Black-crowned Tityra (Tityra inquisitor) - HBW 9, p. 449

Taxonomy: L [anius] Inquisitor M. H. K. Lichtenstein, 1823, São Paulo, Brazil.
Genus formerly included with Pachyramphus in the Cotingidae, but transferred to the present family on the grounds of several shared, derived similarities of the skull and syrinx. Because of their similarity to cotingids in respect of many other features, some authors prefer to treat both genera as representing a separate family (Tityridae) or to leave them in Cotingidae. Phylogenetic affinity of genus and of this species currently unknown; molecular investigation needed. In the past, was sometimes placed in a separate genus, Erator, with nominate race and erythrogenys then treated as forming one species, and pelzelni, albitorques and buckleyi as three further species. Form “leucura” was also described as a full species, based only on the type specimen (from R Madeira, in Brazil), but description indicates that it represents an abnormal subadult intermediate between albitorques and pelzelni, ranges of which apparently overlap in the area. A further named race, selbii, of S Brazil is considered inseparable from nominate. Although considerable variation exists among some races, exact limits and biological nature of such divergence require closer inspection; fraserii and albitorques appear to intergrade in Costa Rica. Six subspecies currently recognized.