Hello Tweeters,

Yesterday I went to see the Tsawassen jetty Gray-crowned Rosy Finches, they
were there which was great as they were a lifer for me. I must admit that the
thrill of seeing a lifer has been diminished due to the hundreds of lifers I
saw in my two months in Ecuador, I just returned a few days ago.



My question relates to the subspecies of the Grey-crowned Rosy-Finch. The
birds yesterday were of the "Hepburn's" race (Leucosticte tephronotis
littoralis) which appears to be the expected type in this part of the world
as it is the westernmost subspecies. I was wondering if there are any
confirmed records of the interior Grey-crowned Rosy-Finch (L.tephronotis
tephronotis) on this side of the cascades. One of the old AOU lists mentions
winter records from Chilliwack. If there are any records, do they coincide
with invasion years to the east of the mountains (every so often Grey-crowned
Rosy Finches invade the Great Plains states)?

ame and allowed detailed study. The two
I saw appeared to be in first winter (Basic I) plumage as they had greyish
fringes to the coverts and secondaries, rather than the pink of adults.
fringes to the coverts and secondaries, rather than the pink of adults.

Al Jaramillo
jaramill at sfu.ca
Vancouver, B.C.