MAIN SECTIONS
 
 
 
 
 
‹
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Fringillidae
雀科
què kē

燕雀科
yàn-què kē

アトリ科
atori ka

되새과
doe-sae-gwa

Họ Sẻ dồng

  INTER-COUNTRY
 Fringillidae in Mongolia
 Fringillidae in Japan
  Fringillidae in China
current page Fringillidae in Taiwan
 Fringillidae in Vietnam
Share 分享按钮

General names

Information is based on dictionaries and other sources. Comments and corrections welcome.

The form què was traditionally identified with the sparrows (now usually 麻雀 má-què) or to small birds in general. In a more specialised sense, the name què has come to be identified with the finches, hence the name of the Fringillidae: 雀科 què kē. (Recently, however, the tendency on the Mainland is to call the family 燕雀科 yàn-què kē, after the name of the Brambling.) Most of the fringillids have been given names that end in què, to the extent that even the 金翅 jīn-chì 'gold-wing' has been officially transformed into the 金翅雀 jīn-chì-què 'gold-wing sparrow'.

The naming of the Hawfinches/Grosbeaks is an area of curious confusion. In Taiwan, the genus Coccothraustes is given the name 臘嘴雀 là-zuǐ-què 'cured-meat-billed sparrow'. (The character has a number of meanings, including the end of the lunar year and associated sacrifices, and cured meat or sausage meat). On the other hand, the Mainland names use 錫嘴 xī-zuǐ 'tin bill' for Coccothraustes and 蠟嘴 là-zuǐ 'wax bill' for Eophona. Superficially, the names appear totally unrelated, but the following table showing the all-important first character and its variations suggests otherwise.

  1 2 (simple form of 1) 3 4
Character
Pronunciation or
Meaning 1. end of lunar year and associated sacrifices 2. cured meat 1. end of lunar year and associated sacrifices; 2. cured meat wax tin
Simplified form (Mainland)

The key is the second column, which shows a traditional simplification of . The character may be read either or (standardised to in Mainland China), which is precisely the pronunciation of the Mainland names for the two genera. Without further study it would be difficult to know the origins of this tangle of names, but it appears that the three names are indeed related. (Incidentally, the Japanese name of Coccothraustes coccothraustes is written with the characters of the Chinese name 蠟嘴 'waxbill', simplified to 蝋嘴 in modern Japanese).

Regularised names:

The relationship of the common names to scientific genera is as follows:

Taiwanese name Literal meaning Genus Mainland name Literal meaning Note
花雀
huā-què
'flower-sparrow' Fringilla 燕雀
yàn-què
'swallow-sparrow'  
金翅雀
jīn-chì-què
'gold-wing sparrow' Carduelis (greenfinches, goldfinches) 金翅
jīn-chì
金翅雀
jīn-chì-què
'gold-wing' or 'gold-wing sparrow'  
黄雀
huáng-què
'yellow-sparrow' Carduelis (siskins) 黄雀
huáng-què
'yellow-sparrow' Traditionally used for the sparrow.
朱頂雀
zhū-dǐng-què
'vermilion-capped sparrow' Carduelis (redpoll, twite, linnet) 朱頂雀
zhū-dǐng-què
'vermilion-capped sparrow'  
朱雀
zhū-què
'vermilion-sparrow' Carpodacus 朱雀
zhū-què
'vermilion-sparrow'  

xué
'xue' Pyrrhula 灰雀
huī-què
'grey sparrow' The name is from Japanese usage (where it is read uso). In Chinese, the character originally appears to have been used for a bird resembling the Japanese Paradise Flycatcher (Terpsiphone atrocaudata) or Dollarbird (Eurystomas orientalis).
臘嘴雀
là-zuǐ-què
'cured-meat-billed sparrow' Coccothraustes 錫嘴雀
xī-zuǐ-què
'tin-billed sparrow' See explanation above.
桑鳲
sāng-shī
'mulberry shi' Eophona 蠟嘴雀
là-zuǐ-què
'wax-billed sparrow' See explanation above.

Species names

› ABOUT THIS TABLE (Hover cursor to see) ‹
FRINGILLINAE
SCIENTIFIC & ENGLISH
CHINESE
JAPANESE
OTHER
Fringilla                
Latin
English
Chinese (Taiwan)
Chinese (Mainland)
Other Ch
Japanese
Other J
Korean
Vietnamese
Fringilla montifringilla
link to photolink to photo
Brambling 花雀
(花雀)
huā-què
'flowery sparrow'
(燕雀)
燕雀
yàn-què
'swallow-sparrow'
花雞
(花鸡)
huā-jī
'flowery fowl/chicken‘
燕雀兒
(燕雀儿)
yàn-qiǎor
'swallow-sparrow'
虎皮雀
(虎皮雀)
hǔ-pí què
'tiger-skin sparrow'
アトリ
(花鶏 ~ 猲子鳥)
atori
'brambling' (characters: 1. 'flower fowl/chicken', from Chinese; 2. from Chinese, original unclear)
  되새
doe-sae
'doe bird'
Chim Sẻ đồng đầu đen
'black-headed field-sparrow (bird)' (= 'black-headed bunting')
Chim Sẻ thông đầu đen
'black-headed pine-sparrow (bird)' (13)
›Taxonomy‹
 
CARDUELINAE
SCIENTIFIC & ENGLISH
CHINESE
JAPANESE
OTHER
Carduelis                
Latin
English
Chinese (Taiwan)
Chinese (Mainland)
Other Ch
Japanese
Other J
Korean
Vietnamese
Carduelis sinica
Chloris sinica
link to photolink to photo
Oriental greenfinch
Grey-capped greenfinch
Greenfinch
Chinese greenfinch
金翅雀
(金翅雀)
jīn-chì-què
'gold-wing sparrow'
(金翅雀)
金翅雀
jīn-chì-què
'gold-wing sparrow' (1, 2, 3, 4)
or
(金翅)
金翅
jīn-chì
'gold-wing' (Alternative in 1, 3, 5)
›Taxonomy‹
(東方金翅)
东方金翅
dōngfāng jīn-chì
'eastern gold-wing' (5)
金翅兒
(金翅儿)
jīn-chèr
'gold-wing'
東方金翅鳥
(东方金翅鸟)
dōng-fāng jīn-chì-niǎo
'oriental gold-wing bird'
綠雀
(绿雀)
lǜ què
'green sparrow'
蘆花黄雀
(芦花黄雀)
lú-huā huáng-què
'reed catkin yellow-sparrow' (also C. spinus below)
黄楠雀
(黄楠雀)
huáng nán què
'yellow nan [type of tree] sparrow'
黄翎子
(黄翎子)
huáng língzi
'yellow feather'
カワラヒワ
(河原鶸)
kawara hiwa
'river-bed siskin'
  방울새
bangul-sae
'bang-ul bird' (bang-ul='bell' or 'drop of liquid')
Chim Sẻ thông đầu xám
'grey-headed pine-sparrow (bird)' (13)
Carduelis spinus
Spinus spinus
link to photolink to photo
Eurasian siskin
Spruce siskin
Siskin
黄雀
(黃雀)
huáng-què
'yellow-sparrow'
(黄雀)
黄雀
huáng-què
'yellow-sparrow'
黄鳥
(黄鸟)
huáng-niǎo
'yellow bird' (also used for Oriolus chinensis)
蘆花黄雀
(芦花黄雀)
lú-huā huáng-què
'reed catkin yellow-sparrow' (also C. sinica above)
マヒワ
(真鶸)
ma-hiwa
'true siskin'
  검은머리방울새
geomeun-meori-bangul-sae
'black-headed bang-ul bird' (bang-ul = 'bell' or 'drop of liquid')
Chim Sẻ thông Siskim
'siskin pine-sparrow (bird)' (13)
Carduelis flammea
Acanthis flammea
link to photo
Common redpoll
Redpoll
普通朱頂雀
(普通朱顶雀)
pǔtōng zhū-dǐng-què
'common vermilion-capped sparrow'
(白腰朱頂雀)
白腰朱顶雀
bái-yāo zhū-dǐng-què
'white-rumped vermilion-capped sparrow'
朱頂雀
(朱顶雀)
zhū-dǐng-què
'vermilion-capped sparrow'
貯點紅
(贮点红)
zhù diǎn hóng
'(literally) save-a-bit red'
ベニヒワ
(紅鶸)
beni hiwa
'crimson siskin'
  홍방울새
hong-bangul-sae
'red bang-ul bird' (bang-ul = 'bell' or 'drop of liquid')
 
Carpodacus                
Latin
English
Chinese (Taiwan)
Chinese (Mainland)
Other Ch
Japanese
Other J
Korean
Vietnamese
Carpodacus erythrinus
link to photo
Common rosefinch 普通朱雀
(普通朱雀)
pǔtōng zhū-què
'common vermilion-sparrow'
(普通朱雀)
普通朱雀
pǔtōng zhū-què
'common vermilion-sparrow'
朱雀
(朱雀)
zhū-què
'vermilion-sparrow' (6, 7)
青麻料兒 / 青麻料
(青麻料儿 / 青麻料)
qīng má-liàor / qīng má-liào
'green/blue hemp material' (literal)
青雀
(青雀)
qīng-què
'green/blue sparrow'
紅雀
(红雀)
hóng-què
'red sparrow'
アカマシコ
(赤猿子)
aka mashiko
'red rosefinch'
  적원자
jeogwonja
'jeogwonja'
Chim Sẻ hồng mura
'mura rosy sparrow (bird)'
Chim Sẻ thông mura
'mura pine sparrow (bird)' (13)
Carpodacus vinaceus
link to photo
Vinaceous rosefinch 酒紅朱雀
(酒红朱雀)
jiǔ-hóng zhū-què
'wine red vermilion-sparrow'
(酒紅朱雀)
酒红朱雀
jiǔ-hóng zhū-què
'wine red vermilion-sparrow'
  タカサゴマシコ
(高砂猿子)
takasago mashiko
'Taiwan rosefinch'
     
Pyrrhula                
Latin
English
Chinese (Taiwan)
Chinese (Mainland)
Other Ch
Japanese
Other J
Korean
Vietnamese
Pyrrhula nipalensis
link to photo
Brown bullfinch 褐鷽
(褐鸴)
hè xué
'brown xue'
(褐灰雀)
褐灰雀
hè huī-què
'brown grey-sparrow'

()
xué
'xue'
拙老婆
(拙老婆)
zhuō lǎopó
'stupid wife'
チャイロウソ
(茶色鷽)
cha-iro uso
'brown bullfinch'
    Chim Sẻ mỏ ngắn
'short-billed sparrow (bird)'
Chim Sẻ thông mỏ ngắn
'short-billed pine sparrow (bird)' (13)
Pyrrhula erythaca
link to photo
Grey-headed bullfinch
Beavan's bullfinch
灰鷽
(灰鸴)
huī xué
'grey xue'
(灰頭灰雀)
灰头灰雀
huī-tóu huī-què
'grey-headed grey-sparrow'
赤胸灰雀
(赤胸灰雀)
chì-xiōng huī-què
'red-breasted grey-sparrow' (6)

()
xué
'xue'
拙老婆
(拙老婆)
zhuō lǎopó
'stupid wife'
タカサゴウソ
(高砂鷽)
takasago uso
'Taiwanese bullfinch'
     
Coccothraustes                
Latin
English
Chinese (Taiwan)
Chinese (Mainland)
Other Ch
Japanese
Other J
Korean
Vietnamese
Coccothraustes coccothraustes
link to photolink to photo
Hawfinch 臘嘴雀
(腊嘴雀)
là-zuǐ-què
'cured-meat-billed sparrow'
(錫嘴雀)
锡嘴雀
xī-zuǐ-què
'tin-billed sparrow'
錫嘴
(锡嘴)
xī-zuǐ
'tin bill'
老錫兒
(老锡儿)
lǎo xīr
'old tin'
老西子
(老西子)
lǎo xīzi
'old west'
老醯兒
(老醯儿)
lǎo xīr
'old pickle-vinegar'
厚嘴鳥
(厚嘴鸟)
hòu-zuǐ niǎo
'thick-billed bird'
鐵嘴蠟子
(铁嘴蜡子)
tiě-zuǐ làzi
iron-billed wax'
シメ
( ~ 蝋嘴)
shime
'hawfinch' (characters: 1. Japanese-made, 2. 'waxbill', Chinese name)
ヒメ
( ~ )
hime
'hime' (both are Japanese-made characters)
콩새
kong-sae
'bean ? bird'
 
Eophona                
Latin
English
Chinese (Taiwan)
Chinese (Mainland)
Other Ch
Japanese
Other J
Korean
Vietnamese
Eophona migratoria
Coccothraustes migratorius
link to photolink to photo
Yellow-billed grosbeak
Black-tailed hawfinch
Chinese grosbeak
小桑鳲
(小桑鸤)
xiǎo sāng-shī
'small mulberry shi'
(黑尾蠟嘴雀)
黑尾蜡嘴雀
hēi-wěi là-zuǐ-què
'black-tailed wax-billed sparrow'
蠟嘴
(蜡嘴)
là-zuǐ
'wax bill'
皂兒
(皂儿)
zàor
'black'
少花子
(少花子)
shào huāzi
'young flower'
コイカル
(小桑鳲 ~ 小鵤 ~ 小斑鳩)
ko-ikaru
'small grosbeak' (characters for ikaru are 1. from the Chinese; 2. a Japanese-created character; 3. Chinese characters meaning 'pied pigeon')
  밀화부리
milhwa-buri
'milhwa bill'
Chim Mỏ to đầu đen
'black-headed large-bill (bird)'
Eophona personata
Coccothraustes personatus
link to photolink to photo
Japanese grosbeak
Masked hawfinch
桑鳲
(桑鸤)
sāng-shī
'mulberry shi'
(黑頭蠟嘴雀)
黑头蜡嘴雀
hēi-tóu là-zuǐ-què
'black-headed wax-billed sparrow'
蠟嘴
(蜡嘴)
là-zuǐ
'wax bill'
梧桐
(梧桐)
wú-tóng
'Chinese parasol tree'
イカル
(桑鳲 ~ ~ 斑鳩)
ikaru
'grosbeak' (characters are 1. from the Chinese; 2. a Japanese-created character; 3. Chinese characters meaning 'pied pigeon')
サンコウチョウ
(三光鳥)
sankōchō
'three light bird' (also name of Terpsiphone atrocaudata)
マメマワシ
(豆回し)
mamemawashi
'bean turner' (from habit of turning beans in bill as it eats)
イカルガ
(斑鳩)
ikaruga
'ikaruga' (written 'pied pigeon')
큰부리밀화부리
keun-buri-milhwa-buri
large-billed milhwa bill'
 
(Site uses UK spelling, e.g., "grey-coloured")