Common Rosefinch

Carpodacus erythrinus

Introduction

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.

Key Stats

Rare

23.4g

4-6

<1%

BTO Records

6.9k records

Population and distribution stats for:

No data

No current data

% expansion

No data

No current data

% expansion

Identification

Curated resources to aid in the identification of Common Rosefinch

Songs and Calls

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Listen to example recordings of the main vocalisations of Common Rosefinch, provided by xeno-canto contributors.

Song:

Status and Trends

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

Conservation Status

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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 Licence required (to disturb)*

Yes

Birds Directive Annex 1

Listed on the Annexes of*

WCA(I), Bern(III)

* A guide only. Check details with the original legislation, especially those marked with an asterisk. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Size

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BOU Category

Source

First Record*

Fair Isle, 1906

* First documented occurrence. Most species undoubtedly occurred before this. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Change

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Common Rosefinch is an occasional breeder in the UK, first breeding here in 1982 and increasing in numbers until the turn of the century when numbers declined; a pair that bred on Fair Isle in 2022 were the first to fledge young since 2001 [Eaton & the Rare Breeding Birds Panel 2024]. Although the species was predicted to become a regular breeder in the UK, its presence here coincided with a population increase across Europe and its disappearance with a subsequent decline [PECBMS: PECBMS 2020a].

Distribution

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

Occupied 10-km squares in UK

These figures come from Bird Atlas 2007 and indicate how widespread a species is.

No. occupied in breeding season

% occupied in breeding season

0.9%

No. occupied in winter

% occupied in winter

0.3%

Bird Atlas distribution maps show where bird species breed or winter in Britain and Ireland. For breeding maps, larger dots indicate higher certainty the species bred in that area.

Winter Distribution for Common Rosefinch

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

Breeding Distribution for Common Rosefinch

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

To view and download up-to-date distribution information aggregated from across BTO and partnership surveys and schemes, see our data holdings on the NBN Atlas.

European Distribution Map

European Breeding Bird Atlas 2

Distribution Change

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Bird Atlas distribution change maps show how bird distributions have changed through time. Coloured upward-pointing triangles show places apparently colonised over the period; grey downward-pointing triangles show places apparently vacated. Shading show places occupied.

Winter Distribution change for Common Rosefinch

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

Breeding Distribution change for Common Rosefinch

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

Seasonality

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

Weekly pattern of occurrence

The graph shows when the species is present in the UK, with taller bars indicating a higher likelihood of encountering the species in appropriate regions and habitats.

Phenology graph — Weekly occurrence patterns (shaded cells and reporting rates (vertical bars) based on BirdTrack data. Reporting rates give the likelihood of encountering the species each week.

Movement

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

Britain & Ireland movement

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View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report

Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland

Dots show the foreign destinations of birds ringed in Britain & Ireland, and the origins of birds ringed overseas that were subsequently recaptured, resighted or found dead in Britain & Ireland. Dot colours indicate the time of year that the species was present at the location.

Winter (Nov-Feb)
Spring (Mar-Apr)
Summer (May-Jul)
Autumn (Aug-Oct)

Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland

European movements

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EuroBirdPortal uses birdwatcher's records, such as those logged in BirdTrack to map the flows of birds as they arrive and depart Europe. See maps for this species here.

The Eurasian-African Migration Atlas shows movements of individual birds ringed or recovered in Europe. See maps for this species here.

Biology

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

Productivity and Nesting

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Nesting timing

Typical (exceptional) number of broods

Source

Egg measurements

Typical length x width

20x14 mm

Mass (% shell)

2.2g (5%)

Source

Clutch Size

Typical number

6-4 eggs

Observed minimum and maximum

3-7 eggs

Source

Incubation

Incubation by

Female

Typical duration

12-11 days

Source

Fledging

Type of chick

Altricial, downy

Typical duration

13-10 days

Source

Survival and Longevity

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Survival is shown as the proportion of birds surviving from one year to the next and is derived from bird ringing data. It can also be used to estimate how long birds typically live.

View number ringed each year in the Online Ringing Report.

lifespan

Typical life expectancy of bird reaching breeding age

with breeding typically at 1 year

Survival of adults

All adults

0.76

Females

0.73±0.1

Males

0.79±0.07

Source

Survival of juveniles

All juveniles

(in first year)

Biometrics

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Wing length and body weights are from live birds (source).

Wing length

Average ±1 std deviation; range and sample size in brackets.

Juvenile

81.8±2.1 mm

(79-86 mm, N=90)

All adults

83.2±2.7 mm

(79-88 mm, N=37)

Body weight

Average ±1 std deviation; range and sample size in brackets.

Juvenile

81.8±2.1 mm

(79-86 mm, N=90)

All adults

83.2±2.7 mm

(79-88 mm, N=37)

Ring Size

A or B

Classification, names and codes

Taxonomy, names and species codes for Common Rosefinch

Classification and Codes

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Order: Passeriformes
Family: Fringillidae
Scientific name: Carpodacus erythrinus
Authority: Pallas, 1770

BTO 2-letter code: SQ
BTO 5-letter code: SCARO
Euring code number: 16790

Alternate species names

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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
Welsh: Llinos Goch

More Evidence

More evidence from Conservation Evidence.com

Partners

Birdfacts is based on data collected by volunteers participating in surveys that are organised and funded by BTO, RSPB, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, JNCC and other partners.

BTO

Esmée Fairbairn Foundation

JNCC

RSPB

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