Vinaceous Rosefinch    Carpodacus vinaceous

Etymology: 

• Carpodacus : Greek word  karpos- fruit; dakos –biter  { Fruit eater/biter}

• Vinaceous :  Latin word vinaceusLike Wine 

Distribution in India: Resident of Himalayas from Himachal Pradesh eastwards to Nepal

Description: Size of 13–15 cm. It is a Medium-small, conical-billed, stoutly built dark Rosefinch with notched tail. The male is almost entirely deep wine-red or dark crimson, indistinctly streaked darker on upperparts. The rump is paler, deep pink or rich rose-pink; lores are blackish, long pale pink supercilium to side of nape consisting of dark crimson background with narrow silvery-pink streaking. The tail is black, finely edged reddish crimson; upperwing is blackish, median and greater coverts and bases of flight-feathers are finely edged reddish, tertials are broadly edged pale pinkish white towards tips .The lower face and underparts are like upperparts or very slightly paler, except for dark brown undertail-coverts finely tipped buff. The iris is black; bill is dark horn-brown or blackish. The legs are dark tan-brown to dark horn-brown. The female has brownish olive head and upperparts, streaked finely darker on crown and nape to lower back, unstreaked rump and uppertail-coverts. The tail is dark brown, finely edged buffish brown. The upperwing is dark brown, finely edged olive, tertials are brownish olive, broadly edged dull yellowish white towards tips. The face is almost plain, but lores to throat are often duller or paler, sometimes a narrow indistinct supercilium slightly paler than crown. The underparts are paler and slightly more buff than upperparts. The lower throat and breast are streaked darker or brown, streaks becoming less distinct on flanks. The bill is grey-brown, legs are dull pink. The juvenile is like female, or slightly warmer brown and less olive on upperparts. The immature male has pale pink supercilium at early age.

Habitat: It is found in undergrowth of lower montane and submontane dense mixed or damp bamboo forest, rhododendron bushes and scrub on otherwise open hillsides; It is found at 1830–3400 m.

Food habits: It eats plant and tree seeds. It forages on ground, in low bushes and in dense vegetation. It perches on or clings to flowerheads of shrubby plants while extracting seeds. It also remains motionless in bush for long periods when not feeding. It is found in pairs and small groups.

Breeding habits: They breed in Jun-Jul.