Donald M. Jones / House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) male, southern Ohio

Dong Lei / White-browed Rosefinch (Carpodacus thura) with Tibetan prayer flags featuring the 'wind horse'. Pamuling mountain, Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, China,

Wild Wonders of Europe / Schandy / Old male Great rosefinch (Carpodacus rubicilla) on rock, Mount Cheget, Caucasus, Russia, June 2008

John Cancalosi / House finch (Haemorhous mexicanus), two females on Sotol (Dasylirion wheeleri). Sonoran desert, Arizona, USA. July.

Staffan Widstrand / Wild Wonders of China / Chinese Beautiful Rosefinch, Carpodacus davidianus, bird sitting on a branch in Beiyue Hengshan Mountain, Datong, Hunyuan County, Shanxi Province, China

Staffan Widstrand / Wild Wonders of China / Chinese beautiful rosefinch (Carpodacus davidianus) perched on an old statue in Beiyue Hengshan Mountain, Datong, Hunyuan County, Shanxi Province, China

Avi Meir/ BIA / Pale Rosefinch (Carpodacus synoicus) male, Eilat, Israel

Jack Dykinga / House finches (Carpodacus mexicanus) aerial territorial fight, Santa Catalina Mountain foothills, Sonoran Desert. Arizona, USA. November. Small repro only

Donald M. Jones / House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) male, Troy, Montana

Donald M. Jones / House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) male in autumn, Troy, Montana

Donald M. Jones / Cassin's Finch (Carpodacus cassinii) male in flowering tree, Troy, Montana

Donald M. Jones / Cassin's Finch (Carpodacus cassinii) male in flowering tree, Troy, Montana

Donald M. Jones / Cassin's Finch (Carpodacus cassinii) male in flowering tree, Troy, Montana

Dong Lei / Red-fronted rosefinch (Carpodacus puniceus) feeding on flower bud, Sanjiangyuan National Nature Reserve, Qinghai Hoh Xil UNESCO World Heritage Site, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, Qinghai Province, China.

Johannes Melchers/ BIA / Great Rosefinch (Carpodacus rubicilla) male, Georgia

Mathias Schaef/ BIA / Pale Rosefinch (Carpodacus synoicus) male, Israel

Tim Zurowski/ BIA / Purple Finch (Carpodacus purpureus) male, British Columbia, Canada

Donald M. Jones / House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) male in winter, Troy, Montana

Julian Hume / Flock of Ancestral cardueline finches arriving on Hawaiian Island around 4 million years ago. Eurasian rosefinches (Carpodacus sp) are the most likely ancestors of the Hawaiian honeycreepers.

Dong Lei / Red-fronted rosefinch (Carpodacus puniceus) Balang Mountain, Wolong National Nature Reserve, Sichuan Province, China.

Dong Lei / Red-fronted rosefinch (Carpodacus puniceus) Balang Mountain, Wolong National Nature Reserve, Sichuan Province, China.

Dong Lei / White-browed rosefinch (Carpodacus thura) Basongcuo National Park, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, Tibet, China.

Dong Lei / Red-fronted rosefinch (Carpodacus puniceus) Basongcuo National Park, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, Tibet, China.

Mary McDonald / House finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) in tree, at pond, Madera Canyon, Arizona, USA, April.

Mary McDonald / House finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) at pond, Madera Canyon, Arizona, USA, April.

Mary McDonald / House finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) adult feeding young, on branch, Madera Canyon, Arizona, USA, April.

Mary McDonald / House finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) on branch, Madera Canyon, Arizona, USA, April.

Alan Murphy/ BIA / House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) female flying, Texas

Alan Murphy/ BIA / House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) female, Arizona

Claudio Contreras / House Finch (Haemorhous / Carpodacus mexicanus) male, Milpa Alta Forest, Mexico, May

Claudio Contreras / House Finch (Haemorhous / Carpodacus mexicanus) female, Milpa Alta Forest, Mexico, May

Donald M. Jones / House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) male at pond, western Montana

Donald M. Jones / House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) bathing, northwest Montana

Donald M. Jones / House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) juvenile, western Montana

Donald M. Jones / Cassin's Finch (Carpodacus cassinii) male, western Montana

Donald M. Jones / Cassin's Finch (Carpodacus cassinii) male, western Montana

Donald M. Jones / Cassin's Finch (Carpodacus cassinii) male, western Montana

Donald M. Jones / Cassin's Finch (Carpodacus cassinii) male, western Montana

Donald M. Jones / Cassin's Finch (Carpodacus cassinii) male drinking from spring, western Montana

Dong Lei / White-browed rosefinch (Carpodacus thura) on ground, Mount Namjagbarwa, Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon National Park, Tibet, China.

Dong Lei / White-browed rosefinch (Carpodacus thura) perched on pink flowers, Mount Namjagbarwa, Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon National Park, Tibet, China.

Dong Lei / White-browed rosefinches (Carpodacus thura) perched in snowy tree, Mount Namjagbarwa, Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon National Park, Nyingchi Prefecture, Tibet, China. November.

Dong Lei / Streaked rosefinch (Carpodacus rubicilloides ) Serxu, Shiqu county, Sichuan Province, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China. August 2010.

Chien Lee / Channel Islands House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus clementis) female with tick on neck, California

Alan Murphy / Purple Finch (Carpodacus purpureus) male, British Columbia, Canada

Alan Murphy / Purple Finch (Carpodacus purpureus) male, British Columbia, Canada

Donald M. Jones / House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) male feeding on cactus flowers, Arizona

Dong Lei / Three-banded rosefinch (Carpodacus trifasciatus) feeding, Kawakarpo Mountain, Meri Snow Mountain National Park, Yunnan Province, China, January.

Dong Lei / Three-banded rosefinch (Carpodacus trifasciatus) singing, Kawakarpo Mountain, Meri Snow Mountain National Park, Yunnan Province, China, January.

Dong Lei / Streaked rosefinch (Carpodacus rubicilloides) on ground, Kawakarpo Mountain, Meri Snow Mountain National Park, Yunnan Province, China, January.

Dong Lei / White-browed rosefinch (Carpodacus thura) flock drinking from small stream, Lantsang Mekong river, Kawakarpo Mountain, Meri Snow Mountain National Park, Yunnan Province, China, January. Taken with rem...

Marie Read / Purple finch (Carpodacus purpureus) male perched amongst Eastern redbud blossom in spring, New York, USA May.

Avi Meir / Pale Rosefinch (Carpodacus synoicus) male in desert, Eilat, Israel

Avi Meir / Pale Rosefinch (Carpodacus synoicus) male flying, Eilat, Israel

Avi Meir / Pale Rosefinch (Carpodacus synoicus) male, Eilat, Israel

Avi Meir / Pale Rosefinch (Carpodacus synoicus) female, Eilat, Israel

Avi Meir / Pale Rosefinch (Carpodacus synoicus) female flying, Eilat, Israel

Pete Oxford / House finches (Carpodacus mexicanus) Little St Simon's Island, Barrier Islands, Georgia, USA, April.

Dong Lei / Vinaceous rosefinch (Carpodacus vinaceus) perched, Kawakarpo Mountain, Meri Snow Mountain National Park, Yunnan Province, China.

Dong Lei / White-browed rosefinch (Carpodacus thura) perched, Lianhuashan Mountain, Gansu province, China.

Markus Varesvuo / Common rosefinch (Carpodacus erythrinus) adult male, Joensuu, Finland, May

Markus Varesvuo / Common rosefinch (Carpodacus erythrinus) adult male singing, Joensuu, Finland, May

Markus Varesvuo / Common rosefinch (Carpodacus erythrinus) adult male Joensuu, Finland, May

Markus Varesvuo / Common rosefinch (Carpodacus erythrinus) adult male Joensuu, Finland, May

Markus Varesvuo / Common rosefinch (Carpodacus erythrinus) adult male Joensuu, Finland, May

Markus Varesvuo / Common rosefinch (Carpodacus erythrinus) adult male Joensuu, Finland, May

Markus Varesvuo / Common Rosefinch (Carpodacus erythrinus) adult male, Joensuu, Finland, May

Markus Varesvuo / Common rosefinch (Carpodacus erythrinus) adult male Joensuu, Finland, May

Pete Oxford / House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) male, Little Saint Simon's Island, Georgia

Markus Varesvuo / Female Pale Rosefinch (Carpodacus synoicus) perched, with two leg rings, Israel March

Markus Varesvuo / Male Pale rosefinch (Carpodacus synoicus) perched on ground, Israel, March

Markus Varesvuo / Male Common Rosefinch (Carpodacus erythrinus) perched on top of pine tree, Estonia, May

Markus Varesvuo / Female Common Rosefinch (Carpodacus erythrinus) calling, perched on branches, Estonia, May

Markus Varesvuo / Male Common Rosefinch (Carpodacus erythrinus) calling in Spring woodland, Estonia, May

Markus Varesvuo / Common rosefinch (Carpodacus erythrinus) male calling, Estonia, May

Markus Varesvuo / Scarlet Rosefinch (Carpodacus erythrinus) male portrait. Estonia. May

Markus Varesvuo / Scarlet Rosefinch (Carpodacus erythrinus) male on Juniper bush. Estonia. May

Dong Lei / Three-banded Rosefinch (Carpodacus trifasciatus) feeding on buds, Li County, Sichuan Province, China, Asia

Dong Lei / White-browed Rosefinch (Carpodacus thura) perched on twig in winter, Yajiang county, Sichuan Province, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China, Asia

Scott Leslie / Purple Finch (Carpodacus purpureus) female, Canada

Markus Varesvuo / Scarlet rosefinch (Carpodacus erythrinus) feeding, head covered in Willow pollen, Uto, Finland, May.

Chris Romeiks / Common Rosefinch (Carpodacus erythrinus) male, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany

Chris Romeiks / Common Rosefinch (Carpodacus erythrinus) male, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany

Dong Lei / Pink rumped rosefinches (Carpodacus eos) in courtship behaviour, Nyingchi Prefecture, Qinghai Tibetan Plateau, China, July.

Dong Lei / Streaked rosefinch (Carpodacus rubicilloides) at edge of puddle, Dacocheng City, Sichuan Province, Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, China, August.

Donald M. Jones / House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) male, Columbus, Ohio

Glenn Bartley / House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) male, southern Arizona

Bob Steele / Cassin's Finch (Carpodacus cassinii), Inyo County, California

Bob Steele / Cassin's Finch (Carpodacus cassinii) male, Inyo County, California

Glenn Bartley / Purple Finch (Carpodacus purpureus) male, British Columbia, Canada

Glenn Bartley / Purple Finch (Carpodacus purpureus) female, British Columbia, Canada

Glenn Bartley / Purple Finch (Carpodacus purpureus) male, British Columbia, Canada

Matthew Studebaker / Purple Finch (Carpodacus purpureus) female and male, Ohio

Thomas Harbig / Common Rosefinch (Carpodacus erythrinus) male singing, Mecklenburg Vorpommern, Germany

Alan Murphy / Cassin's Finch (Carpodacus cassinii) male, Texas

Alan Murphy / House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) female, Arizona