Leiothrix (bird)
Genus of birds
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Leiothrix is a genus of passerine birds in the family Leiothrichidae. They belong to a clade also containing at least the liocichlas, barwings, minlas and sibias. The sibias are possibly their closest living relatives.
| Leiothrix | |
|---|---|
| |
| Silver-eared mesia Leiothrix argentauris | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Leiothrichidae |
| Genus: | Leiothrix Swainson, 1832 |
| Type species | |
| Parus furcatus[1] = Sylvia luteo Temminck, 1824 | |
| Species | |
Taxonomy
The genus Leiothrix was introduced in 1832 by the English naturalist William Swainson with the red-billed leiothrix as the type species.[2][3] The genus name combines the Ancient Greek leios meaning "smooth" and thrix meaning "hair".[4]
The genus contains two species:[5]
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silver-eared mesia
|
Leiothrix argentauris (Hodgson, 1837) Seven subspecies
|
South East Asia. | Size: Habitat: Diet: |
LC
|
| Red-billed leiothrix or "Pekin nightingale"
|
Leiothrix lutea (Scopoli, 1786) Five subspecies
|
India, Bhutan, Nepal, Burma and parts of Tibet. | Size: Habitat: Diet: |
LC
|
Their delicate colors and accomplished song make them popular cagebirds.
