Tityra

Tityra
	Masked tityra (Tityra semifasciata)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Tityridae
Subfamily:	Tityrinae
Genus:	Tityra; Vieillot, 1816
Type species
	Lanius cayanus; Linnaeus, 1766
Species
	3-4, see text
Synonyms
	Exetastes; Exetastus; Pachyrynchus; Psaris;

The tityras are passerine birds in the genus Tityra of the family Tityridae. They are found from southern Mexico, through Central America, to northern and central South America, including Trinidad.

These are medium-sized birds, typically around 20–25 centimetres (7.9–9.8 in) long, with large bills. The adult males are greyish-white above and white below, except for the wings and tail which are at least partially black. The males of all three species also have black head markings. The females are similar, but are duller, with browner or greyer head markings. The black-tailed and the masked tityra both have a conspicuous red eye-ring and base of the bill.

Taxonomy

The genus Tityra was introduced by French ornithologist

Bacchus. This is a reference to the boisterous, aggressive behavior of the type species.^[3]

The tityras have traditionally been placed in the

South American Classification Committee.^[4] The black-crowned tityra is sometimes placed in a separate genus, Erator.^[5]

The genus contains three species.[6]

Behavior

These species are found in forest clearings and edges, second growth and other semi-open habitats such as plantation shade trees. The eggs are laid in a bed of dry leaves in a tree hole, often an old woodpecker nest. The female incubates alone, but both parents feed the chicks. Fledging takes up to 25 days.

Tityras are seen alone or in pairs, perched conspicuously as they feed on medium-sized fruits, large insects and sometimes small lizards. They have unmusical nasal grunting or buzzing calls.

Scientific name	Common Name	Distribution
Tityra cayana	Black-tailed tityra	Bolivia, Argentina, Ecuador, Brazil
Tityra semifasciata	Masked tityra	Mexico, through Central America, to northwestern and central South America (as far south as Paraguay).
Tityra inquisitor	Black-crowned tityra	Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela.

Another species, the white-tailed tityra (Tityra leucura), is generally considered a variant of the black-crowned tityra, but recent evidence suggests it may be a valid species restricted to the Brazilian Amazon near the Madeira River.^[7]