Common Bush-tanager (Chlorospingus ophthalmicus) - HBW 16, p. 303

Taxonomy: Arremon ophthalmicus du Bus de Gisignies, 1847, Jalapa, Veracruz, Mexico.
Recent molecular-genetic studies indicate that this genus and Nesospingus, Spindalis and Phaenicophilus form a monophyletic clade that is sister to several New World warbler (Parulidae) genera (including Dendroica, Basileuterus and Vermivora), and are not closely related to other genera of present family. More recent evidence suggests that Chlorospingus is closest to genus Arremonops in family Emberizidae. This species forms a monophyletic group with C. tacarcunae and C. inornatus; has been regarded as conspecific with former. Subspecific taxonomy complex and not fully understood; some races at least as distinct as are several other taxa in genus that are currently regarded as full species; DNA data reveal five major clades among Mexican populations alone, as supported by morphological analyses, but vocal information and equivalent data from S populations have not yet been analysed. Race punctulatus has sometimes been treated as a full species, as also have cinereocephalus, and the “flavopectus group” (also including trudis, nigriceps, exitelus, macarenae and phaeocephalus). Numerous racial limits poorly defined, and taxonomy of the species, as a whole, in need of review. Proposed race persimilis (described from R Guajolote, SW of San Miguel Suchixtepec, in Oaxaca, Mexico) is regarded as synonymous with albifrons. Twenty-six subspecies currently recognized.