Paradoxornithidae Parrotbills

While the parrotbills have at times been recognized as a distinct familiy, they have also represented a taxonomic puzzle to systematists, and treatment of the group has varied over time. The core group of parrotbills are a unique assemblage of songbirds with characteristically heavy, strongly arched bills that recalls the bills of parrots, however the family also includes a variety of other species that have variously been included with various babbler and warbler radiations. While mostly restricted to southern and eastern Asia, one species, the Wrentit (Chamaea fasciata) occurs in North America from extreme northwestern Mexico to Oregon.