Family: Paradoxornithidae
Description
This family contains all parrotbills and Bearded Reedling.
They differ from the babblers by having their nostrils completely covered by bristles.
They share:
- A very deep bill, mostly greater in depth than in lenght (except for Panurus and Conostoma), resembling a parrot's bill in shape
- The nostrils are circular and shielded by plumules or by a coriaceous membrane (Panurus)
- The plumage is mostly brown, grey and rufous in various combinations with some black markings
- Sexes are similar, except in Bearded Reedling
Many species are associated with bamboo, grassland and reedbeds.
Taxonomy
Paradoxornithidae is a family in the Order Passeriformes.
However, some authorities place them within the Timaliidae and exclude the genus Panurus which is placed in a monotypic family Panuridae, related to the larks.
Furthermore the genus Paradoxornis is sometimes split up into seven genera.
References
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2007. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 12: Picathartes to Tits and Chickadees. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553422
- Penhallurick J and Robson C. 2009. The generic taxonomy of parrotbills (Aves, Timaliidae). Forktail 25: 137 - 141.
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Paradoxornithidae. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 9 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Paradoxornithidae
External Links
Subcategories
This category has the following 14 subcategories, out of 14 total.
