Description:

Relatively small bullfinch with short, curved bill and slightly notched tail. Male has brownish-orange upperparts, orange-buff wing-bars, lack of white surround to black face, and deep orange underparts. Female has grey crown and nape. Juvenile is similar to female, but lacks grey on head.

Distribution:

Scarce resident in the forested valleys of Astore and Diamer districts, also possible in Gilgit. Prefers lower montane and submontane fir, pine, birch or mix forests up to 3500m. Forested slopes at 1550-2350m in winters.

Behavior:

Forages mostly on the ground, in snow-covered areas often at base of trees and shrubs; flocks often fly up into tall tree at intervals, before returning to same patch of ground. Feeds on mostly hard-shelled seeds, buds, berries and shoots of trees and larger herbaceous shrubs, including buds and catkins of birch, willow and cherry.

Photo Gallery:

Range & Occurrence:

Resident Species

Summer Breeder

Winter Visitor

Passage Migrant

Distribution Map of Orange Bullfinch in Gilgit-Baltistan (Status: )

Seasonal Occurrence of Orange Bullfinch

Resources:

Birds of Pakistan: Helm Field Guides (R. Grimmett & T. Inskipp)
The Birds of Pakistan (T. J. Roberts)
Birds of the Indian Subcontinent (C. Inskipp, R. Grimmett & T. Inskipp)
Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide (P. Rasmussen & J. Anderton)
Birds of India: Collins Field Guide (N. Arlott)
Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan (S. Ali & S. D. Ripley)
Handbook of the Birds of the World (https://www.hbw.com)
The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 6th Edition
iNaturalist BoGB (inaturalist.org/projects/birds-of-gilgit-baltistan)
Birds of Gilgit-Baltistan (http://fb.me/birdsgb)

*Gallery images on this page are shared from flickr.com, and are copyrighted to their respective creators or owners.