Proposal (19) to South American Classification Committee
Elevate Phacellodomus maculipectus
to species rank
Effect
on South American CL: this proposal would split Phacellodomus
striaticollis (Freckle-breasted Thornbird) into two species, P.
striaticollis and P. maculipectus.
Background: Two Phacellodomus taxa treated as subspecies in our
baseline list have been treated as full species by recent authors, including
Nores, Ridgely, and Whitney. One, striaticollis, is a lowland taxon
found in thickets near marshes or other water (SE Brazil to EC Argentina), whereas
the other, maculipectus, is an Andean forest bird (S Bolivia to NW
Argentina). They are sufficiently similar phenotypically that their sister
relationship has never been questioned, and they show a typical biogeographic
among close relatives in that one taxon is southern Andean montane and the
other is subtropical lowlands of S Brazil-N Argentina.
The
taxonomic history of the two is as follows:
Cory
& Hellmayr (1925) treated the two as conspecific, noting a half-dozen
plumage differences between the two but making no further comment [These
authors often treated taxa as full species that were lumped without comment by
Peters.]
Peters
(1951) followed this treatment, as did Meyer de Schauensee (1966, 1970) and
Sibley & Monroe (1990).
Nores
and Yzurieta (1981) treated the two as separate species citing differences in
nest structure, voice, and iris color. Here's what they wrote:
"esta especie es considerada
actualmente como una raza de P. striaticollis, sin embargo es lo
suficientemente distinta para ser considerada especies, no sólo por sus
características morfológicas, sino también por sus costumbres. En cuanto al
color difiere de striaticollis, entre otras cosas, por tener las manchas
pectorales más marcasa; flancos más oscuros; frente con rayas clara más
conspicuas; e iris pardo en vez de amarillo. Una diferencia notable la
constituye también el tipo de nido; en maculipectus es grande,
trapezoidal y colgante del externo de una rama, a la manera de la mayoría de
las especies del género, mientras que en striaticollis es pequeño, de
forma esférica, algo alargado y apoyado a ramas o horquetas. En el canto
existen también diferencias apreciables: mientras en maculipectus es
fuerte, variado y casi siempre emitido a dúo con el otro integrante de la
pareja, en striaticollis es suave, monótono, compuesto de una serie de
silbos descendentes y generalmente emitido en forma individual."
Narosky
and Yzurieta (1987) followed this treatment and repeated some of the evidence
above.
Ridgely
& Tudor (1994) followed this treatment, summarizing the evidence presented
by Nores and Yzurieta. However, they stated: "our experience does not
support their contention that the two taxa show marked vocal differences."
Whitney
et al. (1994) also considered the two as separate species: "We consider
montane, forest-based P. maculipectus to be a species distinct from
widely disjunct P. striaticollis of the marshes of southeastern Brazil
south to Prov. Buenos Aires, Argentina, following Narosky & Yzurieta
(1987)."
Recommendation: Ideally, we'd all like to see quantitative documentation
published for the differences in nest structure and voice. In fact, I like to
think that one potentially beneficial outcome of our Committee deliberations
will be to encourage publication of formal analyses. However, I think that the
published anecdotal information is sufficient, in this case, to place
"burden of proof" on those who would treat these as a single species.
In fact, there may now exist more evidence for treating these Phacellodomus
as species than for a number of pairs of allopatric Furnariidae taxa for which
species rank has been maintained largely by tradition. So, I will vote YES on
this one unless convinced otherwise by discussion looking forward to hearing
what others think.
English
name: Cory & Hellmayr used
"Spotted-breasted", and this was followed by Whitney et al. Ridgely & Tudor used
"Spot-breasted." "Freckle-breasted" has been used both for
the broad and narrow striaticollis. Cory & Hellmayr used
"Rufous-headed Thornbird" for nominate striaticollis.
Discussion?
Lit Cit:
Narosky,
T, & D. Yzurieta (1987) Birds of Argentina & Uruguay. Asoc. Orn. del
Plata.
Nores,
M., & D. Yzurieta. (1981). Nuevas localidades para aves argentinas.
Historia Natural 2: 33-42.
Whitney,
B. M., J. L. Rowlett, & R. A. Rowlett. (1994.) Distributional and other
noteworthy records for some Bolivian birds. Bull. Brit. Ornith. Club 114:
55-61.
Van Remsen, 5 June 2002
________________________________________________________________________________________
Comments
from Stiles: "This kind of evidence seems
convincing to me, though I would like to see direct comparison of sonograms
along the Isler lines. Regarding English names, I have no opinion without
having seen the birds! However, I suppose I might use this opportunity to
indulge in airing one of my pet peeves. the use of Spot- instead of Spotted-
(and similar constructions) when the meaning is "many spots" rather
than "one spot". To me, spot-breasted implies the latter,
spotted-breasted, the former and one loses a useful distinction by mixing the two
(not a trivial matter with3000+ species to name...). In other words, the gain
in "simplicity and euphony" does not compensate for the loss in
precision (and where are "simplicity and euphony" in such monsters as
Northern Chestnut-tailed Antbird?)"
Comments
from Nores: "Si estoy de acuerdo con separar
como especie a Phacellodomus maculipectus. Para mi es muy diferente de striaticollis
y pienso que cantan distinto, a pesar de que Ridgely y Tudor dicen que el canto
es igual."
Comments
from Jaramillo: "Very much in favour of elevating maculipectus to species rank. I have had
experience with both taxa in Argentina, Bolivia and Uruguay. They differ in
voice, habitat, eye colour, details of plumage, nest structure etc.
Descriptions of the nests of the two taxa, are found in Narosky, Fraga and de
la Peña 1983. Nidificacion de las Aves Argentinas (Dendrocolaptidae y Furnariidae).
Asociacion Ornitologica del Plata, Buenos Aires. The nest of Phacellodomus
striaticollis is unlike that of most Phacellodomus in that it
does not hang, but is supported from below by branches. In addition, the nest
tends to be elongate. In its nest structure striaticollis is more
similar to ruber than it is to maculipectus. I have a gut feeling
that maculipectus and striaticollis may not even be sister
species. With regards to the songs, I do have recordings of both but I am not
sure where they are to make sonograms for the committee to see. The songs do
differ from each other as much as songs of clearly unambiguously different
species of Phacellodomus do. Contrary to Nores and Yzurieta 1981, I
think that both will sing as duets at least some of the time. Perhaps striaticollis
does it rarely, but I think it does duet (based on recollection, hopefully I
have a tape somewhere)."