Proposal (745) to South American Classification Committee

Add Troglodytes ochraceus to the Main List

Effect on South American CL: This would add a species to the Main List.

Background: This wren ranges from Costa Rica to Panama, with the southernmost records located along several massifs in the Darién Province of Panama.

New information: The species was recently recorded for the first time in Colombia during an expedition to the east flank of Cerro Tacarcuna of the Serranía del Darien, which also represents the first record for South America (Renjifo et al. 2017). It was observed daily in singles or pairs. Two song types (XC184885, 184890) and one call (XC184888) were sound-recorded, which clearly correspond with vocalizations of this species, and not with those of the Mountain Wren T. solstitialis that occurs in the West Andes of Colombia.

The article is open access and available here: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/314904687_New_bird_distributional_data_from_Cerro_Tacarcuna_with_implications_for_conservation_in_the_Darien_highlands_of_Colombia?ev=prf_high

Recommendation: I would recommend a yes vote to add this species to the South American checklist.

Literature Cited:

Renjifo, L. M., A. Repizo, J. M. Ruiz-Ovalle, S. Ocampo & J. E. Avendaño. 2017. New bird distributional data from Cerro Tacarcuna, with implications for conservation in the Darién highlands of Colombia. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 137: 46-66.

Jorge Enrique Avendaño, March 2017

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Comments from Remsen: “YES. Archived, diagnostic recordings are sufficient evidence for adding to Main List.”

Comments from Zimmer: “YES. This, by the way, is just the southern/eastern-most record in a series of range extensions for this species, which, with more and more talented field observers in Panama, has been turning up in highland areas well to the east of its previous ‘known’ limits. It was probably just a matter of time until it was found across the border from the Darién.”

Comments from Stiles: "YES. The recordings and field data concur with my experience (including a recording) with this species in Costa Rica."

Comments from Pacheco: "YES. Recordings perfectly attributable to the taxon are sufficient evidence of the occurrence."

Comments from Robbins: " YES. The audio recording deposited on xeno-canto (184885) confirms the identification."