Passeroidea
Passeroidea is the last group of families on the list. It's last mainly because of its size, over 20 families and 1500 species. The first few families involve species that have bounced around the taxonomic tree.
Promeropidae: Sugarbirds
4 genera, 5 species HBW-13
All four of these African genera have been bounced around. The evidence indicates
they are basal Passeroidea. They are combined into a single
family based on Barker et al. (2004), Beresford et al. (2005), and Johansson et
al. (2008b). However, they may be two families, with the first containing only
Promerops and the other three genera in Arcanatoridae (Johansson et al.,
2008b).
- Cape Sugarbird, Promerops cafer
- Gurney's Sugarbird, Promerops gurneyi
- Spot-throat, Modulatrix stictigula
- Dappled Mountain Robin, Arcanator orostruthus
- Gray-chested Kakamega / Gray-chested Babbler, Kakamega poliothorax
Dicaeidae: Flowerpeckers
2 genera, 48 species HBW-13
The flowerpeckers and sunbirds are sister families (Barker et al., 2004; Ericson and Johansson, 2003). Some merge them as Nectariniidae (e.g., Sibley and Monroe, 1990; Christidis and Boles, 2008). I don't have much information on the internal structure of the flowerpeckers. Jønsson and Fjeldså's tree (2006a) suggests that generic limits need changing.
- Olive-backed Flowerpecker, Prionochilus olivaceus
- Yellow-breasted Flowerpecker, Prionochilus maculatus
- Crimson-breasted Flowerpecker, Prionochilus percussus
- Palawan Flowerpecker, Prionochilus plateni
- Yellow-rumped Flowerpecker, Prionochilus xanthopygius
- Scarlet-breasted Flowerpecker, Prionochilus thoracicus
- Golden-rumped Flowerpecker, Dicaeum annae
- Thick-billed Flowerpecker, Dicaeum agile
- Striped Flowerpecker, Dicaeum aeruginosum
- Brown-backed Flowerpecker, Dicaeum everetti
- Whiskered Flowerpecker, Dicaeum proprium
- Yellow-vented Flowerpecker, Dicaeum chrysorrheum
- Yellow-bellied Flowerpecker, Dicaeum melanoxanthum
- Legge's Flowerpecker, Dicaeum vincens
- Yellow-sided Flowerpecker, Dicaeum aureolimbatum
- Olive-capped Flowerpecker, Dicaeum nigrilore
- Flame-crowned Flowerpecker, Dicaeum anthonyi
- Bicolored Flowerpecker, Dicaeum bicolor
- Red-keeled Flowerpecker, Dicaeum australe
- Black-belted Flowerpecker, Dicaeum haematostictum
- Scarlet-collared Flowerpecker, Dicaeum retrocinctum
- Cebu Flowerpecker, Dicaeum quadricolor
- Orange-bellied Flowerpecker, Dicaeum trigonostigma
- Buzzing Flowerpecker, Dicaeum hypoleucum
- Pale-billed Flowerpecker, Dicaeum erythrorhynchos
- Nilgiri Flowerpecker, Dicaeum concolor
- Plain Flowerpecker, Dicaeum minullum
- Andaman Flowerpecker, Dicaeum virescens
- Pygmy Flowerpecker, Dicaeum pygmaeum
- Crimson-crowned Flowerpecker, Dicaeum nehrkorni
- Flame-breasted Flowerpecker, Dicaeum erythrothorax
- Halmahera Flowerpecker, Dicaeum schistaceiceps
- Ashy Flowerpecker, Dicaeum vulneratum
- Olive-crowned Flowerpecker, Dicaeum pectorale
- Red-capped Flowerpecker, Dicaeum geelvinkianum
- Louisiade Flowerpecker, Dicaeum nitidum
- Red-banded Flowerpecker, Dicaeum eximium
- Midget Flowerpecker, Dicaeum aeneum
- White-mottled Flowerpecker, Dicaeum tristrami
- Black-fronted Flowerpecker, Dicaeum igniferum
- Blue-cheeked Flowerpecker, Dicaeum maugei
- Mistletoebird, Dicaeum hirundinaceum
- Gray-sided Flowerpecker, Dicaeum celebicum
- Black-sided Flowerpecker, Dicaeum monticolum
- Fire-breasted Flowerpecker, Dicaeum ignipectus
- Blood-breasted Flowerpecker, Dicaeum sanguinolentum
- Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker, Dicaeum cruentatum
- Scarlet-headed Flowerpecker, Dicaeum trochileum
Nectariniidae: Sunbirds
16 genera, 136 species HBW-13
The tree in Jønsson and Fjeldså (2006a) doesn't provide sufficient information to reorgranize this family in a reasonable way. However, it makes clear that such changes are sorely needed. The order here is close to that in HBW-13 (del Hoyo et al., 2008).
Although I had earlier substituted Anthodiaeta in place of Hedydipna, following corrigenda-8 to the Howard and Moore checklist (Dickinson et al., 2003), this seems to be incorrect. See Alan Peterson's analysis at zoonomen.net. Accordingly, I've restored Hedydipna.
- Ruby-cheeked Sunbird / Rubycheek, Chalcoparia singalensis
- Fraser's Sunbird, Deleornis fraseri
- Gray-headed Sunbird, Deleornis axillaris
- Plain-backed Sunbird, Anthreptes reichenowi
- Anchieta's Sunbird, Anthreptes anchietae
- Plain Sunbird, Anthreptes simplex
- Brown-throated Sunbird, Anthreptes malacensis
- Gray-throated Sunbird, Anthreptes griseigularis
- Red-throated Sunbird, Anthreptes rhodolaemus
- Mangrove Sunbird, Anthreptes gabonicus
- Western Violet-backed Sunbird, Anthreptes longuemarei
- Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird, Anthreptes orientalis
- Uluguru Violet-backed Sunbird, Anthreptes neglectus
- Violet-tailed Sunbird, Anthreptes aurantius
- Little Green Sunbird, Anthreptes seimundi
- Gray-chinned Sunbird, Anthreptes rectirostris
- Banded Green Sunbird, Anthreptes rubritorques
- Collared Sunbird, Hedydipna collaris
- Pygmy Sunbird, Hedydipna platura
- Nile Valley Sunbird, Hedydipna metallica
- Amani Sunbird, Hedydipna pallidigaster
- Purple-naped Sunbird, Hypogramma hypogrammicum
- Reichenbach's Sunbird, Anabathmis reichenbachii
- Principe Sunbird, Anabathmis hartlaubii
- Newton's Sunbird, Anabathmis newtonii
- Giant Sunbird, Dreptes thomensis
- Orange-breasted Sunbird, Anthobaphes violacea
- Green-headed Sunbird, Cyanomitra verticalis
- Bannerman's Sunbird, Cyanomitra bannermani
- Blue-throated Brown Sunbird, Cyanomitra cyanolaema
- Cameroon Sunbird, Cyanomitra oritis
- Blue-headed Sunbird, Cyanomitra alinae
- Eastern Olive-Sunbird, Cyanomitra olivacea
- Western Olive-Sunbird, Cyanomitra obscura
- Gray Sunbird, Cyanomitra veroxii
- Buff-throated Sunbird, Chalcomitra adelberti
- Carmelite Sunbird, Chalcomitra fuliginosa
- Green-throated Sunbird, Chalcomitra rubescens
- Amethyst Sunbird, Chalcomitra amethystina
- Scarlet-chested Sunbird, Chalcomitra senegalensis
- Hunter's Sunbird, Chalcomitra hunteri
- Socotra Sunbird, Chalcomitra balfouri
- Purple-rumped Sunbird, Leptocoma zeylonica
- Crimson-backed Sunbird, Leptocoma minima
- Purple-throated Sunbird, Leptocoma sperata
- Van Hasselt's Sunbird, Leptocoma brasiliana
- Black Sunbird, Leptocoma sericea
- Copper-throated Sunbird, Leptocoma calcostetha
- Bocage's Sunbird, Nectarinia bocagii
- Purple-breasted Sunbird, Nectarinia purpureiventris
- Tacazze Sunbird, Nectarinia tacazze
- Bronzy Sunbird, Nectarinia kilimensis
- Malachite Sunbird, Nectarinia famosa
- Scarlet-tufted Sunbird, Nectarinia johnstoni
- Golden-winged Sunbird, Drepanorhynchus reichenowi
- Olive-bellied Sunbird, Cinnyris chloropygius
- Tiny Sunbird, Cinnyris minullus
- Miombo Double-collared Sunbird, Cinnyris manoensis
- Southern Double-collared Sunbird, Cinnyris chalybeus
- Neergaard's Sunbird, Cinnyris neergaardi
- Ruwenzori Double-collared Sunbird, Cinnyris stuhlmanni
- Prigogine's Double-collared Sunbird, Cinnyris prigoginei
- Ludwig's Double-collared Sunbird, Cinnyris ludovicensis
- Northern Double-collared Sunbird, Cinnyris reichenowi
- Greater Double-collared Sunbird, Cinnyris afer
- Regal Sunbird, Cinnyris regius
- Rockefeller's Sunbird, Cinnyris rockefelleri
- Eastern Double-collared Sunbird, Cinnyris mediocris
- Usambara Double-collared Sunbird, Cinnyris usambaricus
- Forest Double-collared Sunbird, Cinnyris fuelleborni
- Moreau's Sunbird, Cinnyris moreaui
- Loveridge's Sunbird, Cinnyris loveridgei
- Beautiful Sunbird, Cinnyris pulchellus
- Marico Sunbird, Cinnyris mariquensis
- Shelley's Sunbird, Cinnyris shelleyi
- Hofmann's Sunbird, Cinnyris hofmanni
- Congo Sunbird, Cinnyris congensis
- Red-chested Sunbird, Cinnyris erythrocercus
- Black-bellied Sunbird, Cinnyris nectarinioides
- Purple-banded Sunbird, Cinnyris bifasciatus
- Tsavo Sunbird, Cinnyris tsavoensis
- Violet-breasted Sunbird, Cinnyris chalcomelas
- Pemba Sunbird, Cinnyris pembae
- Orange-tufted Sunbird, Cinnyris bouvieri
- Palestine Sunbird, Cinnyris osea
- Shining Sunbird, Cinnyris habessinicus
- Splendid Sunbird, Cinnyris coccinigastrus
- Johanna's Sunbird, Cinnyris johannae
- Superb Sunbird, Cinnyris superbus
- Rufous-winged Sunbird, Cinnyris rufipennis
- Oustalet's Sunbird, Cinnyris oustaleti
- White-bellied Sunbird, Cinnyris talatala
- Variable Sunbird, Cinnyris venustus
- Dusky Sunbird, Cinnyris fuscus
- Ursula's Sunbird, Cinnyris ursulae
- Bates's Sunbird, Cinnyris batesi
- Copper Sunbird, Cinnyris cupreus
- Purple Sunbird, Cinnyris asiaticus
- Olive-backed Sunbird, Cinnyris jugularis
- Apricot-breasted Sunbird, Cinnyris buettikoferi
- Flame-breasted Sunbird, Cinnyris solaris
- Souimanga Sunbird, Cinnyris sovimanga
- Malagasy Green Sunbird, Cinnyris notatus
- Seychelles Sunbird, Cinnyris dussumieri
- Humblot's Sunbird, Cinnyris humbloti
- Anjouan Sunbird, Cinnyris comorensis
- Mayotte Sunbird, Cinnyris coquerellii
- Loten's Sunbird, Cinnyris lotenius
- Gray-hooded Sunbird, Aethopyga primigenius
- Apo Sunbird, Aethopyga boltoni
- Lina's Sunbird, Aethopyga linaraborae
- Flaming Sunbird, Aethopyga flagrans
- Metallic-winged Sunbird, Aethopyga pulcherrima
- Elegant Sunbird, Aethopyga duyvenbodei
- Lovely Sunbird, Aethopyga shelleyi
- Handsome Sunbird, Aethopyga bella
- Mrs. Gould's Sunbird, Aethopyga gouldiae
- Green-tailed Sunbird, Aethopyga nipalensis
- White-flanked Sunbird, Aethopyga eximia
- Fork-tailed Sunbird, Aethopyga christinae
- Black-throated Sunbird, Aethopyga saturata
- Crimson Sunbird, Aethopyga siparaja
- Vigors's Sunbird, Aethopyga vigorsii
- Javan Sunbird, Aethopyga mystacalis
- Temminck's Sunbird, Aethopyga temminckii
- Fire-tailed Sunbird, Aethopyga ignicauda
- Little Spiderhunter, Arachnothera longirostra
- Thick-billed Spiderhunter, Arachnothera crassirostris
- Long-billed Spiderhunter, Arachnothera robusta
- Spectacled Spiderhunter, Arachnothera flavigaster
- Yellow-eared Spiderhunter, Arachnothera chrysogenys
- Naked-faced Spiderhunter, Arachnothera clarae
- Gray-breasted Spiderhunter, Arachnothera modesta
- Streaky-breasted Spiderhunter, Arachnothera affinis
- Streaked Spiderhunter, Arachnothera magna
- Whitehead's Spiderhunter, Arachnothera juliae
Irenidae: Fairy Bluebirds
1 genus, 2 species HBW-10
Whether the fairy bluebirds and leafbirds of Indomalaya should be united in the same family remains an open question. Depending on how you look at the data, they are either sisters, or else the fairy bluebirds are sister to the leafbirds plus the remaining passerida (Barker et al, 2002, 2004; Beresford et al., 2004). In the second case, they have to be in different families. This possibility is the main reason for leaving them in separate families.
- Asian Fairy-bluebird, Irena puella
- Philippine Fairy-bluebird, Irena cyanogastra
Chloropseidae: Leafbirds
1 genus, 11 species HBW-10
- Greater Green-Leafbird, Chloropsis sonnerati
- Lesser Green-Leafbird, Chloropsis cyanopogon
- Blue-masked Leafbird, Chloropsis venusta
- Blue-winged Leafbird, Chloropsis cochinchinensis
- Jerdon's Leafbird, Chloropsis jerdoni
- Bornean Leafbird, Chloropsis kinabaluensis
- Yellow-throated Leafbird, Chloropsis palawanensis
- Philippine Leafbird, Chloropsis flavipennis
- Golden-fronted Leafbird, Chloropsis aurifrons
- Sumatran Leafbird, Chloropsis media
- Orange-bellied Leafbird, Chloropsis hardwickii