Birdsong field guide
Plain Mountain Finch
Leucosticte nemoricola
A hardy, drab-colored finch of the high-altitude Central Asian mountains, known for its gregarious nature and resilience to extreme cold.
What it sounds like
A sharp, metallic 'twit-twit-twit' or a series of thin, sparrow-like chirps.
Reference call, compare with what you heard
Field notes
- Occupies some of the highest elevations of any passerine bird, frequently occurring at altitudes above 5,000 meters.
- Unlike most other members of the Leucosticte genus, it lacks vibrant pink or rosy plumage, appearing mostly streaked brown and grey.
- Forms massive, dense flocks during the winter months that can number in the thousands while foraging on open slopes.
- Nests in sheltered micro-habitats such as deep rock crevices or beneath large boulders to protect eggs from alpine gales.
- Undergoes altitudinal migration rather than latitudinal, moving to lower mountain valleys only when heavy snow covers its food supply.
Habitat
Alpine scree, rocky slopes, and high-altitude grasslands well above the tree line.
Range
The Himalayas and the Tibetan Plateau, ranging from Afghanistan and Tajikistan to western China.
Similar & commonly confused birds
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