Central Asia’s hidden gem: The vibrant red mantled rosefinch

Red-mantled rosefinch / Photo: Threads.com/@baitimbetovg, photo editor: Serikzhan Kovlanbayev

We never get tired of pointing out that Kazakhstan is also a true paradise for birdwatching enthusiasts.

Online, you can find the work of a local photographer who manages to capture striking images of birds we usually overlook in city surroundings.

One such example is the red-mantled rosefinch — known in Kazakh as «juniper beauty.»

Red-mantled rosefinch / Photo: Threads.com/@baitimbetovg, photo editor: Serikzhan Kovlanbayev

It is a rare and remarkably elegant bird for Almaty.

Red-mantled rosefinch / Photo: Threads.com/@baitimbetovg, photo editor: Serikzhan Kovlanbayev

The males, with their vivid pink plumage, look almost surreal, yet they are the hardest to photograph due to their cautious nature.

Red-mantled rosefinch / Photo: Threads.com/@baitimbetovg, photo editor: Serikzhan Kovlanbayev

The females are far less wary: they tend to approach more closely and are much easier to capture on camera. These birds inhabit the foothills and mountain areas near the city.

The photographs shown here were taken in the Alma-Arasan Gorge.