Mountain finch
| Mountain finches | |
|---|---|
| |
| Grey-crowned rosy finch (Leucosticte tephrocotis) | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Fringillidae |
| Subfamily: | Carduelinae |
| Genus: | Leucosticte Swainson, 1832 |
| Species | |
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See text. | |
The mountain finches are birds in the genus Leucosticte from the true finch family, Fringillidae. This genus also includes the rosy finches, named from their pinkish plumage.
The genus is a sister to the monotypic Procarduelis containing the Asian dark-breasted rosefinch.[1] These birds are native to Asia and North America and are typically found in barren mountainous regions. Many species eat more insect material than other finches.
There are six species in the genus:[2]
- Plain mountain finch, Leucosticte nemoricola
- Brandt's mountain finch, Leucosticte brandti
- Asian rosy finch, Leucosticte arctoa
- Grey-crowned rosy finch, Leucosticte tephrocotis
- Black rosy finch, Leucosticte atrata
- Brown-capped rosy finch, Leucosticte australis
References
- ^ Zuccon, Dario; Prŷs-Jones, Robert; Rasmussen, Pamela C.; Ericson, Per G.P. (2012). "The phylogenetic relationships and generic limits of finches (Fringillidae)" (PDF). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 62 (2): 581–596. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2011.10.002. PMID 22023825.
- ^ Gill, Frank; Donsker, David (eds.). "Finches, euphonias". World Bird List Version 5.4. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 4 December 2015.