Flycatcher

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Flycatcher
European robin (Erithacus rubecula)

European robin ( Erithacus rubecula )

Systematics
Subclass : New-jawed birds (Neognathae)
Order : Passerines (Passeriformes)
Subordination : Songbirds (passeri)
without rank: Passerida
Superfamily : Muscicapoidea
Family : Flycatcher
Scientific name
Muscicapidae
Vigors , 1825

The flycatchers (Muscicapidae) are a family of birds from the order of the passerine birds (Passeriformes), which, with the exception of the wheatear and the bluethroat, occur exclusively in the Old World . The classification of this group of birds is controversial. They are closely related to the thrushes (Turdidae). A number of genres are alternately assigned to one or the other family by different authors .

Features and way of life

Flycatchers are small birds with large heads and large eyes. Their beak is flat and wide at the base and has strong beak bristles. The legs are short, the feet are small, and the wings are relatively long and pointed. The animals are insect hunters that live in trees. They lie in wait for insects flying by from a sitting area and then catch them in short flights.

Flycatchers breed in the forest or in park-like landscapes with trees and bushes. The nest is a bowl that is built in forks, niches or caves. The eggs are usually bluish in color. In species that breed in open nests, the eggs have brown spots. There is no drawing for species that breed in caves. Usually only the female breeds. The newly hatched nestlings have dark gray down and a yellow throat and yellowish to whitish beak bulges.

Systematics of the flycatcher

The systematics of the flycatcher family has changed a lot in the last few decades. Many of the genera and species that are in this family today (2018) were counted among the thrushes some time ago . Molecular genetic studies have shown that the traditional assignment of many species, especially the Schmätzer , was incorrect. The proposed division of the family into two subfamilies also turned out to be non-monophyletic. Therefore, the family is now divided into a total of four subfamilies.

Subfamily true flycatcher (Muscicapinae)

Tribus Copsychini

Tribe Muscicapini

Subfamily Niltavinae

Subfamily Cossyphinae

Young robin (Erithacus rubecula)

Schmätzer subfamily (Saxicolinae)

Ruby throat ( Calliope calliope )

Culture

In China of the Qing Dynasty , the flycatcher adorned the robes of civil servants of the 9th (and thus lowest) rank as a tiny bird (see also Chinese symbols ).

literature

  • Collin Harrison, Peter Castell: Fledglings, Eggs and Nests of Birds in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. 2nd Edition. Aula, Wiebelsheim 2004, ISBN 3-89104-685-5 .

Single receipts

  1. Collin Harrison, Peter Castell: Young birds, eggs and nests of birds in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. 2nd Edition. Aula, Wiebelsheim 2004, p. 397.
  2. Our Taxonomy . In: J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, DA Christie & E. de Juana, E. (Eds.): Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive . Lynx Edicions, Barcelona ( hbw.com [accessed November 28, 2018]).
  3. G. Sangster, P. Alström, E. Forsmark, U. Olsson: Multi-locus phylogenetic analysis of Old World chats and flycatchers reveals extensive paraphyly at family, subfamily and genus level (Aves: Muscicapidae) . In: Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution . tape 57 , no. 1 , 2010, p. 380-392 , doi : 10.1016 / j.ympev.2010.07.008 , PMID 20656044 .
  4. D. Zuccon, PGP Ericson: A multi-gene phylogeny disentangles the chat-flycatcher complex (Aves: Muscicapidae) . In: Zoologica Scripta . tape 39 , no. 3 , 2010, p. 213-224 , doi : 10.1111 / j.1463-6409.2010.00423.x .

Web links

Commons : Flycatcher (Muscicapidae)  - Collection of images, videos and audio files
Wiktionary: Flycatcher  - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations