Estrildidae

Estrildidae, or estrildid finches, is a family of small passerine birds of the Old World tropics and Australasia. They comprise species commonly known as munias, mannikins, firefinches, parrotfinches and waxbills.[1] Sometimes they are treated as a subfamily, Estrildinae, within the family Passeridae; Passeridae narrowly defined comprises the Old World sparrows.[2] Despite the word "finch" being included in the common names of many of the species, they are not closely related to birds with this name in other families, such as the Fringillidae, Emberizidae or Passerellidae.

Estrildidae
Red-browed finch, Neochmia temporalis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Superfamily:	Passeroidea
Family:	Estrildidae Illiger, 1811
Genera
See text

They are gregarious and often colonial seed eaters with short, thick, but pointed bills. They are all similar in structure and habits, but vary widely in plumage colours and patterns.

All estrildids build large, domed nests and lay five to ten white eggs. Many species build roost nests. Some of the firefinches and pytilias are hosts to the brood-parasitic indigobirds and whydahs, respectively.

Most are sensitive to cold and require warm, usually tropical, habitats, although a few, such as the eastern alpine mannikin, mountain firetail, red-browed finch, and the genus Stagonopleura, have adapted to the cooler climates of southern Australia and the highlands of New Guinea.

The smallest species of the family is the Shelley's oliveback (Nesocharis shelleyi) at a mere 8.3 centimetres (3.3 in), although the lightest species is the black-rumped waxbill (Estrilda troglodytes) at 6 g (0.21 oz). The largest species is the Java sparrow (Padda oryzivora) at 17 cm (6.7 in) and 25 g (0.88 oz).[3]

Evolution

Origin of estrildid species

The phylogeography and possible origin of estrildid species have been studied. The following scheme may be useful to represent a hypothetical origin in India in the last and strongest Himalayas uplift (16.5 million years ago), when the monsoon rains regime was established in India (see figure). The conclusions from this study[4][5] are:

• The estrildids form a monophyletic group that includes several polytomies and comprises African, Asian and Australian birds.
• They may have started evolving by the Middle Miocene epoch (about 16.5 million years ago)
• This proposed timing is coincidental with the Fringillinae radiation starting time and also with the main Himalayan and Tibetan Plateau uplift, triggered by the Indian tectonic plate collision; this established present day southern Asia monsoon regime and other drastic climatic changes, like drier weather in the Tibetan Plateau and Chinese deserts.
• The most ancient evolutionary group comprises African (African silverbill), Asian (Indian silverbill) and Australian (diamond firetail) species; this suggests that the whole estrildid radiation might have originated around India.[4][6][7]

Estrildidae phylogenetic tree

• The African group Nesocharis is grouped with the African genus Estrilda.
• The Gouldian finch (Erythrura or Chloebia gouldiae) is included within genus Erythrura.
• The Java sparrow (Padda or Lonchura oryzivora) is a highly modified species from genus Lonchura: bigger than the rest of Lonchura species, with a conspicuous and quite different head pattern. It is endemic to Java, Bali, and the Bawean Islands, although escapees from captivity can be seen today in other neighboring islands.
• African munias (Spermestes) belong to a genus different from Australian and Asian munias.
• The Australian red-browed firetail (Neochmia temporalis), very similar to African common waxbill (Estrilda astrild), is not closely related to it. Their similarities (bill, red brow, etc.) are due to convergent evolution, since their environmental pressures (weather, habitat, feeding) are similar.[4][7]

Genera list

Image	Genus	Living species
	Parmoptila Cassin, 1859 (Antpecker)	Red-fronted antpecker, Parmoptila rubrifrons Jameson's antpecker, Parmoptila jamesoni – often included in P. rubrifrons Woodhouse's antpecker, Parmoptila woodhousei
	Nigrita Strickland, 1843 (negrofinches)	White-breasted nigrita, Nigrita fusconota Chestnut-breasted nigrita, Nigrita bicolor Pale-fronted nigrita, Nigrita luteifrons Grey-headed nigrita, Nigrita canicapilla
	Nesocharis Alexander, 1903 (Olivebacks)	White-collared oliveback, Nesocharis ansorgei Shelley's oliveback, Nesocharis shelleyi
	Delacourella Wolters, 1949	Grey-headed oliveback, Delacourella capistrata
	Pytilia Swainson, 1837	Orange-winged pytilia, Pytilia afra Red-winged pytilia, Pytilia phoenicoptera Red-billed pytilia, Pytilia lineata Green-winged pytilia, Pytilia melba Yellow-winged pytilia, Pytilia hypogrammica
	Cryptospiza Salvadori, 1884 (Crimsonwings)	Red-faced crimsonwing, Cryptospiza reichenovii Abyssinian crimsonwing, Cryptospiza salvadorii Dusky crimsonwing, Cryptospiza jacksoni Shelley's crimsonwing, Cryptospiza shelleyi
	Pyrenestes Swainson, 1837 (Seedcracker)	Crimson seedcracker, Pyrenestes sanguineus Black-bellied seedcracker, Pyrenestes ostrinus Lesser seedcracker, Pyrenestes minor
	Spermophaga Swainson, 1837 (Bluebill)	Grant's bluebill, Spermophaga poliogenys Western bluebill, Spermophaga haematina Red-headed bluebill, Spermophaga ruficapilla
	Mandingoa Hartert, 1919	Green-backed twinspot, Mandingoa nitidula
	Clytospiza Shelley, 1896	Brown twinspot, Clytospiza monteiri
	Hypargos L. Reichenbach, 1862	Red-throated twinspot, Hypargos niveoguttatus Pink-throated twinspot, Hypargos margaritatus
	Euschistospiza Wolters, 1943	Dybowski's twinspot, Euschistospiza dybowskii Dusky twinspot, Euschistospiza cinereovinacea
	Lagonosticta Cabanis, 1851 (firefinches)	Bar-breasted firefinch, Lagonosticta rufopicta Brown firefinch, Lagonosticta nitidula Red-billed firefinch, Lagonosticta senegala Black-bellied firefinch, Lagonosticta rara African firefinch, Lagonosticta rubricata Landana firefinch, Lagonosticta landanae Jameson's firefinch, Lagonosticta rhodopareia Mali firefinch, Lagonosticta virata Rock firefinch, Lagonosticta sanguinodorsalis Black-faced firefinch, Lagonosticta larvata Chad firefinch, Lagonosticta umbrinodorsalis
	Uraeginthus Cabanis, 1851 (cordon-bleus)	Blue waxbill, Uraeginthus angolensis Red-cheeked cordon-bleu, Uraeginthus bengalus Blue-capped cordon-bleu, Uraeginthus cyanocephalus
	Granatina Sharpe, 1890	Purple grenadier, Granatina ianthinogaster Violet-eared waxbill, Granatina granatina
	Coccopygia Reichenbach, 1862	Yellow-bellied waxbill, Coccopygia quartinia Swee waxbill, Coccopygia melanotis Angolan waxbill, Coccopygia bocagei
	Brunhilda Reichenbach, 1862 (waxbills)	Black-faced waxbill, Brunhilda erythronotos Black-cheeked waxbill, Brunhilda charmosyna
	Glaucestrilda Roberts, 1922 (waxbills)	Lavender waxbill, Glaucestrilda caerulescens Grey waxbill, Glaucestrilda perreini Cinderella waxbill, Glaucestrilda thomensis
	Estrilda Swainson, 1827 (waxbills)	Fawn-breasted waxbill, Estrilda paludicola Anambra waxbill, Estrilda poliopareia Orange-cheeked waxbill, Estrilda melpoda Arabian waxbill, Estrilda rufibarba Crimson-rumped waxbill, Estrilda rhodopyga Black-rumped waxbill, Estrilda troglodytes Common waxbill, Estrilda astrild Black-lored waxbill, Estrilda nigriloris Black-crowned waxbill, Estrilda nonnula Black-headed waxbill, Estrilda atricapilla Kandt's waxbill, Estrilda kandti
	Amandava Blyth, 1836 (avadavats)	Red avadavat, Amandava amandava also known as red munia Green avadavat, Amandava formosa Orange-breasted waxbill, Amandava subflava
	Ortygospiza (Vieillot, 1817)	Quailfinch, Ortygospiza atricollis
	Paludipasser Neave, 1909	Locust finch, Paludipasser locustella
	Emblema Gould, 1842	Painted finch, Emblema pictum
	Stagonopleura L. Reichenbach, 1850 (firetails)	Beautiful firetail, Stagonopleura bella Red-eared firetail, Stagonopleura oculata Diamond firetail, Stagonopleura guttata
	Oreostruthus De Vis, 1898	Mountain firetail, Oreostruthus fuliginosus
	Neochmia G.R. Gray, 1849	Red-browed finch, Neochmia temporalis Crimson finch, Neochmia phaeton
	Bathilda Reichenbach, 1862	Star finch, Bathilda ruficauda
	Aidemosyne Reichenbach, 1862	Plum-headed finch, Aidemosyne modesta
	Taeniopygia Reichenbach, 1862	Zebra finch, Taeniopygia guttata
	Stizoptera Oberholser, 1899	Double-barred finch, Stizoptera bichenovii
	Poephila Gould, 1842	Masked finch, Poephila personata Long-tailed finch, Poephila acuticauda Black-throated finch, Poephila cincta
	Erythrura Swainson, 1837 (Parrotfinches)	Tawny-breasted parrotfinch, Erythrura hyperythra Pin-tailed parrotfinch, Erythrura prasina Green-faced parrotfinch, Erythrura viridifacies Tricolored parrotfinch, Erythrura tricolor Blue-faced parrotfinch, Erythrura trichroa Red-eared parrotfinch, Erythrura coloria Papuan parrotfinch, Erythrura papuana Red-throated parrotfinch, Erythrura psittacea Fiji parrotfinch, Erythrura pealii Red-headed parrotfinch, Erythrura cyaneovirens Royal parrotfinch, Erythrura regia Pink-billed parrotfinch, Erythrura kleinschmidti
	Chloebia Reichenbach, 1862	Gouldian finch, Chloebia gouldiae
	Euodice L. Reichenbach, 1862	African silverbill, Euodice cantans Indian silverbill, Euodice malabarica also known as white-throated munia
	Lepidopygia Reichenbach, 1862	Madagascar mannikin, Lepidopygia nana
	Spermestes Swainson, 1837 (munias, mannikins and silverbills)	Grey-headed silverbill, Spermestes griseicapilla Bronze mannikin, Spermestes cucullata, also known as bronze munia Magpie mannikin, Spermestes fringilloides, also known as magpie munia Black-and-white mannikin, Spermestes bicolor, also known as black-and-white munia Red-backed mannikin, Spermestes nigriceps, also known as brown-backed munia
	Lonchura Sykes, 1832 (munias, mannikins and silverbills)	White-rumped munia, Lonchura striata Javan munia, Lonchura leucogastroides Dusky munia, Lonchura fuscans Black-faced munia, Lonchura molucca Black-throated munia, Lonchura kelaarti, also known as Jerdon's mannikin Scaly-breasted munia, Lonchura punctulata, also known as nutmeg mannikin or spice finch White-bellied munia, Lonchura leucogastra Streak-headed munia, Lonchura tristissima Chestnut munia, Lonchura atricapilla Tricolored munia, Lonchura malacca White-capped munia, Lonchura ferruginosa Cream-bellied munia, Lonchura pallidiventer Five-colored munia, Lonchura quinticolor White-headed munia, Lonchura maja Pale-headed munia, Lonchura pallida Great-billed mannikin, Lonchura grandis Grey-banded mannikin, Lonchura vana Grey-crowned mannikin, Lonchura nevermanni Hooded mannikin, Lonchura spectabilis Hunstein's mannikin, Lonchura hunsteini Forbes's mannikin, Lonchura forbesi New Hanover mannikin, Lonchura nigerrima Yellow-rumped mannikin, Lonchura flaviprymna Chestnut-breasted mannikin, Lonchura castaneothorax Black mannikin, Lonchura stygia Black-breasted mannikin, Lonchura teerinki Western alpine mannikin, Lonchura montana Eastern alpine mannikin, Lonchura monticola Buff-bellied mannikin, Lonchura melaena Java sparrow, Lonchura oryzivora Timor sparrow, Lonchura fuscata
	Heteromunia Mathews, 1913	Pictorella mannikin, Heteromunia pectoralis
	Amadina Swainson, 1827 (Cut-throats)	Cut-throat finch, Amadina fasciata Red-headed finch, Amadina erythrocephala

References

1. Gill, Frank; Donsker, David. "Waxbills, parrotfinches, munias, whydahs, Olive Warbler, accentors, pipits « IOC World Bird List". www.worldbirdnames.org. IOC World Bird List (v8.2).
2. Christidis, L.; Boles, W.E. (2008). Systematics and Taxonomy of Australian Birds. Canberra: CSIRO Publishing. p. 177. ISBN 978-0-643-06511-6.
3. "Estrildid FINCHes".
4. Arnaiz-Villena A, Ruiz-del-Valle V, Gomez-Prieto P, Reguera R, Parga-Lozano C, Serrano-Vela JI (2009). "Estrildinae Finches (Aves, Passeriformes) from Africa, South Asia and Australia: a Molecular Phylogeographic Study" (PDF). The Open Ornithology Journal. 2: 29–36. doi:10.2174/1874453200902010029.
5. Arnaiz-Villena, Antonio; Gomez-Prieto, Pablo; Ruiz-Del-Valle, Valentin (2009). Phylogeography of Finches and Sparrows (PDF). Nova Science Publishers. ISBN 978-1-60741-844-3.
6. Sibley, C.G.; Monroe, B.L. (1990). Distribution and Taxonomy of Birds of the World. Yale University Press.
7. Arnaiz-Villena, A.; Gomez-Prieto, P.; Serna-Ayala, J.M.; Ruiz-del-Valle, V. (2009). El origen de los Estríldidos [The origin of the Estríldidos] (PDF) (Report) (in Spanish).

External links

• Zipcode Zoo: Estrildidae
• Internet Bird Collection.com: Estrildidae videos, photos and sounds
• Waxbill Finch Society — specialist waxbill bird society based in the UK.