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Sylviidae

(Family)

Overview

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Sylviidae is a family of passerine birds that was part of an assemblage known as the Old World warblers. The family was formerly a wastebin taxon with over 400 species of bird in over 70 genera. The family was poorly defined with many characteristics shared with other families. Advances in classification, particularly helped with molecular data, have led to the splitting out of several new families from within this group. Today the smaller family Sylviidae includes the typical warblers in the genus Sylvia, the parrotbills of Asia (formerly a separate family Paradoxornithidae), a number of babblers formerly placed within the family Timaliidae (which is itself currently being split) and the Wrentit, an unusual North American bird that has been a longstanding taxonomic mystery.

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Family Sylviidae sensu stricto

True warblers (or sylviid warblers) and parrotbills. A fairly diverse gro up of smallish taxa with longish tails. Mostly in Asia, to a lesser extent in Africa. A few range into Europe; one monotypic genus on west coast of North America.

Chrysomma sinense, the Yellow-eyed "Babbler", is a sylviid closely related to parrotbills
genus Sylvia, the parrotbills of Asia (formerly a separate family Paradoxornithidae), a number of babblers formerly placed within the family Timaliidae (which is itself currently being split) and the Wrentit, an unusual North American bird that has been a longstanding taxonomic mystery.

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Family Sylviidae sensu stricto

True warblers (or sylviid warblers) and parrotbills. A fairly diverse group of smallish taxa with longish tails. Mostly in Asia, to a lesser extent in Africa. A few range into Europe; one monotypic genus on west coast of North America.

Chrysomma sinense, the Yellow-eyed "Babbler", is a sylviid closely related to parrotbills

References

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  1. ^ Gelang, Magnus; Alice Cibois, Eric Pasquet, Urban Olsson, Per Alstr?m, Per G. P Ericson (2009). "Phylogeny of babblers (Aves, Passeriformes): major lineages, family limits and classification". Zoologica Scripta 38 (3): 225?236. do i:10.1111/j.1463-6409.2008.00374.x. 

Taxonomy

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The Family Sylviidae is a member of the Superfamily Sylvioidea. Here is the complete "parentage" of Sylviidae:

The Family Sylviidae is further organized into finer groupings including:

Genera

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Abrornis

[more]

Abroscopus

Abroscopus is a small genus of "warbler" in the family Cettiidae, formerly included in the Sylviidae. [more]

Achaetops

The Rockrunner (Achaetops pycnopygius), also known as the Damara Rock-jumper, is a species of African warbler, formerly placed in the Sylviidae family. It is found in Angola and Namibia. [more]

Acrocephalus

The Acrocephalus warblers are small, insectivorous passerine birds belonging to the genus Acrocephalus. Formerly in the paraphyletic Old World warbler assemblage, they are now separated as the namesake of the marsh- and tree-warbler family Acrocephalidae. They are sometimes called marsh-warblers or reed-warblers, but this invites confusion with Marsh Warbler and Reed Warbler proper, especially in North America where it is common to use lower case for bird species. [more]

Amaurocichla

The S?o Tom? Shorttail (Amaurocichla bocagei), also known as Bocage's Longbill, is a species of passerine bird in the superfamily Passeroidea. It is the only member of the genus Amaurocichla. Formerly placed in the family Sylviidae, appears to be close to the Motacillidae, though its relationships currently are unclear. It is endemic to the southern and western parts of the island of S?o Tom?. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. This species has a small population and is threatened by habitat loss. [more]

Amphilais

The Grey Emu-Tail (Amphilais seebohmi), also known as the Madagascan Grassbird or Feather-tailed Warbler, is a species of Old World warbler in the Sylviidae family. It is found only in Madagascar. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist shrubland and shrub-dominated wetlands. [more]

Arcanator

The Dappled Mountain-robin or Dapple-throat (Arcanator orostruthus) is a species of bird in the Muscicapidae family. It is found in Mozambique and Tanzania. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is threatened by habitat loss. [more]

Artisornis

[more]

Bathmocercus

Bathmocercus is a genus of bird in the Cisticolidae family. It contains the following species: [more]

Bebrornis

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[1] [more]

Bernieria

The Long-billed Bernieria (Bernieria madagascariensis), formerly known as Long-billed Greenbul and sometimes as Common Tetraka or Long-billed Tetraka, is a songbird species endemic to Madagascar. It was initially considered a greenbul, and later with the Old World warblers. Recent research indicates it is part of an endemic Malagasy radiation currently known as the Malagasy warblers, which have not received a scientific name yet. [more]

Bowdleria

The Fernbird (Bowdleria punctata) is an insectivorous bird endemic to New Zealand. The Maori names are Kotata or Matata. It is a rich brown above and white below, with brown spots on both the throat and breast. Early settlers called it the "Swamp Sparrow" no doubt because of its coloration. The tail feathers are thin, dark brown, and spine-like. The birds reach a length of 18 cm (7 in) - as measured from tip of beak to end of tail. However,almost half of that is tail [more]

Bradypterus

Bradypterus is a genus of small insectivorous songbirds ("warblers") in the newly recognized grass warbler family (Locustellidae). They were formerly placed in the Sylviidae, which at that time was a wastebin taxon for the warbler-like Sylvioidea. The range of this genus extends through the warm regions from Africa around the Indian Ocean and far into Asia. [more]

Buettikoferella

The Buff-banded Thicketbird or Buff-banded Bushbird (Buettikoferella bivittata) is a species of Old World warbler in the Megaluridae family. It is found in Indonesia and East Timor. [more]

Calamoherpes

[more]

Cettia

Cettia is a genus of small insectivorous songbirds ("warblers") which make up the core of the newly recognized family Cettiidae. They were formerly placed in the Sylviidae, which at that time was a wastebin taxon for the warbler-like Sylvioidea. The range of this genus extends from Europe to the western Pacific. The most recently described species is the Odedi (Cettia haddeni) from Bougainville. [more]

Chaetornis

The Bristled Grassbird (Chaetornis striata) is a passerine bird making up the monotypic genus Chaetornis. Chaetornis striata is endemic to the Indian subcontinent, where it is patchily and locally distributed in India, Pakistan, and Nepal. Formerly described as common in at least Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal (India) and parts of Bangladesh, it has declined. [more]

Chloropeta

Chloropeta is a genus of Acrocephalidae warblers; formerly, they were placed in the paraphyletic "Old World warblers". [more]

Cincloramphus

The Songlarks (Cincloramphus) are a genus of in the Old World Warbler family Sylviidae. [more]

Cinclorhamphus

[more]

Crossleyia

Crossleyia is a genus of in the Sylviidae family. It contains the following species: [more]

Cryptolopha

[more]

Cryptosylvicola

The Cryptic Warbler (Cryptosylvicola randrianasoloi) is a species of Malagasy warbler in the Bernieriidae family. It was formerly placed in the Old world warbler family Sylviidae. It is endemic to Madagascar. [more]

Dromaeocercus

Dromaeocercus is a genus of in the Sylviidae family. It contains the following species: [more]

Drymochaera

[more]

Drymoica

[more]

Dryodromas

[more]

Elaphrornis

Eremiornis

The Spinifexbird has a rich brown cap, golden brown streaked wings, and a long tail. Both sexes are alike. Its diet comprises a variety of and seeds collected in porcupine grass. This species flies weakly, with its tail drooping. It tends to be solitary, and therefor, is not migratory. The breeding season of the Spinifexbird stretches from August to November and the next is a shallow cup built in grass stems close to the ground. It usually contains two eggs. Not globally threatened, the species may be common in suitable habitats. [more]

Eremomela

Eremomela is a genus of passerines in the family. It contains the following species: [more]

Graminicola

The Rufous-Rumped Grassbird (Graminicola bengalensis) is a species of babbler in a monotypic genus in the Timaliidae family. It was formerly placed in the Old World Warbler family Sylviidae. [more]

Graueria

Grauer's Warbler (Graueria vittata) is a species of Old World warbler in the Sylviidae family. It is found in Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda. [more]

Hartertula

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[2] [more]

Hemitesia

The Neumann's Warbler (Hemitesia neumanni) is a species of Old World warbler in the Sylviidae family. It is found in Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda. [more]

Hippolais

Tree warblers are medium-sized warblers belonging to the genus Hippolais, formerly placed in the "Old World warbler" family Sylviidae but now separated in the marsh- and tree-warbler family Acrocephalidae. They are found in Europe, Africa and western Asia. [more]

Horeites

[more]

Hylia

The fictional universe depicted in The Legend of Zelda series of video games consists of a variety of lands, the most commonly appearing of these being Hyrule , and was created by Japanese video game developer Shigeru Miyamoto. [more]

Hyliota

Hyliota is a genus of in the Sylviidae family. It contains the following species: [more]

Hypolais

[more]

Iduma

[more]

Iduna

Leiothrix

Leiothrix is the scientific name of two genera: [more]

Locustella

The grass-warblers are small passerine birds belonging to the genus Locustella. Formerly placed in the paraphyletic "Old World warbler" assemblage, they are now considered the northernmost representatives of a largely Gondwanan family, the Locustellidae. [more]

Lusciniola

Macrosphenus

Macrosphenus is a genus of , formerly placed in the Sylviidae family. It contains the following species: [more]

Megalurulus

Megalurulus, the thicketbirds, are a of songbirds. Previously placed in the in the "Old World Warbler" family Sylviidae, they does not seem to be a close relative of the typical warblers. More probably, they belong in the newly-recognized grass-warbler family Megaluridae. [more]

Megalurus

Megalurus is a genus of passerine bird in the family Locustellidae. The genus was once placed in the Old World warbler "wastebin" family Sylviidae. The genus contains six species also known as the typical grassbirds. The genus is distributed from northern China and Japan, to India in the west, and Australia in the south, with most species being located wholly or partly in the tropics. The genus is also sometimes considered to include the genus Bowdleria, which holds the fernbirds of New Zealand. The most widespread species, the Tawny Grassbird, ranges from the Philippines to southern New South Wales, whereas the Fly River Grassbird is restricted to swampland in the southern part of New Guinea. One species, the Marsh Grassbird, is partially migratory, moving from northern China and Japan (and southern Siberia) to southern Japan and central China; the other species are sedentary. The natural habitat of the typical grassbirds is, as the name suggests, wet grasslands, swamps and other marshlands. Some species exist away from water in tall grasslands, heathlands, and forest clearings. Some species have adapted to the margins of rice fields and gardens. [more]

Melizophilus

[more]

Melocichla

The Moustached Grass-Warbler (Melocichla mentalis) is a species of African Warbler, formerly placed in the Sylviidae family. It is found in Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Its natural habitats are moist savanna and subtropical or tropical moist shrubland. [more]

Myzornis

The Fire-tailed Myzornis (Myzornis pyrrhoura) is a bird species formerly placed in the Old World babbler family (Timaliidae). Its genus Myzornis is monotypic, and has recently been placed in the (much reduced) Old World warbler family Sylviidae. [more]

Nesillas

Nesillas is a genus of in the Sylviidae family. It contains the following species: [more]

Oligura

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[3] [more]

Oporomis

Oxylabes

The White-throated Oxylabes (Oxylabes madagascariensis) is a species of passerine once thought to be a species of Old World warbler in the Sylviidae family. It is found only in Madagascar. Recent research indicates it is part of an endemic Malagasy radiation currently known as the Malagasy warblers (Cibois et al. 2001). [more]

Parisoma

The typical warblers are small birds belonging to the genus Sylvia in the "Old World warbler" (or sylviid warbler) family Sylviidae. There are 28 species currently included in the genus, including five species formerly treated in the genus Parisoma, a treatment which left Sylvia paraphyletic. Typical warblers occur in the temperate to tropical regions of Europe, western and central Asia, and Africa, with the highest species diversity centred around the Mediterranean. [more]

Phragamaticola

Phyllanthus

Phyllanthus is the largest genus in the flowering plant family Phyllanthaceae. Estimates of the number species in this genus vary widely, from 750 to 1200. Phyllanthus has a remarkable diversity of growth forms including annual and perennial herbs, shrubs, climbers, floating aquatics, and pachycaulous succulents. Some have flattened leaflike stems called . It has a wide variety of floral morphologies and chromosome numbers and has one of the widest range of pollen types of any seed plant genus. [more]

Phylloscopus

Leaf-warblers are small insectivorous birds belonging mainly to the genus Phylloscopus. They were formerly included in the Old World warbler family but are now considered to belong to the Phylloscopidae, a family created in 2006. The genus is closely related to Seicercus and some species have been moved between the two genera in recent classification attempts. Leaf-warblers are active, constantly moving, often flicking their wings as they glean the foliage for insects along the branches of trees and bushes. They forage at various levels within forests, from the top canopy to the understorey. Most of the species are markedly territorial both in their summer and winter quarters. [more]

Poliolais

The White-tailed Warbler (Poliolais lopezi) is a species of bird in the Cisticolidae family, the only of its genus Poliolais. It is found in Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, and Nigeria. [more]

Randia

Randia can refer to: [more]

Scepomycter

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[4] [more]

Schoenicola

Schoenicola is a genus of in the Sylviidae family. It contains the following species: [more]

Seicercus

Seicercus is a genus of Old World warbler formerly in the Sylviidae family but now placed in Phylloscopidae. The genus is distributed in the Indian Subcontinent and eastern Asia from northern China to Timor in the Lesser Sundas. Many of the more northerly species are migratory, breeding in temperate climates and wintering in the tropics; others are attitudinal migrants, moving down from the mountains in the winter. A few species are migratory over part of their range and resident in others. [more]

Sphenoeacus

The Cape Grassbird or Cape Grass Warbler (Sphenoeacus afer) is an African warbler found in southern Africa. [more]

Sylvia

A Sub-species in the Kingdom Animalia.[5] [more]

Sylvietta

Sylvietta, the crombecs, is a genus of African warblers. Formerly placed in the massively paraphyletic Sylviidae, it is now considered to belong to a newly-recognized family found only in Africa, Macrosphenidae. [more]

Tesia

The tesias are a genus, Tesia, of Old World warbler. The genus was once included in the large family Sylviidae but recent research placed it within the new family Cettiidae. The genus has a discontinuous distribution in East and South East Asia. The three northern species range widely across southern China, Burma, Northern Thailand and Laos and into India, southern Nepal and Vietnam; whereas the other two species are found in Java and the Lesser Sundas in southern Indonesia. One species of tesia, the Chestnut-headed Tesia, which occupies the northern area of the genus' range, is sometimes split into the genus Oligura. The Russet-capped Tesia was once considered to be a race of the Timor Stubtail, Urosphena subulata. The three northern species are sometimes known as ground-warblers. [more]

Thamnornis

The Thamnornis Warbler (Thamnornis chloropetoides) is a species of Malagasy warbler in the family Bernieridae. It is found only in Madagascar. [more]

Tickellia

The Broad-billed Warbler (Tickellia hodgsoni) is a species of bush warbler (family Cettiidae). It was formerly included in the "Old World warbler" assemblage, and belongs to the monotypic genus Tickellia. [more]

Trichocichla

The Long-legged Thicketbird, Trichocichla rufa, is a small Old World warbler endemic to Fiji. The species is sometimes known as the Long-legged Warbler. It is the sole representative of the genus Trichocichla. [more]

Tricholais

[more]

Urosphena

Urosphena is a genus of in the Sylviidae family. It contains the following species: [more]

Vitia

Xanthomixis

At least 8 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Xanthomixis.

More info about the Genus Xanthomixis may be found here.

References

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  1. ^ Gelang, Magnus; Alice Cibois, Eric Pasquet, Urban Olsson, Per Alstr?m, Per G. P Ericson (2009). "Phylogeny of babblers (Aves, Passeriformes): major lineages, family limits and classification". Zoologica Scripta 38 (3): 225?236. doi:10.1111/j.1463-6409.2008.00374.x. 

Bibliography

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Footnotes

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  1. http://www.ubio.org/browser/details.php?namebankID=768
  2. http://www.ubio.org/browser/details.php?namebankID=823
  3. http://www.ubio.org/browser/details.php?namebankID=22150
  4. http://www.ubio.org/browser/details.php?namebankID=760
  5. http://www.ubio.org/browser/details.php?namebankID=25031
  1. ^ a b Perrins, C. (1991). Forshaw, Joseph. ed. Encyclopaedia of Animals: Birds. London: Merehurst Press. pp. 192–194. ISBN 1-85391-186-0. 
  2. ^ AOU: Check-list of North American Birds
  3. ^ Sefc, K. M., Payne, R. B., & Sorenson, M. D. (2003). Phylogenetic relationships of African sunbird-like warblers: Moho Hypergerus atriceps, Green Hylia Hylia prasina and Tit-hylia Pholidornis rushiae. The Ostrich 74: 8-17.
  4. ^ Johansson, U.S., Fjeldså, J., Bowie, R.C.K. (2008). Phylogenetic relationships within Passerida (Aves: Passeriformes): A review and a new molecular phylogeny based on three nuclear intron markers. Mol. Phylogen. Evol. 48:858-876.
  5. ^ Fuchs, J., Fjeldså, J., Bowie, R. C. K., Voelker, G., & Pasquet, E. (2006). The African warbler genus Hyliota as a lost lineage in the oscine songbird tree: Molecular support for an African origin of the Passerida. Mol. Phylogen. Evol. 39:186-197.

Sources

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Last Revised: August 24, 2012
2012/08/24 13:43:51