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 |
---|---|---|---|
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Rufous-browed peppershrike | C. gujanensis | Mexico and Trinidad south to Argentina and Uruguay. |
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Black-billed peppershrike | C. nigrirostris | Colombia and northern Ecuador. |
References
- ^ Swainson, William (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].
- ^ Paynter, Raymond A. Jr, ed. (1968). Check-List of Birds of the World. Vol. 14. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Museum of Comparative Zoology. p. 103.
- ^ Jobling, James A. (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. p. 128. ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4.
- ^ 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.
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