Sillem's Mountain Finch was last seen in 1929

A mysterious mountain finch has been rediscovered over 80 years since it was last seen.

Sillem's Mountain Finch was discovered in 1929 by Dutch ornithologist Jerome Alexander Sillem in the Karakoram mountain range - an area now in dispute between China, India and Pakistan, and not a suitable destination for ornithologists.

However, the bird has at last been spotted again, after a French nature photographer took a photo of a "mystery bird" whilst trekking in the Yenigou valley of Qinghai province in China.

Yann Muzika was stuck down with food poisoning on the eve of his departure from the region and, while convalescing, explored the surroundings. He said: "It was a trek, not a birdwatching trip, but I was nevertheless carrying a camera and a 400mm lens, just in case.

"I came across a flock of Tibetan Rosefinches and with them there was a single bird that I did not know, resembling a Brandt's Mountain Finch but with a rufous head instead of dark brown. I took one picture before the bird flew away."

On his return, he was unable to identify the bird and - believing it to resemble Sillem's Mountain Finch - he sent it onto Krys Kazmierczak, who manages the Oriental Bird Images database for the Oriental Bird Club, and who could cautiously confirm it to be the missing finch.

The bird was found in June 2012, 1500km to the east of the 1929 sighting. The Oriental Bird Club is urging birdwatchers to search for the bird in high altitude areas of Pakistan, China and Tibet.

Sillem's Mountain Finch was seen in 1929 but was only identified in 1992 by Kees Roselaar. When told about the latest sighting, he said: "Fantastic! At last the proof that sillemi still exists."