Carduelinae
Encyclopedia
The cardueline finches are a subfamily, Carduelinae, one of at least three subfamilies of the finch family Fringillidae, the others being the Fringillinae and the Euphoniinae
. The Hawaiian honeycreeper
s are usually considered another subfamily, Drepanidinae, but they may be cardueline finches as well. Cardueline finches are specialised to eating seeds, and unlike most passerine birds, they feed their young mostly on seeds, which are regurgitated. Besides this, they differ from the other finches in some minor details of their skull. They are adept at opening seeds and clinging to stems, unlike other granivorous birds, such as sparrow
s and bunting
s, which feed mostly on fallen seeds. Some members of this subfamily are further specialised to feed on a particular type of seed, such as cones, in the case of crossbill
s. Carduelines forage in flocks throughout the year, rather than keeping territories, and males defend their females rather than a territory or nest.
The following genera are those usually considered the Carduelinae:
Euphoniinae
Euphoniinae is a subfamily of finches endemic to the Neotropics. It contains two genera, Euphonia and Chlorophonia.-Species list:SUBFAMILY EUPHONIINAE*Genus Euphonia: the euphonias** Jamaican Euphonia, ** Plumbeous Euphonia, ...
. The Hawaiian honeycreeper
Hawaiian honeycreeper
Hawaiian honeycreepers are small, passerine birds endemic to Hawaii. Some authorities still categorize this group as a family Drepanididae, but in recent years, most authorities consider them a subfamily, Drepanidinae, of Fringillidae, the finch family...
s are usually considered another subfamily, Drepanidinae, but they may be cardueline finches as well. Cardueline finches are specialised to eating seeds, and unlike most passerine birds, they feed their young mostly on seeds, which are regurgitated. Besides this, they differ from the other finches in some minor details of their skull. They are adept at opening seeds and clinging to stems, unlike other granivorous birds, such as sparrow
Sparrow
The sparrows are a family of small passerine birds, Passeridae. They are also known as true sparrows, or Old World sparrows, names also used for a genus of the family, Passer...
s and bunting
Bunting (bird)
Buntings 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, which feed mostly on fallen seeds. Some members of this subfamily are further specialised to feed on a particular type of seed, such as cones, in the case of crossbill
Crossbill
The crossbill is a bird in the finch family . The three to five 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...
s. Carduelines forage in flocks throughout the year, rather than keeping territories, and males defend their females rather than a territory or nest.
The following genera are those usually considered the Carduelinae:
-
- Typical grosbeakGrosbeakGrosbeak 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- Genus EophonaEophonaThe Oriental grosbeaks are a genus of finches containing two species:* Yellow-billed Grosbeak Eophona migratoria* Japanese Grosbeak Eophona personata- References :...
– Oriental grosbeaks - Genus CoccothraustesCoccothraustesCoccothraustes is a genus of large finches containing three species:* Hawfinch – Coccothraustes coccothraustes* Evening Grosbeak – Coccothraustes vespertinus* Hooded Grosbeak – Coccothraustes abeillei...
– Holarctic grosbeaks (polyphyletic?) - Genus MycerobasMycerobasThe Mycerobas grosbeaks are a genus of finch in the Fringillidae family. They are colorful finches and are the largest species in the family.The genus contains the following species:* Collared Grosbeak...
– Mycerobas grosbeaks
- Genus Eophona
- American rosefinches
- Genus "Carpodacus" – House FinchHouse FinchThe House Finch is a bird in the finch family Fringillidae, which is found in North America. This species and the other "American rosefinches" are usually placed in the rosefinch genus Carpodacus...
, Cassin's FinchCassin's FinchCassin's Finch is a bird in the finch family Fringillidae. This species and the other "American rosefinches" are usually placed in the rosefinch genus Carpodacus, but they likely belong in a distinct genus Burrica....
, and Purple FinchPurple FinchThe Purple Finch, Carpodacus purpureus, is a bird in the finch family Fringillidae.-Taxonomy:The Purple Finch is one of 24 birds in the genus Carpodacus and is included in the finch...
- Genus "Carpodacus" – House Finch
- Bullfinches
- Genus PinicolaPinicolaPinicola is a possibly monotypic genus of "grosbeaks" of the true finch family, Fringillidae. It is closely related to the true bullfinches and the Holarctic mountain finches .This genus contains at most two species:...
– Pine Grosbeak - Genus PyrrhulaPyrrhulaPyrrhula is a small genus of passerine birds, commonly called Bullfinches, belonging to the finch family .The genus has a palearctic distribution. All species occur in Asia with two species exclusively in the Himalayas and one species, P. pyrrhula, also occurring in Europe. The Azores Bullfinch...
– bullfinches
- Genus Pinicola
- Arid-zone clade
- Genus Leucosticte – mountain finches
- Genus N.N. – Dark-breasted RosefinchDark-breasted RosefinchThe Dark-breasted Rosefinch is a true finch species . It is one the most peculiar "rosefinches" and might belong in a monotypic genus Procarduelis, closer to Fringilla than to the true rosefinches.It is found in Bhutan, China, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Thailand, and Vietnam...
, "Carpodacus" nipalensis - Genus RhodopechysRhodopechysRhodopechys is a genus of finches containing the following species:* Crimson-winged Finch, Rhodopechys sanguineus** African Crimson-winged Finch, Rhodopechys sanguineus alienus* Trumpeter Finch, Rhodopechys githaginea...
– Trumpeter FinchTrumpeter FinchThe Trumpeter Finch is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae.This bird breeds in the Canary Islands, across north Africa, and in the Middle East and into central Asia. There is a small European population in southern Spain...
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
- Typical grosbeak
-
- Goldfinch-canary-crossbill clade (CarduelisCarduelisThe genus Carduelisis a large group of birds in the finch family Fringillidae. It includes the greenfinches, redpolls, goldfinches, linnets, the twite, and the non-African siskins...
and SerinusSerinusThe 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...
are polyphyletic and are probably best regarded as a collection of independent sub-groups or genera.)- Genus SerinusSerinusThe 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...
sensu lato – canaries, African seedeaterSeedeaterThe seedeaters are a form taxon of seed-eating passerine birds with a distinctively conical bill.Most are Central and South American birds that were formerly placed in the American sparrow family , but are now known to be tanagers closely related to Darwins finches...
s, serinSerínSerín is a district of the municipality of Gijón / Xixón, in Asturias, Spain.The population of Serín was 309 in 2004Serín is located on the western area of Gijón / Xixón, and borders the Asturian municipalities of Llanera, Corvera and Carreño.Barrios & Places:-External links:* - Gijón / Xixón...
s and African siskinSiskin-Birds:The name siskin when referring to a bird is derived from an adaptation of the German dialect words sisschen, zeischen, which are diminuative forms of Middle High German and Middle Low German words, which are themselves apparently of Slavic origin...
s- (Sub)Genus Serinus sensu stricto – European SerinEuropean SerinThe European Serin, or just Serin is the smallest European species of the family of finches and is closely related to the Canary. Its diet consists mainly of a combination of buds and seeds.-Description:...
and relatives (possibly related to Spinus) - (Sub)Genus Crithagra – Afrotropical canaries, African seedeaters, citrils (probably only distantly related to Serinus)
- (Sub)Genus Serinus sensu stricto – European Serin
- Genus Linurgus – Oriole Finch (possibly basal to Crithagra)
- Genus Rhynchostruthus – golden-winged grosbeaks (tentatively placed here)
- Genus "Serinus" thibetanus – Tibetan SerinTibetan SerinThe Tibetan Serin , sometimes considered a siskin of the genus Carduelis, is a true finch species .It is found in Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, and Nepal. Its natural habitat is temperate forests....
(probably related to Spinus and Serinus sensu stricto) - Genus CarduelisCarduelisThe genus Carduelisis a large group of birds in the finch family Fringillidae. It includes the greenfinches, redpolls, goldfinches, linnets, the twite, and the non-African siskins...
sensu lato- (Sub)Genus Carduelis sensu stricto – European GoldfinchEuropean GoldfinchThe European Goldfinch or Goldfinch is a small passerine bird in the finch family.-Habitat and range:The goldfinch breeds across Europe, North Africa, and western and central Asia, in open, partially wooded lowlands. It is resident in the milder west of its range, but migrates from colder regions...
, Citril FinchCitril FinchThe Citril Finch is a small songbird, a member of the true finch family Fringillidae. For a long time, this cardueline finch was placed in the genus Serinus, but it is apparently very closely related to the European Goldfinch .This bird is a resident breeder in the mountains of southwestern Europe...
and Corsican FinchCorsican FinchThe Corsican Finch is a bird in the finch family, Fringillidae.It was formerly regarded a subspecies of the Citril Finch, but it differs in morphology and vocalizations as well as mtDNA sequence and they are now considered distinct...
(probably only distantly related to Spinus) - (Sub)Genus Spinus – siskinSiskin-Birds:The name siskin when referring to a bird is derived from an adaptation of the German dialect words sisschen, zeischen, which are diminuative forms of Middle High German and Middle Low German words, which are themselves apparently of Slavic origin...
s and American goldfinchAmerican GoldfinchThe American Goldfinch , also known as the Eastern Goldfinch and Wild Canary, is a small North American bird in the finch family...
es - (Sub)Genus Linaria – linnetLinnetThe Linnet is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae.The Linnet derives its scientific name from its fondness for hemp and its English name from its liking for seeds of flax, from which linen is made.- Description :...
s and twiteTwiteThe Twite is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae.The Twite is a small finch, similar in size and shape to a Linnet. Birds of the subspecies flavirostris are long, and those of the subspecies altaica are long. It lacks the red head patch and breast shown by the Linnet and the...
(related to Spinus) - (Sub)Genus Chloris – greenfinchGreenfinch-Birds:* Black-headed Greenfinch * European Greenfinch * Oriental Greenfinch * Vietnam Greenfinch * Yellow-breasted Greenfinch -Other:...
es and Desert FinchDesert FinchThe Desert Finch , sometimes called Lichtenstein's Desert Finch, is a large brown true finch found in southern Eurasia. Its taxonomy is confused, and it has formerly been placed in Fringilla, Bucanetes, Rhodospiza and Rhodopechys.It has an average wingspan of... - (Sub)Genus Acanthis – redpolls (related to Loxia)
- (Sub)Genus Loxia – crossbills
- (Sub)Genus Carduelis sensu stricto – European Goldfinch
- Genus Serinus
- Carduelinae incertae sedisIncertae sedis, is a term used to define a taxonomic group where its broader relationships are unknown or undefined. Uncertainty at specific taxonomic levels is attributed by , , and similar terms.-Examples:*The fossil plant Paradinandra suecica could not be assigned to any...
- Genus Pyrrhoplectes – Gold-naped Finch
- Genus Chaunoproctus – Bonin Grosbeak (extinct: 1830s)
- Genus Callacanthis – Spectacled Finch
- Genus Neospiza – Sao Tomé Grosbeak
- Goldfinch-canary-crossbill clade (Carduelis