The Fringillidae family comprises over 200 species of "true finches," small to medium-sized passerine birds distinguished by their stout, conical bills adapted for eating seeds and often vibrant plumage. While many other birds are also commonly called finches, this family includes well-known groups like canaries, siskins, and the morphologically diverse Hawaiian honeycreepers, inhabiting a wide range of habitats globally, excluding Australia and polar regions. Intriguingly, finches and canaries were famously used in coal mines in the UK, US, and Canada from the 18th to 20th centuries to detect dangerous carbon monoxide, a practice that ceased in the UK in 1986.
Beginning around 1990, extensive DNA studies revolutionized their taxonomy, leading to significant reclassifications. These studies moved groups like the Hawaiian honeycreepers and the Neotropical genera Euphonia and Chlorophonia (formerly tanagers) into the Fringillidae family. Consequently, the family is now divided into three subfamilies: Fringillinae, Carduelinae (the largest), and Euphoniinae, reflecting a much clearer understanding of their evolutionary relationships.