Hylophilus

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Hylophilus
Ashy-headed greenlet (Hylophilus pectoralis)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Vireonidae
Genus: Hylophilus
Temminck, 1822
Type species
Hylophilus poicilotis
Temminck, 1822

Hylophilus is a genus of birds in the vireo family Vireonidae that are found in South America.

Taxonomy

The genus Hylophilus was introduced in 1822 by the Dutch zoologist Coenraad Jacob Temminck who included two species in the genus but did not specify the type.[1] In 1840 the English zoologist George Gray designated the type as Hylophilus poicilotis Temminck, the rufous-crowned greenlet.[2][3][4] The genus name combines the Ancient Greek ὑλη/hulē meaning "woodland" or "forest" with φιλος/philos meaning "loving".[5]

The genus contains eight species:[6]

ImageCommon nameScientific nameDistribution
Grey-eyed greenletHylophilus amaurocephalusBolivia and Brazil.
Rufous-crowned greenletHylophilus poicilotisArgentina, Bolivia, Brazil and Paraguay
Olivaceous greenletHylophilus olivaceusEcuador and Peru.
Ashy-headed greenletHylophilus pectoralisBolivia, Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.
Brown-headed greenletHylophilus brunneicepsBrazil, Colombia and Venezuela.
Lemon-chested greenletHylophilus thoracicusBolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.
Scrub greenletHylophilus flavipesCosta Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela and Tobago.
Grey-chested greenletHylophilus semicinereusBolivia, Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Peru, and Venezuela.
Beni greenlet Hylophilus moxensis Bolivia

References

  1. Temminck, Coenraad Jacob (1824). Nouveau recueil de planches coloriées d'oiseaux, pour servir de suite et de complément aux planches enluminées de Buffon (in French). Vol. 3. Paris: F.G. Levrault. Plate 173 and text (livraison 29). The 5 volumes were originally issued in 102 livraison (parts), 1820-1839. For the dates see: Dickinson, E.C. (2001). "Systematic notes on Asian birds. 9. The Nouveau recueil de planches coloriées of Temminck & Laugier (1820–1839)". Zoologische Verhandelingen, Leiden. 335: 7–53.
  2. Gray, George Robert (1840). A List of the Genera of Birds : with an Indication of the Typical Species of Each Genus. London: R. and J.E. Taylor. p. 23.
  3. Paynter, Raymond A. Jr, ed. (1968). Check-List of Birds of the World. Vol. 14. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Museum of Comparative Zoology. p. 129.
  4. Dickinson, E.C.; Christidis, L., eds. (2014). The Howard & Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World (PDF). Vol. 2: Passerines (4th ed.). Eastbourne, UK: Aves Press. p. 199. ISBN 978-0-9568611-2-2.
  5. Jobling, James A. "Hylophilus". The Key to Scientific Names. Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Retrieved 26 March 2026.
  6. AviList Core Team (2025). "AviList: The Global Avian Checklist, v2025". doi:10.2173/avilist.v2025. Retrieved 26 March 2026.