Spizella

Spizella
Field sparrow
Spizella pusilla
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Passerellidae
Genus: Spizella
Bonaparte, 1832
Type species
Fringilla pusilla
A. Wilson, 1810
Species

See text

The genus Spizella is a group of American sparrows in the family Passerellidae.

These birds are fairly small and slim, with short bills, round heads and long wings. They are usually found in semi-open areas, and outside of the nesting season they often forage in small mixed flocks.

Systematics

This genus was formerly placed with the Old World buntings in the family Emberizidae. However, genetic studies revealed that New World sparrows formed a distinct clade and thus it was placed in the resurrected family Passerellidae.

Species

The American tree sparrow, Spizelloides arborea, was formerly a member of this group, but is now placed in its own monotypic genus Spizelloides.

References

  1. ↑ "Passerellidae". Howard & Moore Checklist Online. Trust for Avian Systematics. Retrieved 2023-07-16.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Slager, David L.; Klicka, John (2014). "A new genus for the American Tree Sparrow (Aves: Passeriformes: Passerellidae)". Zootaxa. 3821 (3): 398–400. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3821.3.9. PMID 24989754. S2CID 34796887.
  3. ↑ Barker, F.K.; Burns, K.J.; Klicka, J.; Lanyon, S.M.; Lovette, I.J. (2013). "Going to extremes: contrasting rates of diversification in a recent radiation of New World passerine birds". Systematic Biology. 62 (2): 298–320. doi:10.1093/sysbio/sys094. PMID 23229025.
  4. ↑ Barker, F.K.; Burns, K.J.; Klicka, J.; Lanyon, S.M.; Lovette, I.J. (2015). "New insights into New World biogeography: An integrated view from the phylogeny of blackbirds, cardinals, sparrows, tanagers, warblers, and allies". Auk. 132 (2): 333–346. doi:10.1642/AUK-14-110.1.