Peppershrike

Peppershrikes
Rufous-browed peppershrike (Cyclarhis gujanensis)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Vireonidae
Genus: Cyclarhis
Swainson, 1824
Type species
Tanagra gujanensis
Species

The peppershrikes are two species of passerine bird found in tropical Central and South America. They form the genus Cyclarhis, part of the vireo family.

These are heavyset birds with a hooked shrike-like bill. Although sluggish and very vocal, the peppershrikes are still difficult to spot as they feed on insects and spiders in the canopy aloft. Their cup-shaped nests can likewise be found high in the trees.

Taxonomy

The genus Cyclarhis was introduced in 1789 by the English naturalist William Swainson to accommodate a single species, the rufous-browed peppershrike, which is therefore the type species.[1][2] The genus name is from the Ancient Greek kuklos meaning "circle" and rhis, rhinos meaning "nostrils".[3] The genus contains two species.[4]

Species

Image Common Name Scientific name Distribution
Rufous-browed peppershrike C. gujanensis Mexico and Trinidad south to Argentina and Uruguay.
Black-billed peppershrike C. nigrirostris Colombia and northern Ecuador.

References

  1. ^ Swainson, William John (1824–1825). "An inquiry into the natural affinities of the Laniadae, or shrikes; preceded by some observations on the present state of ornithology in this country". Zoological Journal. 1 (3): 289–307 [294].
  2. ^ Paynter, Raymond A. Jr, ed. (1968). Check-List of Birds of the World. Vol. 14. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Museum of Comparative Zoology. p. 103.
  3. ^ Jobling, James A. (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. p. 128. ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4.
  4. ^ Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (January 2023). "Shrikes, vireos, shrike-babblers". IOC World Bird List Version 13.1. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  • ffrench, Richard (1991). A Guide to the Birds of Trinidad and Tobago (2nd ed.). Comstock Publishing. ISBN 0-8014-9792-2.
  • Hilty, Steven L (2003). Birds of Venezuela. London: Christopher Helm. ISBN 0-7136-6418-5.


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