Taxonomic evaluation of the Grallaria rufula (Rufous Antpitta) complex (Aves: Passeriformes: Grallariidae) distinguishes sixteen species
Author
Isler, Morton L.
Author
Chesser, Terry
Author
Robbins, Mark B.
Author
Cuervo, Andrés M.
Author
Cadena, Carlos Daniel
Author
Hosner, Peter A.
text
Zootaxa
2020
2020-07-21
4817
1
1
74
journal article
10.11646/zootaxa.4817.1.1
1175-5326
3954698
7CBDB6A9-9AF9-495F-A55A-83BF36A4934D
Grallaria rufocinerea
Sclater & Salvin, 1879
Bicolored Antpitta
Includes populations designated
rufocinerea
and
romeroana
in the analysis.
Diagnosis.
Differs from all other species in the complex in having gray underparts that contrast sharply with its rufous head, throat, and upperparts. Its long song (
Fig. 5
), a nearly evenly paced series of similar notes, distinguishes
G. rufocinerea
from all other taxa in the complex, except
G. rufula
sensu stricto
. Its single-noted short song distinguishes
G. rufocinerea
from
G. rufula
sensu stricto
and from all other taxa except
G. centralis
and
G. ayacuchensis
; it is distinguished from the latter two species by greater duration and by note shape, which is flat or very slightly upslurred, as contrasted with
G. centralis
(inverted U) and
G. ayacuchensis
(downslurred).
Distribution.
Central Andes from central
Antioquia
,
Colombia
, south to the upper
Magdalena
Valley and along the eastern slope from
Cauca
,
Colombia
, to
Sucumbíos
,
Ecuador
,
1950–3250 m
.
Plumage.
The dark gray underparts of
G. rufocinerea
are unique in the
G. rufula
complex (specimen photographs App. 6,
Figs. A17
and A
18
).
Remarks.
Species status is supported by vocal as well as plumage characters. Reexamination of the taxonomic status of
romeroana
(
Hernández & Rodríguez, 1979
) requires more vocal data, especially recordings of its long song, as well as additional plumage comparisons with the nominate. Pending that review, we recommend its maintenance as a subspecies of
rufocinerea
based on the original description. The geographic range of
G. rufocinerea
is sympatric/parapatric with that of northern populations of
G. saturata
(see below).
FIGURE 5
. Songs of
Grallaria rufocinerea
: (A) long song, RN Río Blanco, Caldas, Colombia (van Oosten XC18278); (B) short song, RN Río Blanco (Geale XC51230).
PRINCIPAL CLADE C
. This clade includes
rufula
2
of the Central Andes of
Colombia
with an outlying population (
rufula
2a
) on the western slope of the Eastern Andes,
rufula
4
in the Western Andes of
Colombia
, and
rufula
5
of the Andes from southern
Colombia
to extreme northern
Peru
. The structure of their short songs is distinct from those of all other populations.