Chlorospingus is a genus of perching birds, the bush tanagers, traditionally placed in the tanager family (Thraupidae). More recent studies which suggest they are closely related to the genus Arremonops in the Passerellidae (American sparrows). As of July, 2017, the American Ornithological Society assigns the genus to the new family Passerellidae, which contains the New World sparrows.
Taxonomy The genus Chlorospingus was introduced in 1851 by the German ornithologist Jean Cabanis to accommodate a single species, Chlorospingus leucophrys Cabanis. For the publication date of volume 1 see: This scientific name is a junior synonym of Arremon ophthalmicus Du Busde Gisignies, 1847, which is now treated as a subspecies of Chlorospingus flavopectus, the common chlorospingus. The genus name Chlorospingus combined the Ancient Greek χλωρος/khlōros meaning "green" with σπινος/spinos a small bird found in Greece, perhaps a chaffinch.
The genus contains the following eight species:
Image Common name Scientific name Distribution - Yellow-throated chlorospingus Chlorospingus flavigularis northern Andes Yellow-whiskered chlorospingus Chlorospingus parvirostris northern Andes Ashy-throated chlorospingus Chlorospingus canigularis Talamancan montane forests and northern Andes Sooty-capped chlorospingus Chlorospingus pileatus Talamancan montane forests Common chlorospingus Chlorospingus flavopectus montane Neotropics - Tacarcuna chlorospingus Chlorospingus tacarcunae Panama, including Cerro Tacarcuna - Pirre chlorospingus Chlorospingus inornatus Cerro Pirre (eastern Panama) Dusky chlorospingus Chlorospingus semifuscus western slope of Colombian and Ecuadorian Andes
The taxonomy and systematics of the common bush tanager are under review; it appears to be a superspecies or even a complex of superspecies.
References