Rosefinches (pink-rumped or beautiful) from Sichuan, China (1 Viewer)

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orientaldkf

Well-known member

• May 30, 2019

• #1

Hi all, took these birds at around 4000 m elevation in Yading Nature Reserve, photos 1-3 are of the first bird, photos 4-5 are of the second bird. Can't seem to spot any marked differences in plumage except for the streakiness in their crowns, which leads me to think the first bird is a Pink-Rumped Rosefinch and the second a Himalayan Beautiful Rosefinch, but I am still rather unsure if there are other diagnostic features that could separate the two. Would appreciate any help in IDing them!

 

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Last edited: May 31, 2019

Nutcracker

Stop Brexit!

• May 31, 2019

• #2

No idea what they are - but I can't see anything to suggest they are not both the same species. Both birds have ± equally streaked crowns, and no clear plumage differences.

 

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Owen Krout

Well-known member

• May 31, 2019

• #3

Not one I am familiar with, even in China, but it sure looks like they are all Chinese Beautiful Rosefinch - Carpodacus davidianus

 

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orientaldkf

Well-known member

• May 31, 2019

• #4

@Nutcracker: you're right, the crowns look equally streaked for both, checked from different angles.
@Owen: Any features that you generally look out for in Beautiful Rosefinches?

Not sure if the extent of pink on the rump is diagnostic (tried searching for images of both species and they were inconclusive) but I got some shots of the rump of both individuals if it helps in the identification. Photos 1 & 2 are of the first bird, photo 3 is of the second bird.

 

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Andy Adcock

Worst person on Birdforum

• May 31, 2019

• #5

The combination and extent of streaked head, cheeks and flanks make the first at least, Beautiful.

The last bird, could easily be Pink-rumped IMHO, very feint streaking on flanks and cheeks compared to the first bird.

 

Last edited: May 31, 2019

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orientaldkf

Well-known member

• May 31, 2019

• #6

Does feel like both birds have some heavier streaking on the upper flanks, although I agree that overall the first bird has much lighter streaking on the flanks compared to the second bird. Also read in a guide book that pink-rumped has a more slender bill and shorter tail although I haven't been able to confirm that...

 

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Owen Krout

Well-known member

• May 31, 2019

• #7

As I said, not one I am familiar with as it is not found in the area of DongBei where I bird in China, but you did force me into more research.

These look too pink for the Himalayan too me. Especially the face. Can't tell from these images, but the Chinese would have a notched tail and the Himalayan would have a somewhat squared off ending from what I am finding.

 

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orientaldkf

Well-known member

• Jun 1, 2019

• #8

I see thanks! The plates do show a difference in the degree of pinkness although I've been scouring images on the net of both species and to be honest my eyes still can't tell the difference between the two :eek!:

 

Andy Adcock

Worst person on Birdforum

• Jun 1, 2019

• #9

orientaldkf said:

I see thanks! The plates do show a difference in the degree of pinkness although I've been scouring images on the net of both species and to be honest my eyes still can't tell the difference between the two :eek!:

Click to expand...

Look at the streaking on crown, cheeks and flanks, it is less strong on P-rumped.

 

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arcadillor

Well-known member

• Jun 2, 2019

• #10

although Im in China，but I still cant confirm the two species


and in China no one can do it

 

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orientaldkf

Well-known member

• Jun 2, 2019

• #11

For everyone who has been following this thread, I did some more digging and found the paper that split the beautiful and pink-rumped rosefinches (Tietze et al., 2013), and it states that the ssp of beautiful (argyrophrys) and pink-rumped (eos) in Sichuan are likely to be elevationally parapatric, with pink-rumped occuring at higher elevations (3200-4400 m) compared to beautiful (2600-2700 m). The paper goes into greater detail if anyone is interested. Conclusion, it is likely that the two rosefinches photographed here are both pink-rumped, according to this paper at least!