Buntings and New World Sparrows (Emberizidae)

Mourning Sierra-finch (Phrygilus fruticeti) - HBW 16, p. 607

French: Phrygile petit-deuil German: Strauchämmerling Spanish: Yal Pechinegro

Taxonomy: Fringilla fruticeti Kittlitz, 1833, Valparaíso, Chile.
Molecular-genetic studies indicate that genus belongs in tanager family (Thraupidae). Present species appears to be sister to P. carbonarius, and studies suggest that the two should be placed together in a separate genus, for which the name Rhopospina is available. Three subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution:

peruvianus J. T. Zimmer, 1924 - Peru (S Cajamarca S to Puno) and W Bolivia (La Paz).
coracinus P. L. Sclater, 1891 - Altiplano of SW Bolivia (in Oruro and Potosí) and adjacent N Chile in regions of Arica–Parinacota (Visviri) and Tarapacá (Isluga).
fruticeti (Kittlitz, 1833) - Chile from (Arica–Parinacota S to Magallanes) and W Argentina (Salta S to Santa Cruz), largely in foothills of Andes.