Photo: J.M.Garg / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Plain Mountain Finch
Leucosticte nemoricola
Plain Mountain Finch (Leucosticte nemoricola) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Plain Mountain Finch (Leucosticte nemoricola) is a member of the Fringillidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 22.5 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 Fringillidae Finches, Euphonias
- Genus Leucosticte
- Species nemoricola
Where it lives
Central, south-central Palearctic from Tienshan to Altai and Himalayas in alpine meadows and subalpine scrub: eastern Kazakhstan northeast to Altay and Tuva regions (south-central Russia), western, northwestern Xinjiang (northwestern China) and western Mongolia; in south through northeastern Afghanistan, eastern in Karakorum, southern, central, eastern Tibet and Inner Himalayas to far northern Myanmar and northwestern Yunnan, northeast to northern Qinghai, Gansu and southern Shaanxi (north-central China)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 22.5 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Fringillidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Plain Mountain Finch is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Plain Mountain Finch is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Plain Mountain Finch (Leucosticte nemoricola) is a member of the Fringillidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It is found across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR c, sc Palearctic from Tienshan to Altai and Himalayas in alpine meadows and subalpine scrub: e Kazakhstan ne to Altay and Tuva regions (sc Russia), w, nw Xinjiang (nw China) and w Mongolia; in s through ne Afghanistan, e in Karakorum, s, c, e Tibet and Inner Himalayas to far n Myanmar and nw Yunnan, ne to n Qinghai, Gansu and s Shaanxi (nc China).
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 22.5 g, with a wing length of about 9.2 cm and a tail of around 6.3 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 4.1 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Plain Mountain Finch?
The Plain Mountain Finch is a small bird that weighs around 22.5 g.
Where does the Plain Mountain Finch live?
The Plain Mountain Finch is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR c, sc Palearctic from Tienshan to Altai and Himalayas in alpine meadows and subalpine scrub: e Kazakhstan ne to Altay and Tuva regions (sc Russia), w, nw Xinjiang (nw China) and w Mongolia; in s through ne Afghanistan, e in Karakorum, s, c, e Tibet and Inner Himalayas to far n Myanmar and nw Yunnan, ne to n Qinghai, Gansu and s Shaanxi (nc China), where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Plain Mountain Finch belong to?
The Plain Mountain Finch (Leucosticte nemoricola) belongs to the Fringillidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Plain Mountain Finch eat?
The Plain Mountain Finch is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Plain Mountain Finch migrate?
The Plain Mountain Finch is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Plain Mountain Finch 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 Plain Mountain Finch make?
1 real field recording of the Plain Mountain Finch — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Plain Mountain Finch's range?
The Plain Mountain Finch has a mapped global range of about 4.1 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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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.
Meet the Fringillidae
A field guide to the Fringillidae family — 238 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.