low in a bush
Range
Breeds from the Danube valley, Sweden and Siberia to the Bering Sea, the Caucasus, northern Iran and Afghanistan, the western Himalayas, Tibet and China, to Japan
Clutch size
Typically 5 dark blue eggs with coarse dark brown spots
Size
13–15cm
The common rosefinch, or scarlet rosefinch, is the most widespread and common rosefinch of Asia and Europe, 13 to 15cm long with a stout, conical bill. The mature male has a brilliant rosy-carmine head, breast and rump, dark brown wings with two indistinct bars and a white belly; females and young males are dull yellowish brown above and buff below (Wikipedia, general species account).
After moulting, the male's red is subdued, becoming brighter in winter through feather wear. A rare yellow form exists in which the male's red is replaced by yellow, the cause being environmental, affected by diet and parasites. It breeds from the Danube valley, Sweden and Siberia to the Bering Sea, and in the western Himalayas, Tibet and China. The nest is placed low in a bush, with typically five dark blue, coarsely spotted eggs.
Quick answers
- What habitat does the Common Rosefinch live in?
- Nest placed low in a bush
- Where is the Common Rosefinch found?
- Breeds from the Danube valley, Sweden and Siberia to the Bering Sea, the Caucasus, northern Iran and Afghanistan, the western Himalayas, Tibet and China, to Japan
- How many eggs does the Common Rosefinch lay?
- Typically 5 dark blue eggs with coarse dark brown spots
- How big is the Common Rosefinch?
- 13–15cm