Alternative names: Small Snowfinch; Small Ground-Sparrow; David's Snowfinch; Mongolian Snowfinch
- Pyrgilauda davidiana
Montifringilla davidiana
Identification
12 - 15cm (4¾-6 in). A small snowfinch with short wings and tail.
- Black forehead, lores , chin and throat
- Tawny-brown crown and upperparts
- Streaked mantle
- Pale whitish-buff supercilium curving down behind pale fawn-brown ear-coverts
- Black alula and primary coverts (with pale bases)
- Black flight-feathers with pale edging
- White underparts, breast often light buffish washed
Sexes similar. Juveniles are paler and have no black on face.
Distribution
Found in the Russian Altai, Transbaikalia, Mongolia and northern China.
Vagrants recorded in Turkmenistan and India (Sikkim).
Sparsely distributed but locally common.
Taxonomy
The species is also sometimes placed in the genus Montifringilla.
Subspecies
Two subspecies recognized[1]:
- P. d. davidiana in southern Mongolia and northern China (Inner Mongolia to Qinghai)
- P. d. potanini in Russia and east Mongolia
Habitat
Stony plains, semi-desert and rocky plateaux with short dry grass. Often near water or marshes. Occurs at 1000 - 3000m, occasionally higher.
Behaviour
Usually seen on the ground in pairs or small flocks, rapidly moving. Searches dung of domestic animals for food. In larger flocks outside breeding season.
Diet
Feeds on seeds and insects.
Breeding
Breeding season from May to August. Breeds solitary or in loose colonies. The nest is made of dry grass and placed in the burrow of a small mammal like suslik, pika or hamster. Lays 5 - 6 eggs.
Movements
A mainly sedentary species, descending to lower altitudes in winter.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2017. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2017, with updates to August 2017. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2009. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 14: Bush-shrikes to Old World Sparrows. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553507
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Pere David's Snowfinch. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 2 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Pere_David%27s_Snowfinch
