Pileated Finch

About the Pileated Finch

The grey pileated finch (Coryphospingus pileatus), also known as the pileated finch, is a species of bird in the family Thraupidae, the tanagers and allies. It is found in Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, and possibly Bolivia and French Guiana.

The grey pileated finch was first described in 1821 by the German naturalist Prince Maximilian of Wied-Neuwied with the binomial Fringilla pileata. In 1851 Jean Cabanis erected the genus Coryphospingus for pileatus and what is now the red pileated finch (C. cucullatus). The old and new genera were in the finch family Fringillidae but several early twentieth century studies showed that Coryphospingus belonged in its present tanager family. The two pileated "finches" form a superspecies and hybridize where their ranges overlap. The genera Coryphospingus, Lanio, Eucometis, and Tachyphonus are closely related.

The grey pileated finch has these three subspecies: C. p. rostratus Miller, AH, 1947 C. p. brevicaudus Cory, 1916 C. p. pileatus (Wied-Neuwied, M, 1821) The grey pileated finch is about 13.5 cm (5.3 in) long and weighs 12 to 18 g (0.42 to 0.63 oz). It has a shortish tail and a longish bill. The... Wikipedia →