Common Rosefinch

Carpodacus erythrinus (Pallas, 1770) SQ SCARO 16790
Family: Passeriformes > Fringillidae

Most encounters with this rare visitor to Britain & Ireland will not meet the colourful expectations of the bird’s name, with scarce autumn migrants looking plain and brown.

Pinkish-red singing males have been found very occasionally in the UK, with the first recorded breeding in 1982 in the Highlands of Scotland. The species has bred irregularly since then with Bird Atlas 2007-11 recording possible breeding from around 25 locations, mainly in Scotland.

The Common Rosefinch is most regular as an autumn visitor in the Northern Isles, with birds regularly spending a few weeks in Shetland, and especially on Fair Isle. When studied in their first winter plumage, they are subtly streaked and have an attractive beady black eye.

Select a topic for more facts and statistics about the Common Rosefinch

• Breeding
• Winter

SEASONALITY

23.4g

WEIGHT

4–6

EGGS

6.9k records

BTO RECORDS

SEASONALITY

19-
26g

WEIGHT

6.9k records

BTO RECORDS

Identification

Common Rosefinch identification is sometimes difficult.

Status and Trends

Population size and trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO surveys and atlases with data collected by BTO volunteers.

CONSERVATION STATUS

This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

Species of European Conservation Concern	Least Concern
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)	Least Concern
Schedule 1 license required (to disturb)	Yes
Birds Directive Annex 1	No
Listed on the Annexes of	WCA(I), Bern(III)

POPULATION SIZE

BOU Category	A
First Record	Fair Isle, 1906

DISTRIBUTION

Common Rosefinches are sporadic breeders, with the first breeding record being as recent as 1982

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Occupied 10-km squares in UK

No. occupied in breeding season	27
% occupied in breeding season	0.9
No. occupied in winter	8
% occupied in winter	0.3

European Distribution Map

European Breeding Bird Atlas 2

DISTRIBUTION CHANGE

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SEASONALITY

Common Rosefinch is a rare passage migrant, with some birds holding territory in late spring, and passage of juveniles in September and October.

Movement

Information about movement and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

RINGING RECOVERIES

View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report.

Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information about Common Rosefinch, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

PRODUCTIVITY & NESTING

Number of Broods	1
Egg Size	20×14 mm    Weight = 2.2 g (of which 5% is shell)

BIOMETRICS

Wing Length	Adults	83.2±2.7 | Range 79–88mm, N=37
	Juveniles	81.8±2.1 | Range 79-86mm, N=90

Body Weight	Adults	23.4±2.3 | Range 19.8–26.9g, N=37
	Juveniles	23.1±2.9 | Range 19.3–28.6g, N=85

Feather measurements and photos on featherbase

CODES & CLASSIFICATION

Ring size	A or B
Field Codes	2-letter: SQ | 5-letter code: SCARO | Euring: 16790

For information in another language (where available) click on a linked name

Welsh: Llinos Goch

Catalan: pinsà carminat

Czech: hýl rudý

Danish: Karmindompap

Dutch: Roodmus

Estonian: karmiinleevike

Finnish: punavarpunen

French: Roselin cramoisi

German: Karmingimpel

Hungarian: karmazsinpirók

Icelandic: Rósafinka

Irish: Rósghlasán Coiteann

Italian: Ciuffolotto scarlatto

Latvian: mazais svilpis

Lithuanian: raudongalve sniegena

Norwegian: Rosenfink

Polish: dziwonia (zwyczajna)

Portuguese: peito-carmim

Slovak: cervenák karmínový

Slovenian: škrlatec

Spanish: Camachuelo carminoso

Swedish: rosenfink