Chat (bird)

Chat (bird)
Chats (formerly sometimes known as "chat-thrushes") are a group of small Old World insectivorous birds formerly classified as members of the thrush family (Turdidae), but following genetic DNA analysis, are now considered to belong to the Old World flycatcher family (Muscicapidae).
The name is normally applied to the more robust ground-feeding flycatchers found in Europe and Asia and most northern species are strong migrants. There are many genera and these birds in particular make up most of the subfamily Saxicolinae.
Other songbirds called "chats" are:
Australian chats, genera Ashbyia and Epthianura of the honeyeater family (Meliphagidae). They belong to a more ancient lineage than Saxicolinae.
American chats, genus Granatellus of the cardinal family (Cardinalidae), formerly placed in the wood-warbler family. They belong to a more modern lineage than Saxicolinae.
Yellow-breasted chat (Icteria virens), an enigmatic North American songbird tentatively placed in the wood-warbler family (Parulidae); its true relationships are unresolved.
Species in taxonomic order
Subfamily Saxicolinae
Genus Tarsiger - bush-robins
Red-flanked bluetail or orange-flanked bush-robin, Tarsiger cyanurus
Golden bush robin, Tarsiger chrysaeus
White-browed bush robin, Tarsiger indicus
Rufous-breasted bush robin, Tarsiger hyperythrus
Collared bush robin, Tarsiger johnstoniae
Genus Luscinia (4 species)
Genus Calliope (4 species)
Genus Larvivora (8 species)
Genus Erithacus - European robin
Genus Irania - white-throated robin
Genus Saxicola - bushchats and stonechats (c. 15 species)
Genus Pogonocichla
White-starred robin, Pogonocichla stellata
Genus Swynnertonia
Swynnerton's robin, Swynnertonia swynnertoni
Genus Stiphrornis - forest robins (1-5 species, depending on taxonomy)
Genus Xenocopsychus
Angola cave chat, Xenocopsychus ansorgei
Genus Saxicoloides - Indian robin (formerly)
Genus Cinclidium
Blue-fronted robin, Cinclidium frontale
Genus Myiomela
White-tailed robin, Myiomela leucura
Javan blue robin, Myiomela diana
Sumatran blue robin, Myiomela sumatrana
Genus Grandala
Grandala, Grandala coelicolor
Genus Namibornis
Herero chat, Namibornis herero
Genus Emarginata
Sickle-winged chat, Emarginata sinuata
Karoo chat, Emarginata schlegelii
Tractrac chat, Emarginata tractrac
Genus Oenanthe
Familiar chat, Oenanthe familiaris
Brown-tailed rock chat, Oenanthe scotocerca
Brown rock chat, Oenanthe fusca
Sombre rock chat, Oenanthe dubia
Blackstart, Oenanthe melanura
Moorland chat, Oenanthe sordida
Genus Myrmecocichla
Sooty chat (Myrmecocichla nigra)
Anteater chat (Myrmecocichla aethiops)
Congo moor chat (Myrmecocichla tholloni)
Ant-eating chat (Myrmecocichla formicivora)
Rüppell's black chat (Myrmecocichla melaena)
Mountain chat (Myrmecocichla monticola)
Arnot's chat (Myrmecocichla arnoti)
Ruaha chat (Myrmecocichla collaris)
Genus Thamnolaea - cliff chats
Mocking cliff chat, Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris
White-winged cliff chat, Thamnolaea semirufa
Genus Pinarornis
Boulder chat Pinarornis plumosus
Saxicolinae genera not usually called "chats" are:
Genus Sheppardia - akalats (9 species)
Genus Cossyphicula - white-bellied robin-chat - may belong in Cossypha
Genus Cossypha - robin-chats (15 species, excluding the white-bellied robin-chat)
Genus Cichladusa - palm-thrushes (3 species)
Genus Cercotrichas - scrub-robins or bush-chats (10 species)
Genus Myophonus, whistling thrushes
Genus Copsychus - magpie-robins or shamas (12 species)
Genus Phoenicurus - true redstarts (11 species)
Genus Enicurus - forktails (7 species)
Genus Cochoa - cochoas (4 species)
Genus Brachypteryx - (10 species)
Genus Heinrichia - great shortwing
Genus Leonardina - Bagobo babbler
Genus Oenanthe - wheatears (some 20 species)
Aberrant redstarts, possibly belonging in this subfamily:
Genus Chaimarrornis - white-capped redstart
Genus Rhyacornis (2 species)
References