Lesser Grass-Finch

About the Lesser Grass-Finch

The lesser grass finch (Emberizoides ypiranganus), also known as the gray-cheeked grass-finch, is a species of bird in the family Thraupidae, the tanagers and allies. It is found in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

The lesser grass finch was formally described in 1907 with the trinomial Emberizoides macrourus ypiranganus. The specific epithet macrourus was soon dropped from the name. At the time the genus Emberizoides was included in a large family of Old and New World species, Emberizidae. A molecular phylogenetic study published in 2014 found that the lesser grass finch belonged in the tanager family Thraupidae. Some authors have treated the lesser grass finch and the wedge-tailed grass finch (E. herbicola) as conspecific but a 1982 publication confirmed them as separate species.

The lesser grass finch shares the genus Emberizoides with the wedge-tailed grass finch and the Duida grass finch (E. duida). It is monotypic. The lesser grass finch is 18 to 20 cm (7.1 to 7.9 in) long and weighs 18.5 to 22 g (0.65 to 0.78 oz). It has a long pointed tail and a moderately thick bill. The sexes have the same plumage. Adults have a greenish... Wikipedia →