Desert Finch

Rhodospiza obsoleta

Found across arid regions from North Africa to Central Asia, this hardy finch thrives in desert landscapes where few other songbirds dare to venture.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Desert Finch is a small, sturdy bird with distinctive pink-tinged plumage in males. Its body is primarily light sandy brown, with darker streaks on the back and pink-edged wings. The rump may show a rosy pink wash, particularly vibrant during the breeding season.

Females lack the pink tinge and are duller overall and more uniformly brown. Both sexes have a thick, dark bill and a noticeable white wing bar, especially prominent in flight. The tail is also black.

Juveniles are similar to females, with duller brown wings and straw-yellow bills with dusky tips.

Size

Length

13cm to 14cm

Wingspan

24cm to 26cm

Weight

18g to 22g

Colours

Male Female

Primary Colour

Brown Pink

Secondary Colour

White Black

Beak Colour

Black

Leg Colour

Pink Brown

Primary Colour (Female)

Brown

Secondary Colour (Female)

White Black

Beak Colour (Female)

Pink

Leg Colour (Female)

Pink

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Desert Finch is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Desert Finch is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Desert Finch is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Desert Finch is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Desert Finch is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Desert Finch is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Desert Finch can be found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Desert Finch can be found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Desert Finch is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Desert Finch is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Desert Finch is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Desert Finch is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Desert Finches inhabit arid and semi-arid regions across Central Asia, the Middle East, and parts of North Africa. They prefer open, dry habitats with sparse vegetation, including desert edges, steppes, and rocky hillsides.

During winter, some populations move to lower elevations or more southerly areas in search of food. They occasionally appear as rare vagrants in parts of Europe.

Elevation Range

Up to 2,000 meters

Climate zones

Arid, Semi-arid

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Desert Finch. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons