Melaniparus is a genus of birds in the tit family that is recognized by some authorities, such as Clements (2007). Analysis of its mtDNA cytochrome b sequence (Gill et al., 2005) indicates that these birds may indeed form a clade, but the interrelationships of the species between them and with the Parus sensu strictissimo is not resolved enough at present; it appears however that separating Melaniparus as a genus of Parus, instead of merely a subgenus, is unwarranted.