Crithagra is a genus of small passerine birds in the finch family (Fringillidae). They live in Africa and Arabia.
The species in this genus were formerly assigned to the genus Serinus, but phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences found that the genus was polyphyletic.[1] It was therefore split into two monophyletic genera. Eight species, including the European serin (Serinus serinus), were retained in Serinus, while the other species were assigned to the resurrected genus Crithagra.[2]
The genus was introduced in 1827 by the English ornithologist William John Swainson.[3] The type species was subsequently designated as the brimstone canary.[4] The name comes from the classical Greek krithē for "barley" and agra for "hunting".[5]
The genus contains 37 species:[2]
Crithagra is a genus of small passerine birds in the finch family (Fringillidae). They live in Africa and Arabia.
The species in this genus were formerly assigned to the genus Serinus, but phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences found that the genus was polyphyletic. It was therefore split into two monophyletic genera. Eight species, including the European serin (Serinus serinus), were retained in Serinus, while the other species were assigned to the resurrected genus Crithagra.
The genus was introduced in 1827 by the English ornithologist William John Swainson. The type species was subsequently designated as the brimstone canary. The name comes from the classical Greek krithē for "barley" and agra for "hunting".
The genus contains 37 species:
Príncipe seedeater, Crithagra rufobrunnea São Tomé grosbeak, Crithagra concolor African citril, Crithagra citrinelloides Western citril, Crithagra frontalis Southern citril, Crithagra hyposticta Black-faced canary, Crithagra capistrata Papyrus canary, Crithagra koliensis Forest canary, Crithagra scotops White-rumped seedeater, Crithagra leucopygia Black-throated canary, Crithagra atrogularis Yellow-rumped seedeater, Crithagra xanthopygia Reichenow's seedeater, Crithagra reichenowi Arabian serin, Crithagra rothschildi Yellow-throated seedeater, Crithagra flavigula Salvadori's seedeater, Crithagra xantholaema Lemon-breasted canary, Crithagra citrinipectus Yellow-fronted canary, Crithagra mozambica White-bellied canary, Crithagra dorsostriata Ankober serin, Crithagra ankoberensis Yemen serin, Crithagra menachensis Cape siskin, Crithagra totta Drakensberg siskin, Crithagra symonsi Northern grosbeak-canary, Crithagra donaldsoni Southern grosbeak-canary, Crithagra buchanani Yellow canary, Crithagra flaviventris Brimstone canary, Crithagra sulphurata Stripe-breasted seedeater, Crithagra striatipectus Reichard's seedeater, Crithagra reichardi Streaky-headed seedeater, Crithagra gularis West African seedeater, Crithagra canicapilla Black-eared seedeater, Crithagra mennelli Brown-rumped seedeater, Crithagra tristriata White-throated canary, Crithagra albogularis Thick-billed seedeater, Crithagra burtoni Streaky seedeater, Crithagra striolata Yellow-browed seedeater, Crithagra whytii Kipengere seedeater, Crithagra melanochroa Protea canary, Crithagra leucoptera
