True Finches (including Finches, Sparrows,

Grosbeaks and Buntings) (Family Fringlillidae)

The true finches are passerine birds in Family Fringillidae. They are
predominantly seed-eating songbirds. Most are native to Southern
Hemisphere.

Many birds in other families are also commonly called "finches", in-

cluding some species in the very similar looking waxbills (Family

Estrildidae) of the Old World tropics and Australia; several groups

of the bunting and American sparrow family (Emberizidae); and

Darwin's finches of the Galapagos islands.

The "classical" true finches range in size from the Andean siskin
(Carduelis spinescens) at 9.5 cm (3.8 in) and 8.4 g (0.3 oz) to the
collared grosbeak (Mycerobas affinis) with its nearly 23 cm (9 in)
and 80 g (3 oz). They typically have strong, stubby beaks, which in
some species can be quite large; however, Hawaiian honeycreepers
are famous for the wide range of bill shapes and sizes.

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