Difference between revisions of "Granvéo Snowfinch"

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{{image|http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c377/antrium/bird.png|right|A Granvéo Snowfinch.|A Granvéo Snowfinch.}}
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{{image|http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c377/antrium/bird.png|right|A male Granvéo Snowfinch in summer.|A male Granvéo Snowfinch in summer.}}
The '''Granvéo Snowfinch''' (''Montifrigilla granveii'', [[French]]: ''niverolle de l'ouest'', [[Alvésin]]: ''spàrfîn do îzvàlkrûs Granvéo'') is the national bird of [[Antrium]].
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The '''Granvéo Snowfinch''' (''Montifrigilla granveiana'', [[French]]: ''niverolle de l'ouest'', [[Alvésin]]: ''spàrfîn do îzvàlkrûs Granvéo'') is a medium-sized songbird of the sparrow family known for its bright orange color that lives in the [[International Democratic Union]].  It is also the national bird of [[Antrium]], where they are a protected species. They get their name from the [[Granvéo Mountains]], where they were first discovered, and where they are now most abundant.
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== Appearance ==
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Male Granvéo Snowfinches can grow to be about 20 cm long, and have bright orange heads and upper bodies.  Their wings and tail are black or dark grey.  Their bill is bright yellow.  In winter, their plumage changes to a pale brown to better blend in with the trees.
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Females are smaller, only 13-16 cm long, and have brown heads and upper bodies instead of the males' orange.  Like the males, their wings and tail are black.  In winter, they change to white.
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== Habitat ==
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The Granvéo Snowfinch lives exclusively in mountain ranges, rarely descending below about 1000 m above sea level.  It is most abundant in [[Antrium]], especially the western and central parts of the country.
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=== Nesting ===
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Granvéo Snowfinches make their nests high in the mountains.  Females will nest in cracks or holes in rocks or occasionally in trees or rodent burrows if they can be found.
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They make nests from leaves and mud, and are strongly protective.  Females usually lay about 5 eggs, which are speckled gray or black on a whitish-grey background.  Females incubate the eggs and protect them from predators while the father collects food.  The incubation period lasts about 15 days.
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== Diet ==
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These birds are [[wikipedia:omnivores|omnivores]].  They generally eat seeds or small insects, but will also eat berries.  They also forage around ski resorts in higher elevations.
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[[Category:Species]]
 
[[Category:Species]]
 
[[Category:Antrium]]
 
[[Category:Antrium]]
 
[[Category:IDU Ecology]]
 
[[Category:IDU Ecology]]

Revision as of 20:20, 26 November 2006

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<div" class="plainlinksneverexpand">bird.png
A male Granvéo Snowfinch in summer.
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The Granvéo Snowfinch (Montifrigilla granveiana, French: niverolle de l'ouest, Alvésin: spàrfîn do îzvàlkrûs Granvéo) is a medium-sized songbird of the sparrow family known for its bright orange color that lives in the International Democratic Union. It is also the national bird of Antrium, where they are a protected species. They get their name from the Granvéo Mountains, where they were first discovered, and where they are now most abundant.

Appearance

Male Granvéo Snowfinches can grow to be about 20 cm long, and have bright orange heads and upper bodies. Their wings and tail are black or dark grey. Their bill is bright yellow. In winter, their plumage changes to a pale brown to better blend in with the trees.

Females are smaller, only 13-16 cm long, and have brown heads and upper bodies instead of the males' orange. Like the males, their wings and tail are black. In winter, they change to white.

Habitat

The Granvéo Snowfinch lives exclusively in mountain ranges, rarely descending below about 1000 m above sea level. It is most abundant in Antrium, especially the western and central parts of the country.

Nesting

Granvéo Snowfinches make their nests high in the mountains. Females will nest in cracks or holes in rocks or occasionally in trees or rodent burrows if they can be found.

They make nests from leaves and mud, and are strongly protective. Females usually lay about 5 eggs, which are speckled gray or black on a whitish-grey background. Females incubate the eggs and protect them from predators while the father collects food. The incubation period lasts about 15 days.

Diet

These birds are omnivores. They generally eat seeds or small insects, but will also eat berries. They also forage around ski resorts in higher elevations.