Buntings and New World Sparrows (Emberizidae)

Coal-crested Finch (Charitospiza eucosma) - HBW 16, p. 639

French: Charitospize charbonnier German: Weißwangen-Zwergkardinal Spanish: Monterita Crestada

Taxonomy: Charitospiza eucosma Oberholser, 1905, Fazenda Valo [= Geral do Valo], near frontier of Minas Gerais, Bahia, Brazil.
Originally named Fringilla ornata, but that name invalid, as preoccupied. Probably belongs in tanager family (Thraupidae), and thought likely to belong in the group that includes Diuca, Lophospingus, Paroaria cardinals and a few others. Monotypic.

Distribution: EC Brazil from SE Pará, S Maranhão and NC Piauí, S to SE Mato Grosso, NW São Paulo and W Minas Gerais; recently found in extreme NE Bolivia (N Santa Cruz) and N Argentina (Tafí del Valle, in Santiago del Estero).