Emberizoides is a small genus of finch-like tanagers found in grassy areas in Central and South America.
Taxonomy and species list The genus Emberizoides was introduced in 1822 by the Dutch zoologist Coenraad Jacob Temminck. The title page is dated 1838 but the 5 volumes were originally issued in 102 livraison (parts) between 1820 and 1839. For a discussion of the dates see: The type species was later designated as the wedge-tailed grass finch by George Robert Gray. The genus name combines the bunting genus Emberiza introduced by Carl Linnaeus in 1758 with the Ancient Greek -oidēs meaning "resembling". This genus was traditionally placed with the buntings and New World sparrows in the subfamily Emberizinae within an expanded family Emberizidae. A molecular phylogenetic study published in 2014 found that Emberizoides was embedded in the tanager family Thraupidae. Within this family, the genus is now placed with Embernagra and Coryphaspiza in the subfamily Emberizoidinae.
The genus contains three species:
Image Common name Scientific name Distribution Wedge-tailed grass finch Emberizoides herbicola Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela Duida grass finch Emberizoides duidae Venezuela Lesser grass finch Emberizoides ypiranganus Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay
References