About Leucosticte atrata Ridgway, 1874
Description: Adult black rosy finches (Leucosticte atrata Ridgway, 1874) have black plumage on the head, back, and breast, with pink coloring on the belly, rump, and wings. They have a patch of grey on the back of the head, short black legs, and a long forked tail. This sets them apart from related species: the grey-crowned rosy finch has a brown body rather than black, while the brown-capped rosy finch lacks the grey patch on the back of the head. Distribution and habitat: The breeding habitat of the black rosy finch is mountain areas above the tree line, among alpine rocks and cliffs. Due to this remote habitat, it is one of the least studied bird species in North America. Its distribution range sits between the ranges of two related species: the grey-crowned rosy finch (L. tephrocotis) ranges to the north and west, and the brown-capped rosy finch (L. australis) ranges to the south and east. The lack of definitive information about the black rosy finch's breeding distribution led the Wildlife Action Plan Joint Team of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources to designate the species as a "species of greatest conservation need" in Utah.
