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Buntings and Finches (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter knot
- Start date
Hi Knot,
The Family names are just ways of labelling bird species that are reasonably similar in appearance, habit, structure etc.
Buntings are seed-eaters that are generally ground feeders with a bit of bulk to them, usually with a biggish beak.
Finches are also seed-eaters but generally more arboreal in habit, maybe not as bulky as buntings and their beaks are usually a bit finer than buntings.
In both groups there are exceptions to these general rules.
The Family names are just ways of labelling bird species that are reasonably similar in appearance, habit, structure etc.
Buntings are seed-eaters that are generally ground feeders with a bit of bulk to them, usually with a biggish beak.
Finches are also seed-eaters but generally more arboreal in habit, maybe not as bulky as buntings and their beaks are usually a bit finer than buntings.
In both groups there are exceptions to these general rules.
Xenospiza
Distracted
The main (morphological) differences between finches and buntings are mentioned at: http://www.montereybay.com/creagrus/fringillids.html
Now with some species, like Pink-tailed Rosefinch, there has been discussion if it's a finch or bunting, so your question is not silly at all!
Ongoing DNA research has shown that finches and buntings are closely related, but separate groups.
The situation within the "buntings" is extremely complex! American buntings (and sparrows) may not be related to European ones, Snow Bunting and Lapland Bunting are related to each other, but not closely to (most) other buntings. Then there are the American Warblers, Cardinals, Tanagers and Orioles which all belong in this "nine-primaried assembly", with some "Tanagers" turning out to be "Cardinals" or even "Finches" (the Euphonias) and some "finches" (like Darwin's finches) actually tanagers... Wait another decade, and we'll know more!
Now with some species, like Pink-tailed Rosefinch, there has been discussion if it's a finch or bunting, so your question is not silly at all!
Ongoing DNA research has shown that finches and buntings are closely related, but separate groups.
The situation within the "buntings" is extremely complex! American buntings (and sparrows) may not be related to European ones, Snow Bunting and Lapland Bunting are related to each other, but not closely to (most) other buntings. Then there are the American Warblers, Cardinals, Tanagers and Orioles which all belong in this "nine-primaried assembly", with some "Tanagers" turning out to be "Cardinals" or even "Finches" (the Euphonias) and some "finches" (like Darwin's finches) actually tanagers... Wait another decade, and we'll know more!
