Snowfinch

    Montifringilla nivalis

Castilian: Gorrión alpino

Catalan: Pardal d'ala blanca

Gallego: Pardal alpino

Euskera: Elur-txonta

CLASIFICACIÓN:

Orden: Passeriformes

Family: Passeridae

Migratory status: Permanent resident

CONSERVATION STATUS:

On the National List of Threatened Species, it appears in the “Of Special Interest” category. In the 2004 edition of the Red Book of Spanish Birds (Libro Rojo de las Aves de España) it is listed as “Not Evaluated”.

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THREATS

Thanks to its distribution in high mountainous areas, it is not very threatened. But the increase in the presence of humans and the intense livestock exploitation are beginning to cause conservation problems. Also, the increase in temperature due to climate change and the consequent reduction of névé makes it more complicated for this bird to obtain its food.

Length / size: 16,5-19 cm / 34-38 cm

Identification: It is the largest sparrow. Its back is light brown and is not very eye-catching, its head is greyish, and its breast and underparts are white. Its wings have white panels, just like its tail, except on its central tail feathers, which are black. The male has a black bib during summer.

Song: It makes a call that is more varied and elaborate than that of the other sparrows. It varies depending on the situation and its mood, "tee tee zoo".

Diet: In spring and summer it feeds on insects which it looks for between rocks and in snowfields, and on seeds and fruits of mountain plants. In winter, when the snow level drops, it looks for scraps in ski stations and mountain areas where humans are present.

Reproduction: The breeding period begins in June, when the female builds the nest. She positions it in cracks in rocks and uses dry grass to make it. It is thought that incubation is done exclusively by females and that both parents feed the chicks.

HABITAT

It is found above an elevation of 1,800 metres. It shows a preference for scree and snowfields in high mountains.

DISTRIBUTION

In Spain: Present in the Central Pyrenees (Huesca, Navarre, Lérida) and in the eastern part of the Cantabrian Mountains.

In Castile and León: Rare. Some concentrations are located in the Picos de Europa Mountains in León, and in Palencia.

Movements and migrations: It is a resident species in the peninsula. In winter it may make altitudinal descents until reaching the snow limits in search of food.

POPULATION

In Spain: There is an estimated population of 4500-6000 breeding pairs.

In Castile and León: There is an estimated population of less than 500 breeding pairs.