Family Tanagers (Thraupidae)

Least Concern

Bolivian Warbling-finch (Poospiza boliviana)

Taxonomy

French: Chipiu de Bolivie German: Zimtbrust-Finkentangare Spanish: Monterita boliviana

Taxonomy:

Poospiza boliviana

Sharpe

, 1888,

Bolivia

Monotypic.

Distribution:

Andes of W Bolivia (La Paz, Cochabamba, W Santa Cruz, W Chuquisaca and W Tarija) and extreme NW Argentina (N Salta).

Descriptive notes

15–16 cm. A standard-shaped warbling-finch with relatively small and pointed bill. Plumage is greyish-brown above, with slightly more greyish crown, dark grey face... read more

Voice

Song not formally described. Call a sharp “twiip”.

Habitat

Dry and semi-humid scrub, including open woodland, sometimes with Polylepis bushes, scrub... read more

Food and feeding

Behaviour suggests diet of arthropods and seeds. Forages on ground and in dense shrubbery. Singly and in pairs; also with other finches... read more

Breeding

Singing reported in Mar and juveniles seen in Apr. No other information.

Movements

Sedentary.

Status and conservation

Not globally threatened. Rare to uncommon. Previously thought to be confined to Bolivia, but recently recorded in extreme NW Argentina. Occurs in three protected areas in... 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: Poospizinae

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Newly defined subfamily dubbed “warbler tanagers” partly because some members have well-developed songs and partly because some are thin-billed and resemble Basileuterus (Parulidae); composed of two formerly large genera, Poospiza and Hemispingus, now broken up, plus otherwise mostly monotypic genera (some resurrected or newly erected)#R; genera Poospiza, Xenospingus, Piezorina, Urothraupis and Donacospiza were previously assigned to Emberizidae, Cnemoscopus sometimes in past to Parulidae.

Genus: Poospiza Cabanis, 1847

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Until recently considered to belong in Emberizidae, and to consist of 15 or more species; all former members now recognized as thraupids, but the majority are now assigned to other genera (Castanozoster, Poospizopsis and Microspingus), while four species previously in other genera (both Compsospiza plus Hemispingus goeringi and H. rufosuperciliaris) are transferred here#R #R.

See full taxonomic structure and notes