Of these, only the Middle Miocene "Colius" palustris might plausibly belong there,[4] but it is more often separated in Necrornis.

In younger lineages like Passeriformes, extant genera (e.g. Menura and Orthonyx) were around by then, though simply because two taxa are of same taxonomic rank, they do not need to be of the same age.

All that can be said is that while it cannot be ruled out that the modern genus Colius was around in Miocene Europe, it more likely evolved later, and probably in sub-Saharan Africa.

"Colius" archiaci, "C." consobrinus and "C." paludicola on the other hand are 3 taxa described from fragmentary remains found at Saint-Gérand-le-Puy.

Their taxonomic history is convoluted, being initially described as woodpeckers and variously merged and split.