Phrygilus

Taxobox
name = "Phrygilus"


image_width =
image_caption =
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Passeriformes
familia = Thraupidae
genus = "Phrygilus"
genus_authority = Cabanis, 1844
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = 11, see text

"Phrygilus" [Ridgely & Tudor (1989)] is a genus of mainly Andean seed-eating tanagers commonly known as sierra-finches. Sometimes classified in the bunting and American sparrow family Emberizidae, more recent studies have shown them to belong in the Thraupidae [See Burns et al (2003) & Klicka et al (2007)] . The genus appears to be polyphyletic [See Klicka et al (2007)] consisting of at least three distinct lineages which in future may need to be split into separate genera.

pecies list

Group 1 - The "Hooded" group. Related to Yellow-finches "Sicalis"
* Black-hooded Sierra-finch, "Phrygilus atriceps"
* Peruvian Sierra-finch, "Phrygilus punensis"
* Grey-hooded Sierra-finch, "Phrygilus gayi"
* Patagonian Sierra-finch, "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-finch, "Phrygilus dorsalis"
* White-throated Sierra-finch, "Phrygilus erythronotus"

Group 3 - male plumage grey or dull brown, females streaky. Related to "Haplospiza"
* Plumbeous Sierra-finch, "Phrygilus unicolor"
* Ash-breasted Sierra-finch, "Phrygilus plebejus"

Group 4 - Yellow bill with grey/black underparts.
* Band-tailed Sierra-finch, "Phrygilus alaudinus" - Related to Yellow-billed Blue Finch, "Porphyrospiza caerulescens"
* Carbonated Sierra-finch, "Phrygilus carbonarius"
* Mourning Sierra-finch, "Phrygilus fruticeti"

Footnotes

References

* Burns, K. J., S. J. Hackett, and N. K. Klein. 2003. Phylogenetic relationships of Neotropical honeycreepers and the evolution of feeding morphology. J. Avian Biology 34: 360-370.
* Klicka, J., K. Burns, & G. M. Spellman. 2007. Defining a monophyletic Cardinalini: A molecular perspective. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 45: 1014-1032
* Ridgely, R. S., & G. Tudor. 1989. The Birds of South America, vol. 1. Univ. Texas Press, Austin.