The Eurasian (Common) Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) will be split – or has been split recently. In the Species Updates for the IOC Version 13.2 the Chaffinch will be devided to African Chaffinch (Fringilla spodiogenys) (including africana and harterti), Azores Chaffinch (Fringilla moreletti), Madeira Chaffinch (Fringilla maderensis), and Canary Islands Chaffinch (Fringilla canariensis) (including bakeri, ombriosa and palmae) are split from Eurasian (Common) Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) based on genomic and morphological differences.
A study published in November 2021 in “Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution” suggests splitting the chaffinch into five different species.
The article addressed phylogenomics and patterns of genetic diversity to understand the sequence and timing of colonization of Macaronesia by mainland chaffinches. It was then assessed whether the colonization of the various archipelagos led to speciation. The split from the previous nominate chaffinch species occurs due to genomic and morphological differences.
According to the article, molecular phylogeny was instrumental in discovering that the chaffinch followed a somewhat circuitous-seeming route of colonization from the mainland to the Azores and then south to Madeira and the Canary Islands. The data led the authors to conclude that the well-known finch should be divided into five species.
Currently, the chaffinch is considered a polytypic species, which includes about 16 subspecies. However, the authors propose a taxonomic revision of the chaffinch complex as follows:
Fringilla coelebs found in continental Eurasia;
Fringilla spodiogenys / africana found in North Africa;
Fringilla moreletti found in the Azores;
Fringilla maderensis found in Madeira;
Fringilla canariensis found in the Canary Islands.
So good news for the male Azores Chaffinch of the blog image.
To cope with the growing demand for top shots of the rarer species of the Palearctic Bird-Lens is keen to enrich the range of pictures of birds you can find in the western palearctic. Trips to remote places like this one to capture images not only of rare birds of western palearctic were very successful. The nice image of the blog is only a first impression, what you will find in the gallery in the “Picture Shop” very soon. Just give bird-lens.com a message, if bird-lens.com could serve you with an image needed before the new pictures are online.