Bradypterus
Bradypterus | |
---|---|
Little rush warbler(Bradypterus baboecala) | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Passeriformes |
Family: | Locustellidae |
Genus: | Bradypterus Swainson,1837 |
Type species | |
Bradypterus platyurus[1] Swainson, 1837
| |
Species | |
12, but see text |
Bradypterusis agenusof smallinsectivoroussongbirds( "warblers") in the newly recognized grass warblerfamily(Locustellidae). They were formerly placed in theSylviidae,which at that time was awastebin taxonfor the warbler-likeSylvioidea.The range of this genus extends through the warm regions fromAfricaaround theIndian Oceanand far intoAsia.
Thelocustellid bush warblersare related to the grass warblers ofLocustellaandMegalurus,but share lifestyle and relatedadaptationsandapomorphieswith bush warblers in the familyCettiidae.These belong to an older lineage of Sylvioidea. Both "bush warbler" genera are smallish birds well adapted to climbing amongshrubbery.They are markedly long-tailed birds, at first glance somewhat reminiscent ofwrens.
These are quite terrestrial birds, which live in densely vegetatedhabitatslike thick forest and reedbeds. They will walk away from disturbance rather than flush. Theplumagesimilarities and skulking lifestyle make these birds hard to see and identify.
Locustellid bush warblers tend towards greyish browns above and buffish or light grey tones below. They have little patterning apart from the ubiquitoussupercilium.Altogether, they appear much like the plainer species amongAcrocephalusmarsh-warblers in coloration. Cettiid bush warblers tend to be somewhat more compact, with less pointed tails, but are otherwise very similar.
Species
[edit]This genus has been recently revised. TheSri Lanka bush warbleris sometimes placed in this genus but is now placed in its own monotypic genus (Elaphrornis). Several other former members of this genus (e.g. theChinese bush warbler) are now placed inLocustella.Victorin's warbleris no longer a member of this genus or even the family Locustellidae, but is now placed in its own monotypic genusCryptillasin the African warbler familyMacrosphenidae.
The genus contains 12 species:[2]
- Knysna warbler,Bradypterus sylvaticus
- Bangwa forest warbler,Bradypterus bangwaensis
- Barratt's warbler,Bradypterus barratti
- Evergreen forest warbler,Bradypterus lopezi
- Cinnamon bracken warbler,Bradypterus cinnamomeus
- Grey emutail,Bradypterus seebohmi
- Brown emutail,Bradypterus brunneus
- Dja River scrub warbler,Bradypterus grandis
- Little rush warbler,Bradypterus baboecala
- White-winged swamp warbler,Bradypterus carpalis
- Grauer's swamp warbler,Bradypterus graueri
- Highland rush warbler,Bradypterus centralis
Footnotes
[edit]- ^"Locustellidae".aviansystematics.org.The Trust for Avian Systematics.Retrieved2023-07-15.
- ^Gill, Frank;Donsker, David, eds. (2019)."Grassbirds, Donacobius, Malagasy warblers, cisticolas, allies".IOC World Bird List Version 9.2.International Ornithologists' Union.Retrieved28 August2019.
References
[edit]- Beresford, P.; Barker, F.K.; Ryan, P.G.; & Crowe, T.M. (2005):African endemics span the tree of songbirds (Passeri): molecular systematics of several evolutionary ' Enigma s'.Proc. Roy. Soc. Lond. B272 (1565): 849–858.doi:10.1098/rspb.2004.2997PMID15888418Supplemental material
- del Hoyo, Josep; Elliott, Andrew & Sargatal, Jordi (eds.) (2006):Handbook of Birds of the World(Volume 11: Old World Flycatchers to Old World Warblers). Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.ISBN84-96553-06-X