Poecile
Encyclopedia
Poecile is a genus
of bird
in the tit family that is often lumped into the genus Parus
. It has 13–15 species
, which are scattered across North America
, Europe
and Asia
; the North American species are the chickadee
s. In the past, most authorities retained Poecile as a subgenus within the genus Parus, but treatment as a distinct genus, initiated by the American Ornithologists Union, is now widely accepted. This is supported by mtDNA cytochrome b
sequence analysis
.
The genus name has traditionally been treated as feminine (giving name endings such as cincta); however, this was not specified by the original genus author Johann Jakob Kaup
, and under the ICZN
the genus name must therefore be treated by default as masculine, giving name endings such as cinctus.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of bird
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
in the tit family that is often lumped into the genus Parus
Parus
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...
. It has 13–15 species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
, which are scattered across North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
; the North American species are the chickadee
Chickadee
Chickadee is a group of birds in the Paridae familyChickadee may also refer to:* USS Chickadee , a minesweeper in the United States Navy* Chickadee , a Canadian children's magazine-See also:* Black-capped Chickadee...
s. In the past, most authorities retained Poecile as a subgenus within the genus Parus, but treatment as a distinct genus, initiated by the American Ornithologists Union, is now widely accepted. This is supported by mtDNA cytochrome b
Cytochrome b
Cytochrome b/b6 is the main subunit of transmembrane cytochrome bc1 and b6f complexes. In addition, it commonly refers to a region of mtDNA used for population genetics and phylogenetics.- Function :...
sequence analysis
Sequence analysis
In bioinformatics, the term sequence analysis refers to the process of subjecting a DNA, RNA or peptide sequence to any of a wide range of analytical methods to understand its features, function, structure, or evolution. Methodologies used include sequence alignment, searches against biological...
.
The genus name has traditionally been treated as feminine (giving name endings such as cincta); however, this was not specified by the original genus author Johann Jakob Kaup
Johann Jakob Kaup
Johann Jakob Kaup was a German naturalist.-Biography:He was born at Darmstadt. After studying at Göttingen and Heidelberg he spent two years at Leiden, where his attention was specially devoted to the amphibians and fishes. He then returned to Darmstadt as an assistant in the grand ducal museum,...
, and under the ICZN
International Code of Zoological Nomenclature
The International Code of Zoological Nomenclature is a widely accepted convention in zoology that rules the formal scientific naming of organisms treated as animals...
the genus name must therefore be treated by default as masculine, giving name endings such as cinctus.
Species
- Sombre TitSombre TitThe Sombre Tit is a member of the tit family found in southeast Europe and southwest Asia.Though it is traditionally placed in Parus, mtDNA cytochrome b sequence data suggests that that genus should be split, as already adopted by the American Ornithologists' Union, for example...
, Poecile lugubris - Caspian TitCaspian TitThe Caspian Tit is a passerine bird in the tit family. It is often lumped with Sombre Tit Poecile lugubris The Caspian Tit (Poecile hyrcanus, formerly Parus hyrcanus) is a passerine bird in the tit family. It is often lumped with Sombre Tit Poecile lugubris The Caspian Tit (Poecile hyrcanus,...
, Poecile hyrcanus - often included in P. lugubris - Marsh TitMarsh TitThe Marsh Tit Poecile palustris is a passerine bird in the tit family Paridae and genus Poecile, closely related to the Willow, Père David's and Songar Tits. It is small with a black crown and nape, pale cheeks, brown back and greyish-brown wings and tail. Between 8 and 11 subspecies are recognised...
, Poecile palustris - Willow TitWillow TitThe Willow Tit is a passerine bird in the tit family Paridae. It is a widespread and common resident breeder throughout temperate and subarctic Europe and northern Asia. It is more of a conifer specialist than the closely related Marsh Tit, which explains it breeding much further north...
, Poecile montanus - Songar TitSongar TitThe Songar Tit is a passerine bird in the tit family. It is the southern counterpart of the Willow Tit P...
, Poecile songarus - often included in P. montanus - Carolina ChickadeeCarolina ChickadeeThe Carolina Chickadee, Poecile carolinensis, is a small passerine bird in the tit family Paridae. Often, it is still placed in the genus Parus with most other tits, but mtDNA cytochrome b sequence data and morphology suggest that separating Poecile more adequately expresses these birds'...
, Poecile carolinensis - Black-capped ChickadeeBlack-capped ChickadeeThe Black-capped Chickadee is a small, North American songbird, a passerine bird in the tit family Paridae. It is the state bird of both Maine and Massachusetts in the United States, and the provincial bird of New Brunswick in Canada...
, Poecile atricapillus - Mountain ChickadeeMountain ChickadeeThe Mountain Chickadee is a small songbird, a passerine bird in the tit family Paridae. Often, it is still placed in the genus Parus with most other tits, but mtDNA cytochrome b sequence data and morphology suggest that separating Poecile more adequately expresses these birds' relationships...
, Poecile gambeli - Mexican ChickadeeMexican ChickadeeThe Mexican Chickadee is a small songbird, a passerine bird in the tit family Paridae. It is still often placed in the genus Parus with most other tits, but mtDNA cytochrome b sequence data and morphology suggest that separating Poecile more adequately expresses these birds' relationships...
, Poecile sclateri - White-browed TitWhite-browed TitThe White-browed Tit is a species of bird in the tit family Paridae. It is endemic to the mountain forests of southwestern China ....
, Poecile superciliosus - Rusty-breasted TitRusty-breasted TitThe Rusty-breasted Tit or Père David's Tit is a species of bird in the tit family Paridae. It is endemic to west-central China in southern Gansu, western Hubei, southern Shaanxi, and Sichuan....
or Père David's Tit, Poecile davidi - Siberian TitSiberian TitThe Siberian Tit or Gray-headed Chickadee is a passerine bird in the tit family Paridae. It is a widespread resident breeder throughout subarctic Scandinavia and northern Asia, and also into North America in Alaska and the far northwest of Canada. It is a conifer specialist...
or Grey-headed Chickadee, Poecile cinctus - Boreal ChickadeeBoreal ChickadeeThe Boreal Chickadee is a small passerine bird in the tit family Paridae.-Description:...
, Poecile hudsonicus - Chestnut-backed ChickadeeChestnut-backed ChickadeeThe Chestnut-backed Chickadee is a small passerine bird in the tit family, Paridae....
, Poecile rufescens