Acanthiza

Life-forms

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Megaclassis: Osteichthyes
Cladus: Sarcopterygii
Cladus: Rhipidistia
Cladus: Tetrapodomorpha
Cladus: Eotetrapodiformes
Cladus: Elpistostegalia
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Classis: Reptilia
Cladus: Eureptilia
Cladus: Romeriida
Subclassis: Diapsida
Cladus: Sauria
Infraclassis: Archosauromorpha
Cladus: Crurotarsi
Divisio: Archosauria
Cladus: Avemetatarsalia
Cladus: Ornithodira
Subtaxon: Dinosauromorpha
Cladus: Dinosauriformes
Cladus: Dracohors
Cladus: Dinosauria
Ordo: Saurischia
Cladus: Eusaurischia
Cladus: Theropoda
Cladus: Neotheropoda
Cladus: Averostra
Cladus: Tetanurae
Cladus: Avetheropoda
Cladus: Coelurosauria
Cladus: Tyrannoraptora
Cladus: Maniraptoromorpha
Cladus: Maniraptoriformes
Cladus: Maniraptora
Cladus: Pennaraptora
Cladus: Paraves
Cladus: Eumaniraptora
Cladus: Avialae
Infraclassis: Aves
Cladus: Euavialae
Cladus: Avebrevicauda
Cladus: Pygostylia
Cladus: Ornithothoraces
Cladus: Euornithes
Cladus: Ornithuromorpha
Cladus: Ornithurae
Cladus: Carinatae
Parvclassis: Neornithes
Cohors: Neognathae
Cladus: Neoaves
Cladus: Telluraves
Cladus: Australaves
Ordo: Passeriformes
Subordo: Passeri
Parvordo: Corvida
Superfamilia: Meliphagoidea

Familia: Acanthizidae
Genus: Acanthiza
Species (13): A. apicalis - A. chrysorrhoa - A. ewingii - A. inornata - A. iredalei - A. katherina - A. lineata - A. murina - A. nana - A. pusilla - A. reguloides - A. robustirostris - A. uropygialis

Name

Acanthiza Vigors & Horsfield, 1827
References
Primary references

Vigors, N.A. & Horsfield, T. 1827. Transactions of the Linnean Society of London 15(1): 224

Additional references

Mack, G. 1936. A systematic revision of the Australian thornbills. Memoirs of the National Museum Melbourne (10): 86–118. BHL Reference page.

Vernacular names
English: Thornbills
suomi: Tiaismalurit

Acanthiza is a genus of passeriform birds, mostly found in Australia but with one species (A. murina) restricted to New Guinea. These birds are commonly known as thornbills. They are not closely related to species in the hummingbird genus Chalcostigma which are also called thornbills.

They are found primarily in Australia and have a thin long beak. Colloquially the thornbill is sometimes referred to as a Tit by locals, but in reality the Australian continent lacks any real Tits, albeit Acanthizan species do show some similarities with Tits in their behaviour. This is expressed in the fact that, like Tits, Thornbills live in small groups, except for the period of reproduction, during which the couples isolate themselves to raise their young.

The habitat preferences of the group vary from dense forest to open saltbush and bluebush plains.

Acanthiza follow a very characteristic undulating path when flying. Their diet is formed essentially of little insects and plant lice that these birds glean from foliage. They are also exceptional acrobats that are easily able to stay head downward like tits do.

The nest of the Acanthiza is a large dome-shaped construction, completely enclosed except for a side hole, just like that of the long-tailed tit; however Acanthiza adds to it an additional room whose function is unknown.

The incubation period is unknown but the number of eggs usually ranges from 2 to 4. The length of an adult bird is 8 - 10 centimeters.

Species

* Inland Thornbill, Acanthiza apicalis
* Yellow-rumped Thornbill, Acanthiza chrysorrhoa
* Tasmanian Thornbill, Acanthiza ewingii
* Western Thornbill, Acanthiza inornata
* Slender-billed Thornbill, Acanthiza iredalei
* Mountain Thornbill, Acanthiza katherina
* Striated Thornbill, Acanthiza lineata
* Papuan Thornbill, Acanthiza murina
* Yellow Thornbill, Acanthiza nana
* Brown Thornbill, Acanthiza pusilla
* Buff-rumped Thornbill, Acanthiza reguloides
* Slaty-backed Thornbill, Acanthiza robustirostris
* Chestnut-rumped Thornbill, Acanthiza uropygialis

References

* Del Hoyo, J.; Elliot, A. & Christie D. (editors). (2006). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 12: Picathartes to Tits and Chickadees. Lynx Edicions. ISBN 9788496553422