The tityras are passerine birds in the genus Tityra in the family Tityridae. They are found from southern Mexico, through Central America, to northern and central South America, including Trinidad.
These are medium-sized birds, typically around 20–25 centimetres (7.9–9.8 in) long, with large bills. The adult males are greyish-white above and white below, except for the wings and tail which are at least partially black. The males of all three species also have black head markings. The females are similar, but are duller, with browner or greyer head markings and often streaked body plumage. The black-tailed and the masked tityra both have a conspicuous red eye-ring and base of the bill.
Taxonomy
The genus Tityra was introduced by French ornithologist Louis Pierre Vieillot in 1816, with the black-tailed tityra named as the type species. The genus name comes from "Tityri" – the name given by the Ancient Greeks to the satyrs and other mythological companions of Pan and Bacchus. This is a reference to the boisterous, aggressive behaviour of the type species.
The tityras have traditionally been placed in either the family Cotingidae or the family Tyrannidae, but genetic evidence strongly suggests they are better placed with a few other related genera (notably the becards) in their own family Tityridae, where now placed by South American Classification Committee. The black-crowned tityra is sometimes placed in a separate genus, Erator.
The genus contains four species.
Image
Scientific name
Common name
Distribution
Tityra cayana
Black-tailed tityra
Widespread east of the Andes from eastern Ecuador north to the Caribbean coast and south to southeastern Brazil.
Tityra semifasciata
Masked tityra
Mexico, through Central America, to northwestern and central South America (as far south as Paraguay).
Tityra inquisitor
Black-crowned tityra
Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras,...
