Family Tanagers (Thraupidae)

Least Concern

Black-hooded Sierra-finch (Phrygilus atriceps)

Taxonomy

French: Phrygile à tête noire German: Kapuzenammertangare Spanish: Yal cabecinegro

Taxonomy:

Emberiza atriceps

d’Orbigny and Lafresnaye

, 1837,

“Tacora” (= Tarapacá), Chile (formerly in Peru)

Has been considered conspecific with P. gayi, but the two rarely hybridize in area of NC Chile (between Atacama and Coquimbo) where they are sympatric; molecular evidence indicates sister relationship with P. punensis#R #R. Geographical variation minimal; individuals from C Bolivia S to NW Argentina slightly longer-billed than others, but difference probably clinal, while males from NW Bolivian Altiplano (Sajama) said to be particularly black-winged. Treated as monotypic.

Distribution:

S Peru (highlands of Arequipa, Moquegua and Tacna) S through highlands of SW Bolivia to N Chile (from highlands of E Arica–Parinacota S to Baños de Toro, in N Coquimbo) and NW Argentina (S to Catamarca).

Descriptive notes

15·5–16 cm; average 24·3 g. A well-proportioned sierra-finch with relatively pointed bill. Male has solid black hood, contrasting strongly with russet upperparts and... read more

Voice

Song a musical but repetitive series of notes given in alternating pairs, “tweep-tseep, tweep-tseep... read more

Habitat

Open highland scrub and shrubby areas, even where cacti dominant, also areas adjacent to grassy... read more

Food and feeding

Seeds and invertebrates. In highland villages will also take food scraps discarded by humans. Forages on ground. Generally in pairs, often... read more

Breeding

Season mainly Nov–Jan, but nesting can occur at any time in year. Nest a grass cup, sometimes lined with camelid wool, placed in grass... read more

Movements

Sedentary.

Status and conservation

Not globally threatened. Common throughout its range. Benefits from its ability to live alongside humans. Occurs in several protected areas, including Reserva Nacional de... read more

Bibliography

Public comments

Scientific classification

Class: Aves

Order: Passeriformes

Family: Thraupidae

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In past, included in a much broader Emberizidae. Probably sister to Cardinalidae, with these two perhaps sister to Mitrospingidae#R #R #R #R. Family limits and internal structure extensively revised in recent years on basis of numerous genetic studies#R #R #R #R #R #R. These have led to subdivision into 15 subfamilies, as well as numerous other notable changes (as compared to HBW) including: relocation herein of Parkerthraustes and Saltator from Cardinalidae, and of Charitospiza, Coryphaspiza, Embernagra, Emberizoides, Incaspiza, Porphyrospiza, Tiaris, Euneornis, Loxipasser, Loxigilla, Melanospiza, Certhidea, Platyspiza, Pinaroloxias, Geospiza, Volatinia, Coryphospingus, Rhodospingus, Sporophila, Piezorina, Xenospingus, Poospiza, Donacospiza, Sicalis, Phrygilus, Nesospiza, Rowettia, Melanodera, Haplospiza, Acanthidops, Idiopsar, Catamenia, Lophospingus, Diuca, Gubernatrix and Paroaria from Emberizidae (=Passerellidae); and also removal of Chlorophonia and Euphonia to Fringillidae, of Rhodinocichla to Rhodinocichlidae, of Chlorospingus to Passerellidae, of Phaenicophilus to Phaenicophilidae, of Spindalis to Spindalidae, of Nesospingus to Nesospingidae, of Calyptophilus to Calyptophilidae, of Lamprospiza, Mitrospingus and Orthogonys to Mitrospingidae, and of Habia, Chlorothraupis and Piranga to Cardinalidae. Generic limits within family also extensively revised, and associated sequence of species followed herein#R.

Subfamily: Diglossinae

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Subfamily (“highland tanagers”, as 75% occur above 2500 m) established very recently as an outcome of first comprehensive molecular phylogeny of Thraupidae, with strong support for clade containing species with highly divergent bill morphologies and ecological niches, with only Conirostrum, Oreomanes (herein merged into Conirostrum) and Diglossa previously treated as tanagers (Conirostrum sometimes in Parulidae) and the remainder in Emberizidae#R. Three main clades: (1) Conirostrum conebills, (2) a “yellow clade” comprising Sicalis, Melanodera, Rowettia, Nesospiza and hooded sierra-finches from what proves to be a polyphyletic Phrygilus#R, and (3) a “grey/blue clade” comprising Diglossa, Catamenia, four sierra-finches moved from Phrygilus, one former member of Diuca, plus Haplospiza, Spodiornis, Acanthidops, Idiopsar and Xenodacnis#R.

Genus: Phrygilus Cabanis, 1844

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Previously treated in Emberizidae. Of 11 species placed in genus in HBW, on basis of recent molecular insights#R #R #R three now allocated to Porphyrospizinae (Corydospiza alaudina, C. carbonaria and Rhopospina fruticeti) while the other eight belong in three different clades in present subfamily, with P. unicolor and P. plebejus (“grey sierra-finches”) moved to Geospizopsis, and P. dorsalis and P. erythronotus (“grey-and-white sierra-finches”) to Ephippiospingus, leaving present four rather closely related species as “true” Phrygilus, which forms part of a “yellow clade” (alongside Sicalis, Melanodera, Rowettia and Nesospiza) within Diglossinae.

See full taxonomic structure and notes

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