n. a subfamily of birds consisting of the old world finches, many of which have taken up residence in the Americas; -- it is a subgroup of finches used in some classifications, in which the Fringillidae are divided into two subfamilies, the Carduelinae (including the goldfinches, siskins, redpolls, crossbills, and linnets) and Fringillinae (the brambling and the chaffinches). The siskins and goldfinches have migrated as far south as the southern end of South America. T. M. Shortt.
Syn. -- subfamily Carduelinae. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

n. the type genus of a subfamily Carduelinae of the Fringillidae, used in some classifications. It includes the goldfinches (such as the American goldfinch, Cardulis tristis, and the European goldfinch, Carduelis carduelis); siskins; redpolls; and linnets, as well as the common northern cardinal (Carduelis cardinalis, also called the cardinal bird).
Syn. -- genus Carduelis. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]