any of the arboreal birds of the genus Colius, family Coliidae, and order Coliiformes, of southern Africa. They have a soft hairlike plumage, crested head, and very long tail
Also called: mousebird
Word origin
C19: from New Latin colius, probably from Greek kolios woodpecker
coly in American English
(ˈkoʊli)
nounWord forms: pluralˈcolies
any of an order (Colliformes) of small African birds with a long tail and a crested head, that creeps about on tree branches