Saltators, Cardinals, and Allies Cardinalidae
There are 10 genera within the family, of which 2 are thus far described below.
Of the 35 species within the family, 2 are near-threatened. Restricted to the New World, most members of the family have large conical bills which they use for seed eating. They are also known to eat fruit and insects.


Spiza
This is the sole member of the genus.

The Dickcissel Spiza americana breeds in eastern North America. They migrate in large flocks to winter in southern Mexico, Central America and northern South America. This breeding male, which looks similar to a smaller version of a meadowlark, was photographed at Lake Iowa County Park, Iowa, USA.






Cardinalis
There are 3 species in this genus.

The Pyrrhuloxia Cardinalis sinuatus is a common resident of the arid southwestern United States and northern Mexico. It is a grayer version of the familiar Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis. This male Pyrrhuloxia was photographed at San Ygnacio, Texas, USA.






Saltator

There are 16 species in this genus.

Streaked Saltator Saltator striatipectus at the Wilson botanical garden, near San Vito, Puntarenas, Costa Rica, April 2009.


Buff-throated Saltator Saltator maximus near San Isidro del General, Puntarenas, Costa Rica, April 2009.


Cyanocompsa
There are 4 species in this genus.

A male Blue Bunting Cyanocompsa parellina at the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, Texas, March 2009.








PASSERINES