A rare bird was spotted in Moscow for the first time in 18 years

The press service of Mospriroda reported that a rare bird for the capital, the Siberian rosefinch, was spotted in the Moskvoretsky natural-historical park. It was hiding among the birches and bushes. Uragus was previously spotted in the capital in 2005.

Now the rosefinch is in its nesting period, so the reason for this bird’s presence in Moscow is a mystery to specialists. The nesting habitat of this migratory nomadic species extends across southern Siberia from the Urals to the Far East.

The size of the bird is approximately 16-19 cm. This small long-tailed finch is distinguished by short wings and a thick beak, like a bullfinch. Males and females have very different colors. The plumage of an adult male is predominantly pink with silvery-white “gray hair” on the head. The female and first-year males are brownish-ochre-gray, with narrow dark longitudinal strokes.