Attila | |
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Grey-hooded attila | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Passeriformes |
Family: | Tyrannidae |
Genus: | Attila Lesson, RP, 1831 |
Type species | |
Attila brasiliensis[1] = Muscicapa spadicea Lesson, 1831
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Synonyms | |
Dasycephala |
Attila is a genus of tropical passerine birds, the attilas. They belong to the tyrant flycatcher family. The species in this genus have large heads and hooked bills; they are markedly predatory and aggressive for their size – hence the scientific and common names, which refer to Attila the Hun.
The genus Attila was introduced in 1831 by the French naturalist René Lesson to accommodate a single species, the bright-rumped attila, which is therefore considered as the type species.[2][3] The genus name is from Attila the Hun who attacked Rome and Orléans in the 5th century.[4][5]
The genus contains seven species:[6]
Image | Scientific name | Common Name | Distribution |
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Attila phoenicurus | Rufous-tailed attila | southern Paraguay and Brazil; also extreme northeast Argentina, Bolivia and southern Venezuela | |
Attila cinnamomeus | Cinnamon attila | Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana; also Amazonian Ecuador, Peru, and regions of Bolivia. | |
Attila torridus | Ochraceous attila | Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru | |
Attila citriniventris | Citron-bellied attila | Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. | |
Attila bolivianus | White-eyed attila | Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, and possibly Ecuador. | |
Attila rufus | Grey-hooded attila | Brazil. | |
Attila spadiceus | Bright-rumped attila | northwestern Mexico to western Ecuador, Bolivia and southeastern Brazil, and on Trinidad |