Yellow cardinal

This article is about the endangered South American finch-like tanager and is not to be confused with northern cardinals with a rare genetic mutation making them yellow instead of red.

The yellow cardinal (Gubernatrix cristata) is a species of South American bird in the tanager family Thraupidae. It is the only member of its genus, Gubernatrix. It is very rare and can only be found in South America.

Yellow cardinal
Conservation status
Endangered  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
CITES Appendix II (CITES)[2]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Thraupidae
Genus:	Gubernatrix Lesson, 1837
Species:	G. cristata
Binomial name
Gubernatrix cristata (Vieillot, 1817)

Taxonomy

The yellow cardinal was formally described in 1817 by the French ornithologist Louis Pierre Vieillot under the binomial name Coccothraustes cristata.^[3][4] The specific epithet is from the Latin cristatus meaning "crested" or "plumed".^[5] The species was moved to its own genus Gubernatrix by the French naturalist René Lesson in 1837.^[6] The genus name is the Latin word for "governess".^[7]

Although traditionally included in the family Emberizidae, a study published in 2011 found that the species was more closely related to the tanager family Thraupidae.^[8] A comprehensive study of the tanagers published in 2014 found strong support for a sister relationship between the yellow cardinal and the diuca finch.^[9] The two species are known to hybridize. The yellow cardinal is monotypic and no subspecies are recognised.^[10][11]

Distribution and habitat

It is found in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Its natural habitats are dry savanna, temperate shrubland, subtropical or tropical moist shrubland, and temperate grassland. It is threatened by habitat loss and from pet trade trappers for sale as exotic pets.^[12] Males are trapped at a higher rate than females, and the yellow cardinal is considered endangered due to the constant entrapment.^[13] Countering woody plant encroachment can contribute to habitat restoration.^[14]

There was a study conducted that looked at the vocalization of the yellow cardinal in its habitat. It was found that there was some variation with the diuca finch.^{[clarification needed][15]}

Status

The current global population of Gubernatrix cristata is between 1000 and 2000.^[16] Studies have shown that there are some genetic differences between different populations.^[17] Another study has shown that the yellow cardinal presents plasticity in song production, with small differences in song among four different populations.^[18]