Trembler

Tremblers (Cinclocerthia) are a genus of perching birds in the family Mimidae that are endemic to the Lesser Antilles. They are medium-small, mostly brown or grey birds with long beaks and tails that typically are held cocked. Most recent authorities recognize two species in the genus, but some split each into two species, bringing it to four species:

Grey trembler (Martinique trembler), Cinclocerthia (gutturalis) gutturalis Saint Lucia trembler, Cinclocerthia (gutturalis) macrorhyncha Brown trembler (Southern brown trembler), Cinclocerthia (ruficauda) ruficauda Northern brown trembler, Cinclocerthia (ruficauda) tremula

Among other living birds, they are apparently most closely related to the pearly-eyed thrasher.Hunt et al. (2001), Barber et al. (2004)

Their common name comes from their constant motion; a much more exaggerated version of the wing-flicking also seen in other mimids such as the northern mockingbirds. The tremblers do not just flick their wings, but shake their entire bodies in a trembling motion. This behaviours is a signal to others of their species, similar to the more common contact call.

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Trembler

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