Platycichla

Taxobox
name = "Platycichla"

---

image_width = 240px
image_caption = Yellow-legged Thrush
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Passeriformes
familia = Turdidae
genus = "Platycichla"
genus_authority = Baird, 1848
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = "P. leucops "
"P. flavipes"

"Platycichla" is a small genus of tropical South American thrushes. It contains just two species:

* Pale-eyed Thrush, "Platycichla leucops"
* Yellow-legged Thrush, "Platycichla flavipes"

These are medium sized (20-23 cm long) birds of humid mountain forests. Their nests are a typical thrush’s lined cup of twigs. In both species the male is mainly dark grey or black with yellow legs and bill, and the female essentially warm brown above and paler below.

The "Platycichla" thrushes mainly feed in trees and bushes on fruit and some insects. They are shy species, and the females in particular is difficult to see, since she does not sing. The song of the male consists of melodic musical phrases.

The main argument for separating this genus from "Turdus" is the smaller size of the former compared to most members of the latter. Similarities in plumage, vocalization, behavior, and genetics lead to the South American Classification Committee (SACC) eliminating "Platycichla" (instead including the two species in "Turdus") following a proposal in 2006.

References

* "Thrushes" by Clement and Hathaway, ISBN 0-7136-3940-7
*cite book
last = ffrench
first = Richard
title = A Guide to the Birds of Trinidad and Tobago
edition = 2nd edition
year = 1991
publisher = Comstock Publishing
isbn = 0-8014-9792-2
*cite book
last = Hilty
first = Steven L
title = Birds of Venezuela
publisher = Christopher Helm
date = 2003
location = London
isbn = 0-7136-6418-5

External links

* [http://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCprop247.html Evaluation leading to Platycichla being eliminated (South American Classification Committee)]