Cossypha are small insectivorous birds, with most species called robin-chats. They were formerly in the thrush family Turdidae, but are now more often treated as part of the Old World flycatcher Muscicapidae.[citation needed]

Cossypha
Snowy-crowned robin-chat (Cossypha niveicapilla)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Muscicapidae
Genus: Cossypha
Vigors, 1825
Type species
Turdus vociferans[1]
Swainson, 1823

These are African woodland dwelling species, but some have become adapted to sites around human habitation.

The name Cossypha for the genus was introduced by the Irish zoologist Nicholas Aylward Vigors in 1825.[2] The word comes from the Classical Greek kossuphos for a blackbird or thrush.[3]

The genus contains the following eight species:[4]

References

edit
  1. ^ "Muscicapidae". aviansystematics.org. The Trust for Avian Systematics. Retrieved 2023-07-15.
  2. ^ Vigors, Nicholas Aylward (1825). "Cossypha". Zoological Journal. 2: 396.
  3. ^ Jobling, James A. (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London, United Kingdom: Christopher Helm. p. 120. ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4.
  4. ^ Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (July 2023). "Chats, Old World flycatchers". IOC World Bird List Version 13.2. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 21 July 2023.