Incaspiza
Encyclopedia
The Inca-finches are a genus
of finch
-like tanager
s. They were formerly placed in the Emberizidae
. Both their scientific and common name
refer to the Incan civilization. They are endemic to arid scrub in central and northern Peru
. Buff-bridled, Gray-winged and Little Inca-finch are restricted to the Marañón
Valley. Rufous-backed Inca-finch occurs either on the West slope of the Andes and both slopes of the Marañón
Valley and is restricted to higher elevations, compared to Great Inca-finch which only occurs on the West slope of the Andes, but generally lower than Rufous-backed Inca-finch. They are rather terrestrial
, and typically forage within dense plant growth on the ground, but commonly perch higher, for example on the top of a tall cactus
or in a small tree, when singing. They are typically seen singly or in pairs, but sometimes in small groups outside the breeding season. They normally do not take part in mixed-species flocks.
All have a pointed orange-yellow bill, a primarily gray head and chest, a paler buff or whitish belly, extensive white to the outer tail-feathers, and a small – but contrasting – black mask and chin. Except in the Gray-winged Inca-finch, all have a rufous
back or wings.
Genus
In 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...
of finch
Finch
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...
-like tanager
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...
s. They were formerly placed in the Emberizidae
Emberizidae
The 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...
. Both their scientific and common name
Common name
A common name of a taxon or organism is a name in general use within a community; it is often contrasted with the scientific name for the same organism...
refer to the Incan civilization. They are endemic to arid scrub in central and northern Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
. Buff-bridled, Gray-winged and Little Inca-finch are restricted to the Marañón
Marañón River
The Marañón River rises about 160 km to the northeast of Lima, Peru, flows through a deeply-eroded Andean valley in a northwesterly direction, along the eastern base of the Cordillera of the Andes, as far as 5 degrees 36' southern latitude; then it makes a great bend to the northeast, and...
Valley. Rufous-backed Inca-finch occurs either on the West slope of the Andes and both slopes of the Marañón
Marañón River
The Marañón River rises about 160 km to the northeast of Lima, Peru, flows through a deeply-eroded Andean valley in a northwesterly direction, along the eastern base of the Cordillera of the Andes, as far as 5 degrees 36' southern latitude; then it makes a great bend to the northeast, and...
Valley and is restricted to higher elevations, compared to Great Inca-finch which only occurs on the West slope of the Andes, but generally lower than Rufous-backed Inca-finch. They are rather terrestrial
Terrestrial animal
Terrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land , as compared with aquatic animals, which live predominantly or entirely in the water , or amphibians, which rely on a combination of aquatic and terrestrial habitats...
, and typically forage within dense plant growth on the ground, but commonly perch higher, for example on the top of a tall cactus
Cactus
A cactus is a member of the plant family Cactaceae. Their distinctive appearance is a result of adaptations to conserve water in dry and/or hot environments. In most species, the stem has evolved to become photosynthetic and succulent, while the leaves have evolved into spines...
or in a small tree, when singing. They are typically seen singly or in pairs, but sometimes in small groups outside the breeding season. They normally do not take part in mixed-species flocks.
All have a pointed orange-yellow bill, a primarily gray head and chest, a paler buff or whitish belly, extensive white to the outer tail-feathers, and a small – but contrasting – black mask and chin. Except in the Gray-winged Inca-finch, all have a rufous
Rufous
Rufous is a colour that may be described as reddish-brown or brownish-red, as of rust or oxidised iron.The first recorded use of rufous as a colour name in English was in the year 1782....
back or wings.
Species list
- Great Inca-finchGreat Inca-finchThe Great Inca-finch is a species of bird in the Emberizidae family. It is endemic to Peru.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland.-References:...
, Incaspiza pulchra - Rufous-backed Inca-finchRufous-backed Inca-finchThe Rufous-backed Inca-finch is a species of bird in the Emberizidae family.It is endemic to Peru.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland.-References:...
, Incaspiza personata - Gray-winged Inca-finch, Incaspiza ortizi
- Buff-bridled Inca-finchBuff-bridled Inca-finchThe Buff-bridled Inca-finch is a species of bird in the Emberizidae family.It is endemic to Peru.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland.-References:...
, Incaspiza laeta - Little Inca-finchLittle Inca-finchThe Little Inca-finch is a species of bird in the Emberizidae family. It is endemic to Peru.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry shrubland.It is threatened by habitat loss.-References:...
, Incaspiza watkinsi