Scarlet finch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Scarlet finch |
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| Male in Uttarakhand, India | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Carpodacus
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| Species: |
sipahi
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| Synonyms | |
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Haematospiza sipahi |
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The scarlet finch (Carpodacus sipahi) is a small, colorful bird. It belongs to the finch family, called Fringillidae. These birds are known for their bright red feathers, especially the males.
You can find the scarlet finch in the Himalayas. This includes places like Uttarakhand in India and also Nepal. They live further east into Northeast India and Southeast Asia, reaching as far south as Thailand.
Where Scarlet Finches Live
Scarlet finches usually live in temperate forests. These are forests with moderate temperatures, not too hot or too cold. They stay in the Himalayas all year round. However, some birds fly south for the winter months. This journey helps them find warmer weather and more food.
Naming the Scarlet Finch
A British scientist named Brian Houghton Hodgson first described this bird in 1836. He gave it the scientific name Corythus sipahi. The name sipahi comes from the Hindustani language. It means "soldier" or "sepoy". This name was chosen because the male finch's bright red feathers look like the red uniforms worn by soldiers of the East India Company long ago.
Scientists sometimes change how animals are grouped. The scarlet finch was once in its own group called Haematospiza. But after studying its DNA, scientists moved it. Now, it is part of the rosefinch group, called Carpodacus. This change helps us understand how different birds are related.
Images for kids
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Another male scarlet finch in Khangchendzonga National Park
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An old drawing of a pair of scarlet finches by John Gould
