Antpecker Explained

The antpeckers are a genus Parmoptila of small seed-eating birds in the family Estrildidae. They range across the tropical forests of western and central Africa.

Taxonomy

The genus Parmoptila was introduced in 1859 by the American ornithologist John Cassin to accommodate Woodhouse's antpecker.^[1] The genus name combines the Ancient Greek parmē, the word for a small round shield, and ptilon meaning "feather".^[2]

Species

The genus contains three species:^[3]

Image	Common Name	Scientific Name	Distribution
		Parmoptila rubrifrons	Upper Guinean forests
		Parmoptila jamesoni	Congolian rainforest
	Woodhouse's antpecker	Parmoptila woodhousei	Congolian rainforest

Notes and References

1. Cassin . John . John Cassin . 1860 . Catalogue of birds collected on the rivers Camma and Ogobai, West Africa, by Mr. P.B. Duchaillu in 1858, with notes and descriptions of new species . Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia . 11 . 30–144 [40] .
2. Book: Jobling, James A. . 2010. The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names . Christopher Helm . London . 978-1-4081-2501-4 . 293 .
3. Web site: Gill . Frank . Frank Gill (ornithologist) . Donsker . David . Rasmussen . Pamela . Pamela Rasmussen . July 2021 . Waxbills, parrotfinches, munias, whydahs, Olive Warbler, accentors, pipits . IOC World Bird List Version 11.2 . International Ornithologists' Union . 12 July 2021 .