User:MeegsC/Notes/Grosbeak



Name grosbeak has "little taxonomic significance". Grosbeaks found in cardinal-grosbeak tribe and in cardueline finch tribe. Some 24 species worldwide. Birds named for large, seed-crushing beak. All Pheucticus spp. found in Americas as is Guiraca (Blue Grosbeak).



p. 536 Blue Grosbeak more closely related to buntings than other grosbeaks. Birds in other families have similar names, e.g. Evening Grosbeak.



p. 552 Some grosbeak are cardueline finches. Pine Grosbeak holarctic. p. 553 Evening Grosbeak has largest beak of any NA fringillid.



partial translation of French grosbec "gros" = thick and "bec" = beak; first known use circa 1678.



p. 256 "Substantive" name of species in the genera Pinocola, Chaunoproctus, Mycerobas and Hesperiphona, all Carduelinae species in the family Fringillidae. Also of some species of Cardinalinae (Emberizidae) and Ploceidae. p. 79   Most common substantive name for birds in the Cardinalinae sub-family. Primarily "seed-crunchers" as opposed to "seed-peelers" and their tongues, palates and jaw muscles differ from those of latter species. Males typically brightly colored. Includes genera Spiza, Pheucticus, Hedymeles, Cardinalis, Pyrrhuloxia, Caryothraustes, Rhodothraupis,  Periporphyrus, Pitylus, Saltator, Guiraca. Sometimes called "Cardinal-Grosbeaks''.



p. 11   New World cardinals and grosbeaks "show close affinities" with Fringillidae species "in size, structure, voice, habitat and nest-site choice". Hesperiphone grosbeaks, currently placed in Fringillidae, as closely related to Hawfinch, also appear linked to the Emberizidae grosbeaks. Opinions on relationships "differ widely" among taxonomists.