Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Brown-capped Rosy-Finch
Scientific name:	Leucosticte australis
Date:	30 April 2025
Time:	11:07
Length of time observed:	1hour
Number:	1
Age:
Sex:
Location:	Little Cottonwood Canyon--Alta Town Office Feeders
County:	Alta, Salt Lake City [Salt Lake]
Latilong:
Elevation:
Distance to bird:	10 meters
Optical equipment:	Swarovski 10x42 and Sony a9 with 600mm
Weather:	snowy and then clear
Light Conditions:	morning
Description: Size of bird:	medium - rosy finch
(Description:) Basic Shape:	as the other rosy finches
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	dark brown with pink touch in the wings
(Description:) Bill Type:	seed-eater
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	While birding at Alta Ski Area in the Wasatch Mountains, I observed a rosy-finch that showed a combination of traits consistent with Brown-capped Rosy-Finch (Leucosticte australis). The bird lacked the silvery-gray crown typical of Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch and also lacked the overall dark, nearly blackish plumage characteristic of Black Rosy-Finch. Instead, it showed a warm brown overall coloration, including a slightly darker brown crown that blended subtly with the rest of the head without sharp contrast. The cheeks were similar in tone to the body and crown, producing a relatively uniform appearance. The bird also showed the expected rosy coloration on the belly and wings, comparable in extent to nearby rosy-finches. (see photos)
Song or call & method of delivery:
Behavior:	feeding on the bird feeders
Habitat:	ski station
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	I identified the bird as a Brown-capped Rosy-Finch based on direct comparison with other species present in the same flock. Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch was eliminated due to the absence of the distinct pale gray crown and nape seen on multiple individuals nearby. Those birds showed a sharply contrasting silvery helmet clearly set off from the rich brown auriculars. The bird in question lacked this feature entirely and showed a uniformly brown head. Black Rosy-Finch was ruled out based on general body coloration. Several individuals of that species were also present, all showing a noticeably darker, sooty brown to nearly black overall tone. The bird I observed was consistently paler, lacking the uniform blackish coloration typical of Black Rosy-Finch.
Previous experience with this & similar species:
References consulted:	Sibley Guide to Birds (2nd edition) Birds of the World (Cornell Lab of Ornithology) eBird species accounts and recent Utah reports Personal field notes
Description from:	Notes taken at the time of the sighting From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting
Observer:	Javier Cotin
Observer's address:	La Prebetor 70, 22870 Villanua Spain
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:
Date prepared:	18 may 2025
Additional material:	Photos
Additional comments: