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| − | + | '''Alternative names: Small Snowfinch; Small Ground-Sparrow; David's Snowfinch; Mongolian Snowfinch''' | |
| − | '''Alternative | ||
;[[:Category:Montifringilla|Montifringilla]] davidiana | ;[[:Category:Montifringilla|Montifringilla]] davidiana | ||
| + | ''Pyrgilauda davidiana'' | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| + | 12 - 15cm. 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== | ==Distribution== | ||
| − | [[ | + | Found in the [[Russia]]n Altai, Tranbaikalia, [[Mongolia]] and northern [[China]]. Vagrants recorded in [[Turkmenistan]] and [[India]] (Sikkim).<br /> |
| − | + | Sparsely distributed but locally common. | |
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
| + | Two subspecies recognized: | ||
| + | * ''M. d. davidiana'' in southern [[Mongolia]] and northern [[China]] (Inner Mongolia to Qinghai) | ||
| + | * ''M. d. potanini'' in [[Russia]] and east [[Mongolia]] | ||
| + | The species is also sometimes placed in the genus [[:Category:Pyrgilauda|Pyrgilauda]]. | ||
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
| − | + | Stony plains, semi-desert and rocky plateaux with short dry grass. Often near water or marshes. Iccurs at 1000 - 3000m, occasionally higher. | |
==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
| + | Feeds on seeds and insects.<br /> | ||
| + | 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.<br /> | ||
| + | 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.<br /> | ||
| + | A mainly sedentary species, descending to lower altitudes in winter. | ||
| + | ==References== | ||
| + | #{{Ref-Clements6thDec09}}#{{Ref-HBWVol14}} | ||
| + | {{ref}} | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
{{GSearch|Montifringilla+davidiana}} | {{GSearch|Montifringilla+davidiana}} | ||
Revision as of 18:20, 21 July 2010
Alternative names: Small Snowfinch; Small Ground-Sparrow; David's Snowfinch; Mongolian Snowfinch
- Montifringilla davidiana
Pyrgilauda davidiana
Identification
12 - 15cm. 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, Tranbaikalia, Mongolia and northern China. Vagrants recorded in Turkmenistan and India (Sikkim).
Sparsely distributed but locally common.
Taxonomy
Two subspecies recognized:
- M. d. davidiana in southern Mongolia and northern China (Inner Mongolia to Qinghai)
- M. d. potanini in Russia and east Mongolia
The species is also sometimes placed in the genus Pyrgilauda.
Habitat
Stony plains, semi-desert and rocky plateaux with short dry grass. Often near water or marshes. Iccurs at 1000 - 3000m, occasionally higher.
Behaviour
Feeds on seeds and insects.
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.
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.
A mainly sedentary species, descending to lower altitudes in winter.
References
- Clements, JF. 2009. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2009. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
- 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 1 June 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Pere_David%27s_Snowfinch
