Mourning Sierra Finch (Rhopospina fruticeti) [XC774838]
by Cristian Pinto Fernandez from San Pedro de Atacama (near Catarpe), El Loa, Antofagasta, Chile (song)
Mourning Sierra Finch (Rhopospina fruticeti) [XC3032]
by A. Bennett Hennessey from Calama, Chile (song)
Subspecies
Molecular-genetic studies indicate that genus belongs in tanager family (Thraupidae). Appears to be sister to Carbon Sierra-Finch (Corydospiza carbonaria), and studies suggest that the two should be placed together in a separate genus, for which the name Rhopospina is available.
The following 3 subspecies are recognised:
peruvianus Zimmer, JT, 1924 - Peru (southern Cajamarca south to Puno) and western Bolivia (La Paz).
coracinus Sclater, PL, 1891 - Altiplano of south-western Bolivia (in Oruro and Potosí) and adjacent northern Chile in regions of Arica-Parinacota (Visviri) and Tarapacá (Isluga).
fruticeti (Kittlitz, 1833) - Chile from (Arica-Parinacota south to Magallanes) and western Argentina (Salta south to Santa Cruz), largely in foothills of Andes.