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A previously published phylogeographic analysis of mtDNA sequences from the widespread Palearctic common rosefinch (Carpodacus erythrinus) suggested the existence of three recently diverged groups, corresponding to the Caucasus, central-western Eurasia, and northeastern Eurasia. We re-evaluated the mtDNA data using coalescence methods and added sequence data from a sex-linked gene. The mtDNA gene tree and SAMOVA supported the distinctiveness of the Caucasian group but not the other two groups. However, UPGMA clustering of mtDNA Φ(ST)-values among populations recovered the three groups. The sex-linked gene tree recovered no phylogeographic signal, which was attributed to recent divergence and insufficient time for sorting of alleles. Overall, coalescence methods indicated a lack of gene flow among the three groups, and population expansion in the central-western and northeastern Eurasia groups. These three groups corresponded to named subspecies, further supporting their validity. A species distribution model revealed potential refugia at the Last Glacial Maximum. These three groups, which we hypothesized are in the early stages of speciation, provided an opportunity for testing tenets of ecological speciation. We showed that the early stages of speciation were not accompanied by ecological niche divergence, consistent with other avian studies., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

We present a molecular phylogeny of bullfinches (Pyrrhula Brisson, 1760) based on 2357bp DNA sequence information of mitochondrial genes (cyt-b, 16S rRNA) and nuclear introns (fib-7, GAPDH-11). The genus is clearly a monophyletic group. Within the limits of Pyrrhula, molecular methods support the subdivision of three main groups: (1) "Southeast-Asian bullfinches" (P. nipalensis and P. leucogenis), (2) "Himalayan bullfinches" (P. aurantiaca, P. erythaca, P. erythrocephala), and (3) "Eurasian bullfinches" (P. pyrrhula s.l.). Within the last group there are four different subgroups: (3a) P. (p.) murina, (3b) P. (p.) cineracea, (3c) P. (p.) griseiventris, and (3d) P. pyrrhula s.str. The centre of origin of the genus Pyrrhula was most probably Southeast Asia. Incomplete lineage sorting of both mitochondrial and nuclear genes is observed among two apparently good species (P. erythaca and P. erythrocephala) indicating a very recent speciation event within the Himalayan Mountain chain. According to our estimates, the Pyrrhula ancestors split from the Pinicola ancestors before the Pleistocene. Apart from the subsequent Pre-Pleistocene splits of the three ancestral main groups, most of the diversification of today's representatives probably took place during the past 600,000 years, possibly in interaction with Pleistocene refugia and successive colonization movements after the last glaciation. Thus our work confirms the traditional delimitation of the bullfinches towards the other members of the finch family Fringillidae and corroborates most of the classic intra-generic subdivisions., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)