Another Rosy-Finch NYE 🎉🪩🎆 (Sandia Crest, NM)

December 31, 2023

My sister and I drove to Santa Fe, NM on a whim last year to visit the Rosy-Finches at Sandia Crest (see last year’s photos here). The birds only stay for the winter, so it was somewhat of a “now or never” situation. We were successful in finding two of the three Rosy-Finch species: a Black Rosy-Finch and Brown-capped Rosy-Finch. No matter how much I tried to convince myself otherwise, I knew in my gut we’d missed the Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch.

We didn’t time it this way, but our trip happened to fall on New Year’s Eve. Santa Fe was illuminated with twinkle lights and holiday music, so festive it felt like a scene out of a movie. It was such a memorable way to ring in the New Year, we planned to try for the Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch again the following year.

^Rosy-Finches

Fast-forward to New Year’s Eve 2024, we were back at Sandia Crest with the Rosy-Finches. The previous year was absolutely frigid, so a blue sky and warm sunlight were welcomed.

This time, all three species were present. Woo hoo!

After our first trip, I spent the year studying Rosy-Finch plumage so I’d be prepared for our return. Black Rosy-Finch non-breeding plumage is (usually) pretty straightforward. Black Rosy-Finches are mostly black; Brown-capped and Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches are mostly brown. However, there have been instances where I thought a Black Rosy-Finch’s feathers looked brown, though they weren’t quite light enough to be one of the other two species (see first photo below). I modified the rule for myself: if the breast feathers aren’t an obvious light brown, it’s probably a Black Rosy-Finch.

^{Black Rosy-Finch (Leucosticte atrata)}

Distinguishing between non-breeding Brown-capped and Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches is more of a challenge. When I’m stuck on an identification, I look at the transition between gray and brown on the cheeks. I’ve found that Brown-capped Rosy-Finches have a soft gradient, whereas Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches exhibit a more rigid color contrast (see photos below).