Buntings and New World Sparrows (Emberizidae)

Red-crested Cardinal (Paroaria coronata) - HBW 16, p. 643

French: Paroare huppé German: Graukardinal Spanish: Cardenilla Crestada
Other common names: Brazilian Cardinal

Taxonomy: Loxia coronata J. F. Miller, 1776, no locality = Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
Recent molecular-genetic research indicates that genus belongs in the tanager family (Thraupidae), forming a clade with, among others, Cissopis and Schistochlamys; curiously, members of latter two genera are similar in some plumage features and in bill shape to some members of present genus. This species may form a superspecies with P. dominicana. Monotypic.

Distribution: E Bolivia (Santa Cruz, locally also S Beni), S & SE Brazil (SW Mato Grosso and S Rio Grande do Sul), W & C Paraguay, N Argentina (S to N Mendoza, C La Pampa and C Buenos Aires) and Uruguay. Introduced to Hawaiian Is.