Estrildid finch

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Estrildid finches
Red-browed Finch, Neochmia temporalis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Suborder: Passeri
Family: Estrildidae
Illiger, 1811
Genera

See text.

The estrildid finches are small passerine birds of the Old World tropics and Australasia. They can be classified as the family Estrildidae (weaver-finch), or as a subfamily within the family Passeridae, which strictly defined comprises the Old World sparrows.[1]

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 the estrildids build large, domed nests and lay 5–10 white eggs. Many species build roost nests. Some of the fire-finches 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 have adapted to the cooler climates of southern Australia.

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).

Species list

Red Avadavat, Amandava amandava
Indian Silverbill, Lonchura malabarica
Scaly-breasted Munia, Lonchura punctulata
Tricoloured Munia, Lonchura malacca
Chestnut-breasted Mannikin, Lonchura castaneothorax

Evolution

Origin of estrildid finches

The phylogeography and possible origin of estrildid finches have been studied. The following scheme may be useful to represent an hypothetical origin in India in the last and stronger Himalayas uplift (16.5 million years ago), when monsoon rains regime established in India (see figure). The conclusions from this study[2][3] are:

  • Estrildids are a monophyletic group with polytomies that may have started evolving by Middle Miocene Epoch (about 16.5 million years ago)
  • This proposed timing is coincidental with the Fringillinae finches’ radiation starting time and also with the biggest Himalayan and Tibetan Plateau uplift, triggered by the Indian tectonic plate strongest collision; this established present day southern Asia monsoon regime and other drastic climatic changes, like a dryer weather in Tibetan Plateau and Chinese deserts.
  • The estrildid finches form a monophyletic group which includes several polytomies and comprises African, Asian and Australian birds.
  • The most ancient evolutive group comprises African (African silverbill), Asian (Indian silverbill) and Australian (diamond firetail); this suggests that the whole Estrildids radiation might have originated around India.[2][4][5]
Estrildid finches' phylogenetic tree
  • The African group Nesocharis is grouped with the African gender Estrilda.
  • The Gouldian Finch (Erythrura or Chloebia gouldiae) is definitely included within genus Erythrura with the other species.
  • The Java Sparrow (Padda or Lonchura oryzivora) is a very modified species from genus Lonchura: bigger size than the rest of Lonchura species, and a noticeable and quite different head pattern. It is endemic to Java, Bali, and the Bawean Islands, although escapes from captivity can be seen today in other neighboring islands.
  • African munias (Spermestes) belong to a genus totally different to Australian and Asian munias.
  • The Australian Red-browed Firetail (Neochmia temporalis), very similar to African Common Waxbill (Estrilda astrild), is unrelated to it. Their similarities (bill, red brow, etc.) are due to convergent evolution, since their environmental pressures (weather, habitat, feeding) are similar.[2][5]

References

  1. ↑ Christidis L, Boles WE (2008). Systematics and Taxonomy of Australian Birds. Canberra: CSIRO Publishing. p. 177. ISBN 978-0-643-06511-6. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Arnaiz-Villena, A; Ruiz-del-Valle, V.; Gomez-Prieto, P.; Reguera, R.; Parga-Lozano, C; Serrano-Vela, J.I. (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).
  3. ↑ Arnaiz-Villena, A; Gómez-Prieto P, Ruiz-de-Valle V (2009). "Phylogeography of finches and sparrows". Nova Science Publishers. ISBN 978-1-60741-844--3. 
  4. ↑ Sibley CG, Monroe BL (1990). Distribution and Taxonomy of Birds of the World. Yale University Press
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Arnaiz-Villena, A; Gomez-Prieto, P.; Serna-Ayala; Ruiz-del-Valle, V. (2009). "Origen de los estríldidos".

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