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Finches, Euphonias

True finches are a sizable group of small to medium-sized birds belonging to the family Fringillidae, which consists of over 200 species in 50 genera, including cardueline finches, siskins, canaries, redpolls, serins, grosbeaks, and euphonias. These birds are characterized by stout, conical bills suited for seed and nut consumption and often display vibrant plumages. Finches have a near-global spread, avoiding only Australia, polar regions, and some islands, and generally don't migrate, adapting to a variety of habitats from woods to mountains to deserts. Although various species outside the family are also referred to as "finches," such as estrildid finches, some Old World buntings, New World sparrows, and the Galapagos' Darwin's finches (now classified as tanagers), true Fringillidae finches have a notable history and complexity in their classification, with recent DNA studies reshaping our understanding of their taxonomy, leading to reclassifications and the identification of close relationships between species groups previously placed in separate families, such as the Hawaiian honeycreepers. Previously used in the coal mining industry as detectors of carbon monoxide, finches and canaries contributed to human safety until the practice ceased in the UK in 1986. Today’s Fringillidae family is divided into three subfamilies, with a range of body sizes from the small Andean siskin to the larger grosbeaks, and diets that vary from primarily seeds to diverse diets including arthropods and berries, as seen in the Hawaiian honeycreepers. These birds typically have strong, melodious singing capabilities, with some being popular as cagebirds, like the domesticated canary. Finch classification is a complex field marked by convergent evolution and adaptive radiation, leading to a wide variety of bill shapes and feeding adaptations. Despite their wide distribution, fossil remains are rare, suggesting a Middle Miocene origin. The name "Fringillidae" is derived from the common chaffinch, a prevalent member throughout Europe.

Regions

African Crimson-winged Finch

Rhodopechys alienus
A photo of a Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla) , male

Brambling

Fringilla montifringilla
A photo of a Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula) , male

Bullfinch

Pyrrhula pyrrhula
A photo of a Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) , male

Chaffinch

Fringilla coelebs
A photo of a Citril Finch (Carduelis citrinella) , male

Citril Finch

Carduelis citrinella
A photo of a Common Redpoll (Acanthis flammea) , male

Common Redpoll

Acanthis flammea
A photo of a Common Rosefinch (Carpodacus erythrinus) , male

Common Rosefinch

Carpodacus erythrinus
A photo of a Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) , male

Crossbill

Loxia curvirostra
A photo of a Desert Finch (Rhodospiza obsoleta)

Desert Finch

Rhodospiza obsoleta
A photo of a Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) , male

Goldfinch

Carduelis carduelis
A photo of a Greenfinch (Chloris chloris) , male

Greenfinch

Chloris chloris
A photo of a Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes) , male

Hawfinch

Coccothraustes coccothraustes
A photo of a Linnet (Linaria cannabina) , male

Linnet

Linaria cannabina

Mongolian Finch

Bucanetes mongolicus
A photo of a Red-fronted Serin (Serinus pusillus)

Red-fronted Serin

Serinus pusillus
A photo of a Serin (Serinus serinus) , male

Serin

Serinus serinus

Sinai Rosefinch

Carpodacus synoicus
A photo of a Siskin (Spinus spinus) , male

Siskin

Spinus spinus

Syrian Serin

Serinus syriacus
A photo of a Trumpeter Finch (Bucanetes githagineus) , male

Trumpeter Finch

Bucanetes githagineus
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