Tarsiger

Tarsiger
Tarsiger johnstoniae (Collared Bush Robin)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Muscicapidae
Genus: Tarsiger
Hodgson, 1845

Tarsiger is a genus of six species of birds in the family Muscicapidae. They are small, mostly brightly coloured insectivorous birds native to Asia and (one species) northeastern Europe; four of the six species are confined to the Sino-Himalayan mountain system.[1] The genus has sometimes been included within the related genus Luscinia, but the species have been found to form a distinct monophyletic group.[2]

The genus contains the following species:[3]

Until recently, the Himalayan Bluetail was treated as a subspecies of the Red-flanked Bluetail.[1] It was split on the basis of its more intense plumage colours, and its ecology and behaviour, being a short-distance altitudinal migrant not a long distance migrant.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b Hoyo, J. del, et al., eds. (2005). Handbook of the Birds of the World, vol. 10. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. pp. 754–756. ISBN 84-87334-72-5. 
  2. ^ Sangster, G., Alström, P., Forsmark, E., & Olsson, U. (2010). Multi-locus phylogenetic analysis of Old World chats and flycatchers reveals extensive paraphyly at family, subfamily and genus level (Aves: Muscicapidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 57: 380–392 Full text
  3. ^ IOC World Bird List Family Muscicapidae
  4. ^ Rasmussen, P. C., & Anderton, J. C. (2005). Birds of South Asia: the Ripley Guide. Barcelona, Spain: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 84-87334-67-9.