''Sericornis'' is a
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 ...
of small, mainly insectivorous birds, the scrubwrens 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 ...
Acanthizidae
The Acanthizidae—known as Australian warblers—are a family of passerine birds which includes gerygones, the thornbills '' Acanthiza'', and the scrubwrens of '' Sericornis''. The Acanthizidae family consists of small to medium passerine birds, ...
. Despite the similarity in shape and habits, the
true wrens (Troglodytidae) are a quite unrelated group of
passerine
A passerine () is any bird of the order Passeriformes (; from Latin 'sparrow' and '-shaped'), which includes more than half of all bird species. Sometimes known as perching birds, passerines are distinguished from other orders of birds by t ...
s.
The genus previously contained additional species but following the publication of a
molecular phylogenetic
Molecular phylogenetics () is the branch of phylogeny that analyzes genetic, hereditary molecular differences, predominantly in DNA sequences, to gain information on an organism's evolutionary relationships. From these analyses, it is possible to ...
study of the scrubwrens in 2018, several species were moved to the resurrected genus ''
Aethomyias'' and the
yellow-throated scrubwren was placed in its own
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 ...
genus ''Neosericornis''.
The genus contains eight species:
[
* Large-billed scrubwren, ''Sericornis magnirostris''
* ]Tropical scrubwren
The tropical scrubwren or Beccari's scrubwren (''Sericornis beccarii'') is a bird species. Placed in the family Pardalotidae in the Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy, this has met with opposition and indeed is now known to be wrong; they rather belong ...
or Beccari's scrubwren, ''Sericornis beccarii'' - sometimes included in ''S. magnirostris''
* Large scrubwren
The large scrubwren (''Sericornis nouhuysi'') is a bird species. Placed in the family Pardalotidae in the Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy, this has met with opposition and indeed is now known to be wrong; they rather belong to the independent family A ...
, ''Sericornis nouhuysi''
* Spotted scrubwren
The spotted scrubwren (''Sericornis maculatus'') is a bird species native to coastal southern Australia, from Adelaide westwards to Shark Bay in Western Australia. It was formerly considered conspecific with the white-browed scrubwren, and is kn ...
, ''Sericornis maculatus'' - previously included in ''S. frontalis''
* Tasmanian scrubwren or brown scrubwren, ''Sericornis humilis'' - previously included in ''S. frontalis''
* Atherton scrubwren
The Atherton scrubwren (''Sericornis keri'') is a bird species. Placed in the family Pardalotidae in the Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy, this has met with opposition and indeed is now known to be wrong; they rather belong to the independent family A ...
, ''Sericornis keri''
* White-browed scrubwren
The white-browed scrubwren (''Sericornis frontalis'') is a passerine bird found on the New England Tablelands and coastal areas of Australia. Placed in the family Pardalotidae in the Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy, this has met with opposition and in ...
, ''Sericornis frontalis''
* Perplexing scrubwren
The perplexing scrubwren (''Sericornis virgatus'') is a bird species. Placed in the family Pardalotidae in the Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy, this has met with opposition and indeed is now known to be wrong; they rather belong to the independent fam ...
, ''Sericornis virgatus''
References
* Del Hoyo, J.; Elliot, A. & Christie D. (editors). (2006). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 12: Picathartes to Tits and Chickadees. Lynx Edicions.
Bird genera
Taxonomy articles created by Polbot
{{Acanthizidae-stub