Finch

For other uses, see Finch (disambiguation)}}}.

Finches are often seed-eating passerine birds, the many species of which are found chiefly in the northern hemisphere, but they also occur in Africa, and one subfamily is endemic to the Neotropics. The finch family, Fringillidae, also contains the Hawaiian honeycreepers (Drepanidinae).

"Classic finches" are small to moderately large and have a strong beak, usually conical and in some species very large. All have 12 tail feathers and 9 primaries. These birds have a bouncing flight with alternating bouts of flapping and gliding on closed wings, and most sing well. Their nests are basket-shaped and built in trees.

Species

Family Fringillidae
*Subfamily Fringillinae - Fringilline finches; contains only three species, which feed their young on insects rather than seeds.
**Genus Fringilla - Bramblings and chaffinches
***Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)
***Blue Chaffinch (Fringilla teydea)
***Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla)
*Subfamily Carduelinae - Cardueline finches; a much larger group that contains several genera which feed their young on seeds.
**Genus Serinus - Canaries, seedeaters, serins and some siskins
**Genus Carduelis - Linnets, redpolls, goldfinches, greenfinches, some siskins.
**Genus Carpodacus - Rosefinches
**Genus Loxia - Crossbills
**Genus Mycerobas - Grosbeaks
**Genus Neospiza - Sao Tomé Grosbeak
**Genus Linurgus - Oriole Finch
**Genus Rhynchostruthus - Golden-winged Grosbeak
**Genus Leucosticte - Mountain finches
**Genus Callacanthis - Red-browed Finch
**Genus Rhodopechys - Trumpeter Finch and relatives
**Genus Uragus - Long-tailed Rosefinch
**Genus Urocynchramus - Przewalski's Rosefinch
**Genus Chaunoproctus - Bonin Grosbeak (extinct)
**Genus Pinicola - Pine grosbeaks
**Genus Haematospiza - Scarlet Finch
**Genus Pyrrhula - Bullfinches
**Genus Coccothraustes - Hawfinch, Evening Grosbeak
**Genus Eophona - Oriental grosbeaks
**Genus Pyrrhoplectes - Gold-naped Finch
*Subfamily Euphoniinae - Euphonious finches; endemic to the Neotropics; formerly treated in Thraupidae.
**Genus Euphonia, the euphonias
*** Jamaican Euphonia, Euphonia jamaica
*** Plumbeous Euphonia, Euphonia plumbea
*** Scrub Euphonia, Euphonia affinis
*** Purple-throated Euphonia, Euphonia chlorotica
*** Yellow-crowned Euphonia, Euphonia luteicapilla
*** Trinidad Euphonia, Euphonia trinitatis
*** Velvet-fronted Euphonia, Euphonia concinna
*** Orange-crowned Euphonia, Euphonia saturata
*** Finsch's Euphonia, Euphonia finschi
*** Violaceous Euphonia, Euphonia violacea
*** Thick-billed Euphonia, Euphonia laniirostris
*** Yellow-throated Euphonia, Euphonia hirundinacea
*** Green-chinned Euphonia, Euphonia chalybea
*** Elegant Euphonia, Euphonia elegantissima
*** Antillean Euphonia, Euphonia musica
*** Golden-rumped Euphonia, Euphonia cyanocephala
*** Spot-crowned Euphonia, Euphonia imitans
*** Fulvous-vented Euphonia, Euphonia fulvicrissa
*** Olive-backed Euphonia, Euphonia gouldi
*** Bronze-green Euphonia, Euphonia mesochrysa
*** White-lored Euphonia, Euphonia chrysopasta
*** White-vented Euphonia, Euphonia minuta
*** Tawny-capped Euphonia, Euphonia anneae
*** Orange-bellied Euphonia, Euphonia xanthogaster
*** Rufous-bellied Euphonia, Euphonia rufiventris
*** Golden-sided Euphonia, Euphonia cayennensis
*** Chestnut-bellied Euphonia, Euphonia pectoralis
**Genus Chlorophonia, the chlorophonias
*** Yellow-collared Chlorophonia, Chlorophonia flavirostris
*** Blue-naped Chlorophonia, Chlorophonia cyanea
*** Chestnut-breasted Chlorophonia, Chlorophonia pyrrhophrys
*** Blue-crowned Chlorophonia, Chlorophonia occipitalis
*** Golden-browed Chlorophonia, Chlorophonia callophrys
*Subfamily Drepanidinae - Hawaiian honeycreepers

There are many other birds in other groups which are called finches, notably the very similar-looking Estrildids or waxbills, which occur in the Old World tropics and Australia.

Some of the closely related sparrows are also named as "finches", as are some buntings.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

[media]

Finches and Sparrows by Clement, Harris and Davis, ISBN 0-7136-8017-2

External links

[Finch Info & Pictures] Information and pictures about various types of finches.
[FinchInfo.com] Information on keeping finches as pets.
[Finch videos] on the Internet Bird Collection

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