Hubbry Logo
search
logo
2239818

Forktail

logo
Community Hub0 Subscribers
from Wikipedia

Forktails
Little forktail
(Enicurus scouleri)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Muscicapidae
Subfamily: Saxicolinae
Genus: Enicurus
Temminck, 1822
Type species
Enicurus coronatus[1]
Temminck, 1822

The forktails are small insectivorous birds in the genus Enicurus. They were formerly placed in the thrush family, Turdidae, but are now treated as part of the Old World flycatcher family, Muscicapidae. Their common name derives from their long forked tail.[2]

These are southeast Asian forest species principally associated with mountain forests and streams. Most nest in rock crevices, laying 2–4 eggs.

Taxonomy

[edit]

The genus Enicurus was introduced in 1822 by the Dutch zoologist Coenraad Jacob Temminck to accommodate Enicurus coronatus, the white-crowned forktail, which is therefore the type species.[3] Temminck's epithet is considered to be a junior synonym as four years earlier in 1818 Louis Vieillot had coined the binomial name Turdus leschenaulti for the same species.[4] The genus name combines the Ancient Greek henikos meaning "singular" with -ouros meaning "-tailed".[5]

The following cladogram showing the relationships between the species is based on a molecular phylogenetic study of the Old World flycatchers published in 2023. The Bornean forktail (Enicurus borneensis) was not included.[6]

Enicurus

Little forktail, Enicurus scouleri

Spotted forktail, Enicurus maculatus

Slaty-backed forktail, Enicurus schistaceus

Black-backed forktail, Enicurus immaculatus

White-crowned forktail, Enicurus leschenaulti

Sunda forktail, Enicurus velatus

Chestnut-naped forktail, Enicurus ruficapillus

Species

[edit]

The genus contains the following eight species:[7]

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
User Avatar
No comments yet.