| Aphelocephala | |
|---|---|
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| Chestnut-breasted whiteface (Aphelocephala pectoralis) | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Acanthizidae |
| Genus: | Aphelocephala Oberholser, 1899 |
| Type species | |
| Xerophila leucopsis[1] Gould, 1841 | |
| Species | |
3, see text | |
Aphelocephala is a genus ofbird in the thornbill familyAcanthizidae. The three species are collectively known aswhitefaces. They are endemic toAustralia, generally occurring in the arid centre of the continent. They are a striking looking bird, particularly compared to their duller looking relatives, having dark upperparts and white breasts and faces (as suggested by the name). Two species, the chestnut-breasted and banded whitefaces, break up the white undersides with a darker band (or double band). The three species have stubby bills and unlike the rest of the Acanthizidae they consume large numbers of seeds in their diet.
The genus had been originally described asXerophila byJohn Gould, howeverHarry Church Oberholser pointed out that this genus name had been given to a genus of mollusc. Hence he proposed the nameAphelocephala from theAncient Greekaphelos "simple" andkephale (Latin:caput) "head".[2]
It contains the following species:
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