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The African firefinch (Lagonosticta rubricata), also called the blue-billed firefinch, is a common species of estrildid finch found in many parts of Africa. It has an estimated global extent of occurrence of 5,400,000 km 2 (2,100,000 sq mi).
The breeding male has a red face with black markings around the eyes, and a black-and-white head. The back and flanks are buff or chestnut brown. The black wings have a broad yellow bar. The tail is black and the rump is white. Males and females are very similar, but females have a slightly smaller red area on the face.
The family Fringillidae are the "true" finches. The International Ornithological Committee (IOC) recognizes these 239 species in the family, distributed among three subfamilies and 50 genera. Confusingly, only 79 of the species include "finch" in their common names, and several other families include species called finches.
Finches are a form taxon composed of unrelated but similar-looking songbirds within the family Fringillidae of the superfamily Passeroidea. The family Fringillidae includes numerous birds not called "finches" in their common names, including the crossbills , siskins , and waxbills .
Confusingly, only 149 of the species are called "tanager"; another 108 are called "finch". [1] This family is found only in the New World , primarily in South and Middle America and the Caribbean, though a few species are occasionally found in the United States.
The American rosefinches that form the genus Haemorhous are a group of passerine birds in the finch family Fringillidae. As the name implies ("haemo" means "blood" in Greek), various shades of red are characteristic plumage colors of this group. They are found throughout the North American continent.
The purple finch was designated the state bird of New Hampshire in 1957. [13] The New Hampshire red hen (breed of domestic chicken) was also proposed, but was not chosen in favor of the purple finch. [14] In 1763, Richard Brookes made the description of the female purple finch in Mexico with the name of "chiantototl" (chia seed bird). [15]