This finch lives in high mountains from the Himalayas across the Tibetan Plateau into central China. It forages for seeds on the ground and may form flocks outside the breeding season.
It is slender and brownish grey, with fine dark streaks on the crown and pale buff streaks on the back. Its dark wings and tail have pale edges.
It forages on the ground on rocky high-elevation slopes and meadows. It may perch in trees and often forms flocks outside the breeding season.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.