Recognize the newly described Serpophaga griseicapilla
Proposal (419) to South American
Classification Committee
Effect on
South American CL: This proposal would add a new species to our list, Serpophaga griseicapilla.
Background:
This taxon has a long and convoluted history. Berlioz
(1959) described a new species of Serpophaga
from Cochabamba, Bolivia, and calls it griseiceps,
based on the lack of a white coronal stripe, but presence of a variable gray
coronal patch stripe. Traylor (1979) determined that in fact griseiceps is the juvenile of Serpophaga munda, and therefore is
synonymized with munda. This decision
is generally accepted, i.e. Remsen and Traylor (1989). Then, Straneck (1993) decided that subcristata and munda should be united as his vocal data suggested that there is
little difference between them; on the other hand he finds that there is a bird
with a distinctly different voice in central Argentina. He decided that this
different voice is a distinct taxon, and that it in fact is S. griseiceps. This is perhaps the
decision that most muddied up the Argentine Serpophaga
situation. Herzog and Mazar Barnett (2004) studied the Berlioz specimens and
compared them to juvenile S. munda, and
indeed the specimens of griseiceps
matched those of juvenile munda, in
coloration as well as measurements. On the other hand, specimens pertaining to
the differing vocal type discovered by Straneck were consistently smaller than
the Berlioz specimens of griseiceps.
Furthermore, they differ in coloration, with Stranecks specimens being
yellowish on the belly, whereas Berliozs griseiceps
were whitish, typical of munda.
Herzog and Mazar Barnett (2004) also noted that presently the only Serpophaga found in the Cochabamba area
of Bolivia is munda; there is no
other vocal type there based on exhaustive field work
in the area.
In
conclusion, Herzog and Mazar Barnett (2004) concluded that the Berlioz type
series of griseiceps are indeed
juveniles of Serpophaga munda. They
also concluded that Stranecks bird from Argentina is indeed vocally distinct
enough to warrant species status, but it is not griseiceps. They suggest this is an undescribed cryptic species in
the genus Serpophaga.
New
information: For well over a decade birders and researchers have
been detecting this taxon with the differing vocalization and have given it the
handle griseiceps, although it was
clear that this creature needed a new name. Straneck discovered this new taxon,
but he interpreted it incorrectly in my opinion. So it was superb to eventually
discover that Straneck (2007) decided to formally describe this new species,
albeit in an obscure journal particularly for ornithology.
There is
clear annoyance in Stranecks article, and I only mention this because he chose
to give the new species a rather similar name – Serpophaga griseicapilla – to what he had called griseiceps for many years. It's
unfortunate that the new name is not more distinctive and with less likelihood
of being mistaken for the junior synonym of munda. The type specimen is a male (M.A.C.N
61.633) from Misin Nueva Pompeya, Chaco, Argentina (August 16, 1990). At that
early date it may in fact be a bird still in its wintering habitat? Sebastian
Herzog (pers. comm.) notes that in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, the species is still in
wintering sites in mid August; similarly Jaramillo (unpublished data) has
observed the species in Paysandu, Uruguay, at a wintering site in late
September. Straneck confirms that morphometrics of griseicapilla are consistently smaller than either subcristata or munda. In plumage griseicapilla
is more similar to subcristata with
yellowish belly and greenish toned back, as opposed to the grey and white munda.
The
vocal repertoire of griseicapilla
versus subcristata/munda is quite
different and Straneck (1993, 2007) describe and publish sonograms of the voice
of griseicapilla.
Below is the chin-chu-riza (pronounce in Spanish)
vocalization of Serpophaga subcristata
from Straneck (2007).
Below is the common vocalization (perhaps the
territorial song?) of Serpophaga
griseicapilla from Straneck (2007).
The distribution of griseicapilla is still being determined. It appears to breed in the
Arid West of Argentina (Monte Desert) south to N Chubut, and N to Salta, and
bordering to the Andean foothills in Mendoza for example. A summer record from
Tarija, Bolivia, in Chaco habitat (Herzog pers. comm.) suggests it may breed
farther north than currently recognized. It is migratory and in the non-breeding
season it is common north to Santa Cruz, Bolivia (based on vocalizations and
specimens – S. Herzog pers. comm.), and it also ventures eastward to
Buenos Aires, Entre Rios, Misiones etc. In 2008 Jaramillo recorded it in
westernmost Uruguay, which is a new country record for this taxon. It also
reaches Paraguay during the non-breeding season, and it is unclear what the
status is in southernmost Brazil.
English
Names: The English name for Serpophaga griseiceps was Gray-crowned Tyrannulet. This is what griseicapilla translates to, but as it
would cause too much confusion I feel that a new name is needed for this taxon.
The handle that I have heard used most is Monte Tyrannulet to note the
eco-region that encompasses a great portion of the breeding range of this
species. While this is not its only breeding habitat, the name is distinctive
and I dont think misleading, perhaps incomplete for literalists, but not
misleading I would say. If this proposal is accepted, and there are rumblings
about the name than a short proposal to deal with the English name would be
necessary. In the meantime if there is public opinion on the English name it
would be good to hear that.
Recommendation: I recommend that we end a long period
of confusion over this rather distinctive and certainly new species, and accept
Serpophaga griseicapilla as a valid
new taxon.
Literature
Cited.
BERLIOZ, J. 1959. Description de deux speces
nouvelles doiseaux de Bolivie. Bull.du Mus.Nat.DHist. Nat. 3: 218-219.
HERZOG, S.
K. & J. MAZAR BARNETT. 2004. On the validity and confused identity of Serpophaga griseiceps Berlioz 1959
(Tyrannidae). Auk 121(2): 415-421.
REMSEN, J.
V. Jr. & M. A. TRAYLOR Jr. 1989. An annotated list of birds of Bolivia,
Buteo Book, Vermilion. S.D. pp 1-57.
STRANECK, R. J. 1993. Aportes para la unificacin de Serpophaga
subcristata y Serpophaga munda, y la revalidacin de Serpophaga
griseiceps (Aves: Tyrannidae) Revista del Museo Argentino de Ciencias
Naturales Bernardino Rivadavia. Zoologa, 16: 51-63.
STRANECK, R. 2007. Una nueva especie de Serpophaga (Aves: Tyrannidae). Revista
FAVE - Ciencias Veterinarias 6 (1-2):
31 - 42
TRAYLOR, M. A. Jr. 1979. Check-list
of Birds of the World, 8. Mus. of Comparative Zool. Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Alvaro
Jaramillo, February 2010
Addendum on English name: Given Alvaros proposal to recognize S. griseicapilla as a good
species, and his suggestion for contributions on the common English name, a
group of researchers from four different countries within its
distribution deemed it appropriate to suggest an alternative common English
name that was not included by him in the proposal: Stranecks Tyrannulet. We
submit that this is a better name than Monte Tyrannulet because: a) although
most breeding habitat of this cryptic species is within the Monte desert (a
habitat endemic to Argentina), this is not its only breeding habitat, b) during
its winter migration, it uses several habitat types (Chaco, Pampas, Espinal,
etc.) in Argentina, Paraguay, southern Brasil, Bolivia and Uruguay, c) Roberto
Straneck deserves credit for his discovery, and he should be honored, not only
for this discovery but also for his pioneering work in the usage of bioacoustics
in taxonomic studies of Southern Cone birds (e.g., split of Strix rufipes
and S. chacoensis, recognition of Anthus chacoensis as different
from Anthus lutescens, and description of Otus hoyi), and d) this
English name has been recently used in (Spanish) literature (Pagano &
Mrida 2010).
We therefore recommend the
application of Stranecks Tyrannulet to Serpophaga griseicapilla.
Literature cited:
Pagano L. G. and Mrida,
E. 2010. Aves del Parque Costero del Sur. In Athor J (ed.) Parque
Costero del Sur – Naturaleza, conservacin y patrimonio cultural.
Fundacin de Historia Natural Flix de Azara, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Argentina-Nacho Areta, Alejandro Bodrati, Luis Pagano, Diego Monteleone, Ignacio
Roesler, Jos Segovia. Bolivia-Quilln Vidz. Brasil-Glayson
Bencke, Mrcio Repenning. Paraguay-Rob Clay, Hugo del Castillo, Andrs
Colman, Nelson Prez, Paul Smith, Myriam Velzquez - March 2010
Comments from Robbins: YES. Alvaro has
done an excellent job of summarizing the very confusing history of this Serpophaga. I vote yes for recognizing griseicapilla
as a valid species. Im also fine with his English name suggestion, but perhaps
Areta et al.s is better.
Comments from Bret Whitney: Yes. The tyrannulet that Straneck identified
as specifically distinct from other Argentinean members of the genus needed a
name at the species level based on it distinctive morphology (especially small
size) and vocalizations although Im not convinced that Straneck compared
homologous vocalizations as shown by Alvaro (the repertoires are so different
that its alright).
Unfortunately, he erred in applying the name griseiceps but recovered (following the light of Herzog and Mazar
Barnett) in time to give it the name griseicapilla. I think Stranecks Tyrannulet would be
a good English name. Whether S. munda is specifically distinct from S. subcristata is another matter, dealt
with appropriately by Herzog (2001) for the present, but it certainly deserves
detailed study.
Comments from Stiles: YES. The evidence from color, morphology and vocalizations all support species status for griseicapillus. The differences seem comparable to those of other species in this difficult genus. My impression from the proposal is that Monte Tyrannulet is an informal name and given the circumstances of its discovery, I would not be averse to Stranecks Tyrannulet for this taxon.
Comments from Nores:
YES. Aunque como ha sido sealado
por otro miembros, la revista en que fue publicada no es la ms apropiada, los
diferencias de coloracin, medidas y canto parecen ser suficientes para validar
la especie. Lo que no estoy de
acuerdo es ponerle Stranecks Tyrannulet, no porque considere que Roberto no
lo merezca, sino porque no corresponde poner el nombre de la persona que
describi la especie (que va en la sigla) sino el de la persona a la cual fue
dedicada la especie. Ejemplos: Darwins Tinamous (Nothura darwinii), Swainsons Hawk (Buteo swainsoni), Des Murs Wiretail (Sylviorthorhynchus desmursii), Azaras Spinetail (Synallaxis azarae), Spixs Spinetail (S. spixi), Cabanis Spinetail (S. cabanisi), Goeldis Antbird (Myrmeciza goeldii), Swainsons
Flycatcher (Myiarchus swainsoni),
Lawrences Thrush (Turdus lawrencii),
Hauxwells Thrush (Turdus hauxwelli), etc.
Comments from Schulenberg: YES to recognize griseicapilla
as a species. It's nice to see this wrapped up, finally.
Comments from Remsen: YES. All data are
consistent with griseicapilla being
treated as a species.
Comments from Pacheco: YES. Alvaro fez uma
boa apresentao do persistente
e intricado caso. Concordo, igualmente, que h boas
evidncias que o presente txon seja vlido. Aproveito
para informar que h registros
em maio, no sul extremo do Brasil, documentados por gravaes de udio (cf. Bencke, G. A., C. S. Fontana e A. Mendona-Lima
(2001) Registro de
dois
novos passeriformes para o Brasil: Serpophaga griseiceps (Tyrannidae) e Asthenes
pyrrholeuca (Furnariidae). Ararajuba 10(2): 266-269.