Pachycephalidae
Pachycephalidae | |
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Rufous whistler (Pachycephala rufiventris) | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Passeriformes |
Superfamily: | Orioloidea |
Family: | Pachycephalidae Swainson, 1832 |
The Pachycephalidae are a family of bird
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
The whistler family has five extant genera as follows:[3]
- Coracornis – 2 species
- Melanorectes– black pitohui
- Pachycephala – typical whistlers (48 species)
- Pseudorectes – 2 species
- Colluricincla– 11 species
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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]
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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
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
- hdl:2246/830.
- ISBN 978-0-9568611-1-5.
- ^ Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (July 2021). "Whiteheads, sittellas, Ploughbill, Australo-Papuan bellbirds, Shriketit, whistlers". IOC World Bird List Version 11.2. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
- S2CID 10012326.
- S2CID 245506895.
- PMID 1439786.
- ISBN 1-85391-186-0.
External links
- Videos, photos and sounds - Internet Bird Collection