{{Short description|Genus of birds}} {{Automatic Taxobox | name = Peppershrikes | image =Cyclarhis_gujanensis.jpg | image_caption = Rufous-browed peppershrike (''Cyclarhis gujanensis'') | taxon = Cyclarhis | authority = Swainson, 1824 | type_species = ''Tanagra gujanensis'' | type_species_authority = Gmelin, JF, 1789 | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = *''C. gujanensis'' *''C. nigrirostris'' }}
The '''peppershrikes''' are two species of passerine bird found in tropical Central and South America. They form the genus ''Cyclarhis'', part of the vireo family.
These are heavyset birds with a hooked shrike-like bill. Although sluggish and very vocal, the peppershrikes are still difficult to spot as they feed on insects and spiders in the canopy aloft. Their cup-shaped nests can likewise be found high in the trees.
==Taxonomy== The genus ''Cyclarhis'' was introduced in 1789 by the English naturalist William Swainson to accommodate a single species, the rufous-browed peppershrike, which is therefore the type species.<ref>{{ cite journal | last=Swainson | first=William | author-link=William Swainson | year=1824–1825 | title=An inquiry into the natural affinities of the Laniadae, or shrikes; preceded by some observations on the present state of ornithology in this country | journal=Zoological Journal | volume=1 | issue=3 | pages=289–307 [294] | url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/27571021 }}</ref><ref>{{ cite book | editor-last=Paynter | editor-first=Raymond A. Jr | year=1968 | title=Check-List of Birds of the World | volume=14 | publisher=Museum of Comparative Zoology | place=Cambridge, Massachusetts | page=103 | url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/14481304 }}</ref> The genus name is from the Ancient Greek ''kuklos'' meaning "circle" and ''rhis'', ''rhinos'' meaning "nostrils".<ref>{{cite book | last=Jobling | first=James A. | year=2010| title=The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names | publisher=Christopher Helm | location=London | isbn=978-1-4081-2501-4 | page=128 | url=https://archive.org/stream/Helm_Dictionary_of_Scientific_Bird_Names_by_James_A._Jobling#page/n128/mode/1up }}</ref> The genus contains two species.<ref name=ioc>{{cite web| editor1-last=Gill | editor1-first=Frank | editor1-link=Frank Gill (ornithologist) | editor2-last=Donsker | editor2-first=David | editor3-last=Rasmussen | editor3-first=Pamela | editor3-link=Pamela Rasmussen | date=January 2023 | title=Shrikes, vireos, shrike-babblers | work=IOC World Bird List Version 13.1 | url=https://www.worldbirdnames.org/bow/shrikes/ | publisher=International Ornithologists' Union | access-date=30 March 2023 }}</ref>
==Species== {| class="wikitable " |- ! Image !! Common name !! Scientific name !! Distribution |- |120px ||Rufous-browed peppershrike || ''C. gujanensis'' ||Mexico and Trinidad south to Argentina and Uruguay. |- |120px ||Black-billed peppershrike || ''C. nigrirostris'' ||Colombia and northern Ecuador. |- |}
== References == {{reflist}} *{{cite book | last = ffrench<!--this name should not be capitalized--> | first = Richard | title = A Guide to the Birds of Trinidad and Tobago | edition = 2nd | year = 1991 | publisher = Comstock Publishing | isbn = 0-8014-9792-2 }} *{{cite book | last = Hilty | first = Steven L | title = Birds of Venezuela | publisher = Christopher Helm | year = 2003 | location = London | isbn = 0-7136-6418-5 }}
{{Corvides|Co.|state=collapsed}} {{Taxonbar|from=Q899759}}
. Category:Birds of Central America Category:Birds of South America Category:Vireonidae Category:Taxa named by William Swainson
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