Chlorocichla is a genus of songbird in the bulbul family, Pycnonotidae. They are mainly present throughout the African tropical rainforest, excepted the yellow-bellied greenbul, native to the miombo woodlands.
Taxonomy The genus Chlorocichla was introduced in 1882 by the English ornithologist Richard Bowdler Sharpe. Although the title page bears the date of 1881 this volume was not published until 1882. Sharpe did not specify a type species but this was designated as the yellow-bellied greenbul by Anton Reichenow in 1904–1905. The genus name combines the Ancient Greek khlōros meaning "pale green" or "yellow" with kikhlē meaning "thrush".
Species The genus contains the following five species: Image Common name Scientific name Distribution Joyful greenbul Chlorocichla laetissima East-central Africa. Prigogine's greenbul Chlorocichla prigoginei Found only in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Falkenstein's greenbul Chlorocichla falkensteini Western Cameroon and Central African Republic to central Angola. Yellow-bellied greenbul Chlorocichla flaviventris Eastern, southern and west-central Africa. Simple greenbul Chlorocichla simplex Widespread throughout the African tropical rainforest.
Former species Formerly, some authorities also considered the following species (or subspecies) as species within the genus Chlorocichla: Honeyguide greenbul (as Chlorocichla indicator, now Baeopogon indicator) Yellow-throated leaflove (as Chlorocichla flavicollis, now Atimastillas flavicollis)
References