White-winged Snowfinch (Montifringilla nivalis)

OTHER NAMES: Snowfinch

Latin Etymology: Montifringilla ("mountain finch") icterina ("snowy")

Two White-winged Snowfinch (subspecies M. n. nivalis) in non-breeding plumage in the Dolomites, Italy - July 2004

Featured Subspecies: Montifringilla nivalis nivalis
Weight: 31-57g  /  Length: 17cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS  / IUCN Red List Least Concern

White-winged Snowfinches are a high mountain species who nest upon the barren mountaintops at over 1500m. Despite the name they are actually Sparrows rather than Finches, and spends times in flocks.  Another seed and insect eater, this is another species which has begun to to associate with human habitations like Ski-resorts and other mountaintop places of human habitation.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Passeridae
Genus: Montifringilla
Subspecies: M. n. nivalis, M. n. leucura, M. n. alpicola, M. n. gaddi, M. n. tianshanica, M. n. groumgrzimaili, M. n. kwenlunensis

 - Sighting Locations -

ITALY - Italian - Fringuello alpino ("Alpine Finch")

A resident of the high mountains.

 - DOLOMITES 2001 TRIP: A small flock on the mountains of the Dolomites

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto