Idiopsar Explained

Idiopsar is a genus of Neotropical seed-eating birds in the tanager family Thraupidae.

Taxonomy and species list

The genus Idiopsar was introduced in 1867 by the American ornithologist John Cassin to accommodate the newly described boulder finch.^[1] The name combines the Ancient Greek idios meaning "distinct" or "peculiar" with psar meaning "starling".^[2]

This genus formerly contained a single species, the boulder finch. A molecular phylogenetic study of the tanager family (Thraupidae) published in 2014 found that the boulder finch was a member of a clade that contained three species assigned to other genera. In the ensuing reorganization of generic boundaries, these three species were assigned to Idiopsar. The same genetic study found that Idiopsar is sister to the tit-like dacnis in the monospecific genus Xenodacnis.^{[3] [4]}

The genus contains four species.^[4]

• Red-backed sierra finch, Idiopsar dorsalis (formerly assigned to Phrygilus; alternatively placed in Ephippiospingus)
• White-throated sierra finch, Idiopsar erythronotus (formerly assigned to Phrygilus; alternatively placed in Ephippiospingus)
• Glacier finch (formerly white-winged diuca finch), Idiopsar speculifer (formerly assigned to Diuca; alternatively placed in Chionodacryon)
• Boulder finch (formerly short-tailed finch), Idiopsar brachyurus

Notes and References

1. Cassin . John . John Cassin . 1866 . A second study of the Icteridae . Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia . 18 . 403–417 [414] . Although 1866 appears on the title page, the article was not published until 1867.
2. Book: Jobling, James A. . 2010. The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names . Christopher Helm . London . 978-1-4081-2501-4 . 202 .
3. Burns . K.J. . Shultz . A.J. . Title . P.O. . Mason . N.A. . Barker . F.K. . Klicka . J. . Lanyon . S.M. . Lovette . I.J. . 2014 . Phylogenetics and diversification of tanagers (Passeriformes: Thraupidae), the largest radiation of Neotropical songbirds . Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 75. 41–77 . 10.1016/j.ympev.2014.02.006 . 24583021 . 2014MolPE..75...41B .
4. Web site: Gill . Frank . Frank Gill (ornithologist) . Donsker . David . Rasmussen . Pamela . Pamela Rasmussen . July 2020 . Tanagers and allies . IOC World Bird List Version 10.2 . International Ornithologists' Union . 4 November 2020 .