Silky-flycatcher

Silky-flycatchers
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Ptilogonatidae
Genus
Phainoptila Ptilogonys Phainopepla

The silky-flycatchers are a small family of passerine birds which occur mainly in Central America, although the range of one species, the Phainopepla, extends into the southwestern USA.

They are related to waxwings, and like that group have a soft silky plumage, usually grey or pale yellow in colour. They have small crests.

These birds eat fruit or insects, and the Phainopepla is particularly dependent on Desert Mistletoe, Phoradendron californicum.

They are birds of various types of woodland (semi-desert with trees for the Phainopepla), and they nest in trees.

This family was formerly lumped with waxwings and Hypocolius in the family Bombycillidae, and they are listed in that family by the Sibley-Monroe checklist.

• Family: Ptilogonatidae
  • Black-and-yellow Silky-flycatcher, Phainoptila melanoxantha
  • Gray Silky-flycatcher, Ptilogonys cinereus
  • Long-tailed Silky-flycatcher, Ptilogonys caudatus
  • Phainopepla Phainopepla nitens