One of the more fascinating things about finches is their seeming endless variety. They range from very delicate to very hardy birds, in all colors of the rainbow. Some are drab and others are exceptionally vivid. Many species are dimorphic, which means that you can distinguish the gender of the bird just by looking at it. Others are monomorphic, which means that you can’t visually distinguish the genders of the birds.
All finches are scientifically grouped under the order Passeriformes. Passerines (which is what Passeriformes are called) comprise more than half of the bird species in the world, with nearly 5,400 members. Not all Passerines are finches, but all finches are Passerines.
Though no one expects you to become an ornithologist (someone who studies birds), in order to provide a good home for your companion finch it can be helpful to understand where your bird is classified in the scheme of things. Here are the four different groups of finches:
Fringillidae
The Fringillidae family of finches are also called the "true" finches. Many of these species are kept as pets. Some of the more common finches in this group include the house finch, red siskin, canary, Hawaiian finch and the European goldfinch. Most finches in this family nest in trees and shrubs. They have small bills that are cone shaped and the males are usually more colorful than the females. This family of birds can be found across the world, but in the United States you are likely to see them in parking lots just as frequently as you see them in your backyard. All finches in this family are seed eaters. These finches are adapted to crush seeds and, as a result, they have strong skulls and jaws. These finches are found on all continents.
Passeridae
The smallest family of finches, Passeridae, is native to Asia. Brown, tan and black are common colors of many finches in this group. The house sparrow and snow finch belong to this family of stockier birds. This family of birds is considered to be made up of Old World sparrows. The parrot billed sparrow and chestnut sparrow also belong to this family of finches. As with most finches, these birds like open grassy areas and parking lots to socialize in.
Estrildidae
The group of finches in the Estrildidae family come mainly from Asia and Africa. As most of their names suggest, they can be very colorful. Some of the finches from this family include the parrot finch, zebra finch, red-tailed finch, lavender finch and the golden breasted waxbill. This family also likes to build round enclosed nests from grasses and twigs. The zebra finch is a popular pet, as are the grass finch and parrot finch. This family of finches is also known for their singing.
Ploceidae
The Ploceidae family is perhaps the largest family of the four. These finches build enclosed nests weaved of grasses and twigs and depending on their habitat, some may use mud. Many species of this family can be found in Africa including the African widow weaver. In the United States, the Eurasian tree sparrow and Orange Weaver are part of the Ploceidae family.
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