Pyrgilauda theresae
The Afghan Snowfinch, *Pyrgilauda theresae*, is a robust, high-altitude passerine measuring approximately 13-15 cm in length, slightly smaller than a House Sparrow. Males are distinguished by a pale grey head, a contrasting blackish breast patch, buffish-white underparts, a brown back streaked with darker markings, and prominent rufous panels on their wings, often bordered by blackish primaries. Females are duller, exhibiting a less defined head pattern and a smaller, less distinct breast spo...
Found in barren, stony plateaus, alpine meadows, and rocky slopes at very high altitudes, typically between 2,800 and 4,500 meters, often near human settlements.
Primarily granivorous, feeding on seeds from grasses and various high-alpine herbaceous plants, supplemented with insects (especially beetles and ants) during the breeding season.
Primarily diurnal, the Afghan Snowfinch spends most of its active hours foraging on the ground. Outside the breeding season, it is highly gregarious, forming small to medium-sized flocks that move across the high-altitude terrain. During courtship, males may engage in short, undulating display fl...
The Afghan Snowfinch is strictly endemic to the Hindu Kush mountain range, primarily found within central and eastern Afghanistan. Its core breeding range encompasses high-altitude plateaus and rocky slopes within provinces like Bamyan, Ghor, Daykundi, and Badakhshan. While largely considered a r...
Least Concern
- The Afghan Snowfinch is the only bird species truly endemic to Afghanistan, making it a unique national treasure. - It was first discovered in 1937 and named after Theresa Thesiger, the wife of British political officer Major L. R. C. Thesiger. - This species is a true high-altitude specialist,...