Pere David's Snowfinch

Pyrgilauda davidiana - Niverolle de David

Systematics

Order
:
Passeriformes
Family
:
Passéridés
Genus
:
Pyrgilauda
Species
:
davidiana

Descriptor

Verreaux, J, 1871

Biometrics

Size
: 15 cm
Wingspan
: -
Weight
: 20 à 25 g

Geographic range

Distribution

Identification

Pere David's Snowfinch is a small bird, cousin of the sparrow. It has a strong and conic beak which is grey, a characteristic head with its black mask completely surrounding the bill (forehead, lores, throat and chin). The eye is black with a half-circle also black in front. The back of the eye is often clear towards the white and goes up to the neck. The cap is brown and this colour extends over the mantle which presents white stripes up to the rump. The primary remiges and the greater-coverts are marked in black, the abdomen is whitish, the chest is light brown close to the colour of the mantle. The legs are black.
There is no dimorphism, the young ones are paler and don't present the black mask of the adults.
A bit of curiosity: the name of this passeridae comes from the Lazarist missionary Father Armand David (born in Espelette, Basque Country, 1826, dead in Paris 1900), eminent zoologist and botanist who discovered the Giant Panda to the West, but also the David's Deer and who published in 1877 The Birds of China.

Subspecific information 2 subspecies

Pyrgilauda davidiana davidiana (s Mongolia and n China)
Pyrgilauda davidiana potanini (sc Siberia and e Mongolia)

Foreign names

Niverolle de David,
Gorrión de David,
pardal-mongol,
Daviderdsperling,
Pater Davids Sneeuwvink,
Fringuello alpino di Padre David,
mongolsnöfink,
Gobifjellspurv,
psiarka čiernohrdlá,
pěnkavák černočelý,
Lille Snefinke,
pikkulumivarpunen,
pardal del pare David,
śnieżka mongolska,
Altaja sniedze,
Монгольский земляной воробей,
モウコユキスズメ,
黑喉雪雀,
黑喉雪雀,

Voice song and cries

play
pause

Pere David's Snowfinch is usually silent, and will only chirp when seen in small groups.

Habitat

Semi-desert plains, rocky plateaus with dry grassy areas, also fond of the shores of ponds or lakes, ranging from 1,000 to 3,000 meters.

Behaviour character trait

This Pere David's Snowfinch, which has been studied very little, seems to be strongly territorial; it is often seen in pairs or small groups when it nears the breeding season.

Dietfeeding habits

Often on the ground where it looks for the grains of grasses, but also insects, it can come close to human dwellings to look for food in the manure (undigested grains, insects, herbs).

Reproduction nesting

Pere David's Snowfinch builds its nest on the ground with dry grass and may use wool found near domestic and wild herds. It is often observed near the burrows of susliks, hamsters, and pikas (small rabbits with loud cries). This coexistence allows them to share the monitoring of predators. The reproduce period is from May to late July, and the brood usually consists of 5 to 6 eggs.