Cinereous finch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cinereous finch |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| In Sedgwick County Zoo, Kansas | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Piezorina
|
| Species: |
cinerea
|
 |
|
| Synonyms | |
|
|
The cinereous finch (Piezorina cinerea) is a small bird from South America. It belongs to the tanager family, called Thraupidae. This bird is the only one in its group, known as the genus Piezorina. You can find it living in dry, coastal areas of northern Peru. There has only been one sighting in Ecuador, which was likely a bird that wandered off from its usual home.
Contents
Discovering the Cinereous Finch
When Was It First Described?
The cinereous finch was officially named and described in 1843. A French bird expert named Frédéric de Lafresnaye gave it the scientific name Guiraca cinerea.
Naming the Genus
In the same year, Lafresnaye also created a new group, or genus, for this bird. He named this group Piezorina. The cinereous finch became the main example, or "type species," for this new genus.
Where Does It Live?
Lafresnaye first thought his bird specimen came from the Galápagos Islands. However, the cinereous finch does not live there. In 1930, an American bird expert, Outram Bangs, corrected the location. He stated that the bird's true home was northwest Peru.
What Do the Names Mean?
The genus name Piezorina comes from two old Greek words. Piezō means "to crush," and rhinos means "nose." This might refer to the shape of the bird's beak. The species name cinerea is Latin for "ash-grey" or "ash-colored." This describes the bird's color.
Are There Different Types?
The cinereous finch is a monotypic species. This means there are no different types, or subspecies, of this bird recognized. It is just one distinct kind of finch.
Its Family Tree
Scientists studied the DNA of tanagers in 2014. They found that the cinereous finch is part of a group called Poospizinae. It is closely related to another bird, the slender-billed finch (Xenospingus concolor).
See also
In Spanish: Yal cinéreo para niños
