Myiothlypis is a genus of
New World warblers, best represented in
Central and
South America. This is one of only two warbler genera that are well represented in the latter continent. All of these species were formerly placed in the genus Basileuterus.
Taxonomy
The genus Myiothlypis was introduced in 1851 by the German ornithologist
Jean Cabanis to accommodate a single species, Trichas nigrocristatus, the
black-crested warbler, that had been described in 1840 by
Frédéric de Lafresnaye.[2] The genus name combines the
Ancient Greekmuia meaning "fly" with thlupis, an unidentified small bird.[3]
A
molecular phylogenetic study of the New World warbler family
Parulidae published in 2010 found that the species formed several major clades that did not align with the traditional genera.[4] This led to a major reorganization of the species within the family to create
monotypic genera. As part of this rearrangement the genus Myiothlypis was resurrected to contain a clade that now includes 18 species.[4][5]