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biodiversity explorer

the web of life in southern Africa

Family: Muscicapidae (thrushes, robins, chats, Old World flycatchers)

Life > Eukaryotes > Opisthokonta > Metazoa (animals) > Bilateria > Deuterostomia > Chordata > Craniata > Vertebrata (vertebrates)  > Gnathostomata (jawed vertebrates) > Teleostomi (teleost fish) > Osteichthyes (bony fish) > Class: Sarcopterygii (lobe-finned fish) > Stegocephalia (terrestrial vertebrates) > Tetrapoda (four-legged vertebrates) > Reptiliomorpha > Amniota > Reptilia (reptiles) > Romeriida > Diapsida > Archosauromorpha > Archosauria > Dinosauria (dinosaurs) > Saurischia > Theropoda (bipedal predatory dinosaurs) > Coelurosauria > Maniraptora > Aves (birds) > Order: Passeriformes

Genera indigenous to southern Africa

Monticola (rock-thrushes)

There are a total of 13 species of rock-thrushes, distributed through Eurasia, Africa and Madgascar, with four species found in southern Africa. 

Zoothera (ground-thrushes)

There are 36 species, distributed through Eurasia, Africa, East Indies and North America, with two species occurring in southern Africa.

Psophocichla (Groundscraper thrush) 

One species: the Groundscraper thrush Psophocichla litsitsirupa.

Turdus (thrushes - part) 

There are 66 species, distributed worldwide, of which three occur in southern Africa.

Pseudalethe (alethes) 

There are four species, distributed through Sub-Saharan Africa, of which one, the White-chested alethe Pseudalethe fuelleborni  is found in southern Africa.

Bradornis (flycatchers - part)

There are four species, distributed through Sub-Saharan Africa, of which three occur in southern Africa.

Melaenornis (flycatchers - part) 

One Species indigenous to southern Africa (Southern black flycatcher Melaenornis pammelaina) but there are 5 species in total, distributed through sub-Saharan Africa.

Sigelus (Fiscal flycatcher) 

One species: the Fiscal flycatcher Sigelus silens

Muscicapa (flycatchers - part) 

Myioparus (flycatchers - part) 

Two species of which one, Grey tit-flycatcher Myioparus plumbeus, occurs in southern Africa.

Ficedula (flycatchers - part) 

One Species indigenous to southern Africa (Collared flycatcher Ficedula albicollis) but there are 27 species in total, distributed through Eurasia and Africa.

Pogonocichla (White-starred robin) 

One species: the White-starred robin Pogonocichla stellata.

Swynnertonia (Swynnerton's robin) 

One species: Swynnerton's robin Swynnertonia swynnertoni

Sheppardia (akalats) 

There are a total of nine species, distributed through Sub-Saharan Africa, of which one, the East coast akalat Sheppardia gunningi (also called Gunnings robin), is found in southern Africa. 

Luscinia (nightingales) 

One Species indigenous to southern Africa (Thrush nightingale Luscinia luscinia) but there are 11 species in total, distributed through Eurasia and Africa.

Cossypha (robin-chats)

There are 13 species, distributed through Sub-Saharan Africa, of which five occur in southern Africa. 

Cichladusa (palm-thrushes) 

There are three species, distributed through Sub-Saharan Africa, of which two occur in southern Africa.

Cercotrichas (scrub-robins)

There are 10 species, distributed through Eurasia and Africa, with five species occurring in southern Africa.

Namibornis (Herero chat) 

One species: the Herero chat Namibornis herero.

Phoenicurus (redstarts) 

There are 11 species, distributed mainly through Eurasia but extending into Africa, with one vagrant migrant, the Common redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus, extending its distribution into southern Africa. 

Saxicola (chats - part) 

There are a total of 15 species, distributed through Eurasia, Africa and East Indies, with two species found in southern Africa. 

Oenanthe (wheatears) 

There are 18 species, distributed through Eurasia and Africa, of which six species are found in southern Africa. 

Cercomela (chats - part) 

There are nine species, distributed through Eurasia and Africa, with four species found in southern Africa

Myrmecocichla (chats - part) 

Two Species indigenous to southern Africa. 

Thamnolaea (cliff-chats)

 Three species, distributed through Sub-Saharan Africa, with one species, the Mocking cliff-chat Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris, found in southern Africa. 

Pinarornis (Boulder chat) 

One species: the Boulder chat Pinarornis plumosus.