Himalayan Beautiful Rosefinch (Carpodacus pulcherrimus) [XC491150]
by id from Kanda Shan valley, Nangqian, Qinghai, China (song)
Subspecies
Has been considered probably conspecific with Pink-rumped Rosefinch (Carpodacus waltoni). Recently suggested that subspecies davidianus and waltoni might represent a separate species, differing from nominate and argyrophrys in structure (wing formula and tail shape) and vocalizations, and with apparent lack of intergrades. Further research is required, including study of affinities with very similar Pink-rumped Rosefinch (Carpodacus waltoni).
The following 4 subspecies are recognised:
pulcherrimus (Moore, 1856) - Central Himalayas from northern India (Himachal Pradesh) east to south-western China (southern Xizang) and (perhaps non-breeding) Bhutan.
waltoni (Sharpe, 1905) - Eastern Himalayas to west-central China. Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Pink-rumped Rosefinch (Carpodacus waltoni).
argyrophrys Berlioz, 1929 - Southern Mongolia and northern and west-central China (western Inner Mongolia and Ningxia, south to eastern Qinghai, north-eastern Xizang, northern and western Sichuan and north-western Yunnan).
davidianus A. Milne-Edwards, 1865 - East-central China (south-eastern Inner Mongolia, northern Hebei, Shanxi and northern Shaanxi). Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Chinese Beautiful Rosefinch (Carpodacus davidianus).
BirdLife International Species Factsheet