Melanocharis is a genus of birds in the berrypecker and longbill family Melanocharitidae that are endemic to New Guinea.
Taxonomy The genus Melanocharis was introduced in 1858 by the English zoologist Philip Sclater to accommodate a single species, Dicaeum niger Lesson, the black berrypecker. This is the type species. The genus name combines the Ancient Greek μελας/melas, μελανος/melanos meaning "black" with χαρις/kharis, χαριτος/kharitos meaning "beauty".
A molecular genetic study published in 2021 found that the spotted berrypecker, then placed in the genus Rhamphocharis, was embedded in Melanocharis. Based on this result, the genus Rhamphocharis was subsumed into Melanocharis.
Species The genus contains the following eight species: Image Common name Scientific name Obscure berrypecker Melanocharis arfakiana Black berrypecker Melanocharis nigra Mid-mountain berrypecker Melanocharis longicauda Fan-tailed berrypecker Melanocharis versteri Satin berrypecker Melanocharis citreola Streaked berrypecker Melanocharis striativentris Thick-billed berrypecker Melanocharis crassirostris Spotted berrypecker Melanocharis piperata
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