| Mountain finches | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Grey-crowned rosy finch (Leucosticte tephrocotis) | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Fringillidae |
| Subfamily: | Carduelinae |
| Genus: | Leucosticte Swainson, 1832 |
| Type species | |
| Linaria tephrocotis[1] Swainson, 1832 | |
| Species | |
See text. | |
Themountain finches arebirds in the genusLeucosticte from the truefinch family, Fringillidae. This genus also includes therosy finches, named from their pinkish plumage.
The genus is asister to themonotypicProcarduelis containing the Asiandark-breasted rosefinch.[2] These birds are native to Asia and North America and are typically found in barren mountainous regions. Many species eat more insect material than other finches.
There are six species in the genus:[3]
| Image | Scientific name | Common name | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
_(48332465132).jpg) | Leucosticte nemoricola | Plain mountain finch | Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Tibet, and Turkmenistan. |
-1904.jpg) | Leucosticte brandti | Brandt's mountain finch | Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan |
 | Leucosticte arctoa | Asian rosy finch | Mongolia and North Asia; it winters in Manchuria, Korea, Sakhalin and Japan |
 | Leucosticte tephrocotis | Grey-crowned rosy finch | Alaska, western Canada, and the north-western United States. |
 | Leucosticte atrata | Black rosy finch | Interior west |
 | Leucosticte australis | Brown-capped rosy finch | central Rocky Mountains of the United States |