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* [[:Category:Lioptilus|Lioptilus]] (probably belonging to the [[:Category:Sylviidae|Sylviidae]], also placed in [[:Category:Pycnonotidae|Pycnonotidae]]) | * [[:Category:Lioptilus|Lioptilus]] (probably belonging to the [[:Category:Sylviidae|Sylviidae]], also placed in [[:Category:Pycnonotidae|Pycnonotidae]]) | ||
* [[:Category:Horizorhinus|Horizorhinus]] (also placed in [[:Category:Turdidae|Turdidae]], [[:Category:Sylviidae|Sylviidae]] or [[:Category:Muscicapidae|Muscicapidae]]) | * [[:Category:Horizorhinus|Horizorhinus]] (also placed in [[:Category:Turdidae|Turdidae]], [[:Category:Sylviidae|Sylviidae]] or [[:Category:Muscicapidae|Muscicapidae]]) | ||
+ | * [[:Category:Hypocryptadius|Hypocryptadius]] shoud be included in [[:Category:Passeridae|Passeridae]] according to a new study | ||
{{Nav-Timaliidae}} | {{Nav-Timaliidae}} |
Revision as of 10:26, 28 August 2010
Family: Timaliidae. Old World babblers
Description
The Old World babblers are a large, highly variable family of Old World passerine birds. Typical features of this family are:1
- Similar sexes
- Short, rounded wings
- Juveniles generally lacking the spotting characteristic of thrushes and chats
- Tendency to longer, rounded tail
- Generally stout bill and legs
- Often soft, fluffy plumage.
Babblers are found in Africa and Asia, with the highest diversity in South-east Asia and the Himalayas.
Taxonomy
Timaliidae is a family in the Order Passeriformes.
This family has long been said to be a dustbin for taxonomists, where they would place any bird with uncertain affinities. However, recent work, particulary by A. Cibois, has revealed more information about this complex family. A major revision is expected to take place in the next few years. A start has been done by the new Clements checklist in 2009. The following changes were involved:
- Chaetops was placed in its own family Chaetopidae.
- Hartertula, Oxylabes and Crossleyia were moved to Bernieridae.
- Mystacornis was moved to the Vangidae.
- Chrysomma, Parophasma and Myzornis were moved to the newly shaped Sylviidae.
- Neomixis was moved to Cisticolidae.
- Graminicola is now included here (from Sylviidae).
- All White-eyes were included here (formerly placed in their own family Zosteropidae).
Some uncertainities however remain. The White-bellied Yuhina should most probably be placed in another families.1 Other genera which are still included here but with uncertain affinities are:
- Modulatrix (also placed in Pycnonotidae or Turdidae)
- Arcanator (also placed in Pycnonotidae, Turdidae or Promeropidae)
- Kakamega (probably belonging to the Promeropidae or the Turdidae)
- Pteruthius (probably belonging to the Vireonidae)
- Lioptilus (probably belonging to the Sylviidae, also placed in Pycnonotidae)
- Horizorhinus (also placed in Turdidae, Sylviidae or Muscicapidae)
- Hypocryptadius shoud be included in Passeridae according to a new study
References
- del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A. and Christie, D.A. eds. 2007. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Vol. 12. Picathartes to Tits and Chickadees. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 84-96553-42-6
- Clements James F. 2007. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2007. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. ISBN 9780801445019
Subcategories
This category has the following 13 subcategories, out of 13 total.