Bradornis

Bradornis
Marico flycatcher (Bradornis mariquensis)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Muscicapidae
Genus:	Bradornis Smith, A, 1847
Type species
Bradornis mariquensis Smith, A, 1847

Bradornis is a genus of small passerine birds in the large family Muscicapidae commonly known as the Old World flycatchers. They are restricted to sub-Saharan Africa.

Taxonomy

The genus Bradornis was introduced in 1847 by the Scottish zoologist Andrew Smith to accommodate a single species, the Marico flycatcher, which is therefore the type species. ^[1] The genus name combines the Ancient Greek bradus meaning "slow" or "sluggish" and ornis meaning "bird". ^[2] The genus Bradornis was resurrected to accommodate a clade of species from other genera based on molecular phylogenetic studies published in 2016 and 2023. ^{[3] [4]}

Species

The genus contains three species: ^[5]

Image	Common name	Scientific name	Distribution
	Dusky-blue flycatcher	Bradornis comitatus	Guineo-Congolian region
-	African grey flycatcher	Bradornis microrhynchus	East Africa
-	Marico flycatcher	Bradornis mariquensis	Kalahari Basin

References

1. Smith, Andrew (1849). Illustrations of the Zoology of South Africa. Vol. 2, Aves. London: Smith, Elder. Plate 113, text. The volume was published in parts. For the publication date of Plate 113 see: Barnard, K.H. (1950). "The dates of issue of the "Illustrations of the Zoology of South Africa" and the "Marine Investigations in South Africa"". Journal of the Society for the Bibliography of Natural History. 2 (6): 187–189. doi:10.3366/jsbnh.1950.2.6.187.
2. Jobling, James A. (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. p. 76. ISBN   978-1-4081-2501-4.
3. Voelker, G.; Huntley, J.W.; Peñalba, J.V.; Bowie, R.C.K. (2016). "Resolving taxonomic uncertainty and historical biogeographic patterns in Muscicapa flycatchers and their allies". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 94 (Pt B): 618–625. Bibcode:2016MolPE..94..618V. doi: 10.1016/j.ympev.2015.09.026 . PMID   26475615.
4. Zhao, M.; Gordon Burleigh, J.; Olsson, U.; Alström, P.; Kimball, R.T. (2023). "A near-complete and time-calibrated phylogeny of the Old World flycatchers, robins and chats (Aves, Muscicapidae)". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 178 107646. Bibcode:2023MolPE.17807646Z. doi: 10.1016/j.ympev.2022.107646 . PMID   36265831.
5. Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (February 2025). "Chats, Old World flycatchers". IOC World Bird List Version 15.1. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 28 March 2025.