Dark-rumped-Rosefinch

Dark-rumped Rosefinch   Carpodacus edwardsii

Etymology:

  • Carpodacus : Greek word  karpos- fruit; dakos –biter  { Fruit eater/biter}
  • Edwardsii : Named after French Zoologist Henri   Milne Edwards (1800–1885)

Distribution in India: Resident of Central and Eastern Himalayas in India.

Description: Size of 16–17 cm. it is a large, large-billed, dark Rosefinch with slightly notched tail. The male of nominate race has bright pink on side of lower forehead, upper lores and supercilium, rest of lores, upper cheek and ear-coverts to side of neck are maroon. The centre of forehead to crown, nape and upper­parts are brown, tinged pink, broadly streaked darker, rump and uppertail-coverts are unstreaked; tail is blackish-brown, edged warm reddish-brown .The upperwing is dark brown or blackish, finely edged pinkish-brown, fine paler or brighter pink tips on greater coverts, flight-feathers are edged dull crimson, tertials are more broadly edged and with broad pale pinkish-white tips. The lower cheek and side of foreneck to chin and throat are bright pink, finely spotted or tipped whitish or pale pink. The breast is maroon or dark crimson, paler or pinkish-brown on lower breast, belly and flanks, flanks finely streaked black, undertail-coverts are brownish-buff; iris is black; upper mandible is brown, lower mandible is paler horn; legs are dark flesh-brown. The female is almost entirely dull buffish-brown; forehead is pale buff, finely spotted darker, lores are greyish, upper forehead to crown and nape are finely streaked blackish, upperparts are more broadly streaked, rump and uppertail-coverts are paler and uniformly tawny-brown; tail is dark brown, edged paler buff-brown, upperwing are dark brown, median and greater coverts are edged tawny and tipped pale buffish-brown, secondaries are edged paler brown or buffish, tertials are broadly fringed pale buff to buff-brown; face is finely streaked dark brown or blackish, narrow pale buff or yellowish-buff supercilium from behind eye to side of nape. The chin and throat are pale whitish-buff, streaked dark brown, streaks extending more broadly onto brownish-buff underparts, lower belly to undertail-coverts slightly paler and more finely streaked; bare parts much as in male.  The juvenile is like female, upperparts slightly duller brown and underparts darker brown, heavily and clearly streaked darker. The first-summer male is like juvenile, but with pinkish tinge on crown and upperparts, pale pink wash on supercilium and ear-coverts, brownish breast heavily washed deep pink.

Habitat:  It is found in undergrowth of montane and submontane juniper, dwarf rhododendron and silver fir and birch forests, also dense bamboo clumps, barberry and thorn-scrub and rose thickets in river valleys, on open hillsides and in alpine meadows. It is found at 3050–4270 m. In non-breeding season it is found in similar or more open forests with rhododendron and birch, scrubby hillsides with bamboo clumps at lower levels from 1600–3700 m.

Food habits: It eats small seeds, like those of grasses and wild rose, fruits and sips nectar from rhododendron flowers. It forages on ground, usually close to cover, rarely at any height in bushes or trees;. It is shy or skulking, and quickly dives into cover when disturbed. It is found singly or in small family group. It shares foraging-habitat preference with Rufous-breasted Accentor .

Breeding habits: They breed in Jun–Aug period, nesting in rhododendron bushes in forest.