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PLATE 113: FINCHES
Brambling Fringilla montifringilla wv
L: 15. In any plumage told by rusty-orange breast, shoulder and wing-bar, white belly, mottled
upperparts and, in flight, white rump. In winter (when only likely to be seen in the region) shows
pale patch on nape and yellowish bill with dark tip. Often in flocks; mixes freely with buntings in
winter feeding areas. Flight erratic. Voice Distinctive, in flight or perched, a loud, unmusical nasal
jehp, or softer repeated tip or pip. Habitat Woodland, fields or other cultivation, often amongst or
under trees. Note Winter hatched; vagrant Bahrain, UAE.Trumpeter Finch Bucanetes githagineus rb
L: 14. Small, ground-dwelling finch with large head, stout bill and rather short tail. Male distinctive
with grey head, pinkish wash on forehead, underparts, rump and wings and orange-red bill.
Non-breeding male, female and juvenile/first-winter are plain sandy grey-buff with slightly paler
rump, blackish-grey wings and tail with paler feather-edgings, and pale yellowish-brown bill;
some breeding females develop faint pink wash on plumage; legs in all plumages orangey-flesh.
Voice Song distinctive, drawn-out nasal, wheezing buzz cheeeee; call short chee or chit; in flight
a soft weechp, most calls with buzzing quality. Habitat Bare rocky and stony hillsides and wadis,
stony desert; visits pools and waterholes. Note Uncommon breeding resident in Oman. Nomadic
with irregular post-breeding wanderings.Common Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus pm, mb
L: 14. Compact finch with stout bullfinch-like bill and round head. Adult male easily told by red head,
breast and rump contrasting with brown upperparts. Female, first-summer male (which often
sings) and juvenile are dull olive-brown, lightly streaked above and more heavily streaked below,
with two whitish or buffish wing-bars, without wing-panel in flight feathers; uniform head shows
conspicuous dark beady eye. Often sings from prominent position, otherwise rather inconspicuous.
Voice Song diagnostic, a clear, lively loud whistle vii-dji vii-di-djiv-viuuu (rendered as ‘pleased to
meet youuu’). Habitat On passage anywhere with trees or scrub. Note Passage hatched; rare in
winter in Arabia; has bred N Oman near Jabal Shams.Yemen Serin Crithagra menachensis rb
L: 11.5. Small, rather plain grey-brown finch with lightly streaked underparts. Note crown-
streaks, indistinct moustachial stripe in front of pale cheek-patch, and rather small bill. Largely
ground-dwelling, often seen on buildings or clinging to walls. Frequently occurs in small flocks.
Voice Most characteristic call is a hard che-che-che; also twittering chirrip, chirrup; quick repeated
prlyit-prlyit and wagtail-like cheir-virp cheir-virp. Feeding flocks have musical, whispering tleet-tleet.
Song is a rippling chew-chee-chee-chew, either in dipping songflight or perched. Habitat High
plateaux and rocky hillsides, at 1000–3200m; also in villages; trees are not essential; nests in hole
in rock or wall. Note Highly localised range in S Oman.European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis V
L: 14. Colourful and readily identified by bold red, black and white head pattern, striking broad
yellow bar on black wings, particularly obvious in flight, when white rump also conspicuous.
Juvenile has pale greyish body plumage and unmarked head; identified by yellow wing-bar, white
rump and call. Voice Call, often uttered in flight, is a characteristic, repeated, liquid tick-le-lit
with stress on last note; rasping notes sometimes heard from flocks. Song a liquid twitter, with
calls mixed with song. Habitat Scrub, woodland, orchards, cultivated areas; open country, weedy
wasteground. Note Passage and winter hatched; vagrant Bahrain, Oman, UAE. A popular cagebird,
with escapes frequent.Eurasian Siskin Spinus spinus V
L: 12. Small, finely built finch; male yellowish-green with black forehead and chin, broad yellow
wing-bar, sides of tail and rump, particularly obvious in flight. Female (which lacks black on head)
is olive-brown above, white below but has tinge of yellow-green, which, together with yellowish
in wings, tail and on rump, aid identification. Back and flanks streaked dark in all ages. Often feeds
hanging upside-down in cone-bearing trees. Appears small and short-tailed in undulating flight,
often in tight flocks. Voice Call a drawn-out, high-pitched tsee-u; from feeding flocks a fast, dry
kettkett and twittering notes. Habitat Parks, plantations, Casuarina trees. Note Passage and winter
hatched, sporadic and rare in south; vagrant Bahrain, Oman, Qatar.