The Finch reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Jul-2004
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Finch

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True Finches
Image:Eveninggrosbeak12.jpg
Evening Grosbeak.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Passeriformes
Family:Fringillidae
Genera
many: see list in text
Finches are seed-eating passerine birds, the many species of which are found chiefly in the northern hemisphere, but also to a limited extent in Africa and South America.

They are small to moderately large and have a strong beak, usually conical and in some species very large. All have 12 tail feathers and 9 primaries. These birds have a bouncing flight with alternating bouts of flapping and gliding on closed wings, and most sing well. Nests are basket-shaped and built in trees.

There are two main subfamilies. The first, the Fringilline finches Fringillinae, contains only three species, which feed their young insects rather than seeds:

The much larger second group, the Cardueline finches Carduelinae contains several genera which feed their young on seeds: There are many other birds in other groups which are called finches, notably the very similar-looking Estrildids or waxbills, which occur in the Old World tropics and Australia.

Some of the closely related sparrows are also named as "finches", as are some buntingss.