''Heterophasia'', the sibias, is a bird

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Leiothrichidae The laughingthrushes are a family, Leiothrichidae, of Old World passerine birds. They are diverse in size and coloration. These are birds of tropical areas, with the greatest variety in Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent. The entire fami ...

Species

By some, the genus is considered

monotypic In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group (taxon) that contains only one immediately subordinate taxon. A monotypic species is one that does not include subspecies or smaller, infraspecific taxa. In the case of genera, the term "unispec ...

, including only ''H. picaoides''. However, seven

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

are commonly recognised: *

Rufous sibia The rufous sibia (''Heterophasia capistrata'') is a rare species of bird in the family Leiothrichidae. It feeds on berries and insects. It is found in the northern parts of the Indian subcontinent, ranging across India, Nepal and Bhutan. Its nat ...

, ''Heterophasia capistrata'' – sometimes in ''Malacias'' * Grey sibia, ''Heterophasia gracilis'' – sometimes in ''Malacias'' * Dark-backed sibia, ''Heterophasia melanoleuca'' – sometimes in ''Malacias'' * Black-headed sibia or Desgodin's sibia, ''Heterophasia desgodinsi'' – sometimes in ''Malacias'', formerly considered

conspecific Biological specificity is the tendency of a characteristic such as a behavior or a biochemical variation to occur in a particular species. Biochemist Linus Pauling stated that "Biological specificity is the set of characteristics of living organ ...

with ''H. melanoleuca'' * White-eared sibia, ''Heterophasia auricularis'' – sometimes in ''Malacias'' * Beautiful sibia, ''Heterophasia pulchella'' – sometimes in ''Malacias'' * Long-tailed sibia, ''Heterophasia picaoides''

References

* Collar, N. J. & Robson C. (2007). Family Picathartidae (Picathartes) pp. 70 – 291 in; del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A. & Christie, D.A. eds. ''

Handbook of the Birds of the World The ''Handbook of the Birds of the World'' (HBW) is a multi-volume series produced by the Spanish publishing house Lynx Edicions in partnership with BirdLife International. It is the first handbook to cover every known living species of bird. T ...

'', Vol. 12. Picathartes to Tits and Chickadees. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. {{Taxonbar, from=Q2328189 Bird genera Leiothrichidae Taxa named by Edward Blyth Taxonomy articles created by Polbot