font settings

Font Size: Large | Normal | Small
Font Face: Verdana | Geneva | Georgia

Fringillidae

(Family)

Overview

[ Back to top ]

The true finches are birds in the family Fringillidae. They are predominantly seed-eating songbirds. Most are native to Southern Hemisphere, but one subfamily is endemic to the Neotropics, one to the Hawaiian Islands, and one subfamily – monotypic at genus level – is found only in the Palaearctic. The scientific name Fringillidae comes from the Latin word fringilla for the Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) – a member of that last subfamily – which is common in Europe.

Many birds in other families are also commonly called "finches", including some species in the very similar-looking waxbills (family Estrildidae) of the Old World tropics and Australia; several groups of the bunting and American sparrow family (Emberizidae); and Darwin's finches of the Galapagos islands, which provided evidence of natural selection and are now recognized to be peculiar tanagers (Thraupidae).1]

Description

[ Back to top ]
Beak and tongue shapes of the Drepanidinae

The "classical" true finches range in size from the Andean Siskin (Carduelis spinescens) at 9.5 cm (3.8 in) and 8.4 g (0.3 oz) to the Collared Grosbeak (Mycerobas affinis) with its nearly 23 cm (9 in) and 80 g (3 oz). They typically have strong, stubby beaks, which in some species can be quite large; however,Hawaiian honeycreepers are famous for the wide range of bill shapes and sizes brought about by adaptive radiation. All true finches have 12 remiges and 9 primary rectrices. The basic plumage color is brownish, sometimes greenish; many have considerable amounts of black, while white plumage is generally absent except as wing-bars or other signalling marks. Bright yellow and red carotenoid pigments are commonplace in this family, and thus blue structural colors are rather rare, as the yellow pigments turn the blue color into green. Many, but by no means all true finches have strong sexual dichromatism, the females typically lacking the bright carotenoid markings of males.[1]

Finches are typically inhabitants of well-wooded areas, but some can be found on mountains or even in deserts. They are primarily granivorous, but euphoniines include considerable amounts of arthropods and berries in their diet, and Hawaiian honeycreepers evolved to utilize a wide range of food sources, including nectar. The diet of Fringillidae nestlings includes a varying amount of small arthropods. True finches have a bouncing flight like most small passerines, alternating bouts of flapping with gliding on closed wings. Most sing well and several are commonly-seen cagebirds; foremost among these is the domesticated Canary (Serinus canaria domestica). The nests are basket-shaped and usually built in trees, more rarely in bushes, between rocks or on similar substrate.[1]

Systematics and Taxonomy

[ Back to top ]

The taxonomic structure of the true finch family, Fringillidae, has been fairly disputed in the past, with some upranking the Hawaiian honeycreepers (Drepanidinae) as family Drepanididae and/or uniting the cardueline and fringilline finches as tribes (Carduelini and Fringillini) in one subfamily; the euphonious finches (Euphoniinae) were thought to be tanagers due to general similarity in appearance and mode of life until their real affinities were realized. In particular North American authors have often have merged the buntings and American sparrow family (Ember izidae) – and sometimes the bulk of the nine-primaried oscines – with the split-up Fringillidae as subfamilies of a single massive family. But the current understanding of Passeroidea phylogeny is better reflected in keeping the fundamental nine-primaried oscine clades as distinct families. However, Przewalski's "Rosefinch" (Urocynchramus pylzowi) is now classified as a distinct family, monotypic as to genus and species, and with no particularly close relatives among the Passeroidea.[2]

Fossil remains of true finches are rare, and those that are known can mostly be assigned to extant genera at least. Like the other Passeroidea families, the true finches seem to be of roughly Middle Miocene origin, around 20-10 million years ago (Ma). An unidentifable finch fossil from the Messinian age, around 12 to 7.3 million years ago (Ma) during the Late Miocene subepoch, has been found at Polgárdi in Hungary.[3]

Subfamilies and Genera

Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes), one of the Holarctic grosbeaks
Cassin's Finch ("Carpodacus" cassinii) is not part of the genus Carpodacus proper
Pallas' Rosefinch (Carpodacus roseus), a true rosefinch
Hooded Siskin (Carduelis (Spinus) magellanica)
?I?iwi (Vestiaria coccinea), a Hawaiian honeycreeper
Male Violaceous Euphonia (Euphonia violacea)

The systematics of the cardueline finches are contentious. The layout presented here follows the recent decades' molecular phylogenetic studies, and takes into account the traditional splitting of the genus Carduelis. The exact position of several genera in the cardueline sequence is tentative.[4]

Photos

[ Back to top ]

Taxonomy

[ Back to top ]

The Family Fringillidae is a member of the Superfamily Passeroidea. Here is the complete "parentage" of Fringillidae:

The Family Fringillidae is further organized into finer groupings including:

Genera

[ Back to top ]

Acanthidops

The Peg-billed Finch, Acanthidops bairdii, is a bird which is endemic to the highlands of Costa Rica and extreme western Panama. Despite its name, it is not a true finch, but now recognized as a member of the tanager family (Thraupidae), after being long placed in the Emberizidae. It is the only member of the genus Acanthidops. The scientific name commemorates the American ornithologist Spencer Fullerton Baird. [more]

Acanthis

Acanthis (not to be confused with ) may be: [more]

Agelaius

American blackbirds are belonging to the genus Agelaius in the New World family Icteridae. [more]

Aidemedia

[more]

Aimophila

Aimophila is a genus of . The derivation of the genus name is from aimos/a?µ?? 'thicket' and phila/f??a 'loving'. [more]

Akialoa

Hemignathus is a genus in the finch family, Fringillidae. These birds are endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. [more]

Amaurospiza

Amaurospiza is a of birds. These "seedeaters" were formerly associated with the American sparrows and placed in the Emberizidae or (in the Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy) the Fringillidae. The generic name is derived from the Ancient Greek amauros ("dusky") + spiza ("finch"). [more]

Amblycercus

The Yellow-billed Cacique (Amblycercus holosericeus) is a species of in the Icteridae family. It is monotypic within the genus Amblycercus. [more]

Amblyramphus

The Scarlet-headed Blackbird, Amblyramphus holosericeus, is an bird of southern South American wetlands. [more]

Ammodramus

The genus Ammodramus is a group of in the family Emberizidae. Ammodramus is Latin for "Sand Runner." Typical of these thick grass and ground loving sparrows. [more]

Ammospiza

[more]

Amphispiza

Amphispiza is a genus of in the bunting and American sparrow family. It contains two species: [more]

Anisognathus

Anisognathus is a of tanagers found in highland forests and woodlands in South America. [more]

Arremon

Arremon is a genus of in the Emberizidae family. [more]

Arremonops

Arremonops is a genus of in the Emberizidae family. It contains the following species: [more]

Astragalinus

[more]

Atlapetes

Atlapetes is a genus of in the Emberizidae family. Along with the genus Buarremon they comprise the brush-finches. [more]

Bangsia

Bangsia is a of tanagers. [more]

Basileuterus

Basileuterus is a genus of , best represented in Central and South America. This is one of only two warbler genera that are well represented in the latter continent. It is likely that the ancestors of this genus colonised South America from the family’s heartland in northern Central America even before the two continents were linked, and subsequent speciation provided most of the resident warbler species of that region. [more]

Buarremon

Buarremon is a of perching birds in the family Emberizidae. Recent evidence indicates this genus should be merged into Arremon, but if recognized as a valid genus, it contains the following species: [more]

Bucanetes

Buthraupis

Buthraupis is a of tanagers. [more]

Cacicus

The caciques are birds in the New World blackbird family. Members of the family are resident breeders in tropical South America and north to Mexico. All of the group are in the genus Cacicus, except the aberrant Yellow-billed Cacique (Amblycercus holosericeus), which constitutes a monotypic genus. Judging from mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 sequence (Price & Lanyon 2002), the aberrant oropendolas Band-tailed Oropendola (Ocyalus latirostris) and Casqued Oropendola, Psarocolius oseryi (Ocyalus oseryi?) seem to be closer to the caciques. [more]

Calcarius

The Longspurs, Calcarius, are a group of birds in the family Emberizidae. The name refers to the long claw on the hind toe of each foot. [more]

Calyptophilus

Calyptophilus is a genus of in the Thraupidae family. [more]

Camarhynchus

Camarhynchus is a genus of in the Thraupidae family; all species of Camarhynchus are endemic to the Galapagos Islands. Sometimes classified in the bunting and American sparrow family Emberizidae, more recent studies have shown it to belong in the tanager family. It contains the following species: [more]

Cardellina

The Red-faced Warbler (Cardellina rubrifrons) is a species of . [more]

Cardinalis

Cardinalis is a genus of in the family Cardinalidae. There are three species ranging across North America and into northern South America. [more]

Carduelis

The Carduelis is a large group of birds in the finch family Fringillidae. It includes the greenfinches, redpolls, goldfinches, linnets, the twite, and the non-African siskins. No species of this group ranges far into Africa (where they are replaced by the related genus Serinus), and the centers of evolution were probably Eurasia and North America, with a secondary radiation in the Neotropics. [more]

Carpodacus

The rosefinches are in the finch family Fringillidae. Most Carpodacus species are so named, but three common North American ones are not. As the names imply, various shades of red are the characteristic plumage colors of this group. [more]

Caryothraustes

Caryothraustes is a genus of in the Cardinalidae family. It contains the following species: [more]

Catamblyrhynchus

The Plushcap (Catamblyrhynchus diadema) is a species of in the Thraupidae family. It is the only member of its genus Catamblyrhynchus. [more]

Catamenia

Catamenia can refer to [more]

Catharopeza

The Whistling Warbler (Catharopeza bishopi) is a species of in the Parulidae family. It is monotypic within the genus Catharopeza. It is endemic to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. [more]

Certhidea

The Warbler Finch (Certhidea olivacea) is a species of , one of Darwin's finches in the Thraupidae family. Sometimes classified in the bunting and Egyptian sparrow family Emberizidae, more recent studies have shown it to belong in the tanager family. It is the only member of the genus Certhidea. [more]

Chaunoproctus

The Bonin Grosbeak or Bonin Islands Grosbeak (Chaunoproctus ferreorostris) is an finch, the only species of the genus Chaunoproctus. It is one of the diverse bird taxa that are vernacularly called "grosbeaks", but it is not closely related to the grosbeaks sensu stricto. It was a retiring, although not shy bird, and was usually found singly or in pairs. It fed on fruits and buds which were primarily picked up from the ground or low shrubs; it rarely was observed to perch in trees, being apparently rather phlegmatic and somewhat reluctant to fly. Only one kind of vocalization has been described: a soft, pure and high note, sometimes short, sometimes drawn out; sometimes given singly, sometimes in a short series. [more]

Chloridops

Chloridops is an extinct genus of birds. It comprised three species: two on the of Hawaii and one that inhabited Kauai, Oahu and Maui. The genus includes the following three species: [more]

Chlorochrysa

Chlorochrysa is a of small colorful tanagers. [more]

Chlorophanes

The Green Honeycreeper, Chlorophanes spiza, is a small in the tanager family. It is found in the tropical New World from southern Mexico south to Brazil, and on Trinidad. It is monotypic, the only member of the genus Chlorophanes (Reichenbach, 1853). [more]

Chlorophonia

Chlorophonia is the name of a genus of endemic to the Neotropics. The English group name for the five species that constitute the genus is also chlorophonia. The collective (plural) term for the genus is chlorophonias. Chlorophonias share the subfamily Euphoniinae with the euphonias. [more]

Chlorornis

The Grass-green Tanager (Chlorornis riefferii) is a small passerine bird, one of the family. It is the only member of the genus Chloronis. [more]

Chlorospingus

Chlorospingus, the bush-tanagers, are a of perching birds traditionally placed in the tanager family (Thraupidae). This seems in error according to more recent studies, which suggest that they are closely related to the genus Arremonops in the Emberizidae (buntings and American sparrows). Considering this, bush-tanager is arguably better replaced by chlorospingus, but this has yet to be proposed. [more]

Chlorothraupis

Chlorothraupis is a genus of in the family Cardinalidae. It was long considered to be tanagers as their common names suggest, but this is false. They are close relatives of the habias or ant-"tanagers" [more]

Chlorura

[more]

Chlorurus

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]

Chondestes

The Lark Sparrow, Chondestes grammacus, is a fairly large . It is the only member of the genus Chondestes. [more]

Chrysothlypis

Chrysothlypis is a small of tanagers found in forests of South America. [more]

Ciridops

Ciridops is an extinct genus of species that occurred in prehistoric and historic times on the Hawaiian islands of Hawai'i, Molokai, Kauai and Oahu. This genus was created in 1892 by Alfred Newton in an article published by the journal Nature on the basis of the ?Ula-?ai-Hawane, which was named Fringilla anna by Sanford B. Dole in 1879. [more]

Cissopis

The Magpie Tanager (Cissopis leveriana) is a species of tanager. It is the only member of the monotypic genus Cissopis. As suggested by its common name, this blue-black and white species is superficially reminiscent of a European Magpie. With a total length of 25-30 cm (10-12 in), a large percentage of which is tail, it is the longest species of tanager. It weighs 69-76 g. [more]

Citrinella

[more]

Cnemoscopus

The Grey-hooded Bush-tanager (Cnemoscopus rubrirostris) is a species of in the Thraupidae family. It is found in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montanes. It is the only member of the genus Cnemoscopus. [more]

Coccothraustes

Coccothraustes is a genus of large containing three species: [more]

Coccothraustres

Coereba

The Bananaquit, Coereba flaveola, is a bird first described by Linnaeus in his Systema naturae in 1758 as Certhia flaveola. [more]

Conirostrum

Typical conebills are the genus Conirostrum. They are small tanagers (9 - 14cm) found in the forests of South America. They feed in pairs or small flocks by gleaning insects from foliage. The genus consists of two rather distinct subgenera: The first "Ateleodacnis" possibly deserving full generic status, is confined to lowland areas. They are mostly grey in color and inhabit deciduous woodlands, mangroves or riverbank habitats. The second group the nominate "Conirostrum" subgenus inhabits the forests of the Andes. They are somewhat more colorful combining grey or blue backs with rufous underparts. Their thin bills led to them being formerly classified as wood-warblers or honeycreepers but genetic data places them firmly in the tanager family and they are now generally considered to belong in the Thraupidae. [more]

Corpodacus

[more]

Coryphaspiza

The Black-masked Finch (Coryphaspiza melanotis) is a species of in the Emberizidae family. It is the only member of the genus Coryphaspiza. [more]

Coryphospingus

A small of finch-like tanagers found in South America, Coryphospingus was formerly classified in the family Emberizidae along with the buntings and American sparrows. [more]

Creurgops

Creurgops is a of tanagers. [more]

Crithagra

[more]

Crucirostra

[more]

Curaeus

Curaeus is a genus of in the Icteridae family. It contains the following species: [more]

Cyanerpes

The typical honeycreepers are small in the tanager family. They are found in the tropical New World from Mexico south to Brazil. [more]

Cyanocompsa

Cyanocompsa is a genus of in the Cardinalidae family. It contains the following species: [more]

Cypsnagra

The White-rumped Tanager (Cypsnagra hirundinacea) is a . It is the only member of the genus Cypsnagra. Length 16 cm. Weight 25-34 g. Live mostly in Brazil, also in Paraguay, Bolivia and Suriname. Elevation 700-1000 m. Inhabit grasslands with short trees. In Brazil exist in territorial groups of three to six individuals. Eat insects on the ground in the grass or catch them in flight (also called sallying). Mostly beetles, crickets and grasshoppers, occasionally eat fruit. Cup nests only 1-2 meters off the ground and made of woven grasses. Clutch size 3-4 blue eggs speckled around the large end with brown or black spots. Helpers born last season help mating pair tend the nest and nestlings. [more]

Dacnis

Dacnis is a of tanagers. [more]

Dendroica

Dendroica is a genus of of the New World Warbler family Parulidae. It contains 29 species. The males in breeding plumage are often highly colorful. The Dendroica warblers are an example of adaptive radiation with the various species using different feeding techniques and often feeding in different parts of the same tree. [more]

Diglossa

Diglossa can refer to [more]

Diglossopis

Diglossopis is a of blue flowerpiercers in the family Thraupidae. They are closely related to the genus Diglossa, and some retain all flowerpiercers in that genus. They were formerly classified in the bunting and American sparrow family Emberizidae, more recent studies[citation needed] have shown it to belong in the Thraupidae. They are restricted to highland forest and woodland from Venezuela and Colombia, through Ecuador and Peru, to Bolivia. [more]

Diuca

Diuca is a small of Andean seed-eating tanagers. [more]

Dives

[more]

Dolichonyx

The Bobolink, Dolichonyx oryzivorus, is a small and the only member of genus Dolichonyx. [more]

Drepanis

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]

Dubusia

The Buff-breasted Mountain-tanager (Dubusia taeniata) is a species of in the Thraupidae family. It is the only member of the genus Dubusia. [more]

Emberiza

Emberiza is a of passerine birds of the bunting family Emberizidae. [more]

Emberizoides

Emberizoides is a small of finch-like tanagers found in grassy areas in Central and South America. [more]

Embernagra

Embernagra is a of finch-like tanagers. [more]

Eophona

The Oriental (Eophona) are a genus of finches containing two species: [more]

Ergaticus

Ergaticus is a genus of endemic to Mexico and Guatemala. [more]

Eucometis

The Grey-headed Tanager (Eucometis penicillata) is a species of in the Thraupidae family, the only one in the genus Eucometis. [more]

Euphagus

Euphagus is a small genus of . It contains two North American species, the Brewer's Blackbird, Euphagus cyanocephalus, and the Rusty Blackbird E. carolinus. Both species are migratory, wintering in the southern United States and Mexico, although some Brewer's Blackbirds are present all year in the western USA. [more]

Euphonia

Euphonias are members of the genus Euphonia, a group of Neotropical birds in the family. They share the subfamily Euphoniinae with the chlorophonias. Euphonia contains close to 27 species. [more]

Euthlypis

The Fan-tailed Warbler, Euthlypis lachrymosa , is an in the monotypic genus Euthlypis that lives along the Pacific slope from northern Mexico to Nicaragua. There are a few unconfirmed reports of it occurring within the USA: one was reported in Big Bend National Park, Texas in August 2007. It is yellow on its throat and underparts with a tawny wash on its chest. The head is gray with a black-framed yellow crown and white around the eyes. The undertail coverlets are white. They are 5.8-6.3 in (14.5-16 cm) long and have pleasant, upslurred song. Fan-tailed Warblers live in and at the edge of evergreen and semideciduous forest, especially near ravines. They eat ants, especially army ants, and are seen hopping around on either the forest floor or close to it. They are found alone or in pairs. [more]

Fringilla

The genus Fringilla is a small group of , which are the only species in the subfamily Fringillinae The three species, which feed their young on insects rather than seeds, are: [more]

Fringillaria

[more]

Geospiza

Geospiza is a genus of in the Thraupidae family; all species of Geospiza are endemic to the Galapagos Islands. Sometimes classified in the bunting and American sparrow family Emberizidae, more recent studies have shown it to belong in the tanager family. It contains the following species: [more]

Geothlypis

The yellowthroats are in the genus Geothlypis. Most members of the group have localised ranges in Mexico and Central America, but the Masked Yellowthroat has an extensive South American distribution, and Common Yellowthroat, the only migratory species in the group, breeds over much of North America. [more]

Gnorimopsar

The Chopi Blackbird (Gnorimopsar chopi) is a species of in the Icteridae family. It is monotypic within the genus Gnorimopsar. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay. Its natural habitats are dry savanna, subtropical or tropical seasonally wet or flooded lowland grassland, pastureland, and heavily degraded former forest. [more]

Granatellus

Granatellus is a genus of traditionally placed in the family Parulidae, although biochemical evidence suggests it belongs in Cardinalidae. [more]

Gubernatrix

The Yellow Cardinal (Gubernatrix cristata) is a species of in the Thraupidae family. Sometimes classified in the bunting and American sparrow family Emberizidae, more recent studies have shown it to belong with the tanagers. It is the only member of its genus, Gubernatrix. [more]

Guiraca

[more]

Gymnostinops

The oropendolas comprise two or three genera of and Central American passerine birds in the New World blackbird family. [more]

Habia

[more]

Haplospiza

Haplospiza is a small genus of in the Thraupidae family. Sometimes classified in the bunting and American sparrow family Emberizidae, more recent studies have shown it to belong in the Thraupidae. Its two members breed in subtropical or tropical moist forest in Central and South America. They are often associated with bamboo. They are [more]

Helmitheros

The Worm-eating Warbler (Helmitheros vermivorus) is a small . It is the only species classified in the genus Helmitheros. [more]

Hemignathus

[more]

Hemispingus

Hemispingus is a of warbler-like tanagers. [more]

Hemithraupis

A small of tanagers found in forests of South America. [more]

Hesperiphona

Coccothraustes is a genus of large containing three species: [more]

Himatione

[more]

Icteria

The Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens) is a large , formerly considered the most atypical member of the New World warbler family, though the long-standing suspicion is that it does not actually belong there. Its placement is not definitely resolved. It is the only member of the genus Icteria. Found throughout North America, from southern-plains Canada to central Mexico during the summer, these birds mainly migrate to Mexico and Central America, although some of their number may overwinter in coastal areas. [more]

Icterus

New World orioles, comprising the genus Icterus, are a group of in the Icteridae family. They are not related to the Old World orioles which are in the family Oriolidae, but are strikingly similar in size, diet, behaviour and their yellow-and-black plumage, a good example of convergent evolution, and almost inevitably took the same vernacular name. [more]

Iridophanes

The Golden-collared Honeycreeper (Iridophanes pulcherrimus) is a species of in the Thraupidae family. It is the only member of the genus Iridophanes. [more]

Iridosornis

Iridosornis is a of tanagers. [more]

Junco

A Junco , Junco, is a small American bird. Junco systematics are still confusing after decades of research, with various authors accepting between three and twelve species. Despite their name appearing to derive from the Spanish term for the plant genus Juncus (rushes), these birds are seldom found among rush plants as these prefer wet ground while junco like dry soil. [more]

Lampropsar

The Velvet-fronted Grackle (Lampropsar tanagrinus) is a species of in the Icteridae family. It is monotypic within the genus Lampropsar. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, and Venezuela. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical swamps and heavily degraded former forest. [more]

Lanio

Lanio is the of shrike-tanagers. [more]

Leistes

[more]

Leucosticte

The mountain finches are in the genus Leucosticte from the true finch family, Fringillidae. This genus also includes the rosy finches, named from their pinkish plumage. They are apparently closely related to the bullfinches (Marten & Johnson, 1986) and to the Pine Grosbeak (Arnaiz-Villena et al., 2001), diverging from them not quite a dozen million years ago, at the end of the Middle Miocene. [more]

Linurgus

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]

Loxia

The crossbills are birds in the family Fringillidae. The three to five (or possibly many more) species are all classified in the genus Loxia. These birds are characterised by the mandibles crossing at their tips, which gives the group its English name. Adult males tend to be red or orange in color, and females green or yellow, but there is much variation. [more]

Loxigilla

Loxigilla is the genus of Antillean bullfinches, in the Thraupidae family. Sometimes classified in the bunting and American sparrow family Emberizidae, more recent studies have shown it to belong in the tanager family. [more]

Loxioides

Loxioides is a genus of in the Hawaiian honeycreeper subfamily, Drepanidinae. It contains the following species: [more]

Loxops

Loxops is a genus in the finch family, Fringillidae. [more]

Melanodera

Melanodera is a of Patagonian seed-eating tanagers. [more]

Melophus

The Crested Bunting (Melophus lathami) is a species of in the Emberizidae family. Its genus Melophus is monotypic. [more]

Melopyrrha

The Cuban Bullfinch (Melopyrrha nigra) is a species of in the Thraupidae family. Sometimes classified in the bunting and American sparrow family Emberizidae, more recent studies have shown it to belong in the tanager family. It is monotypic within the genus Melopyrrha. It is found in Cayman Islands and Cuba. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, and heavily degraded former forest. It eats seeds,fruit,insects,spiders,and worms. [more]

Melospiza

Melospiza is a of passerine birds in family Emberizidae. The genus, commonly referred to as "song sparrows," contains currently three species, all of which are native to North America. [more]

Melozone

Melozone is a genus of in the Emberizidae family. It contains the following species: [more]

Microligea

The Green-tailed Warbler (Microligea palustris), also known as the Green-tailed Ground Warbler, is a species of endemic to the island of Hispaniola (Dominican Republic and Haiti) and adjacent islets. [more]

Miliaria

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]

Mitrospingus

Mitrospingus is a genus of in the Thraupidae family. It contains the following species: [more]

Molothrus

Cowbirds are belonging to the genus Molothrus in the family Icteridae. They are brood parasitic New World birds which are unrelated to the Old World cuckoos, one of which, the Common Cuckoo, is the best-known brood parasitic bird. [more]

Mycerobas

The Mycerobas are a genus of finch in the Fringillidae family. It contains the following species: [more]

Myioborus

The whitestarts are in the genus Myioborus. The English name refers to the white outer tail feathers which are a prominent feature of the members of this genus (“start” is an archaic word for “tail”). Confusingly, most species are usually named as “redstarts”, and these less accurate, but more familiar names (to birders in Central and North America, while Whitestart has gained wider use in South America), are retained in the species list below. [more]

Myospiza

[more]

Nemosia

Nemosia is a of tanagers. [more]

Neospiza

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]

Nesospiza

Nesospiza is a of seed-eating tanagers found on the Tristan da Cunha archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean. [more]

Oporornis

Oporornis is a small genus of which breed in North America. They are migratory, wintering south of their breeding ranges in Central or South America. [more]

Oreomanes

The Giant Conebill Oreomanes fraseri is a small passerine bird, one of the family. The only member of the genus Oreomanes it is closely related to the regular conebills Conirostrum though it differs in its larger size and nuthatch-like foraging habits. [more]

Oreomystis

Oreomystis is a genus of in the Fringillidae family. It contains the following species: [more]

Oreopsar

The Bolivian Blackbird (Oreopsar bolivianus) is a species of in the Icteridae family. It is monotypic within the genus Oreopsar. It is endemic to Bolivia. [more]

Oriturus

The Striped Sparrow (Oriturus superciliosus) is a species of in the Emberizidae family. It is monotypic within the genus Oriturus. It is endemic to Mexico. [more]

Orthiospiza

The Highland Finch (Orthiospiza howarthi) is an member of the Fringillidae. It has traditionally been considered a member of the sub-family Drepanidinae, but this has been questioned recently with some preferring Incertae sedis instead. It is the only member of the genus Orthiospiza. It was endemic to the Hawaiian island of Maui. It has been speculated that they were pushed to extinction because of habitat loss. It is only known from fossil remains and likely became extinct before the first Europeans arrived in 1778. [more]

Orthogonys

The Olive-green Tanager (Orthogonys chloricterus) is a species of of the Thraupidae family, in the monotypic genus Orthogonys. [more]

Oryzoborus

Oryzoborus is a genus of in the Thraupidae family. Sometimes classified in the bunting and American sparrow family Emberizidae, more recent studies have shown it to belong in the Thraupidae. It contains the following species: [more]

Paroaria

Paroaria, the red-headed cardinals or cardinal-tanagers (as they are not close to the ), are a genus of tanagers. They were until recently placed in the family Emberizidae. [more]

Paroreomyza

Paroreomyza is a genus of in the Fringillidae family. It contains the following species: [more]

Parula

Parula is a small genus of which breed in North and South America. [more]

Passerculus

The Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) is a small . It is the only widely accepted member of the genus Passerculus. Recent comparison of mtDNA NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 and 3 sequences indicates that the Ipswich Sparrow, formerly usually considered a good species (as Passerculus princeps), is a well-marked subspecies of the Savannah Sparrow, whereas the southwestern subspecies should be recognized as distinct species Large-billed Sparrow (Passerculus rostratus). [more]

Passerella

The Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca) is a large . It is the only member of the genus Passerella, although some authors split the genus into four species (see below). [more]

Passerina

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]

Peucedramus

The Olive Warbler, Peucedramus taeniatus , is a small bird. It is the only member of the genus Peucedramus and the family Peucedramidae. [more]

Phaenicophilus

Phaenicophilus is a genus of in the Thraupidae family. It contains the following species: [more]

Pheucticus

Pheucticus is a genus of . [more]

Phrygilus

Phrygilus is a of mainly Andean seed-eating tanagers commonly known as sierra-finches. Sometimes classified in the bunting and American sparrow family Emberizidae, more recent studies have shown them to belong in the Thraupidae. The genus appears to be polyphyletic consisting of at least three distinct lineages which in future may need to be split into separate genera. [more]

Pinaroloxias

The Cocos Island Finch or Cocos Finch, Pinaroloxias inornata, is the only one of not native to the Galápagos Islands, and the only member of the genus Pinaroloxias. Sometimes classified in the bunting and American sparrow family Emberizidae, more recent studies have shown it to belong in the tanager family. It is endemic to Cocos Island, which is approximately 360 miles south of Costa Rica, where it is the most common landbird. [more]

Pinicola

Pinicola is a possibly genus of "grosbeaks" of the true finch family, Fringillidae. It is closely related to the true bullfinches (Pyrrhula) and the Holarctic mountain finches (Leucosticte). [more]

Pipilo

A Towhee is any one of a number of species of birds in the Pipilo within the family Emberizidae (which also includes the buntings, American sparrows, and juncos). [more]

Pipraeidea

Pipraeidea is a of tanager. It contains a single species, the Fawn-breasted Tanager (Pipraeidea melanonota). [more]

Piranga

Piranga is a genus of long placed in the tanager family, but actually related to the Cardinalis cardinals. [more]

Pitylus

[more]

Plectrophenax

Plectrophenax is a small genus of birds of the bunting family Emberizidae. [more]

Pooecetes

The Vesper Sparrow, Pooecetes gramineus, is a medium-sized . It is the only member of the genus Pooecetes (Baird 1858). [more]

Poospiza

Poospiza is a of finch-like tanagers found in both the South American lowlands and the Andes mountains. Generally they are arboreal feeders in light woodland and scrub. All have extensive grey to their plumage, and have – often bold – white or rufous markings.. [more]

Psarocolius

The oropendolas comprise two or three genera of and Central American passerine birds in the New World blackbird family. [more]

Pseudodacnis

The Turquoise Dacnis (Dacnis hartlaubi) is a species of in the Thraupidae family. It is endemic to Colombia. It is a rather distinct species of dacnis, formerly separated in the monotypic genus Pseudodacnis. [more]

Pseudonestor

Pseudonestor is a genus of in the Fringillidae family. It contains the following species: [more]

Psittirostra

The o?u (Psittirostra psittacea), is a species of finch in the Hawaiian honeycreeper subfamily, Drepanidinae, that is endemic to the Hawaiian islands. There are no recent records, and it may be extinct. [more]

Pyrrhula

Pyrrhula is a small genus of birds, commonly called Bullfinches, belonging to the finch family (Fringillidae). [more]

Pyrrhuloxia

The Pyrrhuloxia (Cardinalis sinuatus) is a medium-sized North American in the same genus as the Northern Cardinal and the Vermilion Cardinal, which is a South American species. [more]

Quiscalus

The genus Quiscalus contains six of the ten species of grackle, gregarious passerine birds in the Icterid family. They are native to North and South America. The six species are: [more]

Ramphocelus

Ramphocelus is a genus of birds of the tanager family. They have enlarged shiny whitish or bluish-grey lower mandibles, which are pointed upwards in display. However, this is greatly reduced in the females of most species. Males are black and red, orange or yellow, while females resemble a duller version of the males, or are brownish or greyish combined with dull red, orange or yellowish. [more]

Rhodacanthis

Rhodacanthis is an genus of finches in the Hawaiian honeycreeper subfamily, Drepanidinae. All four species were endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. Members of this genus were granivores, with bills adapted to the seeds and seed pods of legumes. The two species that became extinct in the 1890s, R. flaviceps and R. palmeri, inhabited upper elevation mesic forests of Koa (Acacia koa) on the island of Hawaii. Both were large birds; R. flaviceps measured 19 centimetres (7.5 in), while R. palmeri was 19 centimetres (7.5 in) in length. The combination of a giant bill with brightly-colored plumage (yellow for R. flaviceps, orange for R. palmeri) gave the males a very striking appearance. Koa seeds were the preferred food for the two species, but caterpillars were taken if necessary. The two prehistoric species, R. forfex and R. litotes, were denizens of more lowland tropical dry forests and scrubland on Kauai, Maui, and Oahu. It is speculated that koai?a (Acacia koaia) was an important food source for both species, as their range did not overlap with that of koa. Kanaloa (Kanaloa spp.) pods and 'a'ali'i (Dodonaea viscosa) berries were probably also eaten in addition to the occasional caterpillar. [more]

Rhodinocichla

The Rosy Thrush-tanager (Rhodinocichla rosea) is a species of in the Thraupidae family, where it belongs to the presently monotypic genus Rhodinocichla. [more]

Rhodopechys

Rhodopechys is a genus of containing three species: [more]

Rhynchostruthus

The Rhynchostruthus is a small group of finches in the family Fringillinae. Commonly known as golden-winged grosbeaks, they are attractive, chunky, medium-sized, robust-billed songbirds restricted to the southern Arabian and northern Somalian regions. [more]

Saltator

Saltator is an genus of songbird. They are traditionally placed in the cardinal family (Cardinalidae) but actually seem to be closer to tanagers (Thraupidae). The name saltators is the English name for the group for lack of a better term, and the English names of all except two species end in "Saltator". [more]

Scaphidura

[more]

Schistochlamys

Schistochlamys is a of tanagers. [more]

Seiurus

The genus Seiurus consists of three species of in the New World warbler family Parulidae. [more]

Serinus

The genus Serinus is a large genus of in the finch family Fringillidae found mostly in the Afrotropical region with some outlying species in Europe and Asia. The genus contains several species groups including canaries, seedeaters and the African siskins. The majority of species are small to medium sized birds with green and yellow, often streaky plumage though there are a few notable exceptions. [more]

Setophaga

The American Redstart, Setophaga ruticilla, is a . They breed in North America, across southern Canada and the eastern USA. [more]

Sicalis

Sicalis is a genus of in the Thraupidae family. Sometimes classified in the bunting and American sparrow family Emberizidae, more recent studies have shown it to belong in the Thraupidae. It contains the following species: [more]

Spindalis

Spindalis is a consisting of 4 non-migratory bird species. The genus is considered endemic to the Greater Antilles; a population on Cozumel Island, off the Yucatan Peninsula's east coast, is part of that island's West Indian fauna. Traditionally considered aberrant tanagers (Thraupidae), their true affiliation remains unresolved. They are not part of the Thraupidae however. [more]

Spiza

The Dickcissel, Spiza townsendi, is a small seed-eating bird in the family Cardinalidae. It is the only member of the genus Spiza, though some sources list another supposedly extinct species (see below). In older works, it is often placed with the American sparrows in the Emberizidae; females especially resemble American Sparrows in plumage. [more]

Spizella

The genus Spizella (, 1832) is a group of American sparrows in the family Emberizidae. [more]

Sporophila

Sporophila is a genus of in the Thraupidae family. The Seed Finches are sometimes included in this genus. [more]

Stephanophorus

Stephanophorus is a monotypic of tanager, containing only the Diademed Tanager, Stephanophorus diadematus. [more]

Sturnella

Meadowlarks are belonging to the genus Sturnella in the New World family Icteridae. [more]

Tachyphonus

Tachyphonus is a of tanagers. [more]

Tangara

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]

Telespiza

Telespiza is a genus of in the Hawaiian honeycreeper subfamily, Drepanididae. All species in it are or were endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. [more]

Tersina

Tersina is a of tanager. It contains a single species, the Swallow Tanager (Tersina viridis). [more]

Thlypopsis

Thlypopsis is a of tanagers. [more]

Thraupis

Thraupis is a genus of of the tanager family occurring from Mexico to Argentina. Some are familiar species with large ranges. [more]

Tiaris

Tiaris is a of songbirds in the tanager family (Thraupidae), comntaining the bulk of the grassquits. In late 20th century sources in particular, it was very often allied to the American sparrows and placed in the Emberizidae family. [more]

Torreornis

The Zapata Sparrow, Torreornis inexpectata, is a medium sized grey and yellow bird that lives in the grasslands of the and elsewhere on the island of Cuba. Measuring about 16.5 centimetres (6.5 in) in length, it is grey and yellow overall with a dark reddish-brown crown and olive-grey upperparts. [more]

Trichothraupis

Black-goggled Tanager (Trichothraupis melanops) is a species of bird in the , Thraupidae. It is the only member of the genus Trichothraupis. It is found at low levels in forest and woodland in a large part of eastern and southern Brazil, eastern Paraguay and far north-eastern Argentina, with a disjunct population along the East Andean slope in Peru, Bolivia and far north-western Argentina. While generally common and widespread, and consequenly considered to be of least concern by BirdLife International and IUCN, the population associated with the Andes is relatively local and uncommon. [more]

Uragus

The Long-tailed Rosefinch (Uragus sibiricus) is a species of of the Fringillidae family, in the presently monotypic genus Uragus. Some other rosefinches might eventually be moved there, however. [more]

Vangulifer

[more]

Vermivora

Vermivora is a genus of . [more]

Viridonia

[more]

Volatinia

The Blue-black Grassquit, Volatinia jacarina, is a small in the tanager family, Thraupidae. It was previously classified in the bunting and American sparrow family, Emberizidae. It breeds from southern Mexico through Central America, and South America as far as northern Chile, Argentina and Paraguay, and on Trinidad and Tobago. It is the only member of the genus Volatinia. [more]

Wilsonia

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]

Xanthocephalus

The Yellow-headed Blackbird, Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus, is a medium-sized , and the only member of the genus Xanthocephalus. [more]

Xenodacnis

The Tit-like Dacnis, Xenodacnis parina, is a small neotropical bird found in southern Ecuador and Peru. Its Spanish name is Azulito Altoandino. It is found in Andean montane scrub forests from 3000 m to 4600 m elevation. [more]

Xenospiza

The Sierra Madre Sparrow (Xenospiza baileyi) is an endangered, range-restricted, enigmatic endemic to some mountain ranges in and near the Sierra Madre Occidental, Mexico. It is threatened with extinction due to habitat loss. [more]

Xestospiza

Xestospiza is a genus containing two species of with cone-shaped bills that were described on the basis of fossils. They were possibly insectivores. It consists of the following: [more]

Zonotrichia

Zonotrichia is a of five American sparrows of the family Emberizidae. Four of the species are North American, but the Rufous-collared Sparrow breeds in highlands from the extreme southeast of Mexico to Tierra del Fuego, and on Hispaniola. [more]

At least 58 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Zonotrichia.

More info about the Genus Zonotrichia may be found here.

References

[ Back to top ]

Footnotes

[ Back to top ]
  1. ^ a b c Newton (1973), Clement et al. (1993)
  2. ^ Clement et al. (1993), Groth (2000), Jřnsson & Fjeldsĺ (2006), Arnaiz-Villena et al. (2007)
  3. ^ Hír et al. (2001), Mlíkovský (2002)
  4. ^ Marten & Johnson (1986), Arnaiz-Villena et al. (1998, 2001, 2007, 2008)

Sources

[ Back to top ]
Last Revised: September 22, 2009
2009/09/22 13:08:00