Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch look-alikes
Leucosticte tephrocotis
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Open the appSeveral birds can be mistaken for the Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch. Compare the key differences below to confirm your sighting.
Birds to compare
Black Rosy-Finch
Leucosticte atrata
Key differences
The Black Rosy-Finch has a solid black body with a gray crown, lacking the extensive brown on the back and flanks of the Gray-crowned. Its rosy pink is restricted to the belly, rump, and wing patches, and is often brighter. The black extends further up the head, often covering the entire face below the gray crown.
Brown-capped Rosy-Finch
Leucosticte australis
Key differences
The Brown-capped Rosy-Finch lacks the gray crown, having a brown cap that matches its back. Its overall coloration is browner, and the rosy pink is typically more restricted and less intense than in the Gray-crowned. Its range is also more restricted to the southern Rocky Mountains.
Common Redpoll
Acanthis flammea
Key differences
Redpolls are smaller, have a distinct red forehead patch, and lack the gray crown and extensive rosy wash of the Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch. Their plumage is streaky brown and white, with a small black chin patch.
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