Neochmia
| Neochmia | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Red-browed finch (Neochmia temporalis) | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Estrildidae |
| Genus: | G.R. Gray, 1849 |
| Type species | |
| Fringilla phaeton | |
| Species | |
| N. temporalis | |
Neochmia is a genus of estrildid finches found in Australasia. They are gregarious seed-eaters with short, thick, but pointed bills.
Taxonomy
The genus Neochmia was introduced in 1849 by the English zoologist George Gray with Fringilla phaeton Hombron & Jacquinot, the crimson finch as the type species.[1][2] The genus name is from Ancient Greek νεοχμια/neokhmia meaning "innovation" or "phenomenon".[3]
The genus contains two species:[4]
| Image | Scientific name | Common Name | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Red-browed finch | Neochmia temporalis | Northern Queensland, and south-east of Australia |
_-_Flickr_-_Lip_Kee_(2).jpg) | Crimson finch | Neochmia phaeton | Northern Australia with some residing in New Guinea |
References
- ^ Gray, George Robert (1849). The Genera of Birds : comprising their generic characters, a notice of the habits of each genus, and an extensive list of species referred to their several genera. Vol. 2. London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans. Plate 89, [p. 349]. For the publication date see Bruce, Murray D. (2023). "The Genera of Birds (1844–1849) by George Robert Gray: A review of its part publication, dates, new nominal taxa, suppressed content and other details". Sherbornia. 8 (1): 1–93 [18].
- ^ Paynter, Raymond A. Jr, ed. (1968). Check-List of Birds of the World. Vol. 14. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Museum of Comparative Zoology. p. 356.
- ^ Jobling, James A. "Neochmia". The Key to Scientific Names. Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
- ^ Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (February 2025). "Waxbills, parrotfinches, munias, whydahs, Olive Warbler, accentors, pipits". IOC World Bird List Version 15.1. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
Further reading
- Clement, Harris and Davis, Finches and Sparrows ISBN 0-7136-8017-2