From Opus

Montifringilla nivalis

Photo by Carl Baggott
Photo taken: French Pyrenees

[edit] Identification

16.5-19 cm. Brown upperparts, white underparts, grey head, long narrow white wing panel. In summer, the bill is black, and there is a black bib; the bib disappears in winter and the bill becomes yellow. Sexes are similar.

In flight it shows black wings with large white wing panels, and a white edged black tail.

[edit] Distribution

China to Europe.

[edit] Taxonomy

Seven subspecies: nivalis, leucura, alpicola, gaddi, tienshanica, groum-grzimaili, and kwenlunensis.

Both Tibetan Snowfinch and Black-winged Snowfinch have been included in this taxon in the past

[edit] Habitat

Mountains, mostly above the tree limit.

[edit] Behaviour

The diet includes seeds and insects.

It nests in crevices or rodent burrows, 3-4 eggs are laid.

[edit] External Links