Grallaria saltuensis Wetmore, 1946

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 : 9

Grallaria saltuensis Wetmore, 1946 , subspecies elevated to species

Perijá Antpitta

Includes population designated saltuensis in the analysis.

Diagnosis. Differs from all other taxa in the complex in its olive to buffy-brown upperparts and extensively white or whitish underparts. A combination of trilled long and short songs ( Fig. 2 ) distinguish G. saltuensis from all taxa in the complex except G. spatiator . Long songs of G. saltuensis differ from those of G. spatiator in having fewer notes, slower pace, and less decline in the peak frequency of individual notes. The short song illustrated in Figure 2 is thought to be given naturally; other variations thought to be given in response to playback of recorded vocalizations are included in the analysis. All variations of short songs of G. saltuensis appear to differ from short songs of G. spatiator by slower pace and lower initial frequencies of note peaks, although sample sizes were limited.

Distribution. Endemic to the Serranía de Perijá in Zulia, Venezuela, and La Guajira and Cesar, Colombia, 2500–3250 m.

Plumage. Overall plumage of upperparts, including rectrices, remiges (wing edgings paler), crown and auriculars, olive to buffy brown (2.5Y 4/4-10YR 4/3), shading to color of underparts in malar area. Narrow breast band buffy brown (10YR 7/4–6/4); remaining underparts except flanks but including undertail coverts light grayish white tinged buffy brown; flanks like upperparts (specimen photographs App. 6, Figs. A13 and A34).

Etymology. The English name, first proposed by Meyer de Schauensee (1950), reflects the mountain range to which this species is restricted.

Remarks. Grallaria saltuensis is specifically distinct based on vocal characters and supported by plumage characters and mtDNA genetic distance of>7.5% from all other populations. A combination of trilled long and short songs differentiates both G. saltuensis and G. spatiator from all other populations. Long songs of G. saltuensis and G. spatiator differ significantly from one another, and significant differences in short songs are likely to be confirmed when larger samples are available. Species status of G. saltuensis and G. spatiator is supported by diagnosable plumage distinctions between the olivaceous G. saltuensis and rufescent G. spatiator and an mtDNA genetic distance of ~7%. The lack of rufescent coloration sets G. saltuensis apart from all other taxa in the complex.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Songs of Grallaria saltuensis: (A) long song, RNA Chamicero del Perijá, Cesar, Colombia (Borgmann ML297026); (B) short song, above El Cinco, Serranía de Perijá, Cesar (Cuervo ML204673/ XC234289).

FIGURE 13. Songs of Grallaria centralis: (A) long song, Apalla-Andamarca Road, Junín, Peru (Athanas XC148512); (B) short song, Río Satipo, Junín (Hosner ML171921).