The rosefinches are birds in the finch family Fringillidae. Most Carpodacus species are called "rosefinches", but three common North American species are simply called "finches". As the names imply, various shades of red are the characteristic plumage colours of this group. The Common Rosefinch is frequently called the "rosefinch".
Rosefinches are found throughout the northern hemisphere, but the greatest diversity is in Asia. Most species are tr...
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The rosefinches are birds in the finch family Fringillidae. Most Carpodacus species are called "rosefinches", but three common North American species are simply called "finches". As the names imply, various shades of red are the characteristic plumage colours of this group. The Common Rosefinch is frequently called the "rosefinch".
Rosefinches are found throughout the northern hemisphere, but the greatest diversity is in Asia. Most species are traditionally placed in the large genus Carpodacus.
Comparison of mtDNA cytochrome b sequences strongly indicates that the genus Carpodacus is in need of a thorough revision (Arnaiz-Villena et al., 2001). For example, the Dark-breasted Rosefinch, a species with very distinctive appearance, is also very distinct genetically and definitely belongs into another genus, which may even be placed in the chaffinch-brambling subfamily Fringillinae; all other species belong to the cardueline finch subfamily (Carduelinae).
There have been a number of...
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