Parus

Taxobox
name = "Parus"

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image_width = 250px
image_caption = Great Tit "Parus major"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Passeriformes
familia = Paridae
genus = "Parus"
genus_authority = Linnaeus, 1758
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = see text

"Parus" is a genus of Old World birds in the tit family. As defined here, it contains the following species:
* "'Genus "Parus"
** White-shouldered Tit "Parus guineensis" - sometimes separated in "Melaniparus"
** White-winged Black Tit "Parus leucomelas" - sometimes separated in "Melaniparus"
** Southern Black Tit "Parus niger" - sometimes separated in "Melaniparus"
** Carp's Tit "Parus carpi" - sometimes separated in "Melaniparus"
** White-bellied Tit "Parus albiventris" - sometimes separated in "Melaniparus"
** White-backed Tit "Parus leuconotus" - sometimes separated in "Melaniparus"
** Dusky Tit "Parus funereus" - sometimes separated in "Melaniparus"
** Rufous-bellied Tit "Parus rufiventris" - sometimes separated in "Melaniparus"
** Cinnamon-breasted Tit "Parus pallidiventris" - sometimes separated in "Melaniparus"
** Red-throated Tit "Parus fringillinus" - sometimes separated in "Melaniparus"
** Stripe-breasted Tit "Parus fasciiventer" - sometimes separated in "Melaniparus"
** Somali Tit or Acacia Tit "Parus thruppi" - sometimes separated in "Melaniparus"
** Miombo Tit "Parus griseiventris" - sometimes separated in "Melaniparus"
** Ashy Tit "Parus cinerascens" - sometimes separated in "Melaniparus"
** Southern Grey Tit "Parus afer" - sometimes separated in "Melaniparus"
** Great Tit "Parus major"
** Japanese Tit "Parus minor" (often included in "P. major")
** Turkestan Tit "Parus bokharensis"
** Green-backed Tit "Parus monticolus"
** White-winged Tit "Parus nuchalis"
** Black-lored Tit "Parus xanthogenys" - sometimes separated in "Macholophus"
** Yellow-cheeked Tit "Parus spilonotus"
** Yellow Tit "Parus holsti" - sometimes separated in "Macholophus"
** White-fronted Tit "Parus semilarvatus" - sometimes separated in "Sittiparus"

This genus and related genera are controversial. The species from White-shouldered Tit to Southern Grey Tit are sometimes separated as the genus "Melaniparus," and the Yellow Tit and the Black-lored Tit are sometimes separated as "Macholophus". On the other hand, many authorities expand this genus to include "Cyanistes", "Lophophanes", "Periparus", and "Poecile".

References

* Del Hoyo, J.; Elliot, A. & Christie D. (editors). (2007). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 12: Picathartes to Tits and Chickadees. Lynx Edicions. ISBN 9788496553422
* Gill, Frank B.; Slikas, Beth & Sheldon, Frederick H. (2005): Phylogeny of titmice (Paridae): II. Species relationships based on sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome-b gene. "Auk" 122: 121-143. DOI: 10.1642/0004-8038(2005)122 [0121:POTPIS] 2.0.CO;2 [http://www.bioone.org/perlserv/?request=get-abstract&doi=10.1642%2F0004-8038%282005%29122%5B0121%3APOTPIS%5D2.0.CO%3B2 HTML abstract]