Common rosefinch
Scientific name: Carpodacus erythrinus
The common rosefinch is a rare visitor to the UK, usually passing through in autumn.
Species information
Statistics
Length: 13.5-15cmConservation status
Scarce visitor
When to see
Mainly May to June and August to OctoberAbout
The common rosefinch is generally an autumn visitor to the UK, with most records in September and October. These are often young birds, with a fairly plain brown plumage. They are just passing through on their southward migration. Occasionally, the brightly coloured males are found singing in spring. There have even been sporadic records of nesting pairs, mainly in Scotland.Common rosefinches usually breed in a wide range from Scandinavia and eastern Europe east to Kamchatka in Russia, though there are also scattered populations in central Europe. In autumn, they migrate to India, Southeast Asia and southwest China for the winter.