finch

[Middle English, from Old English finc.]

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(Fringillidae)

Class: Aves

Order: Passeriformes

Suborder: Passeri (Oscines)

Family: Fringillidae

Thumbnail description
Small to medium-sized, seed-eating birds with a conical-shaped, pointed beak, a short neck, compact body, and plumage that varies from rather drab to quite colorful, especially in male birds

Size
Body length about 4–10 in (10–25 cm) and weight 0.3–2.1 oz (8–60 g)

Number of genera, species
20 genera; 137 species

Habitat
Forest, shrubland, grassland, agricultural areas, parks, and gardens

Conservation status
Critically Endangered: 1 species; Endangered: 5 species; Vulnerable: 3 species; Near Threatened: 4 species; Conservation Dependent: 1 species; Data Deficient: 2 species; Extinct: 1 species

Distribution
Almost global distribution, except for Madagascar, Australasia, many Pacific Islands, and Antarctica. A few species have been introduced beyond their natural range

Evolution and systematics

The family Fringillidae, or the "true" finches, consists of 20 genera and about 137 species. The family is divided into two subfamilies: the Fringillinae, consisting of three species of chaffinches, and the Carduelinae, comprised of numerous species variously known as bullfinches, canaries, citrils, crossbills, goldfinches, grosbeaks, linnets, rosefinches, seedeaters, serins, and siskins, among other common names. The systematics of the Fringillidae is not, however, entirely settled. Some ornithologists group additional families of birds within a greatly expanded Fringillidae, including the tanagers (Thraupidae), sparrows and buntings (Emberizidae), Hawaiian honeycreepers (Drepanididae), and Galapagos finches (Geospizinae).

Physical characteristics

The species of true finches range in body length from 4–10 in (10–25 cm) and in weight from 0.3–2.1 oz (8–60 g). The shape and structure of the beak can vary enormously within the family, but all are conical-shaped, stout, short, and pointed. The beak is well adapted for holding seeds and removing the outer shell (or seed-coat). The true finches also have rather small outer primaries on their wings, and these are entirely concealed by the wing coverts. Species of fringillids also differ from the emberizid finches (Emberizidae) in that the edges of their mandibles fit closely together all along the length of the beak. Some true finches have a particularly large beak for dealing with relatively large seeds, for example, the evening grosbeak (Coccothraustes vespertinus). Other species have a smaller beak with crossed mandibles adapted for extracting seeds from conifer cones, such as the red crossbill (Loxia curvirostra). Plumage coloration varies widely among species of fringillids. Species may be brown, yellow, grey, orange, or red, and they may be patterned with spots, patches, or streaks. Most species are dimorphic, with males often being more brightly colored than females.

Distribution

Species of true finches occur extremely widely over the Americas, Eurasia, and Africa, being absent only from Madagascar, Australasia, many Pacific islands, and Antarctica.

Habitat

Species of true finches inhabit a wide range of terrestrial habitats, including many types of forests and woodlands, shrubby places, savannas, grasslands, agricultural areas, and gardens and horticultural parks.

Behavior

Finches may occur as solitary pairs, particularly during the breeding season, but most species are at least seasonally gregarious, particularly when not breeding. Finches are strong fliers, and ground-foraging species hop and run well over short distances. Species that breed in regions with a highly seasonal climate, such as the tundra, boreal, or temperate zones, are often migratory during the winter. Some species migrate over relatively long distances to warmer climates, while others form flocks and wander extensively looking for locally abundant food sources. Finches have short, sharp call notes to communicate within flocks and to warn of impending danger. They also have distinctive songs that males use to defend a breeding territory and attract a mate. Young male finches have an innate ability to learn the song of their species, but when young they must hear mature males singing in order to learn how to perfect their own song. Widespread species of finches may have local song dialects. Some finches, such as the canary, are kept as prized pets because of their enthusiastic and musical singing ability.

Feeding ecology and diet

Finches mostly eat seeds, grains, and other vegetable matter, often supplemented by insects and other small invertebrates. Many species forage on the ground, while others feed mainly on tree seeds. Chaffinches are particularly insectivorous when feeding their young, which receive little plant food until they are fledged. All finches have a strong beak used to crush seeds so the edible kernel can be extracted and eaten. To do this, the seed is wedged against a special groove at the side of the palate, and then crushed by raising the lower jaw. The shell is then removed with the aid of the tongue, and the edible kernel is swallowed. The beaks of finches vary greatly, however, depending on the kinds of foods they specialize on. The crossed points of the beak of crossbills enables them to extract seeds from the cones of conifers; they hardly feed on anything else. The beak of goldfinches is long and narrow enough to reach the seeds of the teasel, which lie at the base of a rigid tubular structure. Hawfinches have a particularly stout beak, used to feed on the pits of cherries and rose-hips.

Reproductive biology

Most finches build a cup-shaped nest of grasses and other plant fibers and locate it in a tree or shrub or in a rocky crevice. Most species breed as isolated pairs, but some others are loosely colonial. Once a pair of finches bonds for the breeding season, they are typically monogamous. They lay two to six eggs, which vary in color and markings among species. The eggs may be incubated by the female or by both sexes in turn. Both of the parents share in tending the young and fledglings.

Conservation status

The IUCN lists 17 species in the family Fringillidae as being at various levels of conservation risk. One of them, the Bonin siskin (Chaunoproctus ferreorostris), was only known from the Japanese islands of Chichi-jima and Ogasawara-shoto (Peel and Bonin Islands). Unfortunately, the Bonin siskin became extinct in the late nineteenth century, likely because of deforestation and uncontrolled predation by introduced cats and rats. The Sao Tome grosbeak (Neospiza concolor) of Sao Tome and Principe is listed as Critically Endangered because of the loss of almost all its natural habitat of primary forest on its tiny island home in the eastern Atlantic just off the west coast of tropical Africa. The red siskin (Carduelis cucullata) of Colombia, Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela is Endangered because of a rapid population decline caused by habitat loss and uncontrolled trapping for the commercial pet trade. The Warsangli linnet (Carduelis johannis) is a highly local (or endemic) species of Somalia that has become Endangered because most of its limited habitat is being lost to timber harvesting. The Hispaniolan crossbill (Loxia megaplaga) of the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Jamaica is Endangered because of severe habitat loss and fragmentation. The Azores bullfinch (Pyrrhula murina) is Endangered because it only survives in a tiny area of habitat on one of the Azores Islands off northwestern Africa. The Ankober serin (Serinus ankoberensis) of Ethiopia is Endangered because of its very small range (it is known from only four locations). The saffron siskin (Carduelis siemiradzkii) of Ecuador and Peru is listed as Vulnerable because of extensive habitat loss. The yellow-faced siskin (Carduelis yarrellii) of Brazil and Venezuela is Vulnerable because of uncontrolled trapping for the pet trade and habitat loss. The yellow-throated seedeater (Serinus flavigula) of Ethiopia is Vulnerable because of habitat loss through agricultural activities. Species listed as Near Threatened include the Vietnam greenfinch (Carduelis monguilloti) of Vietnam, the Kipingere seedeater (Serinus melanochrous) of Tanzania, the Syrian serin (Serinus syriacus) of the Middle East (Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria), and the Salvadori's serin (Serinus xantholaema) of Ethiopia. The blue chaffinch (Fringilla teydea) of the Canary Islands (Spain) is considered Conservation Dependent. (This designation is given to species that would become threatened within five years if conservation programs targeting them were suspended.) Sillem's mountain-finch (Leucosticte sillemi) of China and the Scottish crossbill (Loxia scotica) of the United Kingdom are listed as Data Deficient, meaning that appropriate data on their abundance and/or distribution are lacking.

Significance to humans

The island canary (Serinus canaria) was the first passerine bird to be domesticated and kept as a cage-bird. The Spaniards conquered the Canary Islands in 1478, and they soon brought canaries to Europe in large numbers. A lively trade in this popular cage-bird soon developed. The most common color of the domestic canary is the well-known bright yellow, or "canary yellow," but numerous other color varieties also have been bred. Red-colored canaries owe their origin, and their reddish coloration, to captive interbreeding of the island canary with the black-capped red siskin (Carduelis atriceps). Canaries are still a common pet and are prized all over the world as eager songsters. Selective breeding has produced varieties of canaries with distinctly different songs. A variety of other finches also are kept as cage-birds for their song, lively behavior, and/or attractive plumage. Other than the domesticated canary, all finches have some indirect, local economic importance through ecotourism associated with birding.

Species accounts

Resources

Bent, A.C. Life Histories of North American Cardinals, Grosbeaks, Buntings, Towhees, Finches, Sparrows, and Allies; Order Passeriformes: Family Fringillidae. Mineola, NY: Dover Publications, 1968.

BirdLife International. Threatened Birds of the World. Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, 2000.

Clement, P., A. Harris, and J. Davis. Finches and Sparrows: An Identification Guide. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1993.

Newton, I. The Finches. Glasgow: William Collins Sons and Co., Ltd., 1972.

Perrins, C.M., and A.L.A. Middleton, eds. "Fringilline finches." In The Encyclopedia of Birds. New York: Facts on File, 1985.

Berger, Cynthia. "Superflight." National Wildlife (December– January 1998).

Middleton, A.L.A. "The Annual Cycle of the American Goldfinch." Condor 80 (1978): 401–406.

BirdLife International. Wellbrook Court, Girton Road, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire CB3 0NA United Kingdom. Phone: +44 1 223 277 318. Fax: +44-1-223-277-200. E-mail: birdlife@birdlife.org.uk Web site:

Department of Ecology and Environmental Biology, Cornell University. E145 Corson Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853-2701 USA. Phone: (607) 254-4201. Web site:

Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Tulane University. 310 Dinwiddie Hall, New Orleans, LA 70118-5698 USA. Phone: (504) 865-5191. Web site:

IUCN–The World Conservation Union. Rue Mauverney 28, Gland, 1196 Switzerland. Phone: +41-22-999-0001. Fax: +41-22-999-0025. E-mail: mail@hq.iucn.org Web site:

[Article by: Bill Freedman, PhD; Brian Douglas Hoyle, PhD]

A bird in the family Fringillidae; includes about 125 species, many of them companion birds such as the common canary, linnets, goldfinches, the zebra and Bengalese finches.

Finch has been the name of two rock bands:

• Finch (Dutch band), active in the 1970s
• Finch (American band), active in the 2000s

This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the same title. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.

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Dansk (Danish)
n. - finke

Nederlands (Dutch)
vink

Français (French)
n. - fringillidé

Deutsch (German)
n. - Fink

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - (ορνιθ.) σπίνος, σπίζα

Italiano (Italian)
fringuello

Português (Portuguese)
n. - qualquer pássaro (m) do gênero fringilídeo

Русский (Russian)
вьюрок, зяблик

Español (Spanish)
n. - pinzón

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - fink (zool.)

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
雀类

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 雀類

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 방울새 무리

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - フィンチ

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) عصفور له صوت جميل , حسون‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮פרוש (ציפור)‬

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