Acanthizinae - Taxonomy and Systematics

Taxonomy and Systematics

Following the Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy (1990) they were previously regarded as subfamily Acanthizinae within the Pardalotidae family. However, current revisions (Christidis & Boles, 1994; Schodde & Mason 1999) don't support this arrangement. The Dasyornithidae (which include the bristlebirds) are variously seen either as subfamily Dasyornithinae within the Acanthizidae or Pardalotidae family or as own family (Schodde & Mason 1999).

The Acanthizidae family consists of the two subfamilies Sericornithinae and Acanthizinae (Schodde & Mason 1999), 14 genera, 63 species and 196 taxa.

Family Acanthizidae

• Subfamily: Sericornithinae
  • Genus: Pycnoptilus - Pilotbird
  • Genus: Origma - Rockwarbler
  • Genus: Oreoscopus - Fernwren
  • Genus: Crateroscelis - Mouse-warblers (3 species)
  • Genus: Sericornis - Scrubwrens (13 species)
  • Genus: Acanthornis - Scrubtit
  • Genus: Hylacola - Heathwrens (2 species)
  • Genus: Calamanthus - Fieldwrens (2 species)
  • Genus: Pyrrholaemus - (2 species)
• Subfamily: Acanthizinae
  • Genus: Smicrornis - Weebill
  • Genus: Gerygone - Gerygones (19 species, one now extinct)
  • Genus: Acanthiza - Thornbills (13 species)
  • Genus: Aphelocephala - Whitefaces (3 species)

• White-browed Scrubwren (Sericornis frontalis)

• Large-billed Gerygone (Gerygone magnirostris)

• Brown Gerygone (Gerygone mouki)

• Weebill (Smicrornis brevirostris)

• Speckled Warbler (Chthonicola sagittatus)

• Shy Heathwren (Hylacola cauta)

• Yellow Thornbill (Acanthiza nana)