? Snowfinch
White-winged Snowfinch
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Passeridae Genus: Montifringilla Brehm, 1828
Species
M. nivalis M. adamsi M. taczanowskii M. davidiana M. ruficollis M. blanfordi M. theresae M. henrici

The snowfinches are the genus Montifringilla of passerine birds. Despite the name, they are Old World sparrows, not true finches. In Europe, Snowfinch is often used as a synonym for the White-winged Snowfinch. Snow Finch from 1905 german enc File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Binomial name Montifringilla nivalis (Linnaeus, 1758) The White-winged Snowfinch, or just Snowfinch, Montifringilla nivalis, is a small passerine bird. ... Scientific classification or biological classification is how biologists group and categorize extinct and living species of organisms. ... Phyla Porifera (sponges) Ctenophora (comb jellies) Cnidaria (coral, jellyfish, anenomes) Placozoa (trichoplax) Subregnum Bilateria (bilateral symmetry) Acoelomorpha (basal) Orthonectida (parasitic to flatworms, echinoderms, etc. ... Typical Classes Subphylum Urochordata - Tunicatas Ascidiacea Thaliacea Larvacea Subphylum Cephalochordata - Lancelets Subphylum Myxini - Hagfishes Subphylum Vertebrata - Vertebrates Petromyzontida - Lampreys Placodermi (extinct) Chondrichthyes - Cartilaginous fishes Acanthodii (extinct) Actinopterygii - Ray-finned fishes Actinistia - Coelacanths Dipnoi - Lungfishes Amphibia - Amphibians Reptilia - Reptiles Aves - Birds Mammalia - Mammals Chordates (phylum Chordata) include the vertebrates, together with... Orders Many - see section below. ... Families Many, see text A passerine is a bird of the giant order Passeriformes. ... Genera The bird family Passeridae includes the Old World or true sparrows and, depending on the authority consulted, their close relatives, the estrildid finches. ... Christian Ludwig Brehm (January 24, 1787 - June 23, 1864) was a German pastor and ornithologist. ... Families Many, see text A passerine is a bird of the giant order Passeriformes. ... Orders Many - see section below. ... The Old World consists of those parts of Earth known to Europeans before the voyages of Christopher Columbus: Europe, Asia, and Africa (collectively known as Africa-Eurasia) and the surrounding islands. ... Genera Passer Petronia Carpospiza Montifringilla This article is about the Old World sparrows in the family Passeridae. ... Genera Many, see text Finches are seed-eating passerine birds, the many species of which are found chiefly in the northern hemisphere, but also to a limited extent in Africa and South America. ... World map showing Europe A satellite composite image of Europe Europe is conventionally considered one of the seven continents which, in this case, is more a cultural and political distinction than a physiogeographic one. ... Binomial name Montifringilla nivalis (Linnaeus, 1758) The White-winged Snowfinch, or just Snowfinch, Montifringilla nivalis, is a small passerine bird. ...

As the English and scientific names suggest, these are high–altitude species, found in the mountain ranges of southern Eurasia from the Pyrenees east to the Himalayas, Tibet and western China. Most snowfinches breed above 3500 m, but the White-winged Snowfinch can occur from 1800 m upwards. Snowfinches are not migratory but may move to lower altitudes or human habitation in winter, when these highly gregarious birds form large flocks. The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... African-Eurasian aspect of Earth Eurasia is the landmass composed of the continents of Europe and Asia. ... Central Pyrenees The Pyrenees (French: Pyrénées; Spanish: Pirineos; Occitan: Pirenèus or Pirenèas; Catalan Pirineus; Aragonese: Perinés; Basque: Pirinioak) are a range of mountains in southwest Europe that form a natural border between France and Spain. ... Perspective view of the Himalaya and Mount Everest as seen from space looking south-south-east from over the Tibetan Plateau. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... // Long-distance land bird migration Many species of land birds migrate very long distances, the most common pattern being for birds to breed in the temperate or arctic northern hemisphere and winter in warmer regions, often in the tropics or the southern hemisphere. ...

These are hardy birds of bare open mountain grassland. They nest in rock crevices, or more typically in the holes of rodents, especially pikas. The typical clutch is from 3-6 eggs. Families See Classification Section The order Rodentia is the most numerous of all the branches on the mammal family tree. ... Genera Ochotona Prolagus The name pika is used for any member of the Ochotonidae, a family within the order of lagomorphs, which also includes the Leporidae (rabbits and hares). ...

Snowfinches are stocky sparrows 13.5-17 cm in length, with strong conical bills. They have pale brown upperparts, white underparts and extensive white panels in the wings, which transform them in flight. Adults may have black markings on the chin or around the eyes. Sexes are usually very similar, although the male White-winged Snowfinch has a distinctive grey head. Young birds are a drabber version of the adult.

Montifringilla sparrows are primarily ground-feeding seed-eaters, though they also consume small insects especially when breeding. They are typically fearless, and will forage around ski resorts, human habitation and rubbish tips. Classes & Orders Subclass:Apterygota Orders Archaeognatha (Bristletails) Thysanura (Silverfish) Monura - extinct Subclass:Pterygota Infraclass: Paleoptera (paraphyletic) Orders Ephemeroptera (mayflies) Palaeodictyoptera - extinct Megasecoptera - extinct Archodonata - extinct Diaphanopterodea - extinct Protodonata - extinct Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) Infraclass: Neoptera Superorder: Exopterygota Orders (lower Exopterygota) Blattodea (cockroaches) Isoptera (termites) Mantodea (mantids) Dermaptera (earwigs) Plecoptera (stoneflies...

They have simple repetitive songs, given from a rock or during the elaborate circling display flight. The call is a simple chip or similar.

Species list

• White-winged Snowfinch, Montifringilla nivalis
• Black-winged Snowfinch, Montifringilla adamsi
• White-rumped Snowfinch, Montifringilla taczanowskii
• Père David's Snowfinch, Montifringilla davidiana
• Rufous-necked Snowfinch, Montifringilla ruficollis
• Blanford's Snowfinch, Montifringilla blanfordi
• Afghan Snowfinch, Montifringilla theresae
• Tibetan Snowfinch, Montifringilla henrici

Binomial name Montifringilla nivalis (Linnaeus, 1758) The White-winged Snowfinch, or just Snowfinch, Montifringilla nivalis, is a small passerine bird. ...

References

• Clement, Harris and Davis, Finches and Sparrows ISBN 0-7136-8017-2
• Mullarney, Svensson, Zetterstrom and Grant, Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0-00-219728-6
• Handbook of the Birds of Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa: The Birds of the Western Palearctic