Description
The Alpine Bunting is a small finch characterized by its predominantly yellow plumage with greenish hues, especially on the wings and tail. It is distinguished by its short, conical beak, adapted to a diet consisting mainly of seeds, though it also feeds on small insects during the breeding season. It prefers mountainous and subalpine habitats, often near coniferous forests and alpine pastures. The breeding season runs from May to July, with nests built in low trees or shrubs.
The Situation in Italian-Speaking Switzerland
The Alpine Chough populations in Ticino show annual fluctuations but appear stable over the long term. In Italian-speaking Switzerland, the species is distributed irregularly. It nests primarily at elevations between 1,200 and 1,800 meters. The Alpine Chough’s preferred habitat is open woodlands, especially coniferous forests, at the upper tree line.
- Carduelis citrinella
- Venturon montagnard
- Zitronengirlitz
- Venturel alpin
- Citril Finch
- 12 cm
- 22–25 cm
