Cardueline finch
Cardueline finches are a subfamily of songbirds within the family Fringillidae, encompassing over 180 species across nearly 50 genera. Commonly found in woodlands and forests across the Americas, Eurasia, and Africa (excluding Madagascar), these finches are known for their musical songs, which they use to communicate their presence. Unlike their relatives, cardueline finches will sing anywhere, with most exhibiting pleasant, melodic songs, although some may have coarser sounds.
Typically ranging from four to eight inches in length and weighing between 1/2 to 1 1/2 ounces, these birds have distinct plumage that often features streaks and noticeable wing and tail markings. They primarily feed on seeds, using their strong bills to crack open shells, and both parents commonly regurgitate food for their chicks in the nest. Cardueline finches often nest in loose colonies, with males defending females rather than specific nests.
While many species are common, threats such as habitat loss, deforestation, and agricultural practices have impacted some populations, with particular species facing endangerment or extinction. The average lifespan of cardueline finches in the wild is estimated to be between five to ten years.
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Cardueline finch
Like other finches, cardueline finches are popular songbirds. They sing wherever they are, simply to let other birds know they are present. Many sing special songs while flying over breeding areas.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Fringillidae
Genus: Various (see below)
Species: Various (see below)
Over 180 species among nearly 50 genera comprise the finch subfamily Cardulinaea large, distinct bird group within the Fringillidae family of finches. Birds in this subfamily include rosefinches, goldfinches, canaries, bullfinches, and several more. The Hawaiian honeycreepers joined the Cardulinae subfamily in the early 2010s when scientists discovered its close relationship to rosefinches.
Cardueline finches live in the woodlands and forests of the American continents, Eurasia, and Africa, except Madagascar. Unlike their cousins in the Fringilline and Euphoniinae subfamilies, Cardueline finches sing anywhere to advertise their presence. Fringilline finches sing only within their territories to attract mates and warn other finches not to trespass. A few cardueline finches have coarse, creaky songs, but most have musical, pleasant songs that vary between species.
The plumage, or feathering, of these finches varies in color but many have streaks in their feathers. Most have distinct and noticeable wing and tail markings. They range from four to eight inches (10 to 20 centimeters) in length and 1/2 to 1 1/2 ounces (10 to 45 grams) in weight.
Cardueline finches forage for seeds, which they crack open in their strong bills. Their tongues help remove the shells, which are discarded, and the kernels of the seeds then enter their powerful gizzards (stomachs), where pebbles help grind the kernels. A male and female forage together, collecting large quantities of seeds and insects in their gullets and crops. A crop is the storage chamber between the finch's gizzard and gullet (esophagus or throat). Some species of cardueline finches have throat pouches. Both parents regurgitate the chewed food for their young in the nest. The young receive food every 20 to 60 minutes and may eat only seeds, or insects and seeds. Cardueline finches are unique among birds for feeding their young seeds.
Cardueline finches often nest in loose colonies. Flocks forage for food outside the area of the colony wherever they may find it. Within the colony, each male defends their female rather than their cup-shaped nests made of grass and moss. The mating season for cardueline finches may be long and occur at different times throughout the year. Most Cardueline finches lay three to six eggs. Species living further north usually have larger clutches, or numbers of eggs. A pair often raise more than one brood, or batch of young, each mating season.
Breeding sites and migratory patterns may change each year depending on the availability of food in different places. Cardueline finches feed on seeds from trees less likely to be buried under snow. Because of this, they can spend the winter farther north than some other species of finches, such as the three fringilline species. Like other finches, finding food in winter is important to the survival of cardueline finches. Other dangers are the loss of habitat, deforestation, the growth of cities, and farming. Some farmers use herbicides to kill some of the plants which produce seeds for the finches. Although some farming uncovers seeds for the birds, other farming takes away some of the foods the birds eat. Because of all these threats, the average life span of cardueline finches in the wild varies but is likely five to ten years.
Many species in the Carduelinae subfamily are plentiful, but several are threatened. The greater Azores bullfinch (Pyrrhula crassa) is extinct, the Hispaniolan crossbill (Loxia megaplaga) is endangered, and the poʻo-uli (Melamprosops phaeosoma), also called the Hawaiian black-faced honeycreeper, was last seen in the early 2000s and may be extinct. Representative species in the cardueline subfamily are:
American goldfinch Spinus tristis
Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula
Common or red crossbill Loxia curvirostra
European greenfinch Chloris chloris
European Serin Serinus serinus
Pine Siskin Spinus pinus
House finch Haemorhous mexicanus
Linnet Acanthis cannabina
Parrot crossbill Loxia pytopsittacus
Pine grosbeak Pinicola enucleator
Common Redpoll Acanthis flammea
Siskin Carduelis spinus
Bibliography
Armstrong, Tavia. "Finch." A-Z Animals, 12 Apr. 2023, a-z-animals.com/animals/finch. Accessed 25 Mar. 2024.
"Carduelinae." Animalia, animalia.bio/carduelinae. Accessed 25 Mar. 2024.