Fringuello citrino

Tassonomia

The citril finch was formally described by the German zoologist Peter Simon Pallas in 1764 under the binomial name Fringilla citrinella. The current genus name Carduelis is the Latin word for the European goldfinch, and the specific epithet citrinella is the Italian word for a small yellow bird. It is a diminutive of the Latin citrinus meaning citrine or light greenish-yellow. The Corsican finch (Carduelis corsicana) was at one time considered as conspecific with the citril finch, but is now treated as a separate species. Molecular genetic studies have shown that the citril finch is closely related to the European goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis).

Nome scientifico

Carduelis citrinella

Autorità

(Pallas, 1764)

Ordine

Passeriformi

Famiglia

Fringillidae

Genere

Carduelis

Areale e habitat

Areale riproduttivo

PAL : temperate to subtropical sw Palearctic montane forest edge and alpine meadows: Spain, s, e France, Switzerland, n Italy, s Germany, Austria and nw Slovenia

Areale non riproduttivo

to lower elevations

Migrazione

Vertical migration

Comportamento

The citril finch (Carduelis citrinella) differs from the Corsican finch (C. corsicana) in habitat selection. While the mainland citril finch is rather restricted to subalpine coniferous forests and Alpine meadows, the insular Corsican finch may be found in different habitats from sea level to the highest mountain slopes. The citril finch nests mainly in conifers such as pines (Pinus) and spruces (Picea) while the Corsican finch uses also lower bushes such as tree Heath (Erica arborea), juniper (Juniperus) and bramble (Rubus).<p>Ranging more widely than its equally common eastern relative, the citril finch is classified as a Species of Least Concern by the IUCN.

Conservazione

Tendenza della popolazione

declining