Finch
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''Many, see text''
'''Finches''' are seed-eating passerine birds, the many species of which are found chiefly in the northern hemisphere, but also to a limited extent in Africa and South America.
They are small to moderately large and have a strong beak, usually cone|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'' - canary|Canaries, seedeaters, serins and some siskin|siskins
Genus ''Carduelis'' - linnet|Linnets, redpoll|redpolls, goldfinches, greenfinches, some siskins.
Genus ''Carpodacus'' - Rosefinches
Genus ''Loxia'' - Crossbills
Genus ''Mycerobas'' - Mycerobas Grosbeak|Grosbeaks
Genus ''Neospiza'' - Sao Tomé Grosbeak
Genus ''Linurgus'' - Oriole Finch
Genus ''Rhynchostruthus'' - Golden-winged Grosbeak
Genus ''Leucosticte'' - Mountain finches
Genus ''Calacanthis'' - Red-browed Finch
Genus ''Rhodopechys'' - Trumpeter Finch and relatives
Genus ''Uragus'' - Long-tailed Rosefinch
Genus ''Urocynchramus'' - Przewalski's Rosefinch
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
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 bunting (bird)|buntings.
Some other Cardueline finch species not listed above:
Sao Tome Grosbeak (''Neospiza concolor'')
Oriole Finch (''Linurgus olivaceus'')
Golden-winged Grosbeak (''Rhynchostruthus socotranus'')
Pine Grosbeak (''Pinicola enucleator'')
Crimson-browed Finch (''Pinicola subhimachalus'')
Hawfinch (''Coccothraustes coccothraustes'')
Evening Grosbeak (''Coccothraustes vespertinus'')
Hooded Grosbeak (''Coccothraustes abeillei'')
Yellow-billed Grosbeak (''Eophona migratoria'')
Japanese Grosbeak (''Eophona personata'')
Black-and-yellow Grosbeak (''Mycerobas icterioides'')
Collared Grosbeak (''Mycerobas affinis'')
Spot-winged Grosbeak (''Mycerobas melanozanthos'')
White-winged Grosbeak (''Mycerobas carnipes'')
Gold-naped Finch (''Pyrrhoplectes epauletta'')
Spectacled Finch (''Callacanthis burtoni'')
Crimson-winged Finch (''Rhodopechys sanguinea'')
Trumpeter Finch (''Rhodopechys githaginea'')
Mongolian Finch (''Rhodopechys mongolica'')
Desert Finch (''Rhodopechys obsoleta'')
Long-tailed Rosefinch (''Uragus sibiricus'')
Scarlet Finch (''Haematospiza sipahi'')
References
''Finches and Sparrows'' by Clement, Harris and Davis, ISBN 0-7136-8017-2
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