Shrike-like Cotinga

About the Shrike-like Cotinga

The Brazilian laniisoma (Laniisoma elegans) is a species of bird in the family Tityridae, the tityras, becards, and allies. It is endemic to Brazil. The Brazilian laniisoma's taxonomy is not fully resolved and it is also known by several other English names. It was originally described in 1823 as Ampelis elegans. William Swainson erected its present genus Laniisoma in 1832 and what is now Laniisoma elegans was later recognized as its type species.

Laniisoma elegans was long treated as the sole species in the genus. The South American Classification Committee retains that treatment and calls the species the shrike-like cotinga. However, the committee recognizes that the species is probably not monotypic and is seeking a proposal to revise its treatment. It further recognizes that the name "cotinga" is no longer appropriate but rejected a proposal to change it.

The IOC, the Clements taxonomy, AviList, and BirdLife International's Handbook of the Birds of the World (HBW) have all separated Laniisoma buckleyi from L. elegans, leaving the latter as monotypic and calling it the "Brazilian laniisoma". The IOC, Clements, and AviList call L. buckleyi the Andean... Wikipedia →