Grallaria obscura Berlepsch & Stolzmann, 1896

Isler, Morton L., Chesser, Terry, Robbins, Mark B., Cuervo, Andrés M., Cadena, Carlos Daniel & Hosner, Peter A., 2020, Taxonomic evaluation of the Grallaria rufula (Rufous Antpitta) complex (Aves: Passeriformes: Grallariidae) distinguishes sixteen species, Zootaxa 4817 (1), pp. 1-74 : 19-20

Grallaria obscura Berlepsch & Stolzmann, 1896 , subspecies elevated to species

Junín Antpitta

Includes population designated obscura 3 in the analysis.

Diagnosis. Upperparts dark reddish yellow-brown; throat and breast slightly paler; belly even paler with center of belly and undertail coverts white to pale yellowish-buff; pale buff eye-ring. Songs are distinguished from songs of all other populations except G. gravesi and G. oneilli by their frequency-modulated notes, delivered in a series in long songs and in pairs in short songs ( Fig. 12 ). The vocalizations of G. obscura differ from those of G. oneilli and G. gravesi in four characters: the pace of G. obscura long songs is slower than that of G. oneilli and G. gravesi ; the duration of intervals between notes of G. obscura long songs increases throughout, whereas those of G. gravesi increase and then decrease, and those of G. oneilli are nearly constant; notes in the second half of G. obscura long songs decline in frequency, whereas those of G. oneilli and G. gravesi rise in frequency, and finally, the initial note of short songs of G. obscura includes three frequency peaks (rarely two), whereas in G. gravesi and G. oneilli the initial note has a single peak.

Distribution. Endemic to Peru on the east Andean slope in Department of Junín, south of the Río Perené and Río Paucartambo, north of the Río Mantaro, and west of Río Ene, 3000–3600 m.

Plumage. Overall plumage of upperparts, including rectrices, remiges (primaries edged paler), crown and auriculars, dark reddish yellow-brown (7.5YR 4/4), shading to color of underparts in malar area; eye-ring pale buff. Throat and breast reddish yellow-brown (7.5YR-5YR 5/8), paler on belly with center of belly whitish; undertail coverts pale yellowish-buff (2.5Y 8/4); flank coloration intermediate between upperparts and breast (specimen photographs App. 6, Figs. A26 and A33).

Etymology. The English name is adapted from Cory & Hellmayr (1924) and reflects the limited distribution of this species.

Remarks. See remarks for G. gravesi . Of the three species of what was known as G. r. obscura , vocalizations of G. obscura sensu stricto are the most distinct. The type locality (Maraynioc, Junín, Peru) of G. rufula obscura lies within the geographic range of this species.

Figures

FIGURE 12. Songs of Grallaria obscura: (A) long song, Toldopampa, Junín, Peru (Hosner ML171865); (B) short song, Satipo Road, Junín (Spencer XC47028).