- Pyrrhula aurantiaca
Identification
14 cm. A rather small bullfinch with a short, curved bill and a slightly notched tail.
- Brownish-orange upperparts
- Orange-buff wingbars in black wings
- Black face (without white surroundings)
- Deep orange underparts
- White rump
- Black tail
Females have a grey crown and nape, buff-brown upperparts, buff-brown upperparts, brownish-orange underparts and buffish wingbars.
Distribution
From northern Pakistan east to northern Kashmir in the northwestern Himalayas, winters south to northwest India (Himachal Pradesh).
Common in its small range.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species.
Habitat
Found in lower montane and submontane pine and fir forests. Also in mixed fir and birch forest.
Occurs at 2400-3500 m, outside breeding season as low as 1550 m.
Behaviour
A tame, but also wary or quiet and unobtrusive species. Usually seen singly or in pairs, outside breeding season in flocks of up to 15 birds.
Diet
Feeds on seeds, buds, berries and shoots of trees and shrubs.
Forages usually on the ground, often at base of trees and shrubs in snow-covered areas.
Breeding
Breeding season from late May to early August. The nest is a cup made of plant fibres, roots and grass, built by the female. It's placed up to 2 m above the ground on a horizontal branch of fir, well hidden. Lays 3-4 eggs.
Movements
A partial altitudinal migrant. Moves to lower leves and slightly south of breeding range between late January and late April.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, B.L. Sullivan, C. L. Wood, and D. Roberson. 2013. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.8., with updates to August 2013. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved July 2014)
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Orange Bullfinch. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 3 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Orange_Bullfinch
