Races:
Carpodacus erythrinus erythrinus Pallas, 1770
Carpodacus erythrinus grebnitzkii Stejneger, 1885
Carpodacus erythrinus ferghanensis Kozlova, 1939

No Synonyms

Description

Common breeding migrant. Inhabits bush thickets, forest edges, light forest, pine forest with birch and bushes on plains. In mountains lives from deciduous up to juniper belt (at 2000-2800 m in Western Tien Shan, 1300-2750 m in Zailiyskiy Alatau and from foothills up to 2200 m in Altai), prefers places with nearby water. On migration occurs in reed-beds, bushes, forest-belts, gardens and in thickets of tall weeds near agriculture fields. Arrives in end April – early May on southern areas and in early – mid-May in northern areas. In foothills of Western Tien Shan intense flight in flocks of 10-20, rare 100-200 birds going in May, when elm seeds are available (but in autumn migrates through mountain mostly). Latest migrants recorded in early – mid-June, sometimes late June. On breeding places appears in end May – early June. Breeding in separate pairs at 15-60 m from each other. Only female builds (male escorts her) nest in bush (honeysuckle, dogrose, barberry, lilac and elder) or in tree (spruce, fir, birch, elm, apple and maple) at 0.5-4 m above ground, from thin twigs and dry grass lined with rootlets and hair for 3-4 days. Clutches of 3-5 eggs found in second decade of June – end July. Only female incubates for 13-14 days. Both parents feed juveniles, which fledge at 13-17 days old. One brood. Autumn migration begins in late July – early August and in eastern Kazakhstan they fly mainly through mountains. At Chokpak Pass mass flight in morning recorded only once, at 30-31 August 1992, when record number of 829 Rose Finch ringed. From northern areas, disappears in end September, but in southern ones latest recorded in 20 October 1968 and 1969, and 10 November 1964.

Races

Common Rosefinch (Carpodacus erythrinus erythrinus)	Carpodacus erythrinus erythrinus Pallas, 1770 At male red colour on back less developed; red colour on throat and breast, and pink colour on belly and sides lighter, than at other races. Breeding in northern Kazakhstan from middle current of Ural valley up to Kalbinskiy Altai and Altai, south up to Kurgaldzhino Reserve and Kazakhishe upland, but breeding for Naurzum forest don't known. On migration it is met everywhere.
Common Rosefinch (Carpodacus erythrinus grebnitzkii)	Carpodacus erythrinus grebnitzkii Stejneger, 1885 At male red colour on back, throat and breast, and pink colour on belly and sides darker than erythrinus, but lighter than ferghanensis. From other races steadily differs by thicker and massive bill. In Kazakhstan can be observed on seasonal migration.
Common Rosefinch (Carpodacus erythrinus ferghanensis)	Carpodacus erythrinus ferghanensis Kozlova, 1939 At male colour on back, throat and breast, and pink colour on belly and sides more intensive and more bright, than at other races. Breeding and also occurs on migration in Tien Shan, Dzhungarskiy Alatau, Tarbagatay and Saur, excluding Karatau and other low spurs.

References

Gavrilov E. I., Gavrilov A. E. "The Birds of Kazakhstan". Almaty, 2005
Э.И.Гаврилов. "Фауна и распространение птиц Казахстана". Алматы, 1999.