brandt's mountain finch by Pratim Das

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PAKHI DEKHUN PAKHI CHINUN # 328 (Observe the Bird and recognize)..BRANDT'S MOUNTAIN FINCH...[From a Photograph of SARWANDEEP SINGH] ....WATERCOLOUR...A4...2014... The Brandt's Mountain Finch or Black-Headed Mountain-Finch (Leucosticte brandti) is a species of finch in the Fringillidae family. It is found in Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. Its natural habitat is temperate grassland. The Brandt's Mountain Finch is also known as the Himalayan Mountain Finch. It is larger than its plain relative, measuring about 18cm, and darker above. The face and crown are blackish, while the back is a paler brown colour with sandy scalloping, and underparts are greyish. The rump is rosy-pink and the tail is blackish with a white edge. The wings have a large white patch, and the shoulders are also lighter, distinctive characteristics of a mountain finch. Sexes are alike but paler. The Brandt's Mountain Finch inhabits Central Asia and northern South Asia (including Tibet), making slight winter movements to the lower parts of this range. It is found between 4000 and 5500m, usually in alpine meadows and on bare stony hillsides. This finch is gregarious, and generally seen in groups that come together to form flocks in the winter. It is sometimes seen along with the Plain Mountain Finch. It feeds primarily on seeds, and can be seen at lake edges or at the edge of melted snow patches. Its alarm call is a harsh 'churr', and another distinct call is a loud 'twit twit' that it sings in flight. Breeding takes place from July to August, and a shallow nest of dry grass and wool is made in crevices under boulders or into stone piles. 3 or 4 eggs are laid.