The liocichlas are a group of birds in the genus of the same name, Liocichla, from the family Leiothrichidae. They are found in Asia from India to China. They belong to a clade also containing at least the Leiothrix, the barwings, the minlas and the sibias. The Liocichla radiation likely began sometime between the mid-Miocene and the Miocene-Pliocene boundary.
Taxonomy L. steerii, endemic to the island of Taiwan, is the sister species to all other species in the genus. Molecular evidence also indicates that an L. phoenicea/L. ripponi clade is sister to an L. bugunorum/L. omeiensis clade, and suggests a complex biogeographic history in the group.
Species The genus contains five species: Image Scientific name Common name Distribution Liocichla phoenicea Red-faced liocichla Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Northeast India, Nepal and western Yunnan. Liocichla ripponi Scarlet-faced liocichla Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, and southern China. Liocichla omeiensis Emei Shan liocichla Sichuan, China.Liocichla bugunorum Bugun liocichla Arunachal Pradesh, India Liocichla steerii Steere's liocichlaTaiwan.
See also Bird species new to science described in the 2000s
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