| Melanospiza | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Black-faced grassquit (Melanospiza bicolor) | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Thraupidae |
| Genus: | Melanospiza Ridgway, 1897 |
| Type species | |
| Loxigilla richardsoni Cory, 1886 | |
Melanospiza is a genus of Neotropical birds in the tanager family Thraupidae.
The genus Melanospiza was introduced in 1897 by the American ornithologist Robert Ridgway with the Saint Lucia black finch as the type species. [1] [2] The name combines the Ancient Greek melas meaning "black" and spiza meaning "finch". [3] Although traditionally placed with the buntings and New World sparrows in the family Emberizidae, [2] molecular phylogenetic studies have shown that the genus is a member of the tanager family Thraupidae and belongs to the subfamily Coerebinae which also contains Darwin's finches. [4]
The genus contains the following two species: [5]
| Image | Scientific name | Common name | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Melanospiza richardsoni | Saint Lucia black finch | Saint Lucia |
 | Melanospiza bicolor | Black-faced grassquit | West Indies, northern coasts of Colombia and Venezuela |
Saltator is a genus of passerine birds in the tanager family Thraupidae that are found in Central and South America. They have thick bills, relatively long tails and strong legs and feet. Before the introduction of molecular genetic methods in the 21st century these species were placed in the cardinal family Cardinalidae.
Haplospiza is a small genus of birds in the tanager family Thraupidae. Formerly classified in the bunting and American sparrow family Emberizidae, more recent studies have shown it to belong in the Thraupidae. Its two members breed in subtropical or tropical moist forest in Central and South America. They are often associated with bamboo.
Phrygilus is a genus of mainly Andean seed-eating tanagers commonly known as sierra finches. Phrygilos means finch in Ancient Greek. Traditionally classified in the bunting and American sparrow family Emberizidae, more recent studies have shown them to belong in the Thraupidae.
Emberizoides is a small genus of finch-like tanagers found in grassy areas in Central and South America.
Embernagra is a genus of South American finch-like birds in the tanager family Thraupidae.
Idiopsar is a genus of Neotropical seed-eating birds in the tanager family Thraupidae.
The cinereous finch is a species of South American bird in the tanager family Thraupidae. It is the only member of the genus Piezorina. It is found in arid coastal regions of northern Peru, with a single record, presumably a straying bird, from immediately adjacent Ecuador.
The Inca finches form the genus Incaspiza, of finch-like birds in the tanager family Thraupidae. They were traditionally placed in the family Emberizidae, but molecular phylogenetic studies have shown that they are closely related to the Thraupidae. Both their scientific and common name refer to the Incan civilization.
Poospiza is a genus of finch-like birds in the tanager family Thraupidae that are found in both the South American lowlands and the Andes mountains. Generally they are arboreal feeders in light woodland and scrub. All have extensive grey to their plumage, and have—often bold—white or rufous markings.
Iridosornis is a genus of Neotropical birds in the tanager family Thraupidae
Camarhynchus is a genus of birds in the tanager family Thraupidae. All species of Camarhynchus are endemic to the Galápagos Islands, and together with related genera, they are collectively known as Darwin's finches. Formerly classified in the bunting and American sparrow family Emberizidae, more recent molecular genetic studies have shown it to belong in the tanager family.
The black-masked finch is a species of South American bird in the tanager family Thraupidae. It is the only member of the genus Coryphaspiza. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Peru. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist shrubland, subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland, and subtropical or tropical seasonally wet or flooded lowland grassland. It is threatened by habitat loss.
The golden-collared honeycreeper is an uncommon species of Neotropical bird in the tanager family Thraupidae. It is the only member of the genus Iridophanes.
Loxigilla is a genus of passerine birds in the tanager family Thraupidae. The two species are both endemic to the Lesser Antilles.
Melopyrrha is a genus of passerine birds in the tanager family Thraupidae. It is made up of four extant species endemic to the Greater Antilles, along with 1 possibly extinct species from the island of Saint Kitts in the Lesser Antilles.
The vegetarian finch is a species of bird in the Darwin's finch group of the tanager family Thraupidae endemic to the Galápagos Islands. It is the only member of the genus Platyspiza.
The blue-capped tanager is a species of bird in the tanager family Thraupidae. It was formerly placed in the genus Thraupis but is now the only species in the genus Sporathraupis.
The black-backed bush tanager, also known as the black-backed bush-finch, is a species of bird in the family Thraupidae. It is the only member in the genus Urothraupis. It is found in Colombia and Ecuador. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.
The warbler-finches are a genus Certhidea of birds in the tanager family Thraupidae that are endemic to the Galápagos Islands. Together with related genera, they are collectively known as Darwin's finches.
Microspingus is a genus of warbler-like birds in the tanager family Thraupidae. They are found in highland forest in South America.
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