Chats (formerly sometimes known as "chat-thrushes") are a group of small Old World insectivorous

bird Birds are a group of warm-blooded vertebrates constituting the class Aves (), characterised by feathers, toothless beaked jaws, the laying of hard-shelled eggs, a high metabolic rate, a four-chambered heart, and a strong yet lightweig ...

s formerly classified as members of the thrush family (Turdidae), but following genetic DNA analysis, are now considered to belong to the

Old World flycatcher The Old World flycatchers are a large family, the Muscicapidae, of small passerine birds restricted to the Old World (Europe, Africa and Asia), with the exception of several vagrants and two species, Bluethroat (''Luscinia svecica)'' and Northe ...

family (Muscicapidae). The name is normally applied to the more robust ground-feeding flycatchers found in

Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a subcontinent of Eurasia and it is located entirel ...

and

Asia Asia (, ) is one of the world's most notable geographical regions, which is either considered a continent in its own right or a subcontinent of Eurasia, which shares the continental landmass of Afro-Eurasia with Africa. Asia covers an are ...

and most northern species are strong migrants. There are many genera and these birds in particular make up most of the subfamily Saxicolinae. Other songbirds called "chats" are: * Australian chats, genera ''

Ashbyia The gibberbird (''Ashbyia lovensis'') is a species of chat within the passerine birds. Taxonomy This species, also formerly known as the desert chat, is endemic to Australia and the only species within the genus ''Ashbyia''.Pizzey, Graham; Doyle ...

'' and '' Epthianura'' of the honeyeater family (

Meliphagidae The honeyeaters are a large and diverse family, Meliphagidae, of small to medium-sized birds. The family includes the Australian chats, myzomelas, friarbirds, wattlebirds, miners and melidectes. They are most common in Australia and New Gu ...

). They belong to a more ancient lineage than Saxicolinae. * American chats, genus ''

Granatellus ''Granatellus'' is a genus of bird previously placed in the family Parulidae, although biochemical evidence suggests it belongs in Cardinalidae Cardinalidae (often referred to as the "cardinal-grosbeaks" or simply the "cardinals") is a fami ...

'' of the cardinal family (

Cardinalidae Cardinalidae (often referred to as the "cardinal-grosbeaks" or simply the "cardinals") is a family of New World-endemic passerine birds that consists of cardinals, grosbeaks, and buntings. It also includes several birds such as the tanager-lik ...

), formerly placed in the wood-warbler family. They belong to a more modern lineage than Saxicolinae. *

Yellow-breasted chat The yellow-breasted chat (''Icteria virens'') is a large songbird found in North America, and is the only member of the family Icteriidae. It was once a member of the New World warbler family, but in 2017, the American Ornithological Society mov ...

(''Icteria virens''), an enigmatic North American songbird tentatively placed in the wood-warbler family (

Parulidae The New World warblers or wood-warblers are a group of small, often colorful, passerine birds that make up the family Parulidae and are restricted to the New World. They are not closely related to Old World warblers or Australian warblers. Mos ...

); its true relationships are unresolved.

Species in taxonomic order

* Subfamily Saxicolinae ** Genus ''

Tarsiger ''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-Himala ...

'' - bush-robins ***

Red-flanked bluetail The red-flanked bluetail (''Tarsiger cyanurus''), also known as the orange-flanked bush-robin, is a small passerine bird that was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family Turdidae, but is now more generally considered to be an Old World ...

or orange-flanked bush-robin, ''Tarsiger cyanurus'' *** Golden bush robin, ''Tarsiger chrysaeus'' *** White-browed bush robin, ''Tarsiger indicus'' *** Rufous-breasted bush robin, ''Tarsiger hyperythrus'' *** Collared bush robin, ''Tarsiger johnstoniae'' ** Genus ''

Luscinia ''Luscinia '' is a genus of smallish passerine birds, containing the nightingales and relatives. Formerly classed as members of the thrush family Turdidae, they are now considered to be Old World flycatchers (Muscicapidae) of the chat subfamily ...

'' (4 species) ** Genus ''

Calliope In Greek mythology, Calliope ( ; grc, Καλλιόπη, Kalliópē, beautiful-voiced) is the Muse who presides over eloquence and epic poetry; so called from the ecstatic harmony of her voice. Hesiod and Ovid called her the "Chief of all Muse ...

'' (4 species) ** Genus ''

Larvivora ''Larvivora'' is a genus of small passerine birds belonging to the Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae that occur in central and eastern Asia. The seven species in this genus were all previously placed in other genera. A large molecular phy ...

'' (6 species) ** Genus ''

Erithacus ''Erithacus'' (Greek: "robin" (erithacos)) is a genus of passerine bird that contains a single extant species, the European robin ''(Erithacus rubecula)''. The Japanese robin and Ryukyu robin were also placed in this genus (as ''Erithacus akahige ...

'' - European robin ** Genus '' Irania'' - white-throated robin ** Genus ''

Saxicola ''Saxicola'' (Latin: ''saxum'', rock + ''incola'', dwelling in.), the stonechats or chats, is a genus of 15 species of small passerine birds restricted to the Old World. They are insectivores occurring in open scrubland and grassland with scatte ...

'' - bushchats and stonechats (c. 15 species) ** Genus '' Pogonocichla'' ***

White-starred robin The white-starred robin (''Pogonocichla stellata'') is a species of bird in the Old World flycatcher and chat family Muscicapidae. It is also sometimes more simply called the starred robin. It is monotypic within the genus ''Pogonocichla''. Ther ...

, ''Pogonocichla stellata'' ** Genus '' Swynnertonia'' ***

Swynnerton's robin Swynnerton's robin (''Swynnertonia swynnertoni'') is a species of bird in the family Muscicapidae. It is monotypic within the genus ''Swynnertonia''. The common and Latin names commemorate the entomologist Charles Swynnerton. Range and habitat ...

, ''Swynnertonia swynnertoni'' ** Genus ''

Stiphrornis The forest robin or orange-breasted forest robin (''Stiphrornis erythrothorax'') is a species of bird from Central and West Africa. It is monotypic in the genus ''Stiphrornis''. It has been placed in the family Turdidae, but is now generally plac ...

'' - forest robins (1-5 species, depending on taxonomy) ** Genus '' Xenocopsychus'' *** Angola cave chat, ''Xenocopsychus ansorgei'' ** Genus '' Saxicoloides'' - Indian robin (formerly) ** Genus '' Cinclidium'' *** Blue-fronted robin, ''Cinclidium frontale'' ** Genus ''

Myiomela ''Myiomela'' is a genus of bird in the family Muscicapidae The Old World flycatchers are a large family, the Muscicapidae, of small passerine birds restricted to the Old World (Europe, Africa and Asia), with the exception of several vagrants ...

'' ***

White-tailed robin The white-tailed robin (''Myiomela leucura'') is an Old World flycatcher in the family Muscicapidae. It ranges across the northern regions of the Indian subcontinent and adjacent areas of Southeast Asia. It is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambod ...

, ''Myiomela leucura'' ***

Javan blue robin The Javan blue robin (''Myiomela diana'') is a species of bird in the family Muscicapidae. It is endemic to the Indonesian island of Java. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forest Montane ecosystems are found on t ...

, ''Myiomela diana'' ***

Sumatran blue robin The Sumatran blue robin (''Myiomela sumatrana'') is an Old World flycatcher in the family Muscicapidae. It is endemic to the Indonesian island of Sumatra. It was formerly considered a subspecies of the Javan blue robin The Javan blue robin (' ...

, ''Myiomela sumatrana'' ** Genus '' Grandala'' *** Grandala, ''Grandala coelicolor'' ** Genus '' Namibornis'' *** Herero chat, ''Namibornis herero'' ** Genus '' Emarginata'' *** Sickle-winged chat, ''Emarginata sinuata'' *** Karoo chat, ''Emarginata schlegelii'' *** Tractrac chat, ''Emarginata tractrac'' ** Genus '' Oenanthe'' ***

Familiar chat The familiar chat (''Oenanthe familiaris'') is a small passerine bird of the Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae. It is a common resident breeder in Africa south of the Sahara in rocky and mountainous habitat and around human habitation. T ...

, ''Oenanthe familiaris'' *** Brown-tailed rock chat, ''Oenanthe scotocerca'' *** Brown rock chat, ''Oenanthe fusca'' *** Sombre rock chat, ''Oenanthe dubia'' ***

Blackstart __NOTOC__ The blackstart (''Oenanthe melanura'') is a chat found in desert regions in North Africa, the Middle East and the Arabian Peninsula. It is resident throughout its range. The blackstart is 14 cm long and is named for its black ...

, ''Oenanthe melanura'' ***

Moorland chat The moorland chat (''Pinarochroa sordida''), also known as the alpine chat or hill chat, is a species of songbird in the Old World flycatcher family. It is endemic to north-east Africa where it is common in its habitat. It lives at high altitud ...

, ''Oenanthe sordida'' ** Genus ''

Myrmecocichla ''Myrmecocichla'' is a genus of passerine birds in the Old World chat and flycatcher family Muscicapidae. The genus contains the following species: * Sooty chat (''Myrmecocichla nigra'') * Anteater chat (''Myrmecocichla aethiops'') * Congo m ...

'' ***

Sooty chat The sooty chat (''Myrmecocichla nigra'') is an African songbird of the chat subfamily. Description It is 15 to 16 cm (6 to 6.25 inches) long, stocky and relatively short-tailed for a chat. The adult male's plumage is glossy black exc ...

(''Myrmecocichla nigra'') ***

Anteater chat The anteater chat or northern anteater-chat (''Myrmecocichla aethiops'') is a species of bird in the family Muscicapidae.It is found in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Gambia, Kenya, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Se ...

(''Myrmecocichla aethiops'') ***

Congo moor chat The Congo moor chat or Congo moor-chat (''Myrmecocichla tholloni'') is a species of bird in the family Muscicapidae. Range It is found in Angola, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Gabon. Its ...

(''Myrmecocichla tholloni'') ***

Ant-eating chat The ant-eating chat or southern anteater-chat (''Myrmecocichla formicivora'') is a species of bird in the family Muscicapidae. It is found in Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. Its natural habitats are subtropical ...

(''Myrmecocichla formicivora'') ***

Rüppell's black chat Rüppell's black chat (''Myrmecocichla melaena'') is a species of bird in the family Muscicapidae. It is found in Eritrea and Ethiopia Ethiopia, , om, Itiyoophiyaa, so, Itoobiya, ti, ኢትዮጵያ, Ítiyop'iya, aa, Itiyoppiya offic ...

(''Myrmecocichla melaena'') *** Mountain chat (''Myrmecocichla monticola'') ***

Arnot's chat Arnot's chat (''Myrmecocichla arnotti''), also known as the white-headed black-chat, is a species of bird in the chat and flycatcher family Muscicapidae. The species is found in southern Africa from Rwanda and Angola to South Africa. Taxonomy Th ...

(''Myrmecocichla arnoti'') ***

Ruaha chat The Ruaha chat (''Myrmecocichla collaris'') is a species of bird in the family Muscicapidae. It is found in western Tanzania, eastern Rwanda, Burundi, and northern Zambia. Its natural habitats are dry savanna, subtropical or tropical dry lowland ...

(''Myrmecocichla collaris'') ** Genus ''

Thamnolaea ''Thamnolaea'' is a small genus of passerine birds in the Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae, consisting of two closely related species. They are native to sub-Saharan Africa, where they occur in monogamous, territorial pairs along lightly ...

'' - cliff chats *** Mocking cliff chat, ''Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris'' *** White-winged cliff chat, ''Thamnolaea semirufa'' ** Genus ''

Pinarornis The boulder chat (''Pinarornis plumosus'') is a species of bird in the thrush family Turdidae native to dry woodland and savanna in Southern Africa. It is the only species in the monotypic genus ''Pinarornis''. Taxonomy The boulder chat was f ...

'' *** Boulder chat ''Pinarornis plumosus'' Saxicolinae genera not usually called "chats" are: * Genus '' Sheppardia'' - akalats (9 species) * Genus '' Cossyphicula'' - white-bellied robin-chat - may belong in ''Cossypha'' * Genus ''

Cossypha ''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. These are African woodland dwel ...

'' -

robin-chat Robin-chat is a name given to a number of bird species: * '' Cossypha'' * ''Cossyphicula'', also named the White-bellied robin-chat {{Short pages monitor Birds by common name ...

s (15 species, excluding the white-bellied robin-chat) * Genus ''

Cichladusa The palm thrushes are medium-sized insectivorous birds in the genus ''Cichladusa''. They were formerly in the thrush family Turdidae, but are now treated as part of the Old World flycatcher Muscicapidae. These are tropical African species which ...

'' - palm-thrushes (3 species) * Genus '' Cercotrichas'' - scrub-robins or bush-chats (10 species) * Genus ''

Myophonus The whistling thrushes comprise a genus ''Myophonus'' (''Myiophoneus'') of the Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae. They are all medium-sized mostly insectivorous or omnivorous birds. They are all brightly coloured species found in India an ...

'',

whistling thrush The whistling thrushes comprise a genus ''Myophonus'' (''Myiophoneus'') of the Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae. They are all medium-sized mostly insectivorous or omnivorous birds. They are all brightly coloured species found in India an ...

es * Genus ''

Copsychus The magpie-robins or shamas (from ''shama'', Bengali and Hindi for ''C. malabaricus'') are medium-sized insectivorous birds (some also eat berries and other fruit) in the genus ''Copsychus''. They were formerly in the thrush family Turdidae, but ...

'' -

magpie-robin The magpie-robins or shamas (from ''shama'', Bengali and Hindi for ''C. malabaricus'') are medium-sized insectivorous birds (some also eat berries and other fruit) in the genus ''Copsychus''. They were formerly in the thrush family Turdidae, but ...

s or shamas (12 species) * Genus ''

Phoenicurus ''Phoenicurus'' is a genus of passerine birds in the Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae, native to Europe, Asia and Africa. They are named redstarts from their orange-red tails ('start' is an old name for a tail). They are small insectivor ...

'' - true redstarts (11 species) * Genus '' Enicurus'' -

forktail The forktails are small insectivorous birds in the genus ''Enicurus''. They were formerly in the thrush family, Turdidae, but are more often now treated as part of the Old World flycatcher family, Muscicapidae. Their name derives from their lo ...

s (7 species) * Genus ''

Cochoa The cochoas (from ''cocho'', Nepali for '' Cochoa purpurea'') are medium-sized frugivorous, insectivorous and molluscivorous birds in the genus ''Cochoa''. Their bright contrasting plumage patterns, sexual dimorphism and feeding habits made thei ...

'' -

cochoa The cochoas (from ''cocho'', Nepali for '' Cochoa purpurea'') are medium-sized frugivorous, insectivorous and molluscivorous birds in the genus ''Cochoa''. Their bright contrasting plumage patterns, sexual dimorphism and feeding habits made thei ...

s (4 species) * Genus ''

Brachypteryx ''Brachypteryx'' is a genus of passerine birds containing six species known as shortwings, that occurs in southeast Asia. Shortwings are small birds with long legs, finely pointed bills, short tails and short rounded wings. They are shy elusive ...

'' - (4 species) * Genus '' Heinrichia'' - great shortwing * Genus '' Leonardina'' - Bagobo babbler * Genus '' Oenanthe'' -

wheatear The wheatears are passerine birds of the genus ''Oenanthe''. They were formerly considered to be members of the Thrush (bird), thrush family, Turdidae, but are now more commonly placed in the Old World flycatcher, flycatcher family, Muscicapid ...

s (some 20 species) Aberrant redstarts, possibly belonging in this subfamily: * Genus '' Chaimarrornis'' - white-capped redstart * Genus '' Rhyacornis'' (2 species)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chat (Bird) *