Diuca Finch (Diuca diuca) [XC53256]
by Felix Vidoz from PN Lago Puelo, Chubut, Argentina (song)
Diuca Finch (Diuca diuca) [XC520045]
by Ignacio Escobar from Isla Chungungo, Chile (call)
Subspecies
Previously thought to form a superspecies with White-winged Diuca-finch (Chionodacryon speculiferum), but aspects of morphology, voice and typically walking (rather than hopping) locomotion suggest that it is not close to that species. Recent molecular data indicate that present species is the earliest offshoot in a clade which includes Lophospingus, White-banded Tanager (Neothraupis fasciata), Paroaria cardinals, Magpie Tanager (Cissopis leverianus) and Schistochlamys tanagers. This suggests that all should be included in the tanager family (Thraupidae).
The following 4 subspecies are recognised:
crassirostris Hellmayr, 1932 - North-central Chile (Antofagasta south to Coquimbo), extreme southern Bolivia (south-eastern Potosí) and northern Argentina (Jujuy and Salta south to La Rioja).
diuca (Molina, 1782) - Central and south-central Chile (Coquimbo south to Aysén) and adjacent Argentina (Mendoza south to Santa Cruz).
minor Bonaparte, 1850 - Central and southern Argentina (Córdoba, San Luis and southern Buenos Aires south through eastern Mendoza to Santa Cruz) and southern Chile (northern Magallanes). Non-breeding also north to north-eastern Argentina (Tucumán and Entre Ríos), southern Brazil (western Rio Grande do Sul) and Uruguay.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet