Neochmia

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Neochmia
Redbrowedfiretail.jpg
Red-browed finch (Neochmia temporalis)
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Estrildidae
Genus: Neochmia
G.R. Gray, 1849
Type species
Fringilla phaeton
Species

N. temporalis
N. phaeton

Neochmia is a genus of estrildid finches found in Australasia. They are gregarious seed-eaters with short, thick, but pointed bills.

Contents

Taxonomy

The genus Neochmia was introduced in 1849 by the English zoologist George Gray with Fringilla phaeton Hombron & Jacquinot, the crimson finch as the type species. [1] [2] The genus name is from Ancient Greek νεοχμια/neokhmia meaning "innovation" or "phenomenon". [3]

The genus contains two species: [4]

ImageScientific nameCommon NameDistribution
Red-browed Finch - Penrith.jpg Red-browed finch Neochmia temporalisNorthern Queensland, and south-east of Australia
Crimson Finch (Neochmia phaeton) - Flickr - Lip Kee (2).jpg Crimson finch Neochmia phaetonNorthern Australia with some residing in New Guinea


References

  1. Gray, George Robert (1849). The Genera of Birds : comprising their generic characters, a notice of the habits of each genus, and an extensive list of species referred to their several genera. Vol. 2. London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans. Plate 89, [p. 349]. For the publication date see Bruce, Murray D. (2023). "The Genera of Birds (1844–1849) by George Robert Gray: A review of its part publication, dates, new nominal taxa, suppressed content and other details". Sherbornia. 8 (1): 1–93 [18].
  2. Paynter, Raymond A. Jr, ed. (1968). Check-List of Birds of the World. Vol. 14. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Museum of Comparative Zoology. p. 356.
  3. Jobling, James A. "Neochmia". The Key to Scientific Names. Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
  4. Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (February 2025). "Waxbills, parrotfinches, munias, whydahs, Olive Warbler, accentors, pipits". IOC World Bird List Version 15.1. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 6 August 2025.

Further reading