Paradoxornis
genus of birds
Paradoxornis is a genus of passerine birds in the parrotbill family Paradoxornithidae that are native to East, Southeast and South Asia.
Taxonomy
The genus Paradoxornis was introduced in 1836 by the English ornithologist John Gould to accommodate a single species, Paradoxornis flavirostris Gould, the black-breasted parrotbill. This is the type species of the genus. The genus name combines the Ancient Greek παραδοξος/paradoxos meaning "extraordinary" with ορνις/ornis, ορνιθος/ornithos meaning "bird".
Based on the results molecular phylogenetic study published in 2019, the genus now includes species that were previously placed in the genera Calamornis, Conostoma, Cholornis, and Psittiparus.
Begin with the source’s own compact description: “Paradoxornis” is genus of birds. The dossier treats that line as a proposition to test through Paradoxornis, genus and birds, not as a finished interpretation.
Why this record matters
The phrase “genus of birds” supplies a clear boundary for inquiry. It also exposes the unanswered questions: who defined that boundary, when it became stable and which sources sit outside it.
Datasets, specimens, observations and peer-reviewed methods provide the appropriate test for the technical claims summarized here. The source revision retrieved here is dated Aug 23, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q648414. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference. The first chronological checks are 1836 and 2019.
A general summary may omit uncertainty, sample limits or methodological disagreement that is explicit in the technical record. The lead is largely declarative, so disagreement and counter-evidence require a deliberate search beyond the opening account. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Check terminology, classification and the date of the cited evidence. Scientific names and technical consensus can change while older records retain historical value.
- Current terminology
- Classification context
- Finding cited technical literature
Primary datasets, specimen catalogues, standards bodies and the most recent peer-reviewed literature.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Paradoxornis”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Paradoxornis primary sources, Paradoxornis archive and Paradoxornis research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Paradoxornis”?
- Is the terminology current, historical or disputed?
- Which observation, specimen, dataset or publication supports the account?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Paradoxornis” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.