siskins, birds that feed primarily on seeds. Euphonias
feed heavily on mistletoe (family Loranthaceae),
mashing up the berries in their beaks, and are
important dispersers of mistletoe seed, as their sticky
droppings, deposited on branches, contain the seeds
that begin life as epiphytes before becoming parasitic.
Euphonias often nest in bromeliads (Bromeliaceae).
Chlorophonias are a group of five small (sparrow-
size), bright green and yellow highland birds also
traditionally thought to be tanagers. They too have, on
the basis of DNA analysis, been reclassified and placed
within the Fringillidae. Regardless of their pedigree,chlorophonias are really worth a look (plate 15- 132).
Two other major families of seed- eating birds are
represented in the Neotropics. One is the Cardinalidae,
the cardinals and grosbeaks, which now includes the
North American tanagers (plate 15- 133). The other,
more diverse family is the Emberizidae, the buntings
and New World sparrows. As currently recognized
by avian systematists, the Emberizidae is composed
of various sparrows and brushfinches (plate 15- 134),
plus a few others that occur mostly in montane areas
or in southern South America. All told, 59 species of
Emberizidae occur in South America.Plate 15- 131. The Violaceous Euphonia (Euphonia violacea) is
widely distributed in much of the Neotropics. The bird shown
is a male. Photo by Andrew Whittaker.Plate 15- 132. The Blue- naped Chlorophonia (Chlorophonia
cyanea) is found along montane forest edges. It was once
considered a tanager but is currently placed in the Fringillidae
along with siskins and goldfinches. Photo by Andrew Whittaker.Plate 15- 133. The Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra) is now
considered to belong within the Cardinalidae and is thus is
no longer a “tanager.” It winters widely in Central America and
northwestern South America and migrates to North America
to breed. Photo by John Kricher.Plate 15- 134. The Chestnut- capped Brushfinch (Arremon
brunneinucha) is found in northwestern South America.
Though in the open in this photo, it typically is found in forest
understory and forest edge. Photo by Gina Nichol.chapter 15 neotropical birds: the bustling crowd 307