| Geokichla | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Siberian thrush(Geokichla sibirica) | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Turdidae |
| Genus: | Geokichla S. Müller, 1836 |
| Type species | |
| Turdus citrinus[1] Latham, 1790 | |
TheGeokichla thrushes are medium-sized mostly insectivorous or omnivorous birds in thethrush family,Turdidae. They were traditionally listed in theZoothera, butmolecular phylogenetic studies published in 2008 led to their placement in a separate genus.
The genusGeokichla was introduced in 1836 by the German naturalistSalomon Müller withTurdus citrinusLatham, 1790, theorange-headed thrush, as thetype species.[2][3][4] The genus name combines theAncient Greekgeō- meaning "ground-" withkikhlē meaning "thrush.[5]
These species were formerly placed in the genusZoothera.Molecular phylogenetic analysis by Gary Voelker and collaborators published in 2008 found thatZoothera waspolyphyletic.[6][7] To createmonophyletic genera 21 species were moved fromZoothera to the resurrected genusGeokichla.[8]
The genus contains the following 21 species:[8]
A subfossil specimen of a ground thrush has been found on the island ofMauritius:[9]
