Chat (bird) explained

Chats (formerly sometimes known as "chat-thrushes") are a group of small Old World insectivorous birds formerly classified as members of the thrush family (Turdidae), but following genetic DNA analysis, are now considered to belong to the Old World flycatcher family (Muscicapidae).^[1]

The name is normally applied to the more robust ground-feeding flycatchers found in Europe and Asia and most northern species are strong migrants. There are many genera and these birds in particular make up most of the subfamily Saxicolinae.

Other songbirds called "chats" are:

Australian chats, genera Ashbyia and Epthianura of the honeyeater family (Meliphagidae). They belong to a more ancient lineage than Saxicolinae.
American chats, genus Granatellus of the cardinal family (Cardinalidae), formerly placed in the wood-warbler family. They belong to a more modern lineage than Saxicolinae.
Yellow-breasted chat (Icteria virens), an enigmatic North American songbird tentatively placed in the wood-warbler family (Parulidae); its true relationships are unresolved.

Species in taxonomic order

Subfamily Saxicolinae
- Genus Tarsiger – bush-robins
  - Red-flanked bluetail or orange-flanked bush-robin, Tarsiger cyanurus
  - Golden bush robin, Tarsiger chrysaeus
  - White-browed bush robin, Tarsiger indicus
  - Rufous-breasted bush robin, Tarsiger hyperythrus
  - Collared bush robin, Tarsiger johnstoniae
- Genus Luscinia (4 species)
- Genus Calliope (4 species)
- Genus Larvivora (8 species)
- Genus Erithacus – European robin
- Genus Irania – white-throated robin
- Genus Saxicola – bushchats and stonechats (c. 15 species)
- Genus Pogonocichla
  - White-starred robin, Pogonocichla stellata
- Genus Swynnertonia
  - Swynnerton's robin, Swynnertonia swynnertoni
- Genus Stiphrornis – forest robins (1–5 species, depending on taxonomy)
- Genus Xenocopsychus
  - Angola cave chat, Xenocopsychus ansorgei
- Genus Saxicoloides – Indian robin (formerly)
- Genus Cinclidium
  - Blue-fronted robin, Cinclidium frontale
- Genus Myiomela
  - White-tailed robin, Myiomela leucura
  - Javan blue robin, Myiomela diana
  - Sumatran blue robin, Myiomela sumatrana
- Genus Grandala
  - Grandala, Grandala coelicolor
- Genus Namibornis
  - Herero chat, Namibornis herero
- Genus Emarginata
  - Sickle-winged chat, Emarginata sinuata
  - Karoo chat, Emarginata schlegelii
  - Tractrac chat, Emarginata tractrac
- Genus Oenanthe
  - Familiar chat, Oenanthe familiaris
  - Brown-tailed rock chat, Oenanthe scotocerca
  - Brown rock chat, Oenanthe fusca
  - Sombre rock chat, Oenanthe dubia
  - Blackstart, Oenanthe melanura
  - Moorland chat, Oenanthe sordida
- Genus Myrmecocichla
  - Sooty chat (Myrmecocichla nigra)
  - Anteater chat (Myrmecocichla aethiops)
  - Congo moor chat (Myrmecocichla tholloni)
  - Ant-eating chat (Myrmecocichla formicivora)
  - Rüppell's black chat (Myrmecocichla melaena)
  - Mountain chat (Myrmecocichla monticola)
  - Arnot's chat (Myrmecocichla arnoti)
  - Ruaha chat (Myrmecocichla collaris)
- Genus Thamnolaea – cliff chats
  - Mocking cliff chat, Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris
  - White-winged cliff chat, Thamnolaea semirufa
- Genus Pinarornis
  - Boulder chat Pinarornis plumosus

Saxicolinae genera not usually called "chats" are:

Genus Sheppardia – akalats (9 species)
Genus Cossyphicula – white-bellied robin-chat – may belong in Cossypha
Genus Cossypha – robin-chats (15 species, excluding the white-bellied robin-chat)
Genus Cichladusa – palm-thrushes (3 species)
Genus Cercotrichas – scrub-robins or bush-chats (10 species)
Genus Myophonus, whistling thrushes
Genus Copsychus – magpie-robins or shamas (12 species)
Genus Phoenicurus – true redstarts (11 species)
Genus Enicurus – forktails (7 species)
Genus Cochoa – cochoas (4 species)
Genus Brachypteryx – (10 species)
Genus Heinrichia – great shortwing
Genus Leonardina – Bagobo babbler
Genus Oenanthe – wheatears (some 20 species)

Aberrant redstarts, possibly belonging in this subfamily:

Genus Chaimarrornis – white-capped redstart
Genus Rhyacornis (2 species)

Notes and References

Web site: Gill . Frank . Frank Gill (ornithologist) . Donsker . David . Rasmussen . Pamela . Pamela Rasmussen . January 2023 . Waxbills, parrotfinches, munias, whydahs, Olive Warbler, accentors, pipits . IOC World Bird List Version 13.1 . International Ornithologists' Union . 11 February 2023 .