From Opus

Genus: Amaurospiza

[edit] Description

All members of this genus are seedeaters where males are mostly blue to blackish-blue, females are brownish to rufous. The Carrizal Seedeater was not described until 2003.

[edit] Taxonomy

Amaurospiza has traditionally been placed as a genus in the family Emberizidae but with some authors arguing for a placement in Cardinalidae. Recent genetic data indicates that the placement in Cardinalidae is indeed the correct one, with members of genus Cyanocompsa as close relatives.

[edit] References

1. SACC proposal for transferring genus Amaurospiza to Cardinalidae