Collared Grosbeak

The collared grosbeak is a finch found in the northern regions of the Indian subcontinent, mainly the Himalayas, in Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Thailand, in mountainous deciduous or mixed forests. It is 22 to 24cm long. Adult males are glossy black on the head, upper wings and tail, with an earthy brownish collar and rich deep yellow elsewhere; the female is olive-green on the back and yellowish below with no black on the face (Wikipedia, general species account).

It summers and breeds at 2,700 to 4,200m. Pairs or small parties usually perch near the tops of tall trees but forage often in lower vegetation or on the ground, feeding on seeds, pine cones, buds, shoots, nuts and fruits, and also some insects and snails. The flight call is a mellow, rapid 'pip-pip-pip-pip-uh', and the male's song a clear, loud, rising whistle of five or six notes. Its breeding behaviour is unknown.