COLY, a small group of African birds about 12 in. long, with crested heads, finch-like bills, short, rounded wings and long tails. The known species are all included in the genus Colius, di vided into three groups: (a) with back and tail brown; (b) with back and tail gray, and with white on the lower back; (c) with back lavendar brown and tail greenish or bluish gray.