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Finches :: Finchingfield :: Fincher,_David :: Finch,_Jon :: Finchampstead :: Finch,_Peter :: Finchville
 

Finches are often seed-eating passerine birds, the many species of which are found chiefly in the northern hemisphere, but they also occur in Africa, and one subfamily is endemic to the Neotropics. The finch family, Fringillidae, also contains the Hawaiian honeycreepers (Drepanidinae).

"Classic finches" are small to moderately large and have a strong beak, usually conical and in some species very large. All have 12 tail feathers and 9 primaries. These birds have a bouncing flight with alternating bouts of flapping and gliding on closed wings, and most sing well. Their nests are basket-shaped and built in trees.

Species


There are many other birds in other groups which are called finches, notably the very similar-looking Estrildids or waxbills, which occur in the Old World tropics and Australia.

Some of the closely related sparrows are also named as "finches", as are some buntings.

References


  • Finches and Sparrows by Clement, Harris and Davis, ISBN 0-7136-8017-2

External links


Fringillidae

Fringillidae | Finker | Finken | Fringedoj | Pinson | Finko | Fringillidae | Vinkachtigen | アトリ科 (Sibley) | Kikiliniai | Finkefamilien | Łuszczaki | Fringillidae | Finkfåglar | Fringillidae | 雀科 | פרושיים

 

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "Finch".

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