Colius

Coined by Paul Möhring in 1752, New Latin from an uncertain term + -us. Possibly taken from:

• Ancient Greek κολιός (koliós), a variant of Ancient Greek κελεός (keleós, “green woodpecker”). Möhring placed Colius in the order Picae (lit: the woodpeckers)
• Ancient Greek κολοιός (koloiós, “Jackdaw”), another bird with grayish plumage. Jackdaws are corvids, which Möhring also placed in the order Picae.
• Ancient Greek κολεός (koleós, “scabbard or sheath”), referencing the long tails of the birds which resemble the sheath of a sword.

Colius m

1. A taxonomic genus within the family Coliidae.

• Gill, F.; Wright, M. (2006), Birds of the World: Recommended English Names, Princeton University Press, →ISBN
• Paul Heinrich Gerhard Möhring, Avivm genera, 1752. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/33360662
• Jobling, 2010. Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names
• Dowsett, R. J. 1988. The genera of Afrotropical birds, and their etymology. Part 1. Tauraco 1, 139–147.