Tityras, Becards, Sharpbill

The Tityridae family is a group of small to medium-sized birds inhabiting the Neotropics' forests and woodlands, which includes 45 species formerly classified under the Tyrannidae, Pipridae, and Cotingidae families. The English zoologist George Robert Gray first recognized them as a family in 1840. Although Tityridae lacks a widely accepted common name, they are sometimes referred to as tityras, mourners, and allies. These birds range from the diminutive buff-throated purpletuft, which measures 9.5 cm (3.7 inches) and weighs 10 grams (0.35 ounces), to the larger masked tityra, at 24 cm (9.5 inches) and 88 grams (3.1 ounces). Through various morphological and DNA studies, the existence of this family has been established and divided into two main clades. Despite being a traditionally recognized family, a 2019 study suggests that including certain genera may render Tityridae paraphyletic. The family encompasses 11 different genera, each with its own set of unique species, ranging from the various becards in the genus Pachyramphus to the unique sharpbill in the genus Oxyruncus, embodying the incredible diversity of the family.