Melanospiza richardsoni

Cladus: Eukaryota
Supergroup: Opisthokonta
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Cladus: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Classis: Aves
Subclassis: Carinatae
Infraclassis: Neornithes
Parvclassis: Neognathae
Ordo: Passeriformes
Subordo: Passeri
Parvordo: Passerida
Superfamilia: Passeroidea
Familia: Emberizidae
Genus: Melanospiza
Species: Melanospiza richardsoni

Name

Melanospiza richardsoni (Cory, 1886)

The St Lucia Black Finch (Melanospiza richardsoni) is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family. Sometimes classified in the bunting and American sparrow family Emberizidae, more recent studies have shown it to belong in the tanager family. It is monotypic within the genus Melanospiza. It is endemic to Saint Lucia.

Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, and plantations . It is threatened by habitat loss.

References

* BirdLife International 2004. Melanospiza richardsoni. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 26 July 2007.