Crithagra is a genus of small passerine birds in the finch family (Fringillidae). They are found in Africa and Arabia.
The species in this genus were formerly assigned to the genus Serinus but phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences found that the genus was polyphyletic. It was therefore split into two monophyletic genera. Eight species including the European serin (Serinus serinus) were retained in Serinus while the other species were assigned to the resurrected genus Crithagra.
The name Crithagra had been introduced in 1827 by the English ornithologist William John Swainson.
The genus contains 37 species:
Principe seedeater, Crithagra rufobrunneaSão Tomé grosbeak, Crithagra concolorAfrican citril, Crithagra citrinelloidesWestern citril, Crithagra frontalisSouthern citril, Crithagra hypostictaBlack-faced canary, Crithagra capistrataPapyrus canary, Crithagra koliensisForest canary, Crithagra scotopsWhite-rumped seedeater, Crithagra leucopygiaBlack-throated canary, Crithagra atrogularisYellow-rumped seedeater, Crithagra xanthopygiaReichenow's seedeater, Crithagra reichenowiArabian serin, Crithagra rothschildiYellow-throated seedeater, Crithagra flavigulaSalvadori's seedeater, Crithagra xantholaemaLemon-breasted canary, Crithagra citrinipectusYellow-fronted canary, Crithagra mozambicaWhite-bellied canary, Crithagra dorsostriataAnkober serin, Crithagra ankoberensisYemen serin, Crithagra menachensisCape siskin, Crithagra tottaDrakensberg siskin, Crithagra symonsiNorthern grosbeak-canary, Crithagra donaldsoniSouthern grosbeak-canary, Crithagra buchananiYellow canary, Crithagra flaviventrisBrimstone canary, Crithagra sulphurataReichard's seedeater, Crithagra reichardiStreaky-headed seedeater, Crithagra gularisWest African seedeater, Crithagra canicapillaBlack-eared seedeater, Crithagra mennelliBrown-rumped seedeater, Crithagra tristriataWhite-throated canary, Crithagra albogularisThick-billed seedeater, Crithagra burtoniStreaky seedeater, Crithagra striolataYellow-browed seedeater, Crithagra whytiiKipengere seedeater, Crithagra melanochroaProtea canary, Crithagra leucoptera
