The Pink-Browed Rosefinch Is A Bird That's Almost Too Pretty To Be Real
What could be more exciting than a bird with pretty, pink plumage? Not many things, I dare say.
The history of the color pink is certainly fascinating, to say the least. It's actually the oldest color pigment, according to scientific data that has been published in the last few years.
As noted by Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar, a happiness researcher, "Colors have a profound impact on our emotions and perceptions, influencing everything from our mood to our choices." In a discussion about the significance of color in nature, he elaborates:
“The bright pink pigments found in nature not only captivate our eyes but also connect us to the ancient life forms that once thrived on our planet.”
According to a report by James Clear, "Researchers crushed billion-year-old rocks into powder and extracted and analyzed the molecules of ancient organisms within them." Bubble gum, flamingos, and cotton candy proudly display the world's oldest color... and so does the Pink-Browed Rosefinch.
The Pink-Browed Rosefinch (Carpodacus rodochroa) is a finch in the family Fringillidae. According to Wikipedia:
"The family Fringillidae contains more than two hundred species divided into fifty genera. It includes species known as siskins, canaries, redpolls, serins, grosbeaks, and euphonias."```
This absolutely lovely bird is sometimes described as having raspberry plumage.
The underbelly of the males is a dark pink, while the top is a brighter splash of pink.
They often feature a "maroon" crown and the classic furrowed brow that finches are known for.
Like many finches, this bird is found in various places such as Bhutan, China, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Finches are not known for their interest in migration, and the Pink-Browed Rosefinch prefers habitats in boreal forests, as well as subtropical and tropical high-altitude shrubland.
This lovely bird enjoys eating herbs, grasses, seeds, and berries.
While this bird is more commonly found in Eastern Europe and Asia, some reports have been made further west. Unfortunately, due to the nature of the cage-bird trade, the origin and nature of such instances are considered difficult to assess.
As is common with birds, female Rosefinches are not nearly as vibrant.
Females are brown with streaked underparts, white eyebrows, and lightly streaked pale cheeks and throats.
Females build nests during the breeding season made of strips of birch bark, animal hair, and moss. They choose a location about 2 meters above the ground in bush cover.
Like many finches, this bird has a large range and plenty of places to live, so despite its exotic coloring, it is not believed to be at risk or under threat of endangerment.
Check out this pretty bird in action:
The lovely bird, which sometimes resembles a ball of flying cotton candy, is about 16–17.5 cm in length (6.2–6.8 inches) and is considered "medium-sized" with a long notched tail.
Who doesn't love pink? How cool would it be to see such pretty plumage in person?
Nature never ceases to amaze us, constantly presenting us with opportunities to see beautiful colors, interesting quirks, and fascinating behaviors in the animal kingdom. There is no stopping our desire to learn and see more; it's only human nature.
What is the coolest or most unique-looking bird you've ever seen? Let us know in the comments; we love to hear from you.
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