Finches (Fringillidae)

Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch

Leucosticte tephrocotis. Seeds and insects picked from alpine snowfields.

Finches (Fringillidae)Gray-crowned Rosy-FinchLeucosticte tephrocotis
Scientific name
Leucosticte tephrocotis
Length
5.5–6.3 in
Weight
0.8–2 oz
Nest
Cup in a cliff crevice or talus above treeline
Entrance hole
Does not use nest boxes
Clutch
3–5 eggs
Incubation
12–14 days
Broods
1 per season

Identification

  • Cinnamon-brown with rose-pink wings and belly
  • Grey patch on the back of the head
  • Black forehead and chin

Voice

A low, buzzy 'chew' given by flocks.

Diet and feeding

Gray-crowned Rosy-Finchs by state and province

RegionStatusNesting
AlaskaYear-round residentJuly–August
AlbertaYear-round residentJuly–August
British ColumbiaYear-round residentJuly–August
ColoradoYear-round residentJune–August
IdahoYear-round residentJune–August
KansasWinter visitor—
MontanaYear-round residentJuly–August
NebraskaWinter visitor—
NevadaYear-round residentJune–August
North DakotaWinter visitor—
OklahomaWinter visitor—
South DakotaWinter visitor—
UtahYear-round residentJune–August
WyomingYear-round residentJuly–August
YukonYear-round residentJuly–August

Frequently asked

What do gray-crowned rosy-finches eat?

Seeds and insects picked from alpine snowfields. At feeders: hulled sunflower, millet (on the ground).

How big is a Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch?

5.5–6.3 in long and 0.8–2 oz.

Do gray-crowned rosy-finches use birdhouses?

No. Cup in a cliff crevice or talus above treeline.

Sources

  1. Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  2. Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  3. Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch — Audubon Guide to North American Birds

Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.