The
Cardinals or
Cardinalidae are a
familyIn biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
of
passerineA passerine is a bird of the order Passeriformes, which includes more than half of all bird species. Sometimes known as perching birds or, less accurately, as songbirds, the passerines form one of the most diverse terrestrial vertebrate orders: with over 5,000 identified species, it has roughly...
birdBirds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
s found in
NorthNorth America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
and
South AmericaSouth America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
. The South American cardinals in the
genusIn biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
ParoariaParoaria, the red-headed cardinals or cardinal-tanagers , are a genus of tanagers. They were until recently placed in the family Emberizidae.Five or six species are placed here...
are placed in another family, the Thraupidae (previously placed in
EmberizidaeThe Emberizidae are a large family of passerine birds. They are seed-eating birds with a distinctively shaped bill.In Europe, most species are called buntings. In North America, most of the species in this family are known as sparrows, but these birds are not closely related to the sparrows, the...
).
These are robust, seed-eating birds with strong bills. The family ranges in size from the 12-cm, 11.5-gram
Orange-breasted BuntingThe Orange-breasted Bunting is a species of bird in the Cardinalidae family.It is endemic to Mexico.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and subtropical or tropical dry shrubland. It is more abundant in second growth than in undisturbed forest...
to the 25-cm, 85-gram
Black-headed SaltatorThe Black-headed Saltator, Saltator atriceps, is a seedeating bird. Traditionally placed in the cardinal family , it actually seems to be closer to the tanagers . It breeds from central Mexico to eastern Panama....
. They are typically associated with open
woodlandEcologically, a woodland is a low-density forest forming open habitats with plenty of sunlight and limited shade. Woodlands may support an understory of shrubs and herbaceous plants including grasses. Woodland may form a transition to shrubland under drier conditions or during early stages of...
. The sexes usually have distinctive appearances; the family is named for the red
plumageFeathers are one of the epidermal growths that form the distinctive outer covering, or plumage, on birds and some non-avian theropod dinosaurs. They are considered the most complex integumentary structures found in vertebrates, and indeed a premier example of a complex evolutionary novelty. They...
(colored
cardinalCardinal is a vivid red, which gets its name from the cassocks worn by Catholic cardinals...
like the color of a
Catholic cardinalA cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
's vestments) of males of the
type speciesIn biological nomenclature, a type species is both a concept and a practical system which is used in the classification and nomenclature of animals and plants. The value of a "type species" lies in the fact that it makes clear what is meant by a particular genus name. A type species is the species...
, the
Northern CardinalThe Northern Cardinal or Redbird or Common Cardinal is a North American bird in the genus Cardinalis. It can be found in southern Canada, through the eastern United States from Maine to Texas and south through Mexico...
.
The "buntings" in this family are sometimes generically known as "tropical buntings" (though not all live in the
tropicsThe tropics is a region of the Earth surrounding the Equator. It is limited in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the northern hemisphere at approximately N and the Tropic of Capricorn in the southern hemisphere at S; these latitudes correspond to the axial tilt of the Earth...
) or "North American buntings" (though there are other buntings in North America) to distinguish them from the true
buntingBuntings are a group of Eurasian and African passerine birds of the family Emberizidae.They are seed-eating birds with stubby, conical bills, and are the Old World equivalents of the species known in North America as sparrows...
s. Likewise the
grosbeakGrosbeak is a form taxon containing several species of seed-eating passerine birds with large beaks. Although they all belong to the superfamily Passeroidea, they are not a natural group but rather a polyphyletic assemblage of distantly related songbirds....
s in this family are sometimes called "cardinal-grosbeaks" to distinguish them from other grosbeaks. The name "cardinal-grosbeak" can also apply to this family as a whole.
Most species are rated by the IUCN as
least concernLeast Concern is an IUCN category assigned to extant taxon or lower taxa which have been evaluated but do not qualify for any other category. As such they do not qualify as threatened, Near Threatened, or Conservation Dependent...
, though some are
near threatenedNear Threatened is a conservation status assigned to species or lower taxa that may be considered threatened with extinction in the near future, although it does not currently qualify for the threatened status...
.
Species list
1) "Masked" clade:
- Genus Periporphyrus
- Red-and-black Grosbeak
The Red-And-Black Grosbeak is a species of cardinal in the Cardinalidae family.It is found in Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests....
, Periporphyrus erythromelas
- Genus Caryothraustes
- Black-faced Grosbeak
The Black-faced Grosbeak, Caryothraustes poliogaster, is a large seed-eating bird in the cardinal family, which is a resident breeding species from southeastern Mexico to eastern Panama....
, Caryothraustes poliogaster
- Yellow-green Grosbeak
The Yellow-Green Grosbeak is a species of cardinal in the Cardinalidae family.It is found in Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Suriname, and Venezuela....
, Caryothraustes canadensis
- Genus Rhodothraupis
- Crimson-collared Grosbeak
The Crimson-collared Grosbeak is a medium-size seed- and leaf-eating bird in the same family as the Northern Cardinal, Cardinalidae....
, Rhodothraupis celaeno
- Genus Cardinalis
- Northern Cardinal
The Northern Cardinal or Redbird or Common Cardinal is a North American bird in the genus Cardinalis. It can be found in southern Canada, through the eastern United States from Maine to Texas and south through Mexico...
, Cardinalis cardinalis
- Pyrrhuloxia
The Pyrrhuloxia or Desert Cardinal is a medium-sized North American song bird found in the American southwest and northern Mexico...
, Cardinalis sinuatus
- Vermilion Cardinal
The Vermilion Cardinal is a species in the cardinal family . It is found in Colombia and Venezuela.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry shrubland.-References:...
, Cardinalis phoeniceus
- Genus Piranga
Piranga is a genus of birds long placed in the tanager family, but now considered relatives of the Cardinalis cardinals.Similar in shape and habits to the true tanagers, their coloration betrays their actual relationships. They are essentially red, orange or yellow all over, except the tail and...
(from Thraupidae)
- Rose-throated Tanager
The Rose-throated Tanager is a medium-sized American songbird. Formerly placed in the tanager family , it and other members of its genus are now classified in the cardinal family...
, Piranga roseogularis
- Hepatic Tanager
The Hepatic Tanager, Piranga flava, is a medium-sized American songbird. Formerly placed in the tanager family , it and other members of its genus are now classified in the cardinal family...
, Piranga flava
- Scarlet Tanager
The Scarlet Tanager is a medium-sized American songbird. Formerly placed in the tanager family , it and other members of its genus are now classified in the cardinal family . The species's plumage and vocalizations are similar to other members of the cardinal family.-Description:Adults have pale...
, Piranga olivacea
- Summer Tanager
The Summer Tanager, Piranga rubra, is a medium-sized American songbird. Formerly placed in the tanager family , it and other members of its genus are now classified in the cardinal family...
, Piranga rubra
- Western Tanager
The Western Tanager, Piranga ludoviciana, is a medium-sized American songbird. Formerly placed in the tanager family , it and other members of its genus are now classified in the cardinal family...
, Piranga ludoviciana
- Flame-colored Tanager
The Flame-colored Tanager, Piranga bidentata, formerly known as the Stripe-backed Tanager, is a medium-sized American songbird. Formerly placed in the tanager family , it and other members of its genus are now classified in the cardinal family...
, Piranga bidentata
- White-winged Tanager
The White-winged Tanager is a medium-sized American songbird. Formerly placed in the tanager family , it and other members of its genus are now classified in the cardinal family . The species's plumage and vocalizations are similar to other members of the cardinal family...
, Piranga leucoptera
- Red-headed Tanager
The Red-headed Tanager , is a medium-sized American songbird. Formerly placed in the tanager family , it and other members of its genus are now classified in the cardinal family . The species's plumage and vocalizations are similar to other members of the cardinal family...
, Piranga erythrocephala
- Red-hooded Tanager
The Red-hooded Tanager , is a medium-sized American songbird. Formerly placed in the tanager family , it and other members of its genus are now classified in the cardinal family . The species's plumage and vocalizations are similar to other members of the cardinal family...
, Piranga rubriceps
2) "Blue" clade:
- Genus Amaurospiza
Amaurospiza is a genus of birds. These "seedeaters" were formerly associated with the American sparrows and placed in the Emberizidae or the Fringillidae. The generic name is derived from the Ancient Greek amauros + spiza .Actually, they are part of the tanager-cardinal lineage...
(from EmberizidaeThe Emberizidae are a large family of passerine birds. They are seed-eating birds with a distinctively shaped bill.In Europe, most species are called buntings. In North America, most of the species in this family are known as sparrows, but these birds are not closely related to the sparrows, the...
)
- Blue Seedeater
The Blue Seedeater is a species of bird in the family Cardinalidae. It was formerly placed with the American sparrows in the Emberizidae. It is found in highland forest and woodland, mainly near bamboo, in southern Mexico and Central America with a disjunct population in south-western Colombia,...
, Amaurospiza concolor
- Carrizal Seedeater
The Carrizal Seedeater, Amaurospiza carrizalensis, is a recently discovered species of seedeater. These are birds in the family Cardinalidae, long placed with the American sparrows in the Emberizidae....
, Amaurospiza carrizalensis
- Blackish-blue Seedeater
The Blackish-blue Seedeater is a species of bird in the family Cardinalidae. It was formerly placed with the American sparrows in the Emberizidae.It is found in Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay....
, Amaurospiza moesta
- Genus Cyanocompsa
- Ultramarine Grosbeak
The Ultramarine Grosbeak is a species of cardinal in the Cardinalidae family. It is found in a wide range of semi-open habitats in eastern and central South America, with a disjunct population in northern South America. The male closely resembles the Blue-black Grosbeak, while the females are...
, Cyanocompsa brissonii
- Blue Bunting
The Blue Bunting is a species of passerine bird found in northern Central America. Measuring in length with a wingspan of , it is one of the smaller members of its genus. Like most buntings, the Blue Bunting is sexually dimorphic...
, Cyanocompsa parellina
- Blue-black Grosbeak
The Blue-black Grosbeak is a species of songbird in the Cardinalidae family.It is found in Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela...
, Cyanocompsa cyanoides
- Genus Cyanoloxia
- Glaucous-blue Grosbeak, Cyanoloxia glaucocaerulea
- Genus Passerina, North American buntings
The genus Passerina is a group of birds in the Cardinal family Cardinalidae. Although not directly related to buntings in the family Emberizidae, they are sometimes known as the North American buntings .The males show vivid colours in the breeding season; the...
- Blue Grosbeak
Blue Grosbeak , is a medium-sized seed-eating bird in the same family as the Northern Cardinal, "tropical" or New World buntings, and "cardinal-grosbeaks" or New World grosbeaks....
, Passerina caerulea - sometimes separated in Guiraca
- Lazuli Bunting
The Lazuli Bunting, Passerina amoena, is a North American songbird named for the gemstone lapis lazuli.The male is easily recognized by its bright blue head and back , its conspicuous white wingbars, and its light rusty breast and white belly...
, Passerina amoena
- Indigo Bunting
The Indigo Bunting, Passerina cyanea, is a small seed-eating bird in the family Cardinalidae. It is migratory, ranging from southern Canada to northern Florida during the breeding season, and from southern Florida to northern South America during the winter. It often migrates by night, using the...
, Passerina cyanea
- Varied Bunting
The Varied Bunting is a species of songbird in the Cardinal family, Cardinalidae.The range of the Varied Bunting stretches from the southern parts of Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas in the United States south throughout Mexico as far as Oaxaca. Small disjunct populations occur in the state of...
, Passerina versicolor
- Painted Bunting
The Painted Bunting is a species of bird in the Cardinal family, Cardinalidae, that is native to North America.-Taxonomy:...
, Passerina ciris
- Rose-bellied Bunting
The Rose-bellied Bunting is a species of bird in the Cardinalidae family. It is also known as Rosita's Bunting....
, Passerina rositae
- Orange-breasted Bunting
The Orange-breasted Bunting is a species of bird in the Cardinalidae family.It is endemic to Mexico.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and subtropical or tropical dry shrubland. It is more abundant in second growth than in undisturbed forest...
, Passerina leclancherii
- Genus Spiza
- Dickcissel
The Dickcissel is a small American seed-eating bird in the family Cardinalidae. It is the only member of the genus Spiza, though some sources list another supposedly extinct species...
, Spiza americana
3) Ant-tanager clade:
- Genus Habia (from Thraupidae)
- Red-crowned Ant-tanager
The Red-crowned Ant-Tanager, Habia rubica, is a medium-sized passerine bird from tropical America. The genus Habia was long placed with the tanagers , but it is actually closer to the cardinals...
, Habia rubica
- Red-throated Ant-tanager
The Red-throated Ant-tanager, Habia fuscicauda, is a medium-sized passerine bird. This species is a resident breeder on the Caribbean slopes from southeastern Mexico to eastern Panama. It was usually considered an aberrant kind of tanager and placed in the Thraupidae, but is actually closer to the...
, Habia fuscicauda
- Sooty Ant-tanager
The Sooty Ant-tanager is a species of bird in the cardinal family ; formerly, it was placed with the true tanagers in the Thraupidae.It is endemic to Colombia...
, Habia gutturalis
- Black-cheeked Ant-tanager
The Black-cheeked Ant-tanager is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family. It is endemic to Costa Rica.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist shrubland. It is threatened by habitat loss.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. ...
, Habia atrimaxillaris
- Crested Ant-tanager
The Crested Ant-tanager is a songbird species. Though it was formerly placed in the tanager family , it is not actually a tanager. Today it is assigned to the cardinal family .It is endemic to Colombia...
, Habia cristata
- Genus Chlorothraupis
Chlorothraupis is a genus of bird in the family Cardinalidae. It was long considered to be tanagers as their common names suggest, but this is false...
(from Thraupidae)
- Olive Tanager
The Olive Tanager , also known as Carmiol's Tanager , is a species of bird traditionally placed in the family Thraupidae , though some recent evidence suggest it is better placed in Cardinalidae .It is often split into two species:* Carmiol's Tanager The Olive Tanager (Chlorothraupis carmioli),...
, Chlorothraupis carmioli
- Carmiol's Tanager, Chlorothraupis (c.) carmioli
- Olive Tanager, Chlorothraupis (c.) frenata
- Lemon-spectacled Tanager
The Lemon-spectacled Tanager is a species of bird in the Cardinalidae family.It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Panama....
, Chlorothraupis olivacea
- Ochre-breasted Tanager
The Ochre-breasted Tanager is a species of bird in the Cardinalidae family.It is found in Colombia and Ecuador.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montanes....
, Chlorothraupis stolzmanni
4) "Chat" clade:
- Genus 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.-Species:...
(from Parulidae)
- Red-breasted Chat
The Red-breasted Chat is a species of bird in the Cardinalidae family. It is endemic to Pacific slope thornforest in Mexico from Sinaloa to Chiapas.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests.-References:...
, Granatellus venustus
- Gray-throated Chat, Granatellus sallaei
- Rose-breasted Chat
The Rose-breasted Chat is a species of bird in the Cardinalidae family.It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests....
, Granatellus pelzelni
5) "Pheucticus" clade:
- Genus Pheucticus
- Yellow Grosbeak
The Yellow Grosbeak , Pheucticus chrysopeplus, is a medium-sized seed-eating bird in the same family as the Northern Cardinal, "tropical" or "New World" buntings, and "cardinal-grosbeaks" or "New World" grosbeaks....
, Pheucticus chrysopeplus
- Golden-bellied Grosbeak
The Golden-bellied Grosbeak or Southern Yellow-bellied Grosbeak, is a species of cardinal in the Cardinalidae family...
, Pheucticus chrysogaster
- Black-thighed Grosbeak
The Black-thighed Grosbeak, Pheucticus tibialis, is a large seed-eating bird in the cardinal family, which is endemic to the mountains of Costa Rica and western Panama....
, Pheucticus tibialis
- Black-backed Grosbeak
The Black-backed Grosbeak, Pheucticus aureoventris is a large finch type bird found in South America in Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru and Venezuela. They are often kept as cagebirds....
, Pheucticus aureoventris
- Rose-breasted Grosbeak
The Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Pheucticus ludovicianus, is a large seed-eating songbird in the cardinal family . It breeds in cool-temperate North America, migrating to tropical America in winter.-Description:...
, Pheucticus ludovicianus
- Black-headed Grosbeak
The Black-headed Grosbeak, Pheucticus melanocephalus, is a medium-size seed-eating bird in the same family as the Northern Cardinal, the Cardinalidae. It is sometimes considered conspecific with the Rose-breasted Grosbeak, P...
, Pheucticus melanocephalus
Incertae sedis - these birds traditionally placed in the cardinal family are biochemically related to various
tanagerThe tanagers comprise the bird family Thraupidae, in the order Passeriformes. The family has an American distribution.There were traditionally about 240 species of tanagers, but the taxonomic treatment of this family's members is currently in a state of flux...
(Thraupidae) groups:
- Genus Saltator, the saltator
Saltator is a genus of songbirds of the Americas. They are traditionally placed in the cardinal family but now seem to be closer to tanagers . Their English name is also saltator, except for two dark species known by the more general grosbeak.Saltator is Latin for "leaper" or "dancer"...
s (biochemical studies suggest the saltators may be a sister group to tanagers)
- Lesser Antillean Saltator
The Lesser Antillean Saltator is a species of songbird traditionally placed in the family Cardinalidae, but as it seems it is closer to the tanagers ....
, Saltator albicollis
- Streaked Saltator
The Streaked Saltator is a species of cardinal in the Cardinalidae family. It is found in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guadeloupe, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela.-References:...
, Saltator striatipectus
- Grayish Saltator
The Greyish Saltator, Saltator coerulescens, is a seed-eating songbird that is widespread in the tropical Americas. Traditionally placed in the cardinal family , the saltators actually seem to be closer to the tanagers...
, Saltator coerulescens
- Buff-throated Saltator
The Buff-throated Saltator, Saltator maximus, is a seedeating bird. Traditionally placed in the cardinal family , it actually seems to be closer to the tanagers . It breeds from southeastern Mexico to western Ecuador and northeastern Brazil.This is the type species of Saltator...
, Saltator maximus
- Black-headed Saltator
The Black-headed Saltator, Saltator atriceps, is a seedeating bird. Traditionally placed in the cardinal family , it actually seems to be closer to the tanagers . It breeds from central Mexico to eastern Panama....
, Saltator atriceps
- Slate-colored Grosbeak, Saltator grossus
- Black-throated Grosbeak
The Black-throated Grosbeak is a species of songbird. Traditionally placed in the cardinal family , it actually seems to be closer to the tanagers – see the genus article for details....
, Saltator fuliginosus
- Black-winged Saltator
The Black-winged Saltator is a South American songbird species. The saltators are traditionally placed in the cardinal family , but actually seem to be closer to tanagers ....
, Saltator atripennis
- Green-winged Saltator
The Green-winged Saltator is a species of cardinal in the Cardinalidae family.It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, and ranges into the southern cerrado and the pantanal....
, Saltator similis
- Orinocan Saltator
The Orinoco Saltator or Orinocan Saltator is a species of cardinal in the Cardinalidae family.It is found in Venezuela in areas west, north, and upon the Orinoco River region and to the Caribbean coast; also border regions in adjacent northeast Colombia...
, Saltator orenocensis
- Black-cowled Saltator
The Black-Cowled Saltator is a species of cardinal in the Cardinalidae family.It is found in the southern border region of Ecuador and the northern border region of Peru....
, Saltator nigriceps
- Golden-billed Saltator
The Golden-billed Saltator is a species of cardinal in the Emberizidae family.It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay; also the regions of the southern pantanal, along the Paraguay River.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests,...
, Saltator aurantiirostris
- Thick-billed Saltator
The Thick-billed Saltator is a species of saltator in the Cardinalidae family. It is found in highland Atlantic Forest in southeastern Brazil, far northeastern Argentina , and perhaps far eastern Paraguay...
, Saltator maxillosus
- Masked Saltator
The Masked Saltator is a species of cardinal in the Cardinalidae family.It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru...
, Saltator cinctus
- Black-throated Saltator
The Black-throated Saltator is a species of songbird. Traditionally placed in the Cardinalidae family, it probably belongs in the Thraupidae instead....
, Saltator atricollis
- Rufous-bellied Saltator
The Rufous-bellied Saltator is a species of songbird found in a few areas in the eastern Andes of southern Bolivia and extreme northern Argentina....
, Saltator? rufiventris - apparently a mountain-tanager
- Genus Porphyrospiza (this species appears to be related to the tanager species Band-tailed Sierra-finch
The Band-tailed Sierra-finch is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family.It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, and Peru....
)
- Yellow-billed Blue Finch
The Blue Finch or Yellow-billed Blue Finch is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family. Sometimes classified in the bunting and American sparrow family Emberizidae, a recent study has shown it to belong in the Thraupidae. It in the monotypic genus Porphyrospiza.It is found in Bolivia and Brazil....
, Porphyrospiza caerulescens
- Genus Parkerthraustes (this species appears to be a tanager
The tanagers comprise the bird family Thraupidae, in the order Passeriformes. The family has an American distribution.There were traditionally about 240 species of tanagers, but the taxonomic treatment of this family's members is currently in a state of flux...
)
- Yellow-shouldered Grosbeak
The Yellow-shouldered Grosbeak is a songbird species in the cardinal family , or possibly a tanager...
, Parkerthraustes humeralis
External links