Parus

Parus is a genus of Old World birds in the tit family. As defined here, it contains the following species:

• Genus Parus
  • White-shouldered Tit Parus guineensis, sometimes separated in Melaniparus
  • White-winged Black Tit Parus leucomelas, sometimes separated in Melaniparus
  • Southern Black Tit Parus niger, sometimes separated in Melaniparus
  • Carp's Tit Parus carpi, sometimes separated in Melaniparus
  • White-bellied Tit Parus albiventris, sometimes separated in Melaniparus
  • White-backed Tit Parus leuconotus, sometimes separated in Melaniparus
  • Dusky Tit Parus funereus, sometimes separated in Melaniparus
  • Rufous-bellied Tit Parus rufiventris, sometimes separated in Melaniparus
  • Cinnamon-breasted Tit Parus pallidiventris, sometimes separated in Melaniparus
  • Red-throated Tit Parus fringillinus, sometimes separated in Melaniparus
  • Stripe-breasted Tit Parus fasciiventer, sometimes separated in Melaniparus
  • Somali Tit or Acacia Tit Parus thruppi, sometimes separated in Melaniparus
  • Miombo Tit Parus griseiventris, sometimes separated in Melaniparus
  • Ashy Tit Parus cinerascens, sometimes separated in Melaniparus
  • Southern Grey Tit Parus afer, sometimes separated in Melaniparus
  • Great Tit Parus major
    • Turkestan Tit Parus major bokharensis (formerly treated as separate species)
  • Japanese Tit Parus minor (often included in P. major)
  • Cinereous Tit Parus cinereus
  • Green-backed Tit Parus monticolus
  • White-winged Tit Parus nuchalis
  • Black-lored Tit Parus xanthogenys, sometimes separated in Macholophus
  • Yellow-cheeked Tit Parus spilonotus
  • Yellow Tit Parus holsti, sometimes separated in Macholophus
  • White-fronted Tit Parus semilarvatus, sometimes separated in Sittiparus

This genus and related genera are controversial. The species, from White-shouldered Tit to Southern Grey Tit, are sometimes separated as the genus Melaniparus, and the Yellow Tit and the Black-lored Tit are sometimes separated as Macholophus. On the other hand, many authorities expand this genus to include Cyanistes, Lophophanes, Periparus, and Poecile.

References

• Del Hoyo, J.; Elliot, A. & Christie D. (editors). (2007). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 12: Picathartes to Tits and Chickadees. Lynx Edicions. ISBN 9788496553422
• Gill, Frank B.; Slikas, Beth & Sheldon, Frederick H. (2005): Phylogeny of titmice (Paridae): II. Species relationships based on sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome-b gene. Auk 122: 121-143. DOI: 10.1642/0004-8038(2005)122[0121:POTPIS]2.0.CO;2 HTML abstract