The mountain “sparrow”

The white-winged snowfinch lives at high-altitude all year round in the alpine meadows and grasslands. This cousin of the house sparrow is highly distinctive because it is the largest of the small birds present in winter at these altitudes. At the end of August, the white-winged snowfinches gather together in groups. Not particularly shy, they mingle with man around the high-altitude restaurants in winter and also the chalets and refuges where they nest.