Overview
The true finches are passerine birds in the family Fringillidae. They are predominantly seed-eating songbirds. Most are native to the Northern 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 or estrildid finches (family Passeridae, subfamily ) 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
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
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 auth ors have often merged the buntings and American sparrow family (Emberizidae) ? 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 Polg?rdi in Hungary.[3]
Subfamilies and genera
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]
- Subfamily Fringillinae ? fringilline finches. Three species, which feed their young on insects and few if any seed
- Genus Fringilla
- Subfamily Carduelinae ? cardueline finches. A much larger group that contains several genera which feed their young mainly on seeds. This subfamily consists of several well-defined clades.
- Typical grosbeaks
- Genus Eophona ? Oriental grosbeaks
- Genus Coccothraustes ? Holarctic grosbeaks (polyphyletic?)
- Genus Mycerobas ? Mycerobas grosbeaks
- American rosefinches
- Genus "Carpodacus" ? House Finch, Cassin's Finch, and Purple Finch
- Bullfinches
- Genus Pinicola ? Pine Grosbeak
- Genus Pyrrhula ? bullfinches
- Arid-zone clade
- Genus Leucosticte ? mountain finches
- Genus N.N. ? Dark-breasted Rosefinch, "Carpodacus" nipalensis
- Genus Rhodopechys ? Trumpeter Finch and relatives
- Asian rosefinches
- Genus Carpodacus ? rosefinches (Genus in need of substantial revision. May consist of two or more genera; alternatively may include Haematospiza and Uragus)
- Genus Haematospiza ? Scarlet Finch
- Genus Uragus ? streaked rosefinches
- Goldfinch-canary-crossbill clade (Carduelis and Serinus are polyphyletic and are probably best regarded as a collection of independent sub-groups or genera.)
- Genus Serinus sensu lato ? canaries, African seedeaters, serins and African
siskins
- (Sub)Genus Serinus sensu stricto ? European Serin and relatives (possibly related to Spinus)
- (Sub)Genus Crithagra ? Afrotropical canaries, African seedeaters, citrils (probably only distantly related to Serinus)
- Genus Linurgus ? Oriole Finch (possibly basal to Crithagra)
- Genus Rhynchostruthus ? golden-winged grosbeaks (tentatively placed here)
- Genus "Serinus" thibetanus ? Tibetan Serin (probably related to Spinus and Serinus sensu stricto)
- Genus Carduelis sensu lato
- (Sub)Genus Carduelis sensu stricto ? European Goldfinch, Citril Finch and Corsican Finch (probably only distantly related to Spinus)
- (Sub)Genus Spinus ? siskins and American goldfinches
- (Sub)Genus Linaria ? linnets and twite (related to Spinus)
- (Sub)Genus Chloris ? greenfinches and Desert Finch
- (Sub)Genus Acanthis ? redpolls (related to Loxia)
- (Sub)Genus Loxia ? crossbills
- Genus Serinus sensu lato ? canaries, African seedeaters, serins and African
siskins
- Carduelinae incertae sedis
- Genus Pyrrhoplectes ? Gold-naped Finch
- Genus Chaunoproctus ? Bonin Grosbeak (extinct: 1830s)
- Genus Callacanthis ? Spectacled Finch
- Genus Neospiza ? Sao Tom? Grosbeak
- Typical grosbeaks
- Subfamily Drepanidinae ? Hawaiian honeycreepers. Endemic to the Hawaiian Islands; formerly often treated as a separate family.
- Some 10-12 living genera, about 7 recently extinct
- Subfamily Euphoniinae ? Euphonious finches. Endemic to the Neotropics; formerly placed in Thraupidae.
- Genus Euphonia ? euphonias
- Genus Chlorophonia ? chlorophonias
Footnotes
The true finches are passerine birds in the family Fringillidae. They are predominantly seed-eating songbirds. Most are native to the Northern 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 or estrildid finches (family Passeridae, subfamily ) 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
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
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 auth ors have often merged the buntings and American sparrow family (Emberizidae) ? 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 Polg?rdi in Hungary.[3]
Subfamilies and genera
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]
- Subfamily Fringillinae ? fringilline finches. Three species, which feed their young on insects and few if any seed
- Genus Fringilla
- Subfamily Carduelinae ? cardueline finches. A much larger group that contains several genera which feed their young mainly on seeds. This subfamily consists of several well-defined clades.
- Typical grosbeaks
- Genus Eophona ? Oriental grosbeaks
- Genus Coccothraustes ? Holarctic grosbeaks (polyphyletic?)
- Genus Mycerobas ? Mycerobas grosbeaks
- American rosefinches
- Genus "Carpodacus" ? House Finch, Cassin's Finch, and Purple Finch
- Bullfinches
- Genus Pinicola ? Pine Grosbeak
- Genus Pyrrhula ? bullfinches
- Arid-zone clade
- Genus Leucosticte ? mountain finches
- Genus N.N. ? Dark-breasted Rosefinch, "Carpodacus" nipalensis
- Genus Rhodopechys ? Trumpeter Finch and relatives
- Asian rosefinches
- Genus Carpodacus ? rosefinches (Genus in need of substantial revision. May consist of two or more genera; alternatively may include Haematospiza and Uragus)
- Genus Haematospiza ? Scarlet Finch
- Genus Uragus ? streaked rosefinches
- Goldfinch-canary-crossbill clade (Carduelis and Serinus are polyphyletic and are probably best regarded as a collection of independent sub-groups or genera.)
- Genus Serinus sensu lato ? canaries, African seedeaters, serins and African
siskins
- (Sub)Genus Serinus sensu stricto ? European Serin and relatives (possibly related to Spinus)
- (Sub)Genus Crithagra ? Afrotropical canaries, African seedeaters, citrils (probably only distantly related to Serinus)
- Genus Linurgus ? Oriole Finch (possibly basal to Crithagra)
- Genus Rhynchostruthus ? golden-winged grosbeaks (tentatively placed here)
- Genus "Serinus" thibetanus ? Tibetan Serin (probably related to Spinus and Serinus sensu stricto)
- Genus Carduelis sensu lato
- (Sub)Genus Carduelis sensu stricto ? European Goldfinch, Citril Finch and Corsican Finch (probably only distantly related to Spinus)
- (Sub)Genus Spinus ? siskins and American goldfinches
- (Sub)Genus Linaria ? linnets and twite (related to Spinus)
- (Sub)Genus Chloris ? greenfinches and Desert Finch
- (Sub)Genus Acanthis ? redpolls (related to Loxia)
- (Sub)Genus Loxia ? crossbills
- Genus Serinus sensu lato ? canaries, African seedeaters, serins and African
siskins
- Carduelinae incertae sedis
- Genus Pyrrhoplectes ? Gold-naped Finch
- Genus Chaunoproctus ? Bonin Grosbeak (extinct: 1830s)
- Genus Callacanthis ? Spectacled Finch
- Genus Neospiza ? Sao Tom? Grosbeak
- Typical grosbeaks
- Subfamily Drepanidinae ? Hawaiian honeycreepers. Endemic to the Hawaiian Islands; formerly often treated as a separate family.
- Some 10-12 living genera, about 7 recently extinct
- Subfamily Euphoniinae ? Euphonious finches. Endemic to the Neotropics; formerly placed in Thraupidae.
- Genus Euphonia ? euphonias
- Genus Chlorophonia ? chlorophonias
Footnotes
References
- Arnaiz-Villena, A.; ?lvarez-Tejado, M.; Ruiz-del-Valle, V.; Garc?a-de-la-Torre, C.; Varela, P.; Recio, M. J.; Ferre. S. & Mart?nez-Laso, J (1998). "Phylogeny and rapid Northern and Southern Hemisphere speciation of goldfinches during the Miocene and Pliocene Epochs"(PDF). Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, 54(9): 1031?1041. doi:10.1007/s000180050230 PMID 9791543 . Erratum, Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences 55(1): 148. doi:10.1007/s000180050280 PDF fulltext
- Arnaiz-Villena, A.; Guill?n, J.; Ruiz-del-Valle, V.; Lowy, E.; Zamora, J.; Varela, P.; Stefani, D.; Allende, L.M. (2001). "Phylogeography of crossbills, bullfinches, grosbeaks, and rosefinches"(PDF). Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences 58(8): 1159?1166.doi:10.1007/PL00000930 PMID 11529508
- Arnaiz-Villena, A.; Moscoso, J.; Ruiz-del-Valle, V.; Gonzalez, J.; Reguera, R.; Wink, M.; Serrano-Vela, J.I. (2007). "Bayesian phylogeny of Fringillinae birds: status of the singular African oriole finch Linurgus olivaceus and evolution and heterogeneity of the genus Carpodacus"(PDF). Acta Zoologica Sinica, 53(5): 826-834.
- Arnaiz-Villena, A.; Moscoso, J.; Ruiz-del-Valle, V.; Gonzalez, J.; Reguera, R.; Ferri, A.; Wink, M. & Serrano-Vela, J.I. (2008). "Mitochondrial DNA Phylogenetic Definition of a Group of 'Arid-Zone' Carduelini Finches"(PDF). Open Ornithology Journal 1: 1?7. doi: 10.2174/1874453200801010001
- Clement, Peter; Harris, Alan & Davis, John (1993): Finches and Sparrows: an identification guide. Christopher Helm, London. ISBN 0-7136-8017-2
- Groth, J. (2000): Molecular evidence for the systematic position of Urocynchramus pylzowi. Auk 117(3): 787-792. DOI:10.1642/0004-8038(2000)117[0787:MEFTSP]2.0.CO;2 HTML abstract
- H?r, J?nos; K?kay, J?zsef; Venczel, M?rton; G?l, Erika & Kessler, Eug?n (2001): El?zetes besz?mol? a fels?t?rk?nyi "G?d?r-kert" n. ?sl?nytani lel?helykomplex ?jravizsg?lat?r?l [A preliminary report on the revised investigation of the paleontological locality-complex "G?d?r-kert" at Fels?t?rk?ny, Northern Hungary)] Folia Historico Naturalia Musei Matraensis 25: 41-64 [Hungarian with English abstract]. PDF fulltext
- J?nsson, Knud A. & Fjelds?, Jon (2006): A phylogenetic supertree of oscine passerine birds (Aves: Passeri). Zool. Scripta 35(2): 149?186. doi:10.1111/j.1463-6409.2006.00221.x (HTML abstract)
- Marten, Jill A. & Johnson, Ned K. (1986): Genetic relationships of North American cardueline finches. Condor 88(4): 409-420. DjVu fulltext PDF fulltext
- Ml?kovsk?, Jir? (2002): Cenozoic Birds of the World (Part 1: Europe). Ninox Press, Prague. ISBN 80-901105-3-8 PDF fulltext
- Newton, Ian (1973): Finches (New Naturalist series). Taplinger Publishing. ISBN 0-8008-2720-1
Taxonomy
The Family Fringillidae is a member of the Superfamily Passeroidea. Here is the complete "parentage" of Fringillidae:
- Domain: Eukaryota
Whittaker & Margulis,1978 - eukaryotes
- Kingdom: Animalia
C. Linnaeus, 1758 - animals
- Subkingdom: Bilateria
(Hatschek, 1888) Cavalier-Smith, 1983 - bilaterians
- Branch: Deuterostomia
Grobben, 1908 - Deuterostomes
- Infrakingdom: Chordonia
(Haeckel, 1874) Cavalier-Smith, 1998
- Phylum: Chordata
Bateson, 1885 - Chordates
- Subphylum: Vertebrata
Cuvier, 1812 - Vertebrates
- Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
auct. - Jawed Vertebrates
- Superclass: Tetrapoda
Goodrich, 1930 - Tetrapods
- Class: Sauropsida
Linnaeus, 1758
- Subclass: Avialae
Gauthier, 1986
- Infraclass: Aves
(C. Linnaeus, 1758) - Birds
- Cohort: Neognathae
Pycraft, 1900
- Superorder: Passerimorphae
Sibley et al., 1988
- Order: Passeriformes
C. Linnaeus, 1758 - Perching Birds
- Suborder: Passeres
(C. Linnaeus, 1758) C. Linnaeus, 1766
- Parvorder: Passerida
- Superfamily: Passeroidea
- Family: Fringillidae - Finches, gros-becs, Hawaiian Honeycreepers, moineaux, Old World Finches, roselins
- Superfamily: Passeroidea
- Parvorder: Passerida
- Suborder: Passeres
(C. Linnaeus, 1758) C. Linnaeus, 1766
- Order: Passeriformes
C. Linnaeus, 1758 - Perching Birds
- Superorder: Passerimorphae
Sibley et al., 1988
- Cohort: Neognathae
Pycraft, 1900
- Infraclass: Aves
(C. Linnaeus, 1758) - Birds
- Subclass: Avialae
Gauthier, 1986
- Class: Sauropsida
Linnaeus, 1758
- Superclass: Tetrapoda
Goodrich, 1930 - Tetrapods
- Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
auct. - Jawed Vertebrates
- Subphylum: Vertebrata
Cuvier, 1812 - Vertebrates
- Phylum: Chordata
Bateson, 1885 - Chordates
- Infrakingdom: Chordonia
(Haeckel, 1874) Cavalier-Smith, 1998
- Branch: Deuterostomia
Grobben, 1908 - Deuterostomes
- Subkingdom: Bilateria
(Hatschek, 1888) Cavalier-Smith, 1983 - bilaterians
- Kingdom: Animalia
C. Linnaeus, 1758 - animals
The Family Fringillidae is further organized into finer groupings including:
- Subfamily (4): Carduelinae · Drepanidinae · Emberizinae · Fringillinae
- Tribe (4): Carduelini · Drepanidini · Parulini · Thraupini
- Genus (64): Acanthis · Aidemedia · Akialoa · Astragalinus · Bucanetes · Callacanthis · Carduelis · Carpodacus · Catamblyrhynchus · Chaunoproctus · Chloridops · Chlorophonia · Chlorothraupis · Chlorura · Ciridops · Citrinella · Coccothraustes · Coccothraustres · Corpodacus · Crithagra · Crucirostra · Drepanis · Dysmorodrepanis · Eophona · Eremopsaltria · Fringilla · Granatellus · Haematospiza · Hemignathus · Hesperiphona · Himatione · Kozlowia · Leucosticte · Linurgus · Loxia · Loxioides · Loxops · Melamprosops · Mycerobas · Neospiza · Oreomystis · Orthiospiza · Palmeria · Paroreomyza · Phaenicophilus · Pinicola · Pseudonestor · Psittirostra · Pyrrhoplectes · Pyrrhula · Rhodacanthis · Rhodinocichla · Rhodopechys · Rhodospiza · Rhynchostruthus · Serinus · Spindalis · Spinus · Telespiza · Uragus · Vangulifer · Vestiaria · Viridonia · Xestospiza
- Species: ZipcodeZoo has pages for 936 species and subspecies in the Family Fringillidae.
Genera
Acanthis
Acanthis (not to be confused with Acanthus) may be: [more]
Aidemedia
Akialoa
Hemignathus is a Hawaiian honeycreeper genus in the finch family, Fringillidae. These birds are endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. [more]
Astragalinus
Bucanetes
Callacanthis
The Spectacled Finch (Callacanthis burtoni) is a species of finch in the Fringillidae family. It is found in Afghanistan, India, Nepal, and Pakistan. Its natural habitat is temperate forests with a lush landscape. [more]
Carduelis
The genus 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 birds in the finch family Fringillidae. Most Carpodacus species are called "rosefinches", but the three North American species are simply called "finches". As the names imply, various shades of red are the characteristic plumage colors of this group. The Common Rosefinch is frequently called the "rosefinch". [more]
Catamblyrhynchus
The Plushcap (Catamblyrhynchus diadema) is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family. It is the only member of its genus Catamblyrhynchus. [more]
Chaunoproctus
The Bonin Grosbeak or Bonin Islands Grosbeak (Chaunoproctus ferreorostris) is an extinct 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 Big Island of Hawaii and one that inhabited Kauai, Oahu and Maui. The genus includes the following three species: [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]
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
Ciridops
Ciridops is an extinct genus of Hawaiian honeycreeper 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]
Citrinella
Coccothraustes
Coccothraustes is a genus of large containing three species: [more]
Coccothraustres
Corpodacus
Crithagra
Crucirostra
Drepanis
A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[1] [more]
Dysmorodrepanis
The Lanai Hookbill (Dysmorodrepanis munroi) is an extinct species of finch in the Hawaiian honeycreeper subfamily, Drepanidinae. It was endemic to the island of Lana?i in Hawai?i, and became extinct due to habitat loss. It was last seen in the Kaiholena Valley and Waiakeakua area of the island. G.C. Munro collected a single specimen of this species on in 1913, which is housed in the Bernice P. Bishop Museum in Honolulu. No specimens have been seen since 1918. [more]
Eophona
The Oriental grosbeaks (Eophona) are a genus of finches containing two species: [more]
Eremopsaltria
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]
Granatellus
Granatellus is a genus of bird previously placed in the family Parulidae, although biochemical evidence suggests it belongs in Cardinalidae., a move followed by the American Ornithologists' Union in 2009. [more]
Haematospiza
The Scarlet Finch (Haematospiza sipahi) is a species of finch in the Fringillidae family. It is found in the Himalayas from central Nepal eastwards to Vietnam and is found spottily in the adjacent hills of Northeast India and Southeast Asia as far south as Thailand. It is resident in the Himalayas, but many birds winter to the immediate south. Its natural habitat is temperate forests. [more]
Hemignathus
Hesperiphona
Coccothraustes is a genus of large containing three species: [more]
Himatione
Kozlowia
Leucosticte
The mountain finches are birds 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.[2] [more]
Loxia
The crossbill is a bird in the finch 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]
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]
Melamprosops
The Poouli or Black-faced Honeycreeper (Melamprosops phaeosoma ) is a critically endangered and possibly extinct bird species that is endemic to Hawai?i. It is considered to be a member of the Drepanidinae (Hawaiian honeycreeper) subfamily, and is the only member of its genus Melamprosops. Po'ouli are brown above, greyish-white below, with broad black mask extending behind eye. Adults are silvery-grey above mask, shading into brown of crown, with bold, pale patch just behind mask. Juveniles are similar but buffier below with smaller mask and without grey above. Most earlier published images of the Po'ouli were of the juvenile plumage. [more]
Mycerobas
The Mycerobas grosbeaks are a genus of finch in the Fringillidae family. They are colorful finches and are (at 20?23 cm) the largest species in the family. The genus contains the following species: [more]
Neospiza
A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[3] [more]
Oreomystis
Oreomystis is a genus of in the Fringillidae family. It contains the following species: [more]
Orthiospiza
The Highland Finch (Orthiospiza howarthi) is an extinct 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]
Palmeria
A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[4] [more]
Paroreomyza
Paroreomyza is a genus of in the Fringillidae family. It contains the following species: [more]
Phaenicophilus
Phaenicophilus is a genus of in the Thraupidae family. It contains the following species: [more]
Pinicola
Pinicola is a possibly monotypic 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]
Pseudonestor
Pseudonestor is a genus of in the Fringillidae family. It contains the following species: [more]
Psittirostra
The o?u " class="IPA">['?o??u?]) (Psittirostra psittacea), is a critically endangered 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]
Pyrrhoplectes
The Golden-naped Finch (Pyrrhoplectes epauletta) is a species of finch in the Fringillidae family. It is in the is monotypic genus Pyrrhoplectes. [more]
Pyrrhula
Pyrrhula is a small genus of passerine birds, commonly called Bullfinches, belonging to the finch family (Fringillidae). [more]
Rhodacanthis
Rhodacanthis is an extinct 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 pods of legumes. The two species that became extinct in the 1890s, R. flaviceps and R. palmeri, inhabited upper elevation mesic forests dominated by koa (Acacia koa) on the island of Hawaii. Both were large birds; R. flaviceps measured 19 cm (7.5 in), while R. palmeri was 23 cm (9.1 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 shrublands on Kaua?i, Maui, and O?ahu. 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 bird in the Thraupidae family, where it belongs to the presently monotypic genus Rhodinocichla.[] [more]
Rhodopechys
Rhodopechys is a genus of finches containing the following species: [more]
Rhodospiza
A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[5] [more]
Rhynchostruthus
The genus 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]
Serinus
The genus Serinus is a large genus of birds 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]
Spindalis
Spindalis is a genus consisting of 4 non-migratory bird species. The genus is considered endemic to the Greater Antilles; a population on Cozumel Island, off the Yucat?n Peninsula's east coast, is part of that island's West Indian fauna. Traditionally considered aberrant tanagers they are in the family Cardinalidae [more]
Spinus
A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[6] [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]
Uragus
The Long-tailed Rosefinch (Uragus sibiricus) is a species of finch of the Fringillidae family, in the presently monotypic genus Uragus. Some other rosefinches might eventually be moved there, however. [more]
Vangulifer
Vestiaria
The I?iwi or Scarlet Hawaiian Honeycreeper (Vestiaria coccinea) is a Hawaiian "hummingbird-niched" species, of the Hawaiian honeycreepers, subfamily, Drepanidinae, and the only member of the genus Vestiaria. It is one of the most plentiful species of this family, many of which are endangered or extinct. The ?i?iwi is a highly recognizable symbol of Hawai?i. The ?i?iwi is the third most common native land bird in the Hawaiian Islands. Large colonies of ?i?iwi inhabit the islands of Hawai?i and Kaua?i, with smaller colonies on Moloka?i and O?ahu. ?I?iwi were extirpated from Lana?i in 1929. Altogether, the remaining populations total 350,000 individuals, but are decreasing. [more]
Viridonia
A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[7] [more]
Xestospiza
Xestospiza is a genus containing two species of birds with cone-shaped bills that were described on the basis of fossils. They were possibly insectivores. It consists of the following: [more]
More info about the Genus Xestospiza may be found here.
References
- Arnaiz-Villena, A.; ?lvarez-Tejado, M.; Ruiz-del-Valle, V.; Garc?a-de-la-Torre, C.; Varela, P.; Recio, M. J.; Ferre. S. & Mart?nez-Laso, J (1998). "Phylogeny and rapid Northern and Southern Hemisphere speciation of goldfinches during the Miocene and Pliocene Epochs"(PDF). Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, 54(9): 1031?1041. doi:10.1007/s000180050230 PMID 9791543 . Erratum, Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences 55(1): 148. doi:10.1007/s000180050280 PDF fulltext
- Arnaiz-Villena, A.; Guill?n, J.; Ruiz-del-Valle, V.; Lowy, E.; Zamora, J.; Varela, P.; Stefani, D.; Allende, L.M. (2001). "< a href="http://www.springerlink.com/content/lc24a9vybanmw0gq/fulltext.pdf">Phylogeography of crossbills, bullfinches, grosbeaks, and rosefinches"(PDF). Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences 58(8): 1159?1166.doi:10.1007/PL00000930 PMID 11529508
- Arnaiz-Villena, A.; Moscoso, J.; Ruiz-del-Valle, V.; Gonzalez, J.; Reguera, R.; Wink, M.; Serrano-Vela, J.I. (2007). "Bayesian phylogeny of Fringillinae birds: status of the singular African oriole finch Linurgus olivaceus and evolution and heterogeneity of the genus Carpodacus"(PDF). Acta Zoologica Sinica, 53(5): 826-834.
- Arnaiz-Villena, A.; Moscoso, J.; Ruiz-del-Valle, V.; Gonzalez, J.; Reguera, R.; Ferri, A.; Wink, M. & Serrano-Vela, J.I. (2008). "Mitochondrial DNA Phylogenetic Definition of a Group of 'Arid-Zone' Carduelini Finches"(PDF). Open Ornithology Journal 1: 1?7. doi: 10.2174/1874453200801010001
- Clement, Peter; Harris, Alan & Davis, John (1993): Finches and Sparrows: an identification guide. Christopher Helm, London. ISBN 0-7136-8017-2
- Groth, J. (2000): Molecular evidence for the systematic position of Urocynchramus pylzowi. Auk 117(3): 787-792. DOI:10.1642/0004-8038(2000)117[0787:MEFTSP]2.0.CO;2 HTML abstract
- H?r, J?nos; K?kay, J?zsef; Venczel, M?rton; G?l, Erika & Kessler, Eug?n (2001): El?zetes besz?mol? a fels?t?rk?nyi "G?d?r-kert" n. ?sl?nytani lel?helykomplex ?jravi zsg?lat?r?l [A preliminary report on the revised investigation of the paleontological locality-complex "G?d?r-kert" at Fels?t?rk?ny, Northern Hungary)] Folia Historico Naturalia Musei Matraensis 25: 41-64 [Hungarian with English abstract]. PDF fulltext
- J?nsson, Knud A. & Fjelds?, Jon (2006): A phylogenetic supertree of oscine passerine birds (Aves: Passeri). Zool. Scripta 35(2): 149?186. doi:10.1111/j.1463-6409.2006.00221.x (HTML abstract)
- Marten, Jill A. & Johnson, Ned K. (1986): Genetic relationships of North American cardueline finches. Condor 88(4): 409-420. DjVu fulltext PDF fulltext
- Ml?kovsk?, Jir? (2002): Cenozoic Birds of the World (Part 1: Europe). Ninox Press, Prague. ISBN 80-901105-3-8 PDF fulltext
- Newton, Ian (1973): Finches (New Naturalist series). Taplinger Publishing. ISBN 0-8008-2720-1
Further reading
- Groth, J. G. 1994. A mitochondrial cytochrome b phylogeny of cardueline finches. Journal f?r Ornithologie, 135: 31.
- Groth, J. G. 1998. Molecular phylogeny of the cardueline finches and Hawaiian honeycreepers. Ostrich, 69: 401.
- Klicka, J., K.P. Johnson, and S.M. Lanyon. 2000. New World nine-primaried oscine relationships: Constructing a mitochondrial DNA framework. Auk 117:321-336.
- Ryan, P.G., Wright, D., Oatley, G., Wakeling, J., Cohen, C., Nowell, T.L., Bowie, R.C.K., Ward, V. & Crowe, T.M. 2004. Systematics of Serinus canaries and the st atus of Cape and Yellow-crowned Canaries inferred from mtDNA and morphology. Ostrich 75:288-294.
- Treplin, S. 2006. Inference of phylogenetic relationships in passerine birds (Aves: Passeriformes) using new molecular markers. (Dissertation - available online) http://opus.kobv.de/ubp/volltexte/2006/1123/pdf/treplin_diss.pdf.
- Yuri, T., and D. P. Mindell. 2002. Molecular phylogenetic analysis of Fringillidae, "New World nine-primaried oscines" (Aves: Passeriformes). Mol. Phylogen. Evol. 23:229-243.
External links
- Finch videos, photos and sounds on the Internet Bird Collection
- National Finch and Softbill Society A organization promoting breeding
Bibliography
- Jarocki, Zoologiia, 2, 75.
- Salvadori, Mem. Accad. Torino, (2) 53, 26.
- Temminck, Man. Orn., ed. 2, 1, l
- vi.
Footnotes
- http://www.ubio.org/browser/details.php?namebankID=993
- http://www.ubio.org/browser/details.php?namebankID=962
- http://www.ubio.org/browser/details.php?namebankID=961
- http://www.ubio.org/browser/details.php?namebankID=994
- http://www.ubio.org/browser/details.php?namebankID=22706
- http://www.ubio.org/browser/details.php?namebankID=22700
- http://www.ubio.org/browser/details.php?namebankID=22281
- ^ a b c Newton (1973), Clement et al. (1993)
- ^ Clement et al. (1993), Groth (2000), Jønsson & Fjeldså (2006), Arnaiz-Villena et al. (2007)
- ^ Hír et al. (2001), Mlíkovský (2002)
- ^ Marten & Johnson (1986), Arnaiz-Villena et al. (1998, 2001, 2007, 2008)
Further Reading
- Groth, J. G. 1994. A mitochondrial cytochrome b phylogeny of cardueline finches. Journal f?r Ornithologie, 135: 31.
- Groth, J. G. 1998. Molecular phylogeny of the cardueline finches and Hawaiian honeycreepers. Ostrich, 69: 401.
- Klicka, J., K.P. Johnson, and S.M. Lanyon. 2000. New World nine-primaried oscine relationships: Constructing a mitochondrial DNA framework. Auk 117:321-336.
- Ryan, P.G., Wright, D., Oatley, G., Wakeling, J., Cohen, C., Nowell, T.L., Bowie, R.C.K., Ward, V. & Crowe, T.M. 2004. Systematics of Serinus canaries and the status of Cape and Yellow-crowned Canaries inferred from mtDNA and morphology. Ostrich 75:288-294.
- Treplin, S. 2006. Inference of phylogenetic relationships in passerine birds (Aves: Passeriformes) using new molecular markers. (Dissertation - available online) http://opus.kobv.de/ubp/volltexte/2006/1123/pdf/treplin_diss.pdf.
- Yuri, T., and D. P. Mindell. 2002. Molecular phylogenetic analysis of Fringillidae, "New World nine-primaried oscines" (Aves: Passeriformes). Mol. Phylogen. Evol. 23:229-243.
External links
- Finch videos, photos and sounds on the Internet Bird Collection
- National Finch and Softbill Society A organization promoting breeding
Sources
- The text on this page is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It includes material from Wikipedia retrieved Wednesday, April 25, 2012.
- The distribution map on the Distribution tab comes from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility and is used with permission.
- Photographs on this page are copyrighted by individual photographers, and individual copyrights apply.
- The technology underlying this page, including the controls behind Keep Exploring, is owned by the BayScience Foundation. All rights are reserved.
