Platycichla

Platycichla is a small disputed genus of tropical South American thrushes. It contains just two species:

Platycichla
Yellow-legged thrush, (Platycichla flavipes)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Turdidae
Genus: Platycichla
Baird, 1848
Species

P. leucops
P. flavipes

These are medium-sized (20–23 cm long) birds of humid mountain forests. Their nests are a typical thrush's lined cup of twigs.

In both species the male is mainly dark grey or black with yellow legs and bill, and the female essentially warm brown above and paler below.

The Platycichla thrushes mainly feed in trees and bushes on fruit and some insects. They are shy species, and the females in particular is difficult to see, since she does not sing. The song of the male consists of melodic musical phrases.

The main argument for separating this genus from Turdus is the smaller size of the former compared to most members of the latter. Similarities in plumage, vocalization, behavior, and genetics lead to the South American Classification Committee eliminating Platycichla (instead including the two species in Turdus) following a proposal in 2006.[1]

References
  1. Cadena, C. Daniel (2006). "Proposal (#247) to South American Classification Committee: Eliminate the genus Platycichla and place P. leucops and P. flavipes in Turdus". American Ornithologists' Union. Archived from the original on 2015-09-19. Retrieved 2007-01-05.
  • Thrushes by Clement and Hathaway, ISBN 0-7136-3940-7
  • ffrench, Richard (1991). A Guide to the Birds of Trinidad and Tobago (2nd ed.). Comstock Publishing. ISBN 0-8014-9792-2.
  • Hilty, Steven L (2003). Birds of Venezuela. London: Christopher Helm. ISBN 0-7136-6418-5.
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