Passeriformes / Fringillidae / Carpodacus
Common Rosefinch
Carpodacus erythrinus · 普通朱雀
Introduction
A widespread rosefinch of Asia and Europe. Molecular phylogenetic studies indicate it is a sister to the scarlet finch, leading to taxonomic debate regarding its placement in a monotypic genus Erythrina versus retention in Carpodacus.
Description
Length 13–15 cm (5.1–5.9 in) with a stout, conical bill. Mature males display brilliant rosy-carmine head, breast, and rump, dark brown wings with two indistinct bars, and a white belly. Females and young males are dull-colored, yellowish-brown above with brighter rumps and greyer heads, and buff below. Male red coloration is subdued after moulting and brightens during winter due to feather wear. A rare environmental form exists where male red coloring is replaced by yellow.
Distribution & Habitat
Breeds from the Danube valley, Sweden, and Siberia to the Bering Sea; the Caucasus, northern Iran, Afghanistan, western Himalayas, Tibet, China, and Japan between latitudes 25° and 68°. Winter range extends from southern Iran to south-east China, India, Burma, and Indochina. Vagrant in Sri Lanka. Recent westward spread includes Portugal and rare breeding records in the British Isles. Summer habitats include thickets, woodland, and forest edges near rivers; winter habitats include gardens, orchards, wetlands, and dry oak woods.
Behavior & Ecology
Nests are placed low in bushes. Clutches typically contain five dark blue eggs with coarse dark brown spots.
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Taxonomy
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Fringillidae
- Genus
- Carpodacus
Subspecies (5)
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Carpodacus erythrinus erythrinus
eastern Europe to western Asia; winters to India and Indochina
Data Sources
Species description from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Bird images and sounds sourced from GBIF, contributed by citizen scientists worldwide under Creative Commons licenses.
Taxonomy data from AviList 2025.
