- Picathartes gymnocephalus
Description
Identification
Distribution
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species. The family Picathartidae is a single genus with two species, the White-necked Picathartes Picathartes gymnocephalus and the Grey-necked Picathartes Picathartes oreas Both are confined to the West and Central African rainforest belt, the White-necked, west of the 'Dahomey Gap' in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Ghana and the Grey-necked, east of the 'Dahomey Gap' from southern Nigeria through to PRC Congo. There has been much controversy placing this genus systematically as its various placements in crows (Corvidae) , starlings (Sturnidae) , flycatchers (Muscicapidae) and the babblers ( Timaliidae) should illustrate. Its now widely accepted family status is now usually positioned near the thrush-babbler grouping
Habitat
Primary and Secondary Rainforest with rugged granite caves, cliffs and overhanging rocks in relatively isolated areas usually close to water though is tolerant of disturbed habitat.
