The rarest winter finches!
male Cassin's Finch digiscoped at Sandia Crest 11/14/07These were just the birds at the edge of the lower parking area, I'd have to climb the stairs to find my target. So I hiked up to the gift shop & snack bar, ordered a green chili chicken quesadilla, and settled in on the far end of the outside deck. I then stared at the famed tray feeder I'd seen in so many images over the years with great anticipation.
I sat and watched as common montane species came and went. First Mountain Chickadees then Juncos.... a Clark's Nutcracker sailed overhead.
Gray- crowned Rosy Finch digiscoped at Sandia Crest 11/14/07Finally I saw the first of the birds I'd come to see. A lone Gray-crowned Rosy Finch swept into a nearby tree and then cautiously flew over to the platform feeder. As I watched, a second bird came in from out of nowhere. I soaked in views of these awesome little birds until a massive Abert's Squirrel leapt to the feeders and chased them off.
Abert's Squirrel digiscoped with Leica C-Lux 2 through APO Televid spotting scopeI sat and continued to eat wondering if it was too early or perhaps too pleasant for these nomadic tundra nesters to be here in any number. More chickadees came and went, Red-breasted Nuthatches chased each other wildly, and a Golden Eagle sailed over with 8 Common Ravens hot on its tail!
Wow!... stunning views of Black Rosy-Finches sitting right below me. As I soaked up my first ever views of these wonderful little birds my study was disrupted by a loud rush of wind. A brown streak split the Rosies and they burst into the air, circling off as a group, and finally disappearing against the distant hillside. Wings emerged and the streak transformed into an aggressive (and still hungry) little Sharp-shinned Hawk. Unsuccessful but not undeterred, the young bird continued to sail over the ridges in search of food.
Steller's Jay @ Sandia Crest feeders 11/14/07A pair of noisy Steller's Jays commandeered the feeder, but before long a brave bird came in and nervously bounced back and forth on the handrail of the deck. I carefully studied the bird and have to admit I was more than a bit confused.
Rosy-Finch digiscoped at Sandia CrestI really didn't know what to make of this one, lightly colored like a Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, but patterned similarly to a Brown-capped... ?!? Who knew?... It was a Rosy-finch, it was neat looking, but since I so rarely get an opportunity to study these birds I couldn't put a name to it.
intermediate plumaged Rosy-Finch @ Sandia Crest
Gray-crowned... Brown-capped?!?... couldn't say! The guides don't begin to cover the full range of variation in this group. So when I finally checked into my hotel that night, I searched online for more information and images. It was funny to note that the VAST majority of Rosy-Finch pictures have come from this exact feeder although in most it was ice-laden! My research showed me a number of birds that were extremely similar that folks has labeled as Brown-capped. Again I can see cases for either Brown-capped or Gray-crowned so would love to hear your opinions.
I lingered a bit longer and was able to get excellent views of the Black Rosy-Finch flock when they came back and weren't blasted off by a dive bombing Sharpie! Content after a few hours of sheer enjoyment with some of the most difficult finches in North America to see, I decided to make my way down the mountain in the fading light. Before getting even 1/4 way down I was treated to one more consolation prize!
Great Horned Owl digiscoped in low light along Sandia Crest Road 11/14/07
Leica APO Televid 77 scope, Zoom lens, C-Lux 2 camera, and digital adapter2
posted by Jeff Bouton at
11:21 PM
9 Comments:
JB:
Nice pix, dude! Really love the rosies! When you saw them were your singing that Jackson Browne song "Rosie" in your head?
Great birding with you at Bosque.
Hi Jeff - it was quite a pleasure meeting you (on the raptors tour) and learning so much more while you helped to identify so many birds for those of us who consider ourselves "beginning" birders. When I lived in ABQ I wasn't that interested in birding (except for my backyard birds), and to think that I have missed opportunities to see these beautiful little and rare finches at Sandia Crest. Thanks for the pix and sharing it with us.
Thanks gang,
These birds are VERY difficult to see during other times of the year, often requiring covering miles of ground on tundra slopes. While I highly recommend doing this, having the oportunity to sit with a hot drink and good food with this gorgeous vista opening up below you, is even better. The views will be FAR better than you will likely get away from the feeders as well! You should definitely add this to your list of things to do.
Well, I've gotten a couple different opinions on my mystery Rosy-finch and despite the fact that the guides don't display this plumage at all, apparently this is a fairly typical look for a winter Brown-capped Rosy-Finch.
See the comments forwarded by Bill Maynard below:
"...The other two birds are adult, (or AHYs in bander terms) Brown-capped Rosy-Finches. The bright rosy bellies are good for Brown-capped, never that bright in Gray-crowned. Adult Brown-cappeds do have the gray crown streak like your last bird shows. Nancy Gobris who bands and ages the Rosy-Finches at her house in Estes Park, CO confirmed the I.D.s..."
Thank you Bill and Nancy for shedding some light on my confusion!
Hi Jeff,
My name is Michael Hilchey. I band the very birds in your picture at the Crest House every winter.
These are in fact Brown-capped Rosy-finches. Probably adult males. The guides do not show but most older birds show a fair amount of gray in the supercilium but a couple of things separate these birds form gray-crowned.
First off the gray in the crown of Brown-capped at this age is much less distinctive. Gray-crowned (especially males) show a distinct, totally gray supercilium and an all black fore-crown. On a Brown-capped the gray is scattered with black and does not create such a defined look that you get with Gray-crowned.
Also, the Brown-capped averages much more pink on the belly. Neither of the other two species are going to show such full, bright pink covering the entire belly like adult Brown-capped.
There are a few other minor ID points but those are the most obvious.
Glad you had a good time at the crest.
Cheers and good birding,
Michael Hilchey
Michael,
Thank you SOOO much for your commentary. From the few responses I've received it appears that ALL of the North American guides don't depict or describe the most common winter plumage for this species. Opportunities to learn more about these birds is a rare treat for most of us throughout the US and the fact that even the "field guide guys" don't realize this is likely a good indication of just how rare the opportunity to study these birds really is!
Glad you got to see the Rosies, pretty awesome aren't they? I appreciate your digi-scoping work, myself being a bit of a digiscoper. Fun isnt it? Just thought I'd add that the Sibley Guide does show this plumage a bit, (in a box entitled "variant") and its a good match as well, tho only a head detail. I saw several like this in colorado for my lifers earlier this year.
Ben,
Thanks. I had noticed this as well, and commented on the images listed on my flickr site. However, without showing the body and wing coverts, I found this only speculative info and not useful. Sibley does indeed list this as a variant male breeding plumage, but I think he and all of the other guides have simply misrepresanted this as it appears to be the COMMON look for these birds in winter. Thus I don't believe this is a rare breeding variant at all but the typical winter/basic/non-breeding plumage for adult Brown-capped. It's a very interesting observation anyway!
Hi Jeff,
Great Rosy-finch lesson. Enjoyed reading the comments. They are hard birds to find so any opportunity to study them is perfect. Also glad to hear the Nancy is in Co. She used to live in Georgia and we have watched so pretty interesting birds together.
Lydia
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