And yet another "How Many......" thread. Buntings and New World Sparrows (1 Viewer)

[Peter C.]

Yep, grassquits and seedeaters are actually tanagers. Yellow-faced Grassquit and White-collared Seedeater are the only tanagers I have seen so far.

You should start a " How many Tanagers" thread. Just to be a total sod.

Chris

If somebody did that, I don't think I'd had a clue what to put in it, and what to leave out of it; seems to change day to day. (I realize this is a sort of illusion, caused by learning of the changes long after the fact...)

What the heck is a tanager, anyway? I used to think that I knew. I take it from what Mysticete says (added to where he lives), that Piranga is definitely out, though.

Can I safely assume, based on what csanchez writes, that Tangara is still safe? :h?:

 

[Mysticete]

Taxonomy in flux is probably your best resource on figuring out what is or isn't a tanager...

http://jboyd.net/Taxo/List32.html#thraupidae

 

[csanchez7]

Can I safely assume, based on what csanchez writes, that Tangara is still safe?

Peter,

Yes, Tangara is still in, as well as other "classic" tanagers such as Thraupis, Ramphocelus, Tachyphonus, Dacnis, and Cyanerpes. However, Thraupidae lost Piranga and Habia (Ant-Tanagers) as well as several other genera. Thraupidae gained the Saltators though, and it seems like a done deal (95% certain) that Seedeaters, Grassquits, and Flowerpiercers will be in Thraupidae as well.

Carlos

 

[chris butterworth]

That should be 116 .

Chris

That's 117 now.

Nelson's Sparrow - Ontario

( Cheers Peter :t: )

Chris

 

[Peter C.]

Taxonomy in flux is probably your best resource on figuring out what is or isn't a tanager...

http://jboyd.net/Taxo/List32.html#thraupidae

Thank you, yes, that is just the kind of summary I needed.

Ah, good old cladistics! It has been a while since I did any biology. I once took an evolution course, which touched on this sort of thing, but I've forgotten most of it. However, "She Who Must Be Obeyed" is taking molecular biology this term, I'll ask her to explain it all to me...

Peter,

Yes, Tangara is still in, as well as other "classic" tanagers such as Thraupis, Ramphocelus, Tachyphonus, Dacnis, and Cyanerpes. However, Thraupidae lost Piranga and Habia (Ant-Tanagers) as well as several other genera. Thraupidae gained the Saltators though, and it seems like a done deal (95% certain) that Seedeaters, Grassquits, and Flowerpiercers will be in Thraupidae as well.

Carlos

Thanks Carlos - that probably covers all the genera in this rough 'group' that I have encountered. (I must say the inclusion of Saltator comes as a bit of a surprise! Always felt that they were distinctly "cardinal-y" - which goes to show how much good a "feeling" is, when it comes to taxonomy).

I'm really going to have to reorg my list now.

That's 117 now.

Nelson's Sparrow - Ontario

( Cheers Peter :t: )

Chris

[*ethereal/mechanical voice*] Glad to be of service....