Tityra

Taxobox
name = Tityra

---

image_caption = "Tityra semifasciata"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Passeriformes
familia = Tityridae
genus = "Tityra"
genus_authority = Vieillot, 1816
subdivision_ranks = species
subdivision = 3-4, see text

The Tityras are passerine birds in the genus "Tityra" of the family Tityridae. They breed from southern Mexico throughout tropical Central and South America, including Trinidad.

These are medium-sized birds. Their plumage is quite unlike that of other tyrant flycatchers. 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 head markings. The Black-tailed and the Masked Tityra both have a conspicuous red eye-ring and base of the bill.

Behavior

These species are found in forest clearings and edges, second growth and other semi-open habitats such as plantation shade trees. The eggs are laid in a bed of dry leaves in a tree hole, often an old woodpecker nest. The female incubates alone, but both parents feed the chicks. Fledging takes up to 25 days.

Tityras are seen alone or in pairs, perched conspicuously as they feed on medium-sized fruits, large insects and sometimes small lizards. They have unmusical nasal grunting or buzzing calls.

Taxonomy

The tityras have traditionally been placed in the cotinga or the tyrant flycatcher family, but evidence strongly suggest they are better placed in Tityridae, where now placed by SACC. [http://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCprop313.html Adopt the Family Tityridae] - South American Classification Committee (2007)] The Black-crowned Tityra is sometimes placed in a separate genus "Erator".

* Black-tailed Tityra, "Tityra cayana"
* Masked Tityra, "Tityra semifasciata"
* Black-crowned Tityra, "Tityra inquisitor"

Another species, the White-tailed Tityra ("Tityra leucura"), is generally considered a variant of the Masked Tityra, but recent evidence suggests it may be a valid species restricted to the Brazilian Amazon near the Madeira River. [Whittaker, A. (2008). "Field evidence for the validity of White-tailed Tityra Tityra leucura Pelzeln, 1868." Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 128: 107–113.]

References

* Hilty, "Birds of Venezuela" ISBN 978-0-7136-6418-8
*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
* Stiles and Skutch, "A guide to the birds of Costa Rica" ISBN 978-0-8014-9600-4