Buntings and New World Sparrows (Emberizidae)

Grey-crested Finch (Lophospingus griseocristatus) - HBW 16, p. 616

French: Lophospingue gris German: Grauzwergkardinal Spanish: Soldadito Gris

Taxonomy: Emberiza griseo-cristata d’Orbigny and Lafresnaye, 1837, Valle Grande, Santa Cruz, Bolivia.
Molecular data indicate that genus may be sister to White-banded Tanager (Neothraupis fasciata), and that these in turn are part of a clade which includes also Diuca diuca, Paroaria cardinals, Magpie Tanager (Cissopis leverianus) and Schistochlamys tanagers; this would suggest that all should be included in the tanager family (Thraupidae). This species was formerly given its own genus, Schistospiza, but exhibits obvious plumage similarities to, and no structural differences from, present genus. Monotypic.

Distribution: W & S Bolivia (E La Paz, E & S through C Cochabamba, W Santa Cruz, W Chuquisaca and W Tarija) and extreme N Argentina (E Jujuy and N Salta).