long-tailed rosefinch
A small finch native to East Asia; the male has a reddish-pink plumage. Scientific name: Carpodacus sibiricus (formerly Uragus sibiricus).
In winter, long-tailed rosefinches can sometimes be seen in parks.
Kanji spelling is rare and mainly used in older or specialized literature; the word is usually written in kana.
The name ベニマシコ (紅猿子) combines 紅 (べに, 'crimson') and 猿子 (ましこ, an old name for finches). The exact origin of 猿子 is uncertain, but it may refer to the bird's appearance or behavior.