Pachycephalidae

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Pachycephalidae
Rufous whistler (Pachycephala rufiventris)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Superfamily: Orioloidea
Family: Pachycephalidae
Swainson, 1832

The Pachycephalidae are a family of bird

golden whistler
, has been the subject of intense taxonomic scrutiny in recent years, with multiple subspecies and species-level revisions.

Taxonomy and systematics

The family Pachycephalidae was introduced (as the subfamily Pachycephalinae) by the English ornithologist William John Swainson in 1832.[1][2]

The genera

Falcunculidae respectively.[3] Some authorities have also placed the genus Mohoua, classified in the monotypic family Mohouidae, within the family Pachycephalidae.[4]

The whistler family has five extant genera as follows:[3]

Pachycephalidae

Pseudorectes – pitohuis (2 species)

Colluricincla
– strikethrushes (11 species)

Melanorectes
– black pitohui

Coracornis – whistler and strikethrush (2 species)

Pachycephala – typical whistlers (48 species)

Genus level phylogeny of the family Pachycephalidae based a study by Serina Brady and collaborators published in 2021.
Pamela Rasmussen and David Donsker on behalf of the International Ornithologists' Union.[3]

Description

The whistlers are stout birds with strong bills, and the group was once known as the thickheads due to the large rounded heads of many species. Their plumage is

parasites
and may also serve to dissuade predators from taking the birds.

Vocalisations

Several species belonging to this family are outstanding songsters: the whistlers produce an astonishing volume for their size, and the lyrebirds aside, the grey shrikethrush is often regarded as the finest, most inventive songbird of them all.[citation needed]

Distribution and habitat

The whistlers are birds of forests and wooded areas. Most species inhabit rainforest, particularly in the Asian and Papuan parts of their range, but Australian species inhabit a wider range of habitats including woodlands, arid scrubland and mangrove forests. Some species are restricted to a particular ecosystem, whereas others are more catholic and will inhabit a range of habitat types.

Behaviour and ecology

Breeding

Little is known about the breeding biology of most of the family; what is known generally comes from a small number of Australian species and the three New Zealand Mohoua species. They are monogamous and generally nest as simple pairs, although breeding groups have been recorded in some species.

Food and feeding

They are insectivorous, picking insects off leaves, branches, or leaf litter. While insects make up the majority of the diet they will also feed on spiders, worms, centipedes, snails, and small crabs; larger species will also tackle small vertebrates such as frogs, geckos and baby birds. They are generally sedate foragers and do not engage in hawking to obtain prey, instead being gleaners and probers. Only a few species migrate, most remaining resident in their tropical environment.[7]

References

External links