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Silky-flycatcher
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Silky-flycatcher

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Also known as Ptilogonatidae

The silky-flycatchers are a small family, Ptiliogonatidae, of passerine birds. The family contains only four species in three genera. They were formerly lumped with waxwings and hypocolius in the family Bombycillidae, and they are listed in that family by the Sibley-Monroe checklist. The family is named for their silky plumage and their aerial flycatching techniques, although they are only distantly related to the Old World flycatchers (Muscicapidae) and the tyrant flycatchers (Tyrannidae).

Wikidata facts

Instance of
taxon
Parent taxon
passerines
Image
Ptilogonys caudatus.jpg
Show 6 more facts
Commons category
Ptilogonatidae
taxon rank
family
taxon name
Ptilogonatidae
topic's main category
Category:Ptiliogonatidae
Commons gallery
Ptilogonatidae
Sources (1)

via Wikidata · CC0

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Encyclopedic overview

2 sections
Contents
  • Genera and Species
  • References

The silky-flycatchers are a small family, Ptiliogonatidae, of passerine birds. The family contains only four species in three genera. They were formerly lumped with waxwings and hypocolius in the family Bombycillidae, and they are listed in that family by the Sibley-Monroe checklist. The family is named for their silky plumage and their aerial flycatching techniques, although they are only distantly related to the Old World flycatchers (Muscicapidae) and the tyrant flycatchers (Tyrannidae).

They occur mainly in Central America from Panama to Mexico, with one species, the phainopepla, extending northwards into the southwestern US. Most do not engage in long-distance migration (instead wandering widely in search of fruit), but the phainopepla is migratory over the northern part of its range.

Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “Silky-flycatcher” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.

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