Poospiza
Encyclopedia
Poospiza is a genus
of finch-like tanager
s found in both the South American lowlands and the Andes
mountains. Generally they are arboreal feeders in light woodland
and scrub. All have extensive grey to their plumage
, and have—often bold—white or rufous markings.
. Lougheed studied twelve of the seventeen species and consistently recovered the following four groups:
Based on this and other evidence, the two members of group 3 have recently been moved from Poospiza into the resurrected genus Compsospiza
.
Additionally, P. caesar was formerly classified in the monotypic
genus Poospizopsis.
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-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 found in both the South American lowlands and the Andes
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
mountains. Generally they are arboreal feeders in light woodland
Woodland
Ecologically, 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...
and scrub. All have extensive grey to their plumage
Plumage
Plumage refers both to the layer of feathers that cover a bird and the pattern, colour, and arrangement of those feathers. The pattern and colours of plumage vary between species and subspecies and can also vary between different age classes, sexes, and season. Within species there can also be a...
, and have—often bold—white or rufous markings.
Taxonomy
Despite many similarities in plumage the genus—as traditionally defined—appears to consist of four groups each of which are paraphyletic with representatives of six other tanager genera all forming a well-supported cladeClade
A clade is a group consisting of a species and all its descendants. In the terms of biological systematics, a clade is a single "branch" on the "tree of life". The idea that such a "natural group" of organisms should be grouped together and given a taxonomic name is central to biological...
. Lougheed studied twelve of the seventeen species and consistently recovered the following four groups:
- 1. P. hypochondria and P. caesar
- 2. P. torquata, P. melanoleuca, P. alticola, and P. erythrophrys
- 3. P. baeri and P. garleppi.
- 4. P. ornata and P. boliviana
Based on this and other evidence, the two members of group 3 have recently been moved from Poospiza into the resurrected genus Compsospiza
Compsospiza
Compsospiza is a genus of South American birds known as mountain-finches...
.
Additionally, P. caesar was formerly classified in the monotypic
Monotypic
In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group with only one biological type. The term's usage differs slightly between botany and zoology. The term monotypic has a separate use in conservation biology, monotypic habitat, regarding species habitat conversion eliminating biodiversity and...
genus Poospizopsis.
Species list
It has been suggested that P. whitii should be considered a subspecies of P. nigrorufa, but most authorities considered them separate. On the contrary, recent evidence indicates P. lateralis should be split into two species.- Bay-chested Warbling-finchBay-chested Warbling-finchThe Bay-chested Warbling-finch is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family.It is endemic to Brazil.Its natural habitats are temperate forests and subtropical or tropical moist montanes.-References:...
, Poospiza thoracica - Bolivian Warbling-finchBolivian Warbling-finchThe Bolivian Warbling-finch is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family.It is found in Argentina and Bolivia.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland.-References:...
, Poospiza boliviana - Plain-tailed Warbling-finchPlain-tailed Warbling-finchThe Plain-tailed Warbling-finch is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family.It is endemic to Peru.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montanes.It is threatened by habitat loss.-References:...
, Poospiza alticola - Rufous-sided Warbling-finchRufous-sided Warbling-finchThe Rufous-sided Warbling-finch is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family. It is found in Argentina and Bolivia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland.-References:...
, Poospiza hypocondria - Cinnamon Warbling-finchCinnamon Warbling-finchThe Cinnamon Warbling-finch is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family. It is endemic to Argentina.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, and heavily degraded former forest.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . Downloaded...
, Poospiza ornata - Rusty-browed Warbling-finchRusty-browed Warbling-finchThe Rusty-browed Warbling-finch is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family.It is found in Argentina and Bolivia.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montanes.-References:...
, Poospiza erythrophrys - Black-and-rufous Warbling-finchBlack-and-rufous Warbling-finchThe Black-and-rufous Warbling-finch is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family.It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay...
, Poospiza nigrorufa - Black-and-chestnut Warbling-finch, Poospiza whitii
- Red-rumped Warbling-finchRed-rumped Warbling-finchThe Red-rumped Warbling-finch is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family. It is found in forest borders and woodland in south-eastern Brazil, far eastern Paraguay, far north-eastern Argentina, and Uruguay...
, Poospiza lateralis- Buff-throated Warbling-finch, Poospiza (lateralis) lateralis
- Grey-throated Warbling-finch, Poospiza (lateralis) cabanisi
- Rufous-breasted Warbling-finchRufous-breasted Warbling-finchThe Rufous-breasted Warbling-finch is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family.It is endemic to Peru.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland....
, Poospiza rubecula - Chestnut-breasted Warbling-finch, Poospiza caesar
- Collared Warbling-finchCollared Warbling-finchThe Collared Warbling-finch is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family. It is found in Ecuador and Peru....
, Poospiza hispaniolensis - Ringed Warbling-finchRinged Warbling-finchThe Ringed Warbling-finch is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family.It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay....
, Poospiza torquata - Black-capped Warbling-finchBlack-capped Warbling-finchThe Black-capped Warbling-finch is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family.It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay....
, Poospiza melanoleuca - Cinereous Warbling-finchCinereous Warbling-finchThe Cinereous Warbling-finch is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family. It is endemic to Brazil. The term cinereous describes its colouration. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland. It is threatened by habitat loss.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . ...
, Poospiza cinerea