LC
White-winged Snowfinch Montifringilla nivalis



Taxonomy

Taxonomic note

Montifringilla nivalis and M. henrici (del Hoyo and Collar 2016) were previously lumped as M. nivalis following AERC TAC (2003); Cramp et al. (1977-1994); Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993).

Taxonomic source(s)
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A., Fishpool, L.D.C., Boesman, P. and Kirwan, G.M. 2016. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 2: Passerines. Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.

IUCN Red List criteria met and history
Red List criteria met
Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable
- - -

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2024 Least Concern
2016 Least Concern
2012 Not Recognised
2008 Not Recognised
2004 Not Recognised
2000 Not Recognised
1994 Not Recognised
1988 Not Recognised
Species attributes

Migratory status not a migrant Forest dependency does not normally occur in forest
Land-mass type Average mass -
Range

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 16,000,000 km2 medium
Extent of Occurrence (non-breeding) 16,300,000 km2 medium
Severely fragmented? no -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size 1700000-7470000 mature individuals poor estimated 2018
Population trend unknown - suspected -
Generation length 2.67 years - - -

Population justification: In Europe, the total population size is estimated at 255,000-1,120,000 mature individuals, with 127,000-560,000 breeding pairs (BirdLife International 2021), and comprises approximately 15% of the species' global range, so a very preliminary estimate of the global population size is between 1,700,000-7,470,000 mature individuals, although further validation of this estimate is desirable. In Europe the trend for this species is not known (BirdLife International 2021). As no other data are available to derive trends, the global population trend for this species is unknown.

Trend justification:    .


Country/territory distribution
Country/Territory Presence Origin Resident Breeding visitor Non-breeding visitor Passage migrant
Afghanistan extant native yes
Albania extant native yes
Andorra extant native yes
Armenia extant native yes
Austria extant native yes
Azerbaijan extant native yes
Bosnia and Herzegovina extant native yes
China (mainland) extant native yes
Croatia extinct native yes
Czechia extant native yes
France extant native yes
Georgia extant native yes
Germany extant native yes
Greece extant native yes
Hungary extant vagrant yes
India extant native yes
Iran, Islamic Republic of extant native yes
Iraq extant native yes
Italy extant native yes
Kazakhstan extant native yes
Kyrgyzstan extant native yes
Liechtenstein extant native yes
Mongolia extant native yes
Montenegro extant native yes
North Macedonia extant native yes
Pakistan extant native yes
Portugal extant vagrant yes
Russia extant native yes yes
Russia (Asian) extant native yes
Russia (Central Asian) extant native yes
Russia (European) extant native yes
Serbia extant native yes
Slovenia extant native yes
Spain extant native yes
Switzerland extant native yes
Tajikistan extant native yes
Türkiye extant native yes
Uzbekistan extant native yes

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name
Afghanistan Bande Amir
Afghanistan Big Pamir
Afghanistan Salang Kotal
Afghanistan Small Pamir
Armenia Pombak mountain chain
Azerbaijan Zakataly
France Parc National de la Vanoise
Greece Mount Gkiona
Greece Mount Olympos
Greece Mount Parnassos
Greece Tymfi (Gkamila) and Smolikas mountains
Iran, Islamic Republic of Lar River Protected Area
Iran, Islamic Republic of Oshtrankuh Protected Area
Iraq Peramagroon Mountain
Italy Abruzzo National Park
Italy Gran Sasso and Laga mountains
Italy Maiella, Pizzi and Frentani mountains
Kazakhstan Aksu-Dzhabagly State Nature Reserve
Kazakhstan Almaty State Nature Reserve
Kyrgyzstan Eastern Alai
Kyrgyzstan Gorge Tash-Rabat
Mongolia Khokh Serkhiin Nuruu
Mongolia Tsengel Khairkhan Mountain
North Macedonia River Radika catchment
North Macedonia Shar Planina Mountain
Russia (European) Alaniya National Park
Russia (European) Bazarduyzi and Shalbuzdag alpine mountains
Russia (European) Kabardino-Balkarski Nature Reserve
Serbia Prokletije
Serbia Sara mountain
Slovenia Julijci
Slovenia Karavanke
Spain Babia-Somiedo
Spain Ordesa-Bielsa
Spain Picos de Europa mountain range
Spain Posets-Maladeta
Switzerland Aletsch region
Switzerland Augstmatthorn
Switzerland Bregaglia valley
Switzerland Central Valais between Sierre and Visp
Switzerland Heinzenberg mountain and surrounding valleys
Switzerland Lower Engadine and Swiss National Park
Switzerland Maggia valley
Switzerland Piora - Dötra
Switzerland Pre-alpine region of Pays d'Enhaut
Switzerland Pre-alpine region of Schwyz
Switzerland Simplon region
Switzerland Upper Toggenburg and Säntis
Switzerland Valley of Zermatt
Tajikistan Aktash massif
Tajikistan Bulunkul and Yashilkul lakes and mountains
Tajikistan Drumkul Lake
Tajikistan Dzhavshangoz
Tajikistan Ishkashim
Tajikistan Iskanderkul lake and mountains
Tajikistan Karakul lake and mountains
Tajikistan Kondara Gorge
Tajikistan Rangkul valley (Rangkul & Shorkul Lakes)
Tajikistan Zorkul Nature Reserve (Lake Victoria)
Türkiye Ağrı Mount
Türkiye Aladağlar
Türkiye Bey Mountains
Türkiye Bolkar Mountains
Türkiye Buzul and İkiyaka Mountains
Türkiye Eastern Black Sea Mountains
Türkiye Girdev Lake and Akdağlar
Türkiye Munzur Mountains
Uzbekistan Angren Plateau
Uzbekistan Oygaing River Valley
Uzbekistan Pulatkhan Gorge

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks) major resident
Altitude 2000 - 5300 m Occasional altitudinal limits  

Utilisation
Purpose Scale
Pets/display animals, horticulture international

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: White-winged Snowfinch Montifringilla nivalis. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/white-winged-snowfinch-montifringilla-nivalis on 23/12/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 23/12/2024.