Wildlifeof Bhutan
Plain Mountain Finch
Finches, Sparrows & Buntings
Photo: (c) condorr, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY (May be cropped or resized)
Leucosticte nemoricola
Basic stats
Diet
Seeds of grasses and alpine herbs, and small invertebrates
Habitat
Temperate grassland, upland forest and rocky cliffs; nests in rocky holes and crevices about 2m up, occasionally rodent burrows
Range
Resident breeder across the Himalayas: Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Tibet and Turkmenistan
Clutch size
3–6 pure white or pale pinkish eggs
Incubation period
13–15 days by the female, fed by the male
Size
14–15cm
Weight
18–25g
The plain mountain finch is a resident breeder across the Himalayas whose colour and pattern resemble a house sparrow's. It is 14 to 15cm long and weighs 18 to 25g, slender with long wings, a notched tail and a short pointed bill, with a buff-brown head streaked tawny, a dark brown back with pale streaks and a pale grey lower back. Its habitat is temperate grassland, upland forest and rocky cliffs (Wikipedia, general species account).
Females usually build nests in rocky holes and crevices about 2m above ground, occasionally in rodent burrows, and lay three to six pure white or pale pinkish eggs, incubated for 13 to 15 days while the male feeds her. Outside the breeding season they are found in high valleys, mountain forests, cliffs, fields and towns. The diet is grass and alpine herb seeds and small invertebrates, and the songs include twittering notes and sweeter warbling.
Quick answers
- What does the Plain Mountain Finch eat?
- Seeds of grasses and alpine herbs, and small invertebrates
- What habitat does the Plain Mountain Finch live in?
- Temperate grassland, upland forest and rocky cliffs; nests in rocky holes and crevices about 2m up, occasionally rodent burrows
- Where is the Plain Mountain Finch found?
- Resident breeder across the Himalayas: Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Tibet and Turkmenistan
- How many eggs does the Plain Mountain Finch lay?
- 3–6 pure white or pale pinkish eggs
- How long are the eggs of the Plain Mountain Finch incubated?
- 13–15 days by the female, fed by the male
- How big is the Plain Mountain Finch?
- 14–15cm
- How much does the Plain Mountain Finch weigh?
- 18–25g