| Red-cowled cardinal | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Thraupidae |
| Genus: | Paroaria |
| Species: | P. dominicana |
| Binomial name | |
| Paroaria dominicana | |
 | |
| Synonyms | |
Loxia dominicanaLinnaeus, 1758 | |
Thered-cowled cardinal[2] (Paroaria dominicana) is abirdspecies in the tanagerfamily (Thraupidae). It is not very closely related to the cardinals proper (Cardinalidae).
It isendemic toBrazil. It occurs in a wide range of dry to semi-humid open to semi-open habitats in north-eastern Brazil, especially theCaatinga region. It has beenintroduced (probably by means of escaped caged individuals) toRio de Janeiro and São Paulo, being locally common even in urban areas.[3]
The red-cowled cardinal wasformally described in 1758 by the Swedish naturalistCarl Linnaeus in thetenth edition of hisSystema Naturae. He placed it with the crossbills in thegenusLoxia and coined thebinomial nameLoxia dominica.[4][5] The specific epithet alludes to the black and white habits of members of theDominican Order.[6] The red-cowled cardinal is now one of six species placed in the genusParoaria that was introduced byCharles Lucien Bonaparte in 1832. The species ismonotypic: nosubspecies are recognised.[7]
