Silky-flycatcher
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Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Ptilogonatidae
Genera: Phainoptila, Ptilogonys, Phainopepla

[Photo] Phainopepla (Phainopepla nitens) from USGS. URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:PhainopeplaUSGS.jpg

The silky-flycatchers are a small family of passerine birds which occur mainly in Central America, although the range of one species, the Phainopepla, extends into the southwestern USA.

They are related to waxwings, and like that group have a soft silky plumage, usually grey or pale yellow in colour. All species, with the exception of the Black-and-yellow Silky-flycatcher, have small crests.

These birds eat fruit or insects, and the Phainopepla is particularly dependent on Desert Mistletoe, Phoradendron californicum.

They are birds of various types of woodland (semi-desert with trees for the Phainopepla), and they nest in trees.

This family was formerly lumped with waxwings and Hypocolius in the family Bombycillidae, and they are listed in that family by the Sibley-Monroe checklist.

Species of Ptilogonatidae
- Black-and-yellow Silky-flycatcher, Phainoptila melanoxantha
- Gray Silky-flycatcher, Ptilogonys cinereus
- Long-tailed Silky-flycatcher, Ptilogonys caudatus
- Phainopepla Phainopepla nitens

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silky-flycatcher

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