The species were previously placed in the genus Luscinia. A large molecular phylogenetic study published in 2010 found that Luscinia as defined in 2003 by Edward C. Dickinson was not monophyletic.[2][3] The genus Calliope, with the type species, Calliope calliope, was reinstated to accommodate a well-defined clade.[4][5] Although the blackthroat (Calliope obscura) had not been included in the 2010 phylogenetic analysis, a subsequent study found that the firethroat and the blackthroat were sister species and not colour morphs of the same species as some publications had previously suggested.[6]
The genus Calliope was introduced by the English ornithologist John Gould in 1836.[7][8]Calliope, from classical Greek meaning beautiful-voiced, was one of the muses in Greek mythology and presided over eloquence and heroic poetry.[9]
^"Muscicapidae". aviansystematics.org. The Trust for Avian Systematics. Retrieved 2023-07-15.
^Dickinson, E.C., ed. (2003). The Howard and Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World (3rd ed.). London: Christopher Helm. ISBN978-0-7136-6536-9.
^Sangster, G.; Alström, P.; Forsmark, E.; Olsson, U. (2010). "Multi-locus phylogenetic analysis of Old World chats and flycatchers reveals extensive paraphyly at family, subfamily and genus level (Aves: Muscicapidae)". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 57 (1): 380–392. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2010.07.008. PMID20656044.
^ abGill, Frank; Donsker, David, eds. (2016). "Chats, Old World flycatchers". World Bird List Version 6.2. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
^Dickinson, E.C.; Christidis, L., eds. (2014). The Howard & Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 2, Passerines (4th ed.). Eastbourne, U.K.: Aves Press. ISBN978-0-9568611-2-2.
^Gould, John (1836). The Birds of Europe. Volume 2. London: J. Gould. Plate 118. The title page has the year as 1837. Plate 118 has legend: Gorget Warbler, Calhope lathamii. The list of plates at the beginning of the volume has Calliope.