About Montifringilla nivalis (Linnaeus, 1766)
Description: The white-winged snowfinch, Montifringilla nivalis, is a large, stocky snowfinch, measuring 16.5–19 centimetres (6.5–7.5 in) in length. It has brown upperparts, white underparts, and a grey head, with a long, narrow white wing panel. In summer, the bird has a black bill and a black bib; this bib is lost in winter, when its bill changes to yellow. Males and females have similar appearance. In flight, it displays black wings with large white wing panels, and a black tail with white edges. This species produces a chattering song with many trills, and a variety of rolling or creaky calls. Distribution and habitat: This is a resident breeding species found on bare mountains, typically at elevations above 1,500 metres (4,900 ft). Its range extends across southern Europe, including the Pyrenees, Alps, Corsica, and the Balkans, and continues through central Asia to western China. It nests in crevices or rodent burrows, and lays clutches of 3–4 eggs.
