Tanager
View on Wikipedia
| Tanagers | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Superfamily: | Emberizoidea |
| Family: | Thraupidae Cabanis, 1847 |
| Type genus | |
| Thraupis Boie, F., 1826
| |
| Genera | |
|
Many: see text | |
The tanagers (singular /ˈtænədʒər/) comprise the bird family Thraupidae, in the order Passeriformes. The family has a Neotropical distribution and is the second-largest family of birds. It represents about 4% of all avian species and 12% of the Neotropical birds.[1]
Traditionally, the family contained around 240 species of mostly brightly colored fruit-eating birds.[2] As more of these birds were studied using modern molecular techniques, it became apparent that the traditional families were not monophyletic. Euphonia and Chlorophonia, which were once considered part of the tanager family, are now treated as members of the Fringillidae, in their own subfamily (Euphoniinae). Likewise, the genera Piranga (which includes the scarlet tanager, summer tanager, and western tanager), Chlorothraupis, and Habia appear to be members of the family Cardinalidae,[3] and have been reassigned to that family by the American Ornithological Society.[4]
Description
[edit]Tanagers are small to medium-sized birds. The shortest-bodied species, the white-eared conebill, is 9 cm (4 in) long and weighs 6 g (0.2 oz), barely smaller than the short-billed honeycreeper. The longest, the magpie tanager is 28 cm (11 in) and weighs 76 g (2.7 oz). The heaviest is the white-capped tanager, which weighs 114 g (4.02 oz) and measures about 24 cm (9.4 in). Both sexes are usually the same size and weight.
Tanagers are often brightly colored, but some species are black and white. Males are typically more brightly colored than females and juveniles. Most tanagers have short, rounded wings. The shape of the bill seems to be linked to the species' foraging habits.
Distribution
[edit]Tanagers are restricted to the Western Hemisphere and mainly to the tropics. About 60% of tanagers live in South America, and 30% of these species live in the Andes. Most species are endemic to a relatively small area.
Behavior
[edit]Most tanagers live in pairs or in small groups of three to five individuals. These groups may consist simply of parents and their offspring. These birds may also be seen in single-species or mixed flocks. Many tanagers are thought to have dull songs, though some are elaborate.[citation needed]
Diet
[edit]Tanagers are omnivorous, and their diets vary by genus. They have been seen eating fruits, seeds, nectar, flower parts, and insects. Many pick insects off branches or from holes in the wood. Other species look for insects on the undersides of leaves. Yet others wait on branches until they see a flying insect and catch it in the air. Many of these particular species inhabit the same areas, but these specializations alleviate competition.
Breeding
[edit]The breeding season is March through June in temperate areas and in September through October in South America. Some species are territorial, while others build their nests closer together. Little information is available on tanager breeding behavior. Males show off their brightest feathers to potential mates and rival males. Some species' courtship rituals involve bowing and tail lifting.
Most tanagers build cup nests on branches in trees. Some nests are almost globular. Entrances are usually built on the side of the nest. The nests can be shallow or deep. The species of the tree in which they choose to build their nests and the nests' positions vary among genera. Most species nest in an area hidden by very dense vegetation. No information is yet known regarding the nests of some species.
The clutch size is three to five eggs. The female incubates the eggs and builds the nest, but the male may feed the female while she incubates. Both sexes feed the young. Five species have helpers assist in feeding the young. These helpers are thought to be the previous year's nestlings.
Taxonomy
[edit]The family Thraupidae was introduced (as the subfamily Thraupinae) in 1847 by German ornithologist Jean Cabanis. The type genus is Thraupis.[5][6]
The family Thraupidae is a member of an assemblage of over 800 birds known as the New World, nine-primaried oscines. The traditional pre-molecular classification was largely based on the different feeding specializations. Nectar-feeders were placed in Coerebidae (honeycreepers), large-billed seed-eaters in Cardinalidae (cardinals and grosbeaks), smaller-billed seed-eaters in Emberizidae (New World finches and sparrows), ground-foraging insect-eaters in Icteridae (blackbirds) and fruit-eaters in Thraupidae.[1] This classification was known to be problematic as analyses using other morphological characteristics often produced conflicting phylogenies.[7] Beginning in the last decade of the 20th century, a series of molecular phylogenetic studies led to a complete reorganization of the traditional families. Thraupidae now includes large-billed seed eaters, thin-billed nectar feeders, and foliage gleaners as well as fruit-eaters.[1]
One consequence of redefining the family boundaries is that for many species their common names are no longer congruent with the families in which they are placed. As of July 2020 there are 39 species with "tanager" in the common name that are not placed in Thraupidae. These include the widely distributed scarlet tanager and western tanager, which are both now placed in Cardinalidae. There are also 106 species within Thraupidae that have "finch" in their common name.[8]
A molecular phylogenetic study published in 2014 revealed that many of the traditional genera were not monophyletic.[1] In the resulting reorganization six new genera were introduced, eleven genera were resurrected, and seven genera were abandoned.[9][8]
As of March 2025 the family contains 393 species which are divided into 15 subfamilies and 105 genera.[1][8] For a complete list, see the article List of tanager species.
List of genera
[edit]Catamblyrhynchinae
[edit]The plushcap has no close relatives and is now placed in its own subfamily. It was previously placed either in the subfamily Catamblyrhynchinae within the Emberizidae or in its own family Catamblyrhynchidae.[1]
| Image | Genus | Species |
|---|---|---|
| Catamblyrhynchus Lafresnaye, 1842 |
|
Charitospizinae
[edit]The coal-crested finch is endemic to the grasslands of Brazil and has no close relatives. It is unusual in that both sexes have a crest. It was formerly placed in Emberizidae.
| Image | Genus | Species |
|---|---|---|
| Charitospiza Oberholser, 1905 |
|
Orchesticinae
[edit]Two species with large thick bills. Parkerthraustes was formerly placed in Cardinalidae.
| Image | Genus | Species |
|---|---|---|
| Orchesticus Cabanis, 1851 |
| |
| Parkerthraustes Remsen, 1997 |
|
Nemosiinae
[edit]Brightly colored, sexually dichromatic birds. Most form single-species flocks.
| Image | Genus | Species |
|---|---|---|
| Nemosia Vieillot, 1816 |
| |
| Cyanicterus Bonaparte, 1850 |
| |
| Sericossypha Lesson, 1844 |
| |
| Compsothraupis Richmond, 1915 |
|
Emberizoidinae
[edit]Grassland dwelling birds that were formerly placed in Emberizidae.
| Image | Genus | Species |
|---|---|---|
| Coryphaspiza G.R. Gray, 1840 |
| |
| Embernagra Lesson, 1831 |
| |
| Emberizoides Temminck, 1822 |
|
Porphyrospizinae
[edit]Yellow billed birds. The blue finch (Rhopospina caerulescens) was formerly placed in Cardinalidae; the other species were formerly placed in Emberizidae.
| Image | Genus | Species |
|---|---|---|
| Incaspiza Ridgway, 1898 |
| |
| Rhopospina Cabanis, 1851 |
|
Hemithraupinae
[edit]These species are sexually dichromatic and many have yellow and black plumage. Except for Heterospingus, they have slender bills.
| Image | Genus | Species |
|---|---|---|
| Chlorophanes Reichenbach, 1853 |
| |
| Iridophanes Ridgway, 1901 |
| |
| Chrysothlypis Berlepsch, 1912 |
| |
| Heterospingus Ridgway, 1898 |
| |
| Hemithraupis Cabanis, 1850 |
|
Dacninae
[edit]Sexually dichromatic species—males have blue plumage and females are green.
| Image | Genus | Species |
|---|---|---|
| Tersina Vieillot, 1819 |
| |
| Cyanerpes Oberholser, 1899 |
| |
| Dacnis Cuvier, 1816 |
|
Saltatorinae
[edit]Mainly arboreal with long tails and thick bills. Formerly placed in Cardinalidae.
| Image | Genus | Species |
|---|---|---|
| Saltatricula Burmeister, 1861 |
| |
| Saltator Vieillot, 1816 |
|
Coerebinae
[edit]
This subfamily includes Darwin's finches, of which all but the Cocos finch are endemic to the Galápagos Islands. Most Coerebinae species were formerly placed in Emberizidae; the exceptions are the bananaquit that was placed in Parulidae and the orangequit that was placed in Thraupidae. These species build domed or covered nests with side entrances. They have evolved a variety of foraging techniques, including nectar-feeding (Coereba, Euneornis), seed-eating (Geospiza, Loxigilla, Tiaris), and insect gleaning (Certhidea).[1]
| Image | Genus | Species |
|---|---|---|
| Coereba Vieillot, 1809 |
| |
| Tiaris Swainson, 1827 |
| |
| Euneornis Fitzinger, 1856 |
| |
| Melopyrrha Bonaparte, 1853 |
| |
| Loxipasser Bryant, 1866 |
| |
| Phonipara Bonaparte, 1850 |
| |
| Loxigilla Lesson, 1831 |
| |
| Melanospiza Ridgway, 1897 |
| |
| Asemospiza Burns, Unitt, & Mason, 2016 |
| |
| Darwin's finches: | ||
| Certhidea Gould, 1837 |
| |
| Platyspiza Ridgway, 1897 |
| |
| Pinaroloxias Sharpe, 1885 |
| |
| Camarhynchus Gould, 1837 |
| |
| Geospiza Gould, 1837 |
| |
Tachyphoninae
[edit]Most of these are lowland species. Many have ornamental features such as crests, and many have sexually dichromatic plumage.[1]
| Image | Genus | Species |
|---|---|---|
| Volatinia Reichenbach, 1850 |
| |
| Conothraupis Sclater, PL, 1880 |
| |
| Creurgops Sclater, PL, 1858 |
| |
| Eucometis Sclater, PL, 1856 |
| |
| Trichothraupis Cabanis, 1851 |
| |
| Heliothraupis Lane et al., 2021 |
| |
| Loriotus Jarocki, 1821 |
| |
| Coryphospingus Cabanis, 1851 |
| |
| Tachyphonus Vieillot, 1816 |
| |
| Rhodospingus Sharpe, 1888 |
| |
| Lanio Vieillot, 1816 |
| |
| Ramphocelus Desmarest, 1805 |
|
Sporophilinae
[edit]These species were formerly placed in Emberizidae.
| Image | Genus | Species |
|---|---|---|
| Sporophila Cabanis, 1844 |
Seedeaters and seed finches (includes species previously assigned to Dolospingus and Oryzoborus) 41 species:
|
Poospizinae
[edit]Some of these species were formerly placed in Emberizidae.
| Image | Genus | Species |
|---|---|---|
| Piezorina Lafresnaye, 1843 |
| |
| Xenospingus Cabanis, 1867 |
| |
| Cnemoscopus Bangs & Penard, 1919 |
| |
| Pseudospingus Berlepsch & Stolzmann, 1896 |
| |
| Poospiza Cabanis, 1847 |
| |
| Kleinothraupis Burns, Unitt, & Mason, 2016 |
| |
| Sphenopsis Sclater, 1862 |
| |
| Thlypopsis Cabanis, 1851 |
| |
| Castanozoster Burns, Unitt, & Mason, 2016 |
| |
| Donacospiza Cabanis, 1851 |
| |
| Cypsnagra Lesson, R, 1831 |
| |
| Poospizopsis Berlepsch, 1893 |
| |
| Urothraupis Taczanowski & Berlepsch, 1885 |
| |
| Nephelornis Lowery & Tallman, 1976 |
| |
| Microspingus Taczanowski, 1874 |
|
Diglossinae
[edit]This is a morphologically diverse group that includes seed-eaters (Nesospiza, Sicalis, Catamenia, Haplospiza), arthropod feeders (Conirostrum), a bamboo specialist (Acanthidops), an aphid feeder (Xenodacnis), and boulder field specialists (Idiopsar). Many species live at high altitudes. Conirostrum was previously placed in Parulidae, Diglossa was placed in Thraupidae, and the remaining genera were placed in Emberizidae.[1]
| Image | Genus | Species |
|---|---|---|
| Conirostrum d'Orbigny & Lafresnaye, 1838 |
| |
| Sicalis F. Boie, 1828 |
13 species
| |
| Phrygilus Cabanis, 1844 |
| |
| Nesospiza Cabanis, 1873 |
| |
| Rowettia Lowe, 1923 |
| |
| Melanodera Bonaparte, 1850 |
| |
| Geospizopsis Bonaparte, 1856 |
| |
| Haplospiza Cabanis, 1851 |
| |
| Acanthidops Ridgway, 1882 |
| |
| Xenodacnis Cabanis, 1873 |
| |
| Idiopsar Cassin, 1867 |
| |
| Catamenia Bonaparte, 1850 |
| |
| Diglossa Wagler, 1832 |
18 species
|
Thraupinae
[edit]Typical tanagers.
| Image | Genus | Species |
|---|---|---|
| Calochaetes Sclater, PL, 1879 |
| |
| Iridosornis Lesson, 1844 |
| |
| Rauenia Wolters, 1980 |
| |
| Pipraeidea Swainson, 1827 |
| |
| Pseudosaltator K.J. Burns, Unitt & N.A. Mason, 2016 |
| |
| Dubusia Bonaparte, 1850 |
| |
| Buthraupis Cabanis, 1851 |
| |
| Sporathraupis Ridgway, 1898 |
| |
| Tephrophilus R. T. Moore, 1934 |
| |
| Chlorornis Reichenbach, 1850 |
| |
| Cnemathraupis Penard, 1919 |
| |
| Anisognathus Reichenbach, 1850 |
| |
| Chlorochrysa Bonaparte, 1851 |
| |
| Wetmorethraupis Lowery & O'Neill, 1964 |
| |
| Bangsia Penard, 1919 |
| |
| Lophospingus Cabanis, 1878 |
| |
| Neothraupis Hellmayr, 1936 |
| |
| Diuca Reichenbach, 1850 |
| |
| Gubernatrix Lesson, 1837 |
| |
| Stephanophorus Strickland, 1841 |
| |
| Cissopis Vieillot, 1816 |
| |
| Schistochlamys Reichenbach, 1850 |
| |
| Paroaria Bonaparte, 1832 |
| |
| Ixothraupis Bonaparte, 1851 |
| |
| Chalcothraupis Bonaparte, 1851 |
| |
| Poecilostreptus Burns, KJ, Unitt, & Mason, NA, 2016 |
| |
| Thraupis F. Boie, 1826 |
| |
| Stilpnia Burns, KJ, Unitt, & Mason, NA, 2016 |
15 species
| |
| Tangara Brisson, 1760 |
28 species
|
Genera formerly placed in Thraupidae
[edit]Passerellidae – New World sparrows[10]
- Chlorospingus – eight species - bush-tanagers
- Oreothraupis – tanager finch
Cardinalidae – cardinals[11][7]
- Piranga – 9 species - northern tanagers
- Habia – five species - ant-tanagers or habias
- Chlorothraupis – three species
- Amaurospiza – four species
Fringillidae – subfamily Euphoniinae
- Euphonia – 27 species
- Chlorophonia – five species
Phaenicophilidae – Hispaniolan tanagers[10][12]
- Microligea – green-tailed warbler
- Xenoligea – white-winged warbler
- Phaenicophilus – two species
Mitrospingidae – Mitrospingid tanagers[10]
- Mitrospingus – two species
- Orthogonys – olive-green tanager
- Lamprospiza – red-billed pied tanager
- Nesospingus – Puerto Rican tanager[10][12]
- Calyptophilus – two species - chat-tanagers[10][12]
- Rhodinocichla – rosy thrush-tanager[10][12]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i Burns, K.J.; Shultz, A.J.; Title, P.O.; Mason, N.A.; Barker, F.K.; Klicka, J.; Lanyon, S.M.; Lovette, I.J. (2014). "Phylogenetics and diversification of tanagers (Passeriformes: Thraupidae), the largest radiation of Neotropical songbirds". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 75: 41–77. Bibcode:2014MolPE..75...41B. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2014.02.006. PMID 24583021.
- ^ Storer, Robert W. (1970). "Subfamily Thraupinae". In Paynter, Raymond A. Jr (ed.). Check-List of Birds of the World. Vol. 13. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Museum of Comparative Zoology. pp. 246–408.
- ^ Yuri, T.; Mindell, D. P. (May 2002). "Molecular phylogenetic analysis of Fringillidae, "New World nine-primaried oscines" (Aves: Passeriformes)". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 23 (2): 229–243. Bibcode:2002MolPE..23..229Y. doi:10.1016/S1055-7903(02)00012-X. PMID 12069553.
- ^ "Family: Cardinalidae". American Ornithological Society. Retrieved Feb 1, 2019.
- ^ Cabanis, Jean (1847). "Ornithologische Notizen". Archiv für Naturgeschichte (in German). 13: 186–256, 308–352 [316].
- ^ Melville, R.V. (1977). "Opinion 1069 Correction of entry in official list of family-group names in zoology for name number 428 (Thraupidae)". Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature. 33 (3/4): 162–164.
- ^ a b Klicka, J.; Burns, K.; Spellman, G. M. (2007). "Defining a monophyletic Cardinalini: A molecular perspective". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 45 (3): 1014–1032. Bibcode:2007MolPE..45.1014K. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2007.07.006. PMID 17920298.
- ^ a b c Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (February 2025). "Tanagers and allies". IOC World Bird List Version 15.1. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 23 March 2025.
- ^ Burns, K.J.; Unitt, P.; Mason, N.A. (2016). "A genus-level classification of the family Thraupidae (Class Aves: Order Passeriformes)". Zootaxa. 4088 (3): 329–354. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4088.3.2. PMID 27394344.
- ^ a b c d e f g Barker, F.K.; Burns, K.J.; Klicka, J.; Lanyon, S.M.; Lovette, I.J. (2013). "Going to extremes: contrasting rates of diversification in a recent radiation of New World passerine birds". Systematic Biology. 62 (2): 298–320. doi:10.1093/sysbio/sys094. PMID 23229025.
- ^ Burns, K.J.; Hackett, S.J.; Klein, N.K. (2003). "Phylogenetic relationships of Neotropical honeycreepers and the evolution of feeding morphology". Journal of Avian Biology. 34 (4): 360–370. doi:10.1111/j.0908-8857.2003.03171.x.
- ^ a b c d e Barker, F.K.; Burns, K.J.; Klicka, J.; Lanyon, S.M.; Lovette, I.J. (2015). "New insights into New World biogeography: An integrated view from the phylogeny of blackbirds, cardinals, sparrows, tanagers, warblers, and allies". The Auk. 132 (2): 333–348. doi:10.1642/AUK-14-110.1.
Further reading
[edit]- Remsen, J. V. Jr. (2016). "Proposal 730: Revise generic limits in the Thraupidae". South American Classification Committee, American Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
External links
[edit]- Jungle-walk.com tanager pictures
- Tanager videos, photos and sounds on the Internet Bird Collection
- . . 1914.
Tanager
View on GrokipediaTaxonomy and systematics
Etymology and nomenclature
The name "tanager" originates from the Old Tupi word tangara, referring to a small, colorful bird, which was borrowed into Portuguese as tangará and entered European scientific literature in the mid-18th century.[10][11] Carl Linnaeus first applied it formally in 1766 to the scarlet tanager (Piranga olivacea), describing the species as Tanagra olivacea in the 12th edition of Systema Naturae, based on specimens from North America.[12] The genus name Piranga itself derives from Tupi tijepiranga, denoting an unidentified small bird, highlighting the influence of Indigenous Brazilian languages on ornithological nomenclature for Neotropical species.[13] The family name Thraupidae stems from the type genus Thraupis, which is based on the Ancient Greek term thraupis (θραυπίς), used by Aristotle to describe an unidentified small bird, possibly a finch-like species. This classical root was adopted in the early 19th century as ornithologists formalized passerine families, with Thraupidae established to encompass the diverse New World tanagers.[14] Nomenclature for tanagers has evolved significantly since the 19th century, reflecting advances in comparative anatomy and systematics. For instance, the genus Piranga—encompassing North American species like the scarlet tanager—was initially placed within the broad family Emberizidae (then including many finch-like birds) by early classifiers such as Georges Cuvier and William Swainson, before being segregated into Thraupidae and, more recently, transferred to Cardinalidae based on molecular and morphological evidence.[15][16] Common names within the family often evoke plumage characteristics, such as "honeycreeper" for vibrant genera like Cyanerpes, which are small tanagers in Thraupidae specialized for nectar-feeding but phylogenetically unrelated to the Old World honeyeaters of Meliphagidae.[17]Phylogenetic position
The family Thraupidae belongs to the superfamily Emberizoidea within the Passerida clade of oscine passerines, representing the second-largest family among the nine-primaried songbirds with 392 species. Phylogenetic analyses place Thraupidae as sister to Cardinalidae, with Emberizidae sister to this combined clade, a relationship supported by multi-locus molecular data encompassing nuclear and mitochondrial markers across Passeriformes. Key molecular studies have solidified the monophyly of Thraupidae and refined its internal structure. Barker et al. (2013) first delineated a monophyletic Thraupidae using genus-level sampling and six genetic loci, excluding several taxa previously included based on morphology. This was expanded in Burns et al. (2014), which provided the first comprehensive species-level phylogeny sampling 353 of 371 recognized tanager species, identifying 13 major clades and confirming Thraupidae's diversification as the largest radiation of Neotropical songbirds.[18] Recent updates have incorporated newly described species into established clades, enhancing resolution within Thraupidae. For instance, Lane et al. (2021) described Heliothraupis oneilli, a new genus and species from the Andean foothills, with phylogenetic analysis embedding it within the Ramphocelus clade alongside genera such as Coryphospingus and Tachyphonus.[19] Historical classifications of Thraupidae included several groups now recognized as distinct, reflecting advances in molecular systematics. Darwin's finches (genera Geospiza, Camarhynchus, and Certhidea), once placed in Emberizidae or as a separate subfamily within Thraupidae, are now firmly integrated into Thraupidae as the subfamily Coerebinae per the IOC World Bird List v15.1 (2025).[20] Further refinements address paraphyly in related taxa previously associated with Thraupidae. The 2024 IOC World Bird List update introduced the genus Driophlox for four ant-tanager species formerly in Habia (now in Cardinalidae), resolving paraphyly by separating them from the core Thraupidae radiation based on updated phylogenies.[21]Subfamilies and genera
The classification of the Thraupidae family into subfamilies is based on a comprehensive molecular phylogeny that identified 15 distinct clades supported by strong statistical evidence, as detailed in Burns et al. (2014).[22] This framework expanded the family to include taxa previously classified in other groups, such as certain finches and honeycreepers, totaling approximately 371 species at the time. Subsequent studies have transferred several taxa, including the genus Piranga and ant-tanagers (formerly Habia, now partly Driophlox), to the family Cardinalidae, reducing the species count. A subsequent genus-level revision by Burns et al. (2016) recognized 111 genera across these subfamilies, addressing widespread polyphyly in traditional groupings by proposing 11 new genera and reassigning species to better reflect monophyletic lineages. The current IOC World Bird List v15.1 (2025) recognizes 107 genera and 392 species, incorporating new discoveries, splits, and the aforementioned reclassifications. For instance, Lane et al. (2021) described the monotypic genus Heliothraupis for the Inti Tanager (H. oneilli), a vibrant species from the Andean foothills of southeastern Peru and western Bolivia, placing it within Thraupinae based on phylogenetic analyses. Resolutions to polyphyly have been particularly notable in former broad genera; for example, the traditional Thraupis (including the Blue-and-yellow Tanager) was split, with species reassigned to genera such as Pipraeidea, Thraupis (restricted), and others to ensure monophyly, as recommended in Burns et al. (2016). Similarly, emberizoid-like taxa were consolidated into Emberizoidinae, distinguishing them from true emberizids in Passerellidae. The subfamilies vary greatly in size and composition, from monotypic groups to large radiations encompassing diverse feeding guilds. The following table summarizes the 15 subfamilies, highlighting key genera (with representative examples where subfamilies include many) and approximate species counts derived from the 2014 phylogeny and subsequent updates adjusted for major reclassifications such as the transfer of ant-tanagers to Cardinalidae; the current total is 392 species per IOC World Bird List v15.1 (2025).[22]| Subfamily | Key Genera (Examples) | Approximate Species Count |
|---|---|---|
| Catamblyrhynchinae | Catamblyrhynchus (plushcap tanager) | 1 |
| Charitospizinae | Charitospiza (siskin-like tanager) | 1 |
| Orchesticinae | Orchesticus, Parkerthraustes (grosbeak-tanagers) | 2 |
| Nemosiinae | Nemosia, Cyanicterus, Sericossypha, Compsothraupis | 5 |
| Emberizoidinae | Emberizoides, Embernagra, Coryphaspiza (longspurs and grass-tanagers) | 6 |
| Porphyrospizinae | Porphyrospiza, Incaspiza, Phrygilus (inca finches) | 9 |
| Hemithraupinae | Hemithraupis, Heterospingus, Chlorophanes (honey-tanagers and allies) | 9 |
| Dacninae | Dacnis, Cyanerpes, Tersina (honeycreepers) | 14 |
| Saltatorinae | Saltator (including former Saltatricula; saltators and grosbeaks) | 16 |
| Coerebinae | Coereba (bananaquit), Geospiza, Certhidea (Darwin's finches and allies; 12 genera total) | 29 |
| Tachyphoninae | Tachyphonus, Ramphocelus, Eucometis (caciques and allies; 10 genera total) | 26 |
| Sporophilinae | Sporophila, Oryzoborus, Dolospingus (grass-finches and seedeaters) | 39 |
| Poospizinae | Poospiza, Hemispingus, Thlypopsis (bush-tanagers and allies; 12 genera total) | 44 |
| Diglossinae | Diglossa, Conirostrum, Sicalis (flowerpiercers, conebills, and yellow-finches; 14 genera total) | 64 |
| Thraupinae | Tangara (mountain-tanagers), Thraupis (restricted; palm-tanagers); 22 genera total, including new Heliothraupis) | 102 |