Photo: John Gould / Henry Constantine Richter / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Black-winged Snowfinch
Montifringilla adamsi
Black-winged Snowfinch (Montifringilla adamsi) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found on 1 guide in our atlas — open it for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Black-winged Snowfinch (Montifringilla adamsi) is a member of the Passeridae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 31.3 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Passeridae Old World Sparrows, Snowfinches
- Genus Montifringilla
- Species adamsi
Where it lives
South-central Palearctic in Tibetan Plateau alpine steppe near water, villages: Ladakh (northwestern India) through western Tibet, in south to northern Nepal and northern Sikkim; northeastern Qinghai, western Gansu south to eastern Tibet and south-central Sichuan
Quick facts
- Weight
- 31.3 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Passeridae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black-winged Snowfinch is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of arid, desert country, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Black-winged Snowfinch is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Black-winged Snowfinch (Montifringilla adamsi) belongs to the Passeridae family of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL sc Palearctic in Tibetan Plateau alpine steppe near water, villages: Ladakh (nw India) through w Tibet, in s to n Nepal and n Sikkim; ne Qinghai, w Gansu s to e Tibet and sc Sichuan.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 31.3 g, with a wing length of about 10.7 cm and a tail of around 6.7 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 981,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black-winged Snowfinch?
The Black-winged Snowfinch is a small bird that weighs around 31.3 g.
Where does the Black-winged Snowfinch live?
The Black-winged Snowfinch is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL sc Palearctic in Tibetan Plateau alpine steppe near water, villages: Ladakh (nw India) through w Tibet, in s to n Nepal and n Sikkim; ne Qinghai, w Gansu s to e Tibet and sc Sichuan, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Black-winged Snowfinch belong to?
The Black-winged Snowfinch (Montifringilla adamsi) belongs to the Passeridae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Black-winged Snowfinch eat?
The Black-winged Snowfinch is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Black-winged Snowfinch migrate?
The Black-winged Snowfinch is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Black-winged Snowfinch endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Black-winged Snowfinch make?
1 real field recording of the Black-winged Snowfinch — including its alarm call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Black-winged Snowfinch's range?
The Black-winged Snowfinch has a mapped global range of about 981,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Passeridae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
More in Songbirds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Endangered
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Guides for this bird
Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds
How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.