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Several field studies in the Qinghai Nanshan area (Qinghai Province, China) have added new findings to the scant knowledge about Przewalski´s Rosefinch Urocynchramus pylzowi Przewalski, 1876. The hitherto completely unknown vocalisations are described and used to clarify systematic relationships. Although one could argue for a relationship to Uragus sibiricus (Pallas), based on nearly identical auditory impression and sonagram structures of their songs, detailed measurements show significant differences in time and frequency parameters. Moreover a mtDNA analysis shows no close phylogenetic relationship to either of three major emberizid clades. These results support the hypothesis that Urocynchramus belongs in its own family, the Urocynchramidae.

Summary While the microstructures of bird feathers have long been considered to be of taxonomic significance at the level of orders and families, this paper reveals the eco‐morphological significance of feather structures in the snow sparrow complex (Montifringilla/Pyrgilauda/Onychostruthus spp.), the Rock Sparrow (Petronia petronia) and the House Sparrow (Passer domesticus). Among these three groups, the node shape, node density, and villi structure might be diagnostic. The less developed interlocking system of the pennaceous barbs, the specialised node shape and a high node density in the downy barbules of the snow sparrow complex result in a thick fluffy plumage with more air isolation and thus better thermal insulation.

Hume's ground jay (Pseudopodoces humilis), a species living in the high altitude steppes of the QinghaiTibet-Plateau (China), was traditionally thought to be a ground jay related to the genus Podoces (Corvidae). Recently, however, based on three independent datasets (comparative osteology, nuclear and mitochondrial DNA sequences), this species was discovered to be a member of the Paridae. Here, we reinvestigate the systematic position of Pseudopodoces humilis using the chemical composition of uropygial gland secretions, which have previously been shown to be phylogenetically informative in birds, including Corvidae and Paridae. We found strong similarities in the fatty acid composition of uropygial gland secretions between Pseudopodoces humilis and parids, but clear differences from corvids. This result supports the parid affinites of Pseudopodoces, but stands in contrast to behavioural and vocal characteristics which are clearly more similar to corvids than to parids.