How do you identify a Black Rosy Finch?

Adults are black on the head, back and breast with pink on the belly, rump and wings. Full identification notes are on this page.

How big is a Black Rosy Finch?

The Black Rosy Finch is a small sized bird weighing about 25 g.

Where can you see a Black Rosy Finch?

The Black Rosy Finch is endemic to the United States, which is the only country where it occurs.

What birds look similar to a Black Rosy Finch?

The Black Rosy Finch is most easily confused with the Brown-capped Rosy Finch, the Plain Mountain Finch and the Brandt's Mountain Finch.

Is the Black Rosy Finch endangered?

The Black Rosy Finch is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.

Black Rosy Finch

Leucosticte atrata

Finches, Euphonias, and Allies · Passeriformes · Rare

The Black Rosy Finch (Leucosticte atrata) is a rare finches, euphonias, and alli found only in the United States, weighing about 25 g. The black rosy finch or black rosy-finch is a species of passerine bird in the family Fringillidae native to alpine areas above treeline, of the western United States.

EndangeredRareEndemicEats invertebratesgrasslandcavity nest25 g

Black Rosy Finch (Leucosticte atrata), photo 1 — Photo: Christopher Taylor (KiwiFoto.com) · CC BY 3.0

Black Rosy Finch (Leucosticte atrata), photo 2 — Photo: Ammodramus · Public domain

Black Rosy Finch (Leucosticte atrata), photo 3 — Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie · Public domain

Black Rosy Finch (Leucosticte atrata), photo 4 — Photo: Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren · CC BY 2.0

Black Rosy Finch (Leucosticte atrata), photo 5 — Photo: Dick Follett (with various NPS photographers) · Public domain

Black Rosy Finch (Leucosticte atrata), photo 6 — Photo: Dick Follett (with various NPS photographers) · Public domain

Black Rosy Finch (Leucosticte atrata), photo 7 — Photo: (c) Theo Rickert, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY

Black Rosy Finch (Leucosticte atrata), photo 8 — Photo: (c) InAweofGod'sCreation, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY

Black Rosy Finch (Leucosticte atrata), photo 9 — Photo: (c) William Harmon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY

Black Rosy Finch (Leucosticte atrata), photo 10 — Photo: (c) Juniper Meredyk, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY

About the Black Rosy Finch

The black rosy finch or black rosy-finch is a species of passerine bird in the family Fringillidae native to alpine areas above treeline, of the western United States. It is the most range-restricted member of its genus, and a popular photography subject for birdwatchers.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

How to identify it

Adults are black on the head, back and breast with pink on the belly, rump and wings. There is a patch of grey at the back of the head. They have short black legs and a long forked tail. The grey-crowned rosy finch has a brown body instead of black and the brown-capped rosy finch and lacks the grey patch on the back of the head.

Where it lives

United States

When to see it

Best months: January, February, March, April, June, July, August, November, December, with peak activity in January. It is a variable species across most of its range.

Easily confused with

Quick questions

How do you identify a Black Rosy Finch?: Adults are black on the head, back and breast with pink on the belly, rump and wings. Full identification notes are on this page.
How big is a Black Rosy Finch?: The Black Rosy Finch is a small sized bird weighing about 25 g.
Where can you see a Black Rosy Finch?: The Black Rosy Finch is endemic to the United States, which is the only country where it occurs.
What birds look similar to a Black Rosy Finch?: The Black Rosy Finch is most easily confused with the Brown-capped Rosy Finch, the Plain Mountain Finch and the Brandt's Mountain Finch.
Is the Black Rosy Finch endangered?: The Black Rosy Finch is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.

Learn the Black Rosy Finch for real

BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.

Play BeakBrain

Every photo and recording on this page is credited to its author under the licence shown. Spotted a problem with this page, or have a better photo? Contribute.