Phrygilus
Encyclopedia
Phrygilus is a genus
of mainly Andean seed-eating tanager
s commonly known as sierra-finches. Phrygilos means finch in Ancient Greek
. Sometimes classified in the bunting and American sparrow family Emberizidae
, more recent studies have shown them to belong in the Thraupidae. The genus appears to be polyphyletic consisting of at least three distinct lineages
which in future may need to be split into separate genera.
Group 2 - Upperparts mostly grey, underparts white. Sexes similar. Related to a clade containing both the "hooded" group and Sicalis olivascens
Group 3 - male plumage grey or dull brown, females streaky. Related to Haplospiza
Group 4 - Yellow bill with grey/black underparts.
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 mainly Andean seed-eating 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 commonly known as sierra-finches. Phrygilos means finch in Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek is the stage of the Greek language in the periods spanning the times c. 9th–6th centuries BC, , c. 5th–4th centuries BC , and the c. 3rd century BC – 6th century AD of ancient Greece and the ancient world; being predated in the 2nd millennium BC by Mycenaean Greek...
. Sometimes classified in the bunting and American sparrow family 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...
, more recent studies have shown them to belong in the Thraupidae. The genus appears to be polyphyletic consisting of at least three distinct lineages
Lineage (evolution)
An evolutionary lineage is a sequence of species, that form a line of descent, each new species the direct result of speciation from an immediate ancestral species. Lineages are subsets of the evolutionary tree of life. Lineages are often determined by the techniques of molecular systematics.-...
which in future may need to be split into separate genera.
Species list
Group 1 - The "Hooded" group. Related to yellow-finches SicalisSicalis
Sicalis is a genus of bird in the Thraupidae family. Sometimes classified in the bunting and American sparrow family Emberizidae, more recent studies have shown it to belong in the Thraupidae.It contains the following species:...
- Black-hooded Sierra-finchBlack-hooded Sierra-finchThe Black-hooded Sierra-finch is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family.It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru....
, Phrygilus atriceps - Peruvian Sierra-finchPeruvian Sierra-finchThe Peruvian Sierra-finch is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family.It is found in Bolivia and Peru.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland.-References:...
, Phrygilus punensis - Grey-hooded Sierra-finchGrey-hooded Sierra-finchThe Grey-hooded Sierra-finch is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family.It is found in Argentina and Chile.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry shrubland and subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland....
, Phrygilus gayi - Patagonian Sierra-finchPatagonian Sierra-finchThe Patagonian Sierra-finch is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family.It is found in Argentina and Chile.Its natural habitats are temperate forests, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, and temperate grassland....
, Phrygilus patagonicus
Group 2 - Upperparts mostly grey, underparts white. Sexes similar. Related to a clade containing both the "hooded" group and Sicalis olivascens
- Red-backed Sierra-finchRed-backed Sierra-finchThe Red-backed Sierra-finch is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family.It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland.-References:...
, Phrygilus dorsalis - White-throated Sierra-finchWhite-throated Sierra-finchThe White-throated Sierra-finch is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family.It is found in Bolivia, Chile, and Peru.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland.-References:...
, Phrygilus erythronotus
Group 3 - male plumage grey or dull brown, females streaky. Related to Haplospiza
Haplospiza
Haplospiza is a small genus of birds in the Thraupidae family. Sometimes classified in the bunting and American sparrow family Emberizidae, more recent studies have shown it to belong in the Thraupidae. Its two members breed in subtropical or tropical moist forest in Central and South America...
- Plumbeous Sierra-finchPlumbeous Sierra-finchThe Plumbeous Sierra-finch is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family.It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland and pastureland.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . ...
, Phrygilus unicolor - Ash-breasted Sierra-finchAsh-breasted Sierra-finchThe Ash-breasted Sierra-finch is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family.It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, and Peru....
, Phrygilus plebejus
Group 4 - Yellow bill with grey/black underparts.
- Band-tailed Sierra-finchBand-tailed Sierra-finchThe Band-tailed Sierra-finch is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family.It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, and Peru....
, Phrygilus alaudinus - Related to Yellow-billed Blue FinchYellow-billed Blue FinchThe 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 - Carbonated Sierra-finchCarbonated Sierra-finchThe Carbonated Sierra-finch is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family.It is endemic to Argentina.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry shrubland and temperate grassland.-References:...
, Phrygilus carbonarius - Mourning Sierra-finchMourning Sierra-finchThe Mourning Sierra-finch is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile and Peru. It is a vagrant to the Falkland Islands and Brazil. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry shrubland and subtropical or tropical high-altitude...
, Phrygilus fruticeti