Periparus

Periparus is a genus of birds in the tit family that, as defined here, consists of the following species:


 * Rufous-naped Tit, Black-breasted Tit or Dark-grey Tit, Periparus rufonuchalis
 * Coal Tit, Periparus ater
 * Rufous-vented Tit, Periparus rubidiventris
 * Elegant Tit, Periparus elegans
 * Yellow-bellied Tit, Periparus venustulus
 * Palawan Tit, Periparus amabilis

All occur in Asia; the Coal Tit also has a wide range in Europe and North Africa. These birds have white cheeks and most have a tufted head.

Most authorities consider Periparus a subgenus of the genus Parus, but the Handbook of the Birds of the World considers it distinct (del Hoyo et al. 2007), as does the American Ornithologists' Union. This is supported by mtDNA (cytochrome b) sequence analysis (Gill et al., 2005).

The Yellow-bellied Tit of China and the Palawan Tit and Elegant Tit of the Philippines are sometimes placed in a separate genus, Pardaliparus.

To add to the uncertainty, the Elegant Tit is probably paraphyletic and the Coal Tit may be. The melanolophus race of the Coal Tit, called the Spot-winged Tit or Black-crested Tit, may be a separate species, in which case other races of the Coal Tit would be as well.