Reguloidea
The kinglets may be the first to split off within Muscicapoidea, or maybe they group with the Bombycilloidea and both with Certhioidea. Either option finds support from Barker et al. (2004), Treplin et al. (2008) or Johansson et al. (2008b). Either option leads to the same linear order. I'm now treating the situation as a polytomy, in the order Reguloidea, Bombycilloidea, Muscicapoidea. The continued uncertainty about how the pieces fit together is a major reason for retaining separate superfamilies (see also Spicer and Dunipace, 2004; Voelker and Spellman, 2004; Zuccon et al., 2006; Reddy and Cracraft, 2007). It's also possible that that the Hyliotidae also belong somewhere around here, although that is starting to look less likely.
Regulidae: Kinglets
1 genus, 6 species HBW-11
The taxonomy of the kinglets is based on Päckert et al. (2009).
- Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Regulus calendula
- Common Firecrest, Regulus ignicapilla
- Madeira Firecrest, Regulus madeirensis
- Golden-crowned Kinglet, Regulus satrapa
- Flamecrest, Regulus goodfellowi
- Goldcrest, Regulus regulus
Bombycilloidea
I rely heavily on Spellman et al.'s (2008) comprehensive study of the
waxwings and allies. As they note, the surprising inclusion of Hylocitrea
“further demonstrates the need to
reconsider the systematics of many Wallacean taxa using molecular techniques.”
Dulidae: Palmchat
1 genus, 1 species HBW-10
- Palmchat, Dulus dominicus
Hypocoliidae: Hypocolius and Hylocitrea
2 genera, 2 species HBW-10
Hylocitrea was thought to be a pachycephalid, then (Jønsson et al., 2008) suggested it might be a sylvioid. Most recently, Spellman et al. (2008) found it nested in the Bombycilloidea, near Hypocolius. Hypocolius has been considered of uncertain affinities, but Spellman et al. place it firmly in the Bombycilloidea.
- Hypocolius, Hypocolius ampelinus
- Yellow-flanked Hylocitrea / Yellow-flanked Whistler, Hylocitrea bonensis
Mohoidae
2 genera, 5 species Not HBW Family
The Hawaiian honeycreepers were long thought to be part of the paracorvid family Meliphagiade, which has spread widely across the Pacific. Fleischer et al. (2008) have shown they are actually related to waxwings. The Mohoidae are an impressive example of convergent evolution. They look nothing like their relatives, but instead appear very similar to birds with similar island lifestyles.
- Kioea, Chaetoptila angustipluma
- Kauai Oo, Moho braccatus
- Oahu Oo, Moho apicalis
- Bishop's Oo, Moho bishopi
- Hawaii Oo, Moho nobilis
Bombycillidae: Waxwings
1 genus, 3 species HBW-10
- Bohemian Waxwing, Bombycilla garrulus
- Japanese Waxwing, Bombycilla japonica
- Cedar Waxwing, Bombycilla cedrorum
Ptilogonatidae: Silky-flycatchers
3 genera, 4 species HBW-10
- Black-and-yellow Silky-flycatcher / Black-and-yellow Phainoptila, Phainoptila melanoxantha
- Phainopepla, Phainopepla nitens
- Gray Silky-flycatcher, Ptilogonys cinereus
- Long-tailed Silky-flycatcher, Ptilogonys caudatus