A NEW SPECIES OF WOOD-WREN (TROGLODYTIDAE: Henicorhina) FROM THE WESTERN ANDES OF COLOMBIA A NEW SPECIES OF WOOD-WREN (TROGLODYTIDAE (original) (raw)
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A new species of wood-wren (Troglodytidae: Henicorhina) from the western Andes of Colombia
Ornitología Colombiana, 2003
A new species of Henicorhina wood-wren (Aves, Troglodytidae) is described from the Munchique massif of the Western Andes of Colombia. The Munchique Wood-Wren Henicorhina negreti is closely related to and probably derived from the Gray-breasted Wood-Wren Henicorhina leucophrys of Central and South America. Henicorhina negreti appears restricted to a narrow band of extremely wet, stunted cloud forest on the upper Pacific slope, characterized by nearly continuous fog, high epiphyte loads and frequent landslides; it is abruptly replaced in taller forest at lower elevations on this slope by H. l. brunneiceps, and on the drier east slope by H. l. leucophrys. The new species differs from adjacent forms of H. leucophrys in its distinctly barred abdomen, dark juvenal plumage, relatively short tail and longer tarsi. Its song is also very distinct, and the adjacent forms of H. leucophrys do not respond to it while they do to each others (despite the fact that the new species occurs between them). Conversely, the new species does not respond to songs of H. l. leucophrys or H. l. brunneiceps, strongly suggesting that it is reproductively isolated from them and has distinct habitat requirements. Similarities between the ecology of H. negreti and that of H. leucoptera, another restricted-range endemic sympatric but not syntopic with H. leucophrys, are discussed. Possible threats to H. negreti due to forest clearance and global climate change are discussed, and we suggest that the species be accorded Critically Endangered status.
2002
We describe Cistothorus apolinari hernandezi, subsp. nov. from wet paramo of the Sumapaz massif south of Bogota, Colombia. This form differs from the nominate of the wetlands of the Cundinamarca-Boyaca Plateau in size, coloration, ecology, social structure and song and appears to be isolated from it by some 1000 m of elevation and different habitat preferences. A second population apparently occurs some 300 km further northeast in the Sierra Nevada del Cocuy in Dept. Boyaca but no data exist for intervening paramos. As a species, C. apolinari is critically endangered but the wetland and paramo populations face different threats and require different conservation strategies; distinguishing the latter population formally helps call attention to this situation.
Distribution and conservation status of Hylorchilus wrens (Troglodytidae) in Mexico
Bird Conservation International, 1997
The two species of Hylorchilus wrens are endemic to Mexico and were considered "Vulnerable" by Collar et al. (1994). They are restricted to humid tropical forest growing over karstic terrain, but large areas of apparently suitable habitat exist where they have not yet been recorded. I explored areas of potentially suitable habitat as well as a few localities where they were already known to occur in order to gather new data for a re-evaluation of the conservation status of these species. My records, together with six localities where these species have been reported by others in the past few years, add 15 localities to the 12 listed by Collar et al. (1992). Based on this and other new information, I recommend "Endangered" status for Nava's Wren, H. navai, based on criterion B of Mace-Lande (extent of occurence <5ooo km 2) and on the strongly fragmented state of its habitat. I would retain "Vulnerable" status for Sumichrast's Wren, H. sumichrasti, owing to its slightly larger range which is still relatively unfragmented and its apparently larger population density. Las dos especies de Hylorchilus son endemicas a Mexico y se consideran "Vulnerables" de acuerdo con Collar et al. (1994). Estan restringidas a bosque tropical hiimedo en terreno karstico, pero existen regiones extensas de habitat aparentemente adecuado donde aun no se les ha registrado. Explore regiones de habitat potendal ademas de algunas localidades donde ya se han registrado estas especies con el fin de contar con la information para una re-evaluacion de su estado de conservation. Mis registros, juntos con seis localidades donde otros han registrado estas especies en los ultimos afios, aftaden 15 localidades a las 12 que enumeraron Collar et al. (1992). Basandome en esta information nueva, recomiendo otorgarle la clasificacion de "En Peligro" al Cuevero de Nava, H. navai, siguiendo el criterio B de Mace y Lande (extension del area de distribution <5000 km 2) y en lo extremadamente fragmentado de su habitat. Recomiendo mantener la clasificacion de "Vulnerable" para el Cuevero de Sumichrast, H. sumichrasti, dada su area de distribution un poco mas extensa y menos fragmentada y a sus densidades poblacionales aparentemente mas elevadas.
2016
In a previous study, we presented evidence that the Henicorhina wood-wren inhabiting the upper slopes of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, H. anachoreta, merits status as a species distinct from the lower élevation taxon, H. bangsi, based on genetic and phenotypic evidence as well as differences in song. Moreover, in a narrow zone of sympatry we found that they showed differential responses to the songs of their own vs. the other form. However, we did not present the differences in plumage and morphometrics in detail, and did not make a formal taxonomic recommendation regarding their taxonomic status. We do so here, and present more detailed description of the differences in plumage and morphometrics in support of this recommendation.
Ornithology Research
The Thrush-like Wren (Campylorhynchus turdinus) is a polytypic, non-migratory, cooperatively breeding species of bird widely distributed in central South America. In recent decades it has expanded its range by approximately 24%, based on a published map of its distribution in the mid-1980s and recent reports submitted to eBird up through March 2017. The northwestern subspecies, C. t. hypostictus, dramatically expanded its elevation range upward from approximately 1200 m to 4200 m a.s.l. in the Peruvian Andes. During 1977-2015 the southwestern subspecies, C. t. unicolor, dramatically expanded the southern border of its range from central Brazil and northern Paraguay (approximately 22 o 06'S) southward into northeastern Argentina and throughout Paraguay to 29 o 40'S in southeastern Brazil, extending its range east-southeast approximately 934 km at a rate of 24.6 km/yr, and latitudinally southward 838 km at a rate of 22.1 km/yr. It also expanded its range westward into the relatively dry Chaco of western Paraguay and north-central Argentina. Midwinter records near the southern border of its range in northeastern Argentina suggest it is non-migratory. Because of its affinity for disturbed habitats, its range expansion has been attributed to deforestation, but its range expansion is also consistent with the prediction that organisms are extending their geographic distribution toward higher latitudes and elevations as a consequence of climate change.
The Auk, 2012
We describe a new species of wren in the genus Thryophilus (Troglodytidae) based on analysis of morphological, vocal, and genetic variation. Individuals of the new species are readily separated in the field or the museum from those of any other wren species, including its closest relatives T. rufalbus and T. nicefori, by a combination of traits including, but not limited to, plumage coloration of the upperparts, the pattern of barring on the wings and tail, overall smaller body size, a richer repertoire of syllable types, shorter trills, and distinctive terminal syllables. The new species is allopatrically distributed in relation to its congeners, being restricted to the dry Cauca River Canyon, a narrow inter-Andean valley enclosed by the Nechí Refuge rainforests and the northern sectors of the Western and Central Andes of Colombia. Individuals or pairs have been found only in remnant patches of dry forest and scrub at 250-850 m elevation. This newly discovered species is uncommon and threatened because of ongoing transformation of natural habitats in the Cauca River Canyon, and especially because of the planned construction of a major dam in the region; immediate conservation actions are thus imperative.
Journal of Field Ornithology, 2014
Some understory insectivorous birds manage to persist in tropical forest fragments despite significant habitat loss and forest fragmentation. Their persistence has been related to arthropod biomass. In addition, forest structure has been used as a proxy to estimate prey availability for understory birds and for calculating prey abundance. We used arthropod biomass and forest structural variables (leaf area index [LAI] and aerial leaf litter biomass) to explain the abundance of White-breasted Wood-Wrens (Henicorhina leucosticta), tropical understory insectivorous birds, in six forests in the Caribbean lowlands of Costa Rica. To estimate bird abundance, we performed point counts (100-m radius) in two old-growth forests, two second-growth forests, and two selectively logged forests. Arthropod abundance was the best predictor of wood-wren abundance (wi = 0.75). Wood-wren abundance increased as the number of arthropods increased, and the estimated range of bird abundance obtained from the model varied from 0.51 (0.28 -0.93 [95%CI]) to 3.70 (1.68 -5.20 [95%CI]) within sites. LAI was positively correlated to prey abundance (P = 0.01), and explained part of the variation in wood-wren abundance. In forests with high LAI, arthropods have more aerial leaf litter as potential habitat so more potential prey are available for wood-wrens. Forests with a greater abundance of aerial leaf litter arthropods were more likely to sustain higher densities of wood-wrens in a fragmented tropical landscape.
Phylogenetic Patterns in Montane Troglodytes Wrens
The Condor, 1999
Phylogenctic studies based on mitochondrial DNA sequences of 10 species of wrens in Troglodytes and related genera suggest a new hypothesis of relationships for the group. The Winter Wren (T. troglodytes) and the anomalous Timberline Wren (Thryorchilus browni) are distantly related to the remainder of Troglodytes. The latter group divides into a tropical montane group and a northern/lowland group that includes the northernmost two montane taxa (T. rufociliatus, T. brunneicollis). Erection of the genus Nannus for the Winter Wren is proposed. Song evolution in the complex has involved either convergent derivation or retention of primitive song types in distant lineages.