| New species of wood-wren |
| An international team of ornithologists has described a new species of
wood-wren Henicorhina from cloud forest of the high Andes of
south-western Colombia. The species was named Munchique Wood-Wren
H negreti after the mountain (Cerro Munchique) where it was
discovered (Salaman, P, Coopmans, P, Donegan, T M, Mulligan, M, Cort¨¦s, A,
Hilty, S L & Ortega, L A 2003. A new species of Wood-Wren
(Troglodytidae: Henicorhina) from the western Andes of Colombia.
Ornitol Col 1: 4-20). As well as being an exciting new discovery, this
species breaks new ground because it is the first new bird species to be
described electronically in the first issue of the new on-line bird
journal Ornitolog¨ªa Colombiana. British and Colombian ornithologists,
working with the Colombian bird conservation organization Fundaci¨®n
ProAves, discovered the new species during surveys on Cerro Munchique in
Colombia's western Andean range. They found that wood-wrens in Munchique
National Park had a distinctive flute-like song, quite different from that
of other similar looking wood-wrens found elsewhere in South America, as
well as distinctive plumage features and biometrics. The new species is
found only in difficult-to-access forest typified by perpetual cloud in
the highest elevations of the Munchique massif. Stephen Hilty, author of
the Field guide to the birds of Colombia (1986), first noted the
distinct vocalizations of these wood-wrens in 1978 and heard the birds
again in the early 1980s. In the early 1990's, Paul Coopmans noticed the
peculiar song during his studies in the area. It then took another 10
years to finally solve the wood-wren puzzle of Munchique. The new
wood-wren is specialized to living in densely saturated forest typified by
persistent low-level cloud above 2250 m on the pacific slope of Cerro
Munchique. The widespread Grey-breasted Wood-Wren H leucophrys -
which occurs in coastal mountains from Mexico down to Bolivia - replaces
Munchique Wood-Wren in less densely saturated forest below 2250 m on the
pacific slope (subspecies H l brunneiceps) and also on the much
dryer eastern slope of the massif (subspecies H l leucophrys). Two
other species of wood-wren are known: Bar-winged Wood-Wren H
leucoptera was first described in 1977 and occurs very locally in
northern Peru, whereas White-breasted Wood-Wren H leucosticta is
widespread in most parts of northern South America. Munchique Wood-Wren is confined to the highest elevations of just one mountain and, as its population and geographical range are extremely small, is proposed for the 'Critically Endangered' status. Due to its highly specific ecological requirements, it is potentially threatened by ecological changes and by illegal deforestation, which continues to occur within Munchique National Park. Fundaci¨®n ProAves has recently entered into an agreement with Colombia's Environment Ministry to improve management and protection of the habitat of the newly discovered species. The species' scientific name honours Alavaro Jos¨¦ Negret (1949-98), one of Colombia's leading naturalists and ornithologists. He was a professor at Cauca University in Popay¨¢n, Colombia, and later became director of the Natural History Museum of Cauca University (MHNUC). The International Code for Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) specifies that descriptions of new species must be made in 'published work', which does not include publications on the worldwide web (www). The description of Munchique Wood-Wren has been published in an electronic on-line journal. However, Ornitolog¨ªa Colombiana has an ISBN number, meaning that a hard copy of it is printed and sent to copyright libraries. The journal can also be printed out by others and therefore meets the requirements set by the ICZN. This is the first time that a new species for science has been published electronically and in accordance with the ICZN rules. For more information on the Asociaci¨®n Colombiana de Ornitolog¨ªa (ACO) and its journal Ornitolog¨ªa Colombiana, see http://www.dutchbirding.nl/journal/www.ornitologiacolombiana.org; the complete article can be viewed under 'Revista'. ENNO B EBELS Back to the index |
| New species of pygmy owl |
| Although new bird species are regularly described from various parts
of the globe, South America apparently holds most hidden ornithological
treasures. Another example of this is the description of a new species of
pygmy owl, Pernambuco Pygmy Owl Glaucidium mooreorum (da
Silva, J M C, Coelho, G & Gonzaga, L P 2002. Discovered on the brink
of extinction: a new species of Pygmy-Owl (Strigidae: Glaucidium)
from Atlantic Forest of northeastern Brazil. Ararajuba 10: 123-130). Its
description was based on two study skins collected in Pernambuco,
north-eastern Brazil. The skins were originally collected in 1980 and at
the time thought to represent (a subspecies of) Least Pygmy Owl G
minutissimum or Amazonian Pygmy Owl G hardyi, both from
south-eastern Brazil. The vocalizations were first recorded in 1980 by
Galileu Coelho, who did not realize that the owl that produced the calls
was a distinct species. Only in 2000, Jos?Maria Cardoso da Silva came
across a stored specimen in a bird collection, compared it with similar
species and concluded that it was new to science. After comparing the
bird's song with those of closely related species, Luiz Pedreira Gonzaga
supported Cardoso da Silva's hypothesis. In November 2001, the owl - then
not yet identified as a new species - was observed and videoed in the wild
for the first time. It is closely related to Least and Amazonian but
differs in plumage colouration, shape and vocalizations (a sound-recording
is posted on the internet: www.owlpages.com/species/glaucidium/mooreorum/Default.htm).
It is the third new pygmy owl to be described for South America witin a
decade, after Subtropical Pygmy Owl G parkeri in 1995 and
Cloud-forest Pygmy Owl G nubicola in 1999. The new species is known from only two localities in Pernambuco and should be listed as 'critically endangered'. Its entire range is estimated to cover less than 100 km2. The Atlantic Forest biodiversity hotspot in which it occurs is one of the most threatened in the world. The Pernambuco Center is biologically diverse even by Atlantic Forest standards, with 39 endemic bird species and subspecies and the largest number of threatened bird species in Brazil - 18 including Pernambuco Pygmy Owl and Alagoas Curassow Mitu mitu, a species now labeled 'extinct in the wild'. Only 1907 km2 (5%) is left of 39 567 km2 of original forest. The remaining forest is fragmented in more than 1400 parcels, most of which are less than 100 hectares and surrounded by agricultural and urban development. The name mooreorum was chosen in honour of Gordon Moore, founder of the Intel company, and his wife Betty Moore, who have made significant contributions to conservation. In 2001, the Moore Foundation gave Conservation International 261 million USD in a series of grants over 10 years to implement a major global strategy for biodiversity conservation. Enno B Ebels Back to the index |
| New species of seedeater |
| Blue seedeaters Amaurospiza are rare and little-known finches
from Central and South America; two or three species have so far been
recognized: Blue Seedeater A concolor (including Slate-blue
Seedeater A (c) relicta) and Blackish-blue Seedeater A
moesta. A new species has recently been described, Carrizal
Blue-black Seedeater (or Carrizal Seedeater) A carrizalensis,
named after the tiny islet where it was discovered (Lentino, M &
Restall, R 2003. A new species of Amaurospiza blue seedeater from
Venezuela. Auk 120: 600-606). Only three birds were found on Isla Carrizal
in eastern Venezuela (07:54 N, 63:04 W) and it is unknown what size the
population may be. The discovery was a surprise to the researchers,
because the Caroni river area in the Orinoco basin has been relatively
well-covered by surveys in the past and because no other
Amaurospiza species have been recorded from Venezuela before. The
reason the finch had not been discovered until now is probably because its
habitat is impenetrable spiny bamboo vegetation and because Carrizal is an
uninhabited islet in the middle of the Caroni river. From examination of the three birds collected, Carrizal Blue-black Seedeater was identified as a separate species on basis of its larger bill compared with other finches and because of small differences in plumage. The male is dull greyish-blue, while the female is brownish. The blue seedeater group had never before been found in Venezuela - and northern South America - and the geographically closest member of the group, Blue Seedeater, lives on the other side of the Andes in Colombia and Ecuador. The new seedeater was only discovered because a Venezuelan electricity company, EDELCA, had commissioned a survey to assess local wildlife before commencing work on a dam across the nearby Caura river. Carrizal Island, as EDELCA property, was already scheduled for deforestation for development of the Tocoma Dam, part of a major hydro-electric project along the length of the Caroni river. Part of the reason for the survey was to see what could be done to compensate for the loss of spiny bamboo caused by razing the island, and, at that time, Carrizal Blue-black Seedeater had not been identified as a new species. As a result, the island was cleared before its ornithological importance was fully recognized. New surveys for the finch will now be undertaken in the vicinity where the same bamboo is also found. Enno B Ebels Back to the index |
| New species of forest-falcon |
| Forest-falcons Micrastur are small Accipiter-like
raptors occurring in tropical forest in most of South America. Until
recently, six species were recognized. Four species are widespread and
common, whereas two have more restricted ranges and are considered rare.
Forest-falcons are vocal but very secretive and hard to observe.
Therefore, populations have often been underestimated and for most taxa,
little is known about breeding and behaviour. With this in mind, it may
not come as a big surprise that studies by Andrew Whittaker revealed the
existence of a hitherto undescribed species, Cryptic Forest-falcon
M mintoni, inhabiting the rainforests of Brazil and adjacent
north-eastern Bolivia (Whittaker, A 2002. A new species of forest-falcon
(Falconidae: Micrastur) from southeastern Amazonia and the Atlantic
rainforests of Brazil. Wilson Bull 114: 421-445). The initial detection of the cryptic new taxon was triggered by its distinctive voice, first heard and recorded by the author on 28 October 1997 at Caxiuan? Pan? Brazil; this voice is notably different from any of its congeners. The bird responded to play-back of its own voice and was noted to differ in several aspects from other forest-falcons. Several specimens of the new taxon were subsequently located in museums; because the new species closely resembles Lined Forest-Falcon M gilvicollis, these specimens had remained unrecognized for more than a century. The new taxon not only has a vocal repertoire that differs from those of its congeners, Lined Forest-Falcon, Plumbeous Forest-Falcon M plumbeus and Barred Forest-Falcon M ruficollis, but also exhibits subtle yet consistent morphological distinctions - especially in the pattern of head, underparts and tail - that distinguish it from all other forest-falcons. There are also differences in biometrics. The species inhabits humid terra firme forest in south-eastern Amazonia, and a disjunct population exists in the Atlantic rainforests of eastern Brazil (the latter known only from historic specimens) and merits great conservation concern. The species has been named after Clive D T Minton, friend and birding mentor of the author. The English and Portuguese name (Falcão Cryptico) refer to the fact that this taxon has remained undetected for so long, despite specimens being present in several collections and despite the fact that it is not uncommon within its now known range. Enno B Ebels Back to the index |
| New species of parrot |
| The parrot genus Pionopsitta is considered to comprise of seven
(or eight by some authors) species which have an allopatric distribution
in Central and South America. Three species occur in the Amazon basin and
one of these, Vulturine Parrot P vulturina, is (in adult plumage)
characterized by a black bare facial skin (covered by black bristles)
extending up to the central crown. Until recently, birds with an orange
and completely bare head occurring in the same area were considered
immatures of Vulturine Parrot, but it appears that these birds in fact
represent a separate species which has now formally been described as
Pionopsitta aurantiocephala (Gaban-Lima, R, Raposo, M A &
Höfling, E 2002. Description of a new species of Pionopsitta (Aves:
Psittacidae) endemic to Brazil. Auk 119: 815-819). The new species, for which the vernacular name Bald Parrot was proposed elsewhere, is characterized by the completely bare orange head. While studying series of skins and recently collected specimens, the authors discovered that the youngest immature stages of Vulturine Parrot have green-and-yellow head-feathers and that with the loss of these feathers the black bare skin appears; an immature stage with a bare head which is not black simply does not exist. Hence, the assumption that the orange-headed birds were immature Vulturine Parrot is no longer valid. Not unimportantly, it was also found that some of the recently collected orange-headed birds had well-developed gonads and therefore must have been adults. P aurantiocephala is now known from a few localities along tributaries of the lower Madeira and upper Tapajós rivers. It occurs probably sympatric with Vulturine Parrot on both sides of the lower and middle Tapajós river. Although part of this area economically benefits from ecotourism, other parts of the Tapajós river system (as well as the entire southern border of Amazonia) are constantly threatened by destructive logging activities. Andr?J van Loon Back to the index |
| More Amazonian parakeets |
| The vast Amazonian region still holds many unravelled ornithological
mysteries and detailed research into any complex group is likely to reveal
revised taxonomic affinities or even as yet undescribed taxa, such as the
newly described Bald Parrot Pionopsitta aurantiocephala (see
above). The Psittacidae prove to be a rewarding subject in this
respect, as is shown by a recently published paper about Amazonian
Pyrrhura parakeets (Joseph, L 2002. Geographical variation,
taxonomy and distribution of some Amazonian Pyrrhura parakeets.
Ornitologia Neotropical 13: 337-363; an electronic appendix of colour
images supplementing the paper can be found on the Internet at
www.acnatsci.org/publication/appendix4.html). In this paper, Leo Joseph
substantiates that Painted Parakeet (or Painted Conure) P picta,
belonging to the group of 25-30 Neotropical Pyrrhura parakeets and
hitherto treated as a single polytypic species, is actually better
considered as consisting of six different species. Two of these have not
been described before. The author examined 231 specimens from various
collections and obtained general data on an additional 110 specimens,
divided over seven geographical groupings. Each specimen was scored for
seven morphological characters, as well as for morphometric statistics. On
basis of these examinations, the specimens grouped into five forms next to
P picta (sensu stricto), with each form best treated as a separate
species. The status of a sixth form is ambiguous and, awaiting genetic
analysis, is left to debate. The author indicates that treating the five
forms '?as subspecies of P picta under the Biological Species
Concept perpetuates blind adherence to the arrangement Peters (1937)
introduced with no justification?. Instead, Joseph advocates that P
picta and Red-crowned Parakeet P roseifrons should be treated
as two species by all modern species concepts, even if gene flow from P
picta is suggested in some specimens. The other four groups could
possibly be treated as subspecies of P roseifrons (rather than P
picta) but given their disjunct distribution, there is no hard case to
consider them one and the same species. In fact, Joseph reverses the
burden of proof ('species until proven subspecies'), preferring to treat
diagnosable allopatric forms as species rather than subspecies until there
is falsifiable evidence that forms could and would interbreed when they
might come into contact. Therefore, he proposes to treat every group as a
distinct species, based on consistent but often subtle plumage
differences. Joseph acknowledges that, with further knowledge, two or more
groups may prove to be so closely related that a rearrangement as
subspecies under one species could be justified but states that this
speculation should not stand in the way of a revised current taxonomic
treatment. In his words: 'Far from setting taxonomy back 100 years as some
critics of this approach argue, interim use of a binominal nomenclature
does precisely what a taxonomy should do: summarize present understanding
of relationships in the group in question'. Since other taxa in
Pyrrhura have been diagnosed by one or a few subtly varying
characters, Joseph considers it justified (or even inevitable) that weakly
but consistently differentiated forms are also recognized as species since
this treatment accords with previous taxonomic treatment of the
genus. As a result of Joseph's research, in addition to Painted Parakeet (P picta sensu stricto) from northern Brazil, the Guianas and southern Venezuela, and Red-crowned Parakeet from two disjunct populations in western Amazonia, four more species are proposed. Two of them were described before and are now provisionally upgraded to species level: Deville's Parakeet P lucianii, known only from Tef?on the Rio Solimões and the Rio Purús in Brazil, and Hellmayr's Parakeet P amazonum from eastern and south-eastern Amazonia. Two taxa are new to science and first described in this paper: Madeira Parakeet P snethlageae from the drainage of the Rio Madeira in Bolivia and Brazil, and Wavy-breasted Parakeet P peruviana, known from two separate populations in Amazonian Peru. Because of this disjunct distribution, further taxonomic subdivision of P peruviana may be warranted after closer study of both populations. The name P snethlageae honours Emilia Snethlage, who first recognized the distinctiveness of this form in 1914. The scientific name of P peruviana acknowledges the fact that this taxon occurs only in Peru; the vernacular name refers to the extensive subterminal bands on the feathers of the throat and breast. The main plumage differences separating the six taxa are related to the absence or presence and extent of bright red in the plumage, the extent of blue on the forehead and the absence or presence of broad subterminal bands on the throat and breast. Joseph advocates further study of the group, indicating that his revised taxonomic basis in this paper is developed as a platform for full systematic study. In this respect, he emphasizes the need for freshly collected, well-labelled specimens from all the populations under study. Enno B Ebels Back to the index |
| New species of hawk-owl |
| Since the late 1980s, it was known that an unknown species of owl
existed on Sumba, Lesser Sundas, Indonesia. Most observers that reported
observations considered it to be a scops owl Otus; others even
argued that the observations referred to a misidentified endemic Sumba
Boobook Ninox rudolfi (a hawk-owl species). On 20 December 2001,
Jerry Olsen and Susan Trost observed, photographed, tape-recorded and
videoed three pairs of the owl along a road west of Waingapu, and on 30
December 2001 a specimen was shot by a local hunter c 4 km from the same
location and shown to JO. Subsequent analysis of the cytochrome-b gene
revealed unequivocally that the specimen was a Ninox species.
Recently, it was described as Little Sumba Hawk-owl Ninox
sumbaensis (Olsen, J, Wink, M, Sauer-Gürth, H & Trost, S 2002. A
new Ninox owl from Sumba, Indonesia. Emu 102: 223-231). There was no
overlap in body length and body mass between this specimen and other
Ninox owls of the region and the call was a monosyllabic hoot
repeated every three seconds, unlike the repeated cluck-cluck-cluck call
of Sumba Boobook or the disyllabic calls made by most hawk-owls. The
conservation status of this new species remains uncertain but the authors
argue that it might be threatened. Andr?J van Loon Back to the index |
| A seventh species of Certhia treecreeper |
| On 30 May 2000, at the top of the table mountain plateau Wa Shan,
Sichuan, China (29:38 N, 102:57 E), Marten Olsen and Yue-Hua Sun observed
a treecreeper Certhia which immediately struck them as distinctive
in size, plumage coloration and song. The bird was collected. Studies of
skins and literature showed that this treecreeper belonged to a taxon that
was described in 1995 as a subspecies of Eurasian Treecreeper, C
familiaris tianquanensis (Li, G-Y 1995. A new subspecies of
Certhia familiaris (Passeriformes: Certhiidae). Acta
Zootaxonomica Sinica 20: 373-377. [In Chinese; English summary.]). Study
of morphology, vocalizations and the cytochrome-b gene of the specimen
collected on 30 May 2000 confirmed that this taxon should be considered as
a separate species: Sichuan Treecreeper C tianquanensis (Martens,
J, Eck, S & Sun, Y-H 2002. Certhia tianquanensis Li, a
treecreeper with relict distribution in Sichuan, China. J Ornithol 143:
440-456). The species appears to be more closely related to Brown-throated
Treecreeper C discolor than to Eurasian Treecreeper. It is
differentiated by a long wing and tail, an extremely short bill and
smoky-brown underparts, gradually becoming paler from the upper belly and
breast towards the white throat and chin; the genetic difference of the
specimen with Brown-throated Treecreeper was 8.8%, indicating that the
taxon has been separated for a long time; and the voice is strikingly
different from all six other Certhia species. The species probably
occupies a very restricted range and has until now only been found at four
localites in western Sichuan. Andr?J van Loon Back to the index |
| Two Three-toed Woodpeckers |
| New research on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences of Three-toed
Woodpeckers Picoides tridactylus has suggested that it actually
consists of two species (Zink, R M, Rohwer, S, Drovetski, S,
Blackwell-Rago, R C & Farrell, S L 2002. Holarctic phylogeography and
species limits of Three-toed Woodpeckers. Condor 104: 167-170). The
analysis is based on 29 Three-toed Woodpeckers from 12 sites in Eurasia
and North America. The study included five subspecies: P t
tridactylus, P t crissoleucus and P t albidior from
Eurasia and P t fasciatus and P t bacatus from North
America. The results show that woodpeckers from Eurasia and North America
form separate (monophyletic) groups. These groups differ genetically by
about 4%, indicating that the two populations of Three-toed Woodpeckers
have been separated for a long period. Robert Zink and his co-workers
recommend formal taxonomic action and suggest that North American
Three-toed Woodpeckers be separated as Picoides dorsalis. The new -
and rather lengthy - vernacular names following this split become Eurasian
Three-toed Woodpecker and American Three-toed Woodpecker, respectively.
Within Eurasia, sequences were very similar and did not show geographic
structure. The authors point out that this lack of structure across a
large area points to a recent range expansion, perhaps following
reforestation after the last ice age. George Sangster Back to the index |
| New species of pipit |
| A recent study of the evolutionary relationships between pipits
suggested the existence of a previously undescribed species (Voelker, G
1999. Molecular evolutionary relationships in the avian genus Anthus
(pipits: Motacillidae). Mol Phylogen Evol 11: 84-94). DNA evidence
indicated that a freshly-collected specimen from Kimberley, South Africa,
which was originally identified as a Long-billed Pipit Anthus
similis, is more closely related to Malindi Pipit A melindae
than to Long-billed Pipit. Subsequent comparisons of the specimen revealed
several differences with Long-billed and other pipits, including Malindi
Pipit. Now, after several years of field work, the pipit is named
Kimberley Pipit Anthus pseudosimilis (Liversidge, R & Voelker,
G 2002. The Kimberley Pipit: a new African species. Bull Br Ornithol Club
122: 93-109). Kimberley Pipit differs from the sympatric Buffy Pipit A
vaalensis and Plain-backed Pipit A leucophrys in having a
streaked back and breast. It differs from African Pipit A
cinnamomeus in having darker brown streaks on the back, a more
extensive breastband with generally heavier streaking, and by its larger
size. Although difficult to differentiate from Long-billed Pipit, it
differs by a different wing formula and primary emargination, a shorter
bill, a longer hind-claw, a more distinct cream supercilium, rufous
ear-coverts and black malar stripe; it also differs from Long-billed Pipit
in habitat, behaviour and breeding biology. Compared with Kimberley Pipit,
Malindi Pipit of coastal Kenya has heavier streaking on the back, a
thinner malar stripe and streaking on the belly and flanks. Kimberley
Pipit is now known from 17 specimens and several confirmed sight records,
all from the interior of South Africa and south-western Namibia. Where it
occurs, Kimberley Pipit is fairly common and appears to be sedentary,
although some winter movements may occur. George Sangster Back to the index |
| New species of antbird (cf Dutch Birding 24: 189, 2002) |
| Explorations of certain sandy soil habitats in the drainages of the
Ríos Tigre and Corrientes in north-eastern Peru have yielded four
previously undescribed bird species. Two of these, Ancient Antwren
Herpsilochmus gentryi and Mishana Tyrannulet Zimmerius
villarejoi have already been named (cf Dutch Birding 20: 142-143,
1998; 24: 71-72, 2002). A third new species, Allpahuayo Antbird
Percnostola arenarum, was recently added (Isler, M L, Alvarez
Alonso, J, Isler, P R & Whitney, B M 2002. A new species of
Percnostola antbird (Passeriformes: Thamnophilidae) from Amazonian
Peru, and an analysis of species limits within Percnostola
rufifrons. Wilson Bull 113: 164-176). (Please note that although the
paper was published in the 'June 2001' issue of Wilson Bulletin, this
issue was actually published in February 2002.) The new antbird is
probably most closely related to Black-headed Antbird P rufifrons.
Seven morphological differences, three vocal and two behavioural
characteristics distinguish Allpahuayo Antbird from Black-headed Antbird.
As with many other antbirds, the morphological differences are more
pronounced in females than in males. Although present data suggest that
the Río Napo separates the ranges of Allpahuayo and Black-headed Antbird,
this requires substantiation. The authors conclude that Allpahuayo Antbird
'may occupy one of the most specialized habitat niches in the smallest
geographic range of any thamnophilid antbird' (although they point out
that the recently described Marsh Antbird Stymphalornis
acutirostris of south-eastern Brazil may be another candidate for this
distinction). George Sangster Back to the index |
| New species in 2001 (cf Dutch Birding 24: 70, 2001) |
| In 2001, several new bird species have been formally described in
various ornithological journals. Five of these (Gunnison Sage Grouse
Centrocercus minimus, Scarlet-banded Barbet Capito wallacei,
Foothill Elaenia Myiopagis ollalai, Caatinga Antwren
Herpsilochmus sellowi and Chestnut-eared Laughingthrush Garrulax
konkakinhensis) have been given attention in the previous volume of
Dutch Birding (see Dutch Birding 23: 61, 172, 2001). Here, the remaining
new species are shortly reviewed (one still from 2000), with the exception
of Mekong Wagtail Motacilla samveasnae which is treated separately
above. During an expedition at sea in the South Pacific in 1927 (!), six petrel Pterodroma specimens were collected which were originally labelled as Juan Fernandez Petrel P externa and later (1976) considered to belong to an unknown, smaller form of White-necked Petrel P cervicalis. In 1983, another bird was found on the shores of New South Wales, Australia. These specimens have now been described as a new species, Vanuatu Petrel Pterodroma occulta (Imber, M J & Tennyson, A J D 2001. A new petrel species (Procellariidae) from the south-west Pacific. Emu 101: 123-127). The new species appears to be closely related to White-necked Petrel but is smaller, with a longer tail and entirely grey exposed primaries from below. It presumably breeds in the Banks Islands or elsewhere in northern Vanuatu but no breeding sites are known (yet). The name occulta refers to the taxon remaining unidentified for so long, as well as to the yet undiscovered breeding grounds. Specimens of woodcock Scolopax collected (one) or ringed (four) in the 1960s at Dalton Pass, Nueva Vizcaya Province, Luzon, Philippines, had always been considered to be Eurasian Woodcock S rusticola which was believed to be the only woodcock species in the Philippines. In 1993, woodcocks were observed and heard displaying on Mount Kitanglad, Bukidnon Province, Mindanao, Philippines, which were definitely not Eurasian Woodcock. After the collection of another specimen from the latter location in 1995, it was realized that all these birds (including the Dalton Pass specimens) represent a new species which was named Bukidnon Woodcock Scolopax bukidnonensis (Kennedy, R S, Fisher, T H, Harrap, S C B, Diesmos, A C & Manamtam, A S 2001. A new species of woodcock (Aves: Scolopacidae) from the Philippines and a re-evaluation of other Asian/Papuasian woodcock. Forktail 17: 1-12). In this paper, morphology as well as display, vocalizations, habits and breeding behaviour are dealt with and compared with other Asian/Papuasian Scolopax taxa. Bukidnon Woodcock appears to be locally common above 900 m in the mountains where it has been found. These mountain forests are relatively inaccessible and seem to have little attraction for cultivation or commercial tree logging. Therefore, the species is not considered to be immediately threatened. Interestingly, Eurasian Woodcock still remains on the list of Philippine birds based on published reports of two old specimens (1929 and 1931) collected in Philippine lowlands and deposited in the National Museum of the Philippines which, however, cannot be studied anymore because they were destroyed during World War II. There are no recent records of Eurasian Woodcock. A new species of piha (Cotingidae) was described from the Colombian Andes: Chestnut-capped Piha Lipaugus weberi (Cuervo, A M, Salaman, P G W, Donegan, T M & Ochoa, J M 2001. A new species of piha (Cotingidae: Lipaugus) from the Cordillera Central of Colombia. Ibis 143: 353-368). It appears to be related to Dusky Piha L fuscocinereus but differs by, for example, its much smaller size, a distinctive chestnut cap and unique vocalizations. It occurs in a narrow belt of very humid premontane forests (1500-1820 m), which makes the new species immediately vulnerable to deforestation and habitat fragmentation. In the family of tyrants and tyrannulets (Tyrannidae), three new species have been described. Chapada Flycatcher Suiriri islerorum was described from the cerrado region of Brazil and adjacent eastern Bolivia (Zimmer, K J, Whittaker, A & Oren, D C 2001. A cryptic new species of flycatcher (Tyrannidae: Suiriri) from the cerrado region of central South America. Auk 118: 56-78). It appears close to Campo Suiriri S suiriri affinis but it has clearly different vocalizations and unique wing-lifting displays. The authors present a lengthy comparison of morphology and vocalizations of the Suiriri taxa. Interestingly, they already refer to an equally elaborate study of the complex published in the next issue of The Auk (Hayes, F E 2001. Geographic variation, hybridization, and the leapfrog pattern of evolution in the Suiriri Flycatcher (Suiriri suiriri) complex. Auk 118: 457-471). A new tyrannulet, Mishana Tyrannulet Zimmerius villarejoi was described from Amazonian 'white sand forests' in northern Peru (Alonso, J A & Whitney, B M 2001. A new Zimmerius tyrannulet (Aves: Tyrannidae) from white sand forests of northern Amazonian Peru. Wilson Bull 113: 1-9). It is probably most closely related to Red-billed Tyrannulet Z cinereicapillus, which is however much larger. It differs from all other small tyrannids by its distinctly structured vocalizations. In 1999, the Zona Reservada Allpahuayo-Mishana was created in an effort to safeguard the largest concentration of these vulnerable white sand habitats in the amazon region of Peru. However, despite this official protection, tree felling poses a continuing threat and it is feared that much of the known population of Mishana Tyrannulet is at risk. A new tody-tyrant, Lulu's Tody-tyrant Poecilotriccus luluae was described from the north-eastern Andes in Peru (Johnson, N K & Jones, R E 2001. A new species of tody-tyrant (Tyrannidae: Poecilotriccus) from northern Peru. Auk 118: 334-341). It occurs in an isolated population in mountain forests (1829-2200 m) of the Cordillera de Colán, Amazonas, Peru. It appears closely related to the allopatric Rufous-crowned Tody-tyrant P ruficeps peruvianus, from which it is distributionally separated by the North Peruvian Low. Finally, Beijing Flycatcher Ficedula beijingnica was described from Beijing, China (Zheng, G, Song, J, Zhang, Z, Zhang, Y, & Guo, D 2000. A new species of flycatcher (Ficedula) from China (Aves: Passeriformes: Muscicapidae). Journ Beijing Normal Univ (Nat Sci) 36: 405-409). Its appearance is close to Narcissus Flycatcher F narcissina elisae but it is reported to differ especially in song. ANDR?J VAN LOON Back to the index |
| New species of wagtail (cf Dutch Birding 24: 70, 2001) |
| A new species of 'black-and-white' wagtail Motacilla was
recently described by an international team of ornithologists. The species
appeared to have been first collected in December 1972 in Ubon Ratchani
province in south-eastern Thailand. The two birds collected, however, went
into the books as belonging to the subspecies M alba alboides of
White Wagtail, a mistake that was copied many times thereafter and that
led to confusion surrounding many 'White Wagtail'-records in southern
Indochina. It took almost 30 years before this error was realized and the
true status of these birds became known (Duckworth, J W, Alström, P,
Davidson, P, Evans, T D, Poole, C M, Tan, S & Timmins, R J 2001. A new
species of wagtail from the lower Mekong basin. Bull Br Ornithol Cl 121:
152-182). In February 2001, five of the authors visited several rivers in
Stung Treng province, north-eastern Cambodia, and observed over 100
individuals (adults and second-year birds) of the mysterious wagtail.
During the survey in February 2001, eight birds were trapped and measured
and several birds were videoed, photographed and/or sound-recorded (calls
and two song-types). The eight trapped birds were collected; the holotype
and seven paratypes were deposited at the Natural History Museum (BMNH) at
Tring, England. Juveniles were studied and photographed by one of the
authors in April 2001 in Kratie province, Cambodia. The publication gives
detailed descriptions of plumages, sexing, ageing, moult, vocalizations,
habitat, breeding and behaviour, distribution, conservation and comparison
with related species; it includes several photographs of live birds as
well as the specimens. Based on all these aspects, the authors firmly
substantiated that the studied wagtails present a hitherto undescribed
species and named it Mekong Wagtail M samveasnae, in honour of the
young Cambodian ornithologist Sam Veasna who died on 3 December 1999. The
new species most closely resembles African Pied Wagtail M aguimp
and also shares characters with White-browed M maderaspatenis and
Japanese Wagtail M grandis; all four share a largely black head and
back with a prominent white supercilium. Evidence is presented why the new
taxon should be considered a species of its own and not a subspecies of
African Pied Wagtail or one of the other species. The species occurs along
the Mekong river and its tributaries in Cambodia and Laos. Apart from the
1972 record, the species has not yet been recorded again in Thailand but
could well occur there. Mekong Wagtail does not seem to be under direct
threat and numbers are considered to be 'healthy' in Cambodia. However,
the many proposed projects for the construction of dams in the lower
Mekong area could conceivably quickly alter the fate for existing
populations. Moreover, since the area of its known world range is
extremely small (and, within this range, it is confined to river banks),
the species may best be considered 'near-threatened' following the IUCN
(1994) red list criteria for threatened species. This status could change
to 'vulnerable' if a dam project in a key stretch of river within the
breeding range is developed. ENNO B EBELS Back to the index |
| New species of sage grouse (cf Dutch Birding 23: 172, 2001) |
| In the late 1970s, wings of Sage Grouse Centrocercus
urophasianus from the Gunnison Basin, Colorado, USA, were noted to be
smaller than wings obtained elsewhere in Colorado. Subsequent studies have
shown that the Gunnison population also differs from other Sage Grouse in
biometrics, courtship display and plumage. Recent studies of both
mitochondrial and nuclear DNA revealed additional differences. The
scientists who discovered these differences have proposed that the
Gunnison population represents a new species: Gunnison Sage Grouse
Centrocercus minimus (Young, J R, Braun C E, Oyler-Chance, S J,
Hupp, J W & Quinn, T W 2000. A new species of sage-grouse
(Phasianidae: Centrocercus) from southwestern Colorado. Wilson Bull
112: 445-453). The species is limited to just eight isolated populations
in south-western Colorado and San Juan County, Utah. The total estimated
spring breeding population is fewer than 5000 individuals. Some
populations of Gunnison Sage Grouse are very small and several former
populations are known to have become extirpated since 1980, so special
conservation measures are clearly warranted to ensure its continued
survival. George Sangster Back to the index |
| New species of antwren (cf Dutch Birding 23: 172, 2001) |
| Antbirds are a prominent part of the South American fauna but many
species are poorly known and even new species are regularly discovered.
During the 1980s, two new species of antwren were discovered in
north-eastern Brazil. Further field work in this region and detailed
museum studies have revealed a third new species which was recently named
as Caatinga Antwren Herpsilochmus sellowi (Whitney, B M, Pacheco, J
F, Buzzetti, D R C & Parrini, R 2000. Systematic revision and
biogeography of the Herpsilochmus pileatus complex, with
description of a new species from northeastern Brazil. Auk 117: 869-891).
The new species was previously confused with Bahia Antwren H
pileatus, but these species are now known to be different in several
structural, plumage and vocal characteristics. Caatinga Antwren occurs
patchily in caatinga woodland in several states in north-eastern Brazil.
The 'true' Bahia Antwren is confined to southern coastal Bahia where it is
restricted to a narrow band of restinga woodland and coastal forest. Both
species are considered to be rare or vulnerable. Another Brazilian
endemic, Black-capped Antwren H atricapillus, consists of two
morphs which show weak differences in plumage and vocal characters. The
authors suggest that these forms may be in the process of speciation but
hesitate to describe one morph as a new form. George Sangster Back to the index |
| New species of laughingthrush (cf Dutch Birding 22: 172, 2000) |
| After the description of Golden-winged Laughingthrush Garrulax
ngoclinhensis from the Western (= Central) Highlands of Vietnam (cf
Dutch Birding 21: 128, 1999), Jonathan Eames and his colleagues recently
described yet another new laughingthrush from the Central Highlands:
Chestnut-eared Laughingthrush G konkakinhensis, named after its
type locality, Mount Kon Ka Kinh, Gia Lai province, Vietnam (Eames, J C
& Eames, C 2001. A new species of Laughingthrush (Passeriformes:
Garrulacinae) from the Central Highlands of Vietnam. Bull BOC 121: 10-23).
This new species appears to belong to a species group together with
Rufous-chinned Laughingthrush G rufogularis (and two other
species). Although the new species resembles the western subspecies of
rufogularis, it shows several unique plumage features warranting
its separation as a species. It occurs from 1600 m to the top of Mount Kon
Ka Kinh at 1748 m. Chestnut-eared Laughingthrush is currently only known
from Mount Kon Ka Kinh but it seems likely to occur also in the adjacent
province of Kon Tum and, since its habitat (primary upper montane
evergreen forests) at this particular altitudinal range also extends
across the border, it may also be found in Laos. The three sites where the
holotype and paratypes have been collected are included in the recently
established Mount Kon Ka Kinh Nature Reserve so it seems that the future
of this population can be secured. Andr¨¦ J van Loon Back to the index |
| New species of flycatcher (cf Dutch Birding 23: 61, 2001) |
| In June 1992, a flycatcher was observed and tape-recorded at an
elevation of 1000 m in south-eastern Ecuador which could not be assigned
to any known species. Later that year, a pair was collected. After
comparison of the vocalizations and the study of skins, Paul Coopmans and
Niels Krabbe were convinced that they had found a new species. Additional
specimens were collected in 1996 in north-eastern Ecuador and a specimen
from Peru was identified in the collection of the American Museum of
Natural History. The new species has now been formally described as
Foothill Elaenia Myiopagis olallai (Coopmans, P & Krabbe, N
2000. A new species of flycatcher (Tyrannidae: Myiopagis) from
eastern Ecuador and eastern Peru. Wilson Bull 112: 305-312). M
olallai closely resembles Grey Elaenia M caniceps and Forest
Elaenia M gaimardii, but it is well differentiated
vocally. Foothill Elaenia is now known to occur in the foothills of the Andes (890-1500 m): in two national parks in Ecuador (three sites on the slope of the Sumaco volcano in north-eastern Ecuador, and one location near Zamora, south-eastern Ecuador; type locality) and from one location near Luisiana, Peru. Presumably, it also occurs locally in the region between these areas. However, forests at elevations where the species occurs are disappearing at an alarming rate. Andr¨¦ J van Loon Back to the index |
| New species of barbet (cf Dutch Birding 23: 61, 2001) |
| In July 1996, during an expedition of the Louisiana State University
Museum of Natural Science, an unnamed isolated Andes peak (1538 m) was
reached, c 77 km west-north-west of Contamana, Loreto, eastern Peru (c
7:05 S, 75:39 W). During the survey of the surrounding cloud forest, the
expedition members collected several specimens of a barbet which they
immediately expected to be new to science. Recently, this new barbet has
been formally described as Scarlet-banded Barbet Capito wallacei
(O'Neill, J P, Lane, D F, Kratter, A W, Capparella, A P & Fox Joo, C
2000. A striking new species of barbet (Capitoninae: Capito) from
the eastern Andes of Peru. Auk 117: 569-577). Apart from the descriptions
of the collected birds, the paper also documents vocalizations and various
aspects of the biology based on photographs, tape-recordings and field
observations. Also, plumages and vocalizations are extensively compared
with those of other Neotropical barbets and discussed in relation to
existing phylogenetic studies on the Capitoninae. C wallacei
belongs to a group of largely black-and-white plumaged birds, also
containing Orange-fronted C squamatus, Spot-crowned C
maculicoronatus and White-mantled Barbets C hypoleucus. The most remarkable aspect of this new barbet is that it appears to be the only Capito species restricted to montane cloud forest, whilst the other species of the genus are widely distributed in the lowland forests of northern South America. Scarlet-banded Barbet is presently only known from the isolated peak of the type locality (so-called 'peak 1538') but it is expected to occur also in cloud forests on other isolated peaks of the same mountain ridge system. The prospects for the protection of the area seem to be promising. Andr¨¦ J van Loon Back to the index |
| New species of bush-warbler (cf Dutch Birding 22: 249, 2000) |
| A species of bush-warbler Bradypterus has been known to occur
in the mountains of Taiwan for a long time. After its discovery in 1917,
it was considered to belong to several Asian bush-warbler species by
various authors, but only recently it was realized that the Taiwan
population represents a separate species. It has now been formally
described as Taiwan Bush-Warbler B alishanensis (Rasmussen, P C,
Round, P D, Dickinson, E C & Rozendaal, F G 2000. A new bush-warbler
(Sylviidae, Bradypterus) from Taiwan. Auk 117: 279-289). A colour
painting by Ian Lewington of the new species and some of its congeners
features on the cover of this issue of The Auk. The new species differs from other bush-warblers especially by its distinct song, both sounding clearly different and showing a different structure in sonagrams. Furthermore, there are slight but consistent differences in bill structure, plumage coloration and wing formula. The name alishanensis is derived from the A-li Shan, the mountain where the first specimens were collected in 1917. Taiwan Bush-Warbler appears to be a relatively common breeding bird between 1200 and 3000 m, occurring in various, also disturbed, habitat types in at least two major mountain areas. It is, therefore, not considered threatened. The number of endemic bird species on Taiwan now stands at 15. Andr¨¦ J van Loon Back to the index |
| Another newly described species of golden-spectacled warbler (cf Dutch Birding 22: 60, 2000) |
| In a recent paper in Ibis, Per Alström and Urban Olsson presented
evidence that Golden-spectacled Warbler Seicercus burkii actually
represents a complex of five species, of which one was described as a new
species (cf Dutch Birding 21: 303, 1999). Another study of the taxonomy of
this group, which was published at roughly the same time, independently
arrives at the conclusion that 'Golden-spectacled Warbler' represents a
complex of species but recognizes no less than seven species (Martens, J,
Eck, S, Päckert, M & Sun, Y-H 1999. The Golden-spectacled Warbler
Seicercus burkii - a species swarm (Aves: Passeriformes: Sylviidae)
Part 1. Zool Abhandl Staatl Mus Tierk Dresden 50: 281-327). The study
focuses on areas where several forms co-exist and is based on analyses of
morphology, vocalizations, altitudinal distribution and molecular
phylogenetics. Although the two papers do not refer to each other (both
groups were probably unaware of the other group's conclusions), they agree
on several points. Both studies recognize three altitudinally segregated
species on Emei Shan, Sichuan, China, and agree on their altitudinal
distribution. The occurrence of three species on Emei Shan is also
supported by a molecular phylogenetic analysis. In both papers, the
high-elevation species is called S valentini (both papers did not
propose English names for these species). However, the two teams disagree
on the proper scientific names of the other two species and each team has
even described a new species from Emei Shan. Martens and co-workers
described the population inhabiting middle-elevations as a new species:
Seicercus omeiensis; this population was recognized as S
tephrocephalus by Alström and Olsson. In turn, Alström and Olsson
described the low-elevation form as a new species: Seicercus soror,
whereas Martens and co-workers apply the name S latouchei to this
population. The discrepancy between the two papers is due to different
interpretations of the correct designation of existing names to
populations. Hopefully, the members of both teams will combine their
knowledge and insight and resolve the discrepancies in the near future. In
the meantime, birders and field ornithologists will have to live with the
fact that 'Golden-spectacled Warbler' consists of several morphologically
and vocally distinct species for which scientific names are
uncertain. George Sangster Back to the index |
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