C.e. erythrinus (described above) is found in N, C and E Europe, W and C Siberia and NW Mongolia, and in S from NW Balkans, Romania and N Ukraine, E to N Kazakhstan. It winters in N India, lowland Nepal, Bhutan, N Myanmar and NW Thailand.
C.e. ferghanensis occurs in E and SE Kazakhstan and W China, S to Afghanistan, W Pakistan and NW Himalayas. It winters to NW India.
This race has darker brown head and upperparts, and less reddish on the upperparts. On the underparts, belly and flanks show larger extent of rose-red.
The female is darker or browner.
C.e. roseatus is found in C and E Himalayas, E to NE India and E to C and S China. It winters in India E to Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and S and SE China.
In this race, the breeding male is deeper red than other races, with deep carmine on head and upperparts, bright carmine-red rump, whereas mantle and scapulars are streaked blackish. On the underparts, the red extends down to the breast and slightly onto belly and flanks.
The female is darker brown with heavier streaking overall.
C.e. grebnitskii is found in E Siberia and Russian Far East, N Mongolia, NE China and N Sakhalin. It winters in SE and S China, S to N Thailand and N Vietnam.
This race is darker carmine-red than nominate, with deeper red upperparts, and paler or more pinkish-red underparts extending to belly and flanks.
The female is darker or browner overall.
C.e. kubanensis occurs in N and E Turkey, Caucasus and N and NE Iran. It winters to N India.
In this race, the male is similar to nominate, with deeper red head and breast. Mantle and scapulars are brown with reddish tinge. On the underparts, pinkish-red extends to upper belly and flanks.
The female is paler and greyer, less olive-tinged than nominate.
HABITAT:
The Common Rosefinch breeds in deciduous scrubby and dense bushy areas, on lakeshores, in parks and smaller thickets, along streams and field edges, and also in bushy clearings and deciduous woodlands, from 200 up to 3,600 metres of elevation depending on the range.
During winter, it usually occurs at lower levels, often below 1,500/2,000 metres. It frequents similar habitats in foothills, lowlands, reedbeds and edges of cultivated fields. On passage, it also frequents coastal woodlands and scrub.
BEHAVIOUR IN THE WILD:
The Common Rosefinch feeds mainly on seeds, shoots and buds, and also takes fruit, berries and nectar. It consumes some insects and larvae, and various other arthropods, especially during the breeding season in summer.
It forages on the ground among the low vegetation, in grasses and bushes. But it also forages at all levels in trees where it finds buds and fruits.
It can be seen alone, in pairs or in small groups. But after breeding, it forms large flocks including several family groups. Larger flocks of 100/200 individuals are common outside breeding season, and it also joins mixed-species flocks.
The Common Rosefinch is usually monogamous with pair-bonds lasting a single season, occasionally more. The territory is defended by both adults, but mainly by the male.
The male arrives first at the breeding areas. At the beginning of the breeding season, it sings from regular perches to attract a female. During the displays, both adults are close together on the ground, on rock or branch. The male has the head held high with raised crown feathers, while the wings are drooped and quivering, and the tail partly raised.
It slowly circles the female, or the birds also take turns to circle each other, always with head-up posture. The male also swings its body from side to side with vibrating wings, or bows towards the female before to throw the head back while singing.
Other displays include a slow butterfly-like flight on stiff wings by the male, courtship feeding and mate-guarding when the female is feeding.
The Common Rosefinch is migratory. It moves at night, but it is also diurnal during the spring passage. It moves in small flocks but also up to 200 individuals, and even flocks of several hundred birds.
All races migrate southwards after the breeding season. They leave the breeding sites in late July/early August, and they return from mid-April to late May.
The flight is bounding with rapid wingbeats interspersed with brief periods of wings drawn to the body sides.
REPRODUCTION OF THIS SPECIES:
The breeding season takes place between May and August. This species only produces a single brood per season.
The female builds the nest, a loose, cup-shaped structure made with twigs, stems, fibres, grass, plant down, moss, lichens and animal hair. It is lined inside with softer materials.
The nest is placed 1-2 metres from the ground, occasionally up to ten metres in bush, in juniper, spruce or willow sapling. It is often hidden among the foliage or against the trunk.
The female lays 4-6 pale bluish-green eggs with darker markings. She incubates alone during 11-14 days, sometimes fed by the male. The chicks are fed by both parents. They leave the nest 10-13 days after hatching, but they are not able to fly. They depend on adults for food for two weeks.
The Common Rosefinch breeds solitary or in loose colonies.
PROTECTION / THREATS / STATUS:
The Common Rosefinch is described as common to locally common.
The global population is estimated to number 62,400,000/113,200,000 mature individuals, but more information is needed. The population trend in Europe was decreasing from 1980 to 2013.
Any current significant threats are known in Europe, and the species is not considered globally threatened.
The Common Rosefinch is currently evaluated as Least Concern.
Sources:
HANDBOOK OF THE BIRDS OF THE WORLD Vol 15 by Josep del Hoyo-Andrew Elliot-David Christie – Lynx Edicions – ISBN: 9788496553682
Ottaviani, M. (2008) Monographie des Fringilles (fringillinés – carduélinés) – Histoire Naturelle et photographies, Volume 1. Editions Prin, Ingré, France, 488 p
THE HANDBOOK OF BIRD IDENTIFICATION FOR EUROPE AND THE WESTERN PALEARCTIC by Mark Beaman, Steve Madge – C. Helm – ISBN: 0713639601
FINCHES AND SPARROWS by Peter Clement, Alan Harris and John Davis – Helm Identification Guides – ISBN: 0713652039
What Bird-The ultimate Bird Guide (Mitchell Waite)
Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia
South Dakota Birds and Birding – (Terry L. Sohl)
Common Rosefinch
Carpodacus erythrynus
Passeriformes Order – Fringillidae Family
