Finches (Fringillidae)

Black Rosy-finch (Leucosticte atrata) - HBW 15, p. 574

French: Roselin noir German: Rußschneegimpel Spanish: Pinzón Montano Negro

Taxonomy: Leucosticte atrata Ridgway, 1874, Cañon City, Colorado, USA.
Has been thought possibly to form a superspecies with L. arctoa, L. tephrocotis and L. australis, and all are often treated as conspecific; recent analysis of mitochondrial DNA indicates close genetic similarity among all four. Has hybridized with L. tephrocotis; hybridizes with L. australis in area of overlap. Monotypic.

Distribution: Breeds WC USA (SC Montana S to N Nevada, N Utah and W Wyoming); more widespread S to SC USA in non-breeding season.