Myiopagis olallai coopmansi

Cuervo, Andrés M., Stiles, F. Gary, Lentino, Miguel, Brumfield, Robb T. & Derryberry, Elizabeth P., 2014, Geographic variation and phylogenetic relationships of Myiopagis olallai (Aves: Passeriformes; Tyrannidae), with the description of two new taxa from the Northern Andes, Zootaxa 3873 (1), pp. 1-24 : 8-11

Myiopagis olallai coopmansi , taxon novum

Holotype. An adult male deposited in the ornithological collection of the Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia ( ICN 38437), from Bodega Vieja, Amalfi, Department of Antioquia, Colombia (6°58’N, 75°03’W; 1500 m elevation); collected by J. E. Avendaño and prepared by A.M.C. (field number 1355) on 29 November 2010. The holotype consists of a round museum skin with its left wing prepared as a spread wing specimen. Hologenetypes ( Chakrabarty 2010) are constituted by sequences of the mitochondrial gene NADH dehydrogenease subunit 2 (ND2) and the nuclear intron 5 of the β-fibrinogen gene, GenBank accession numbers KM370009 and KM369997 , respectively.

Diagnosis. A member of the genus Myiopagis , based particularly on the size and shape of the feet and the tarsal scutellation, the presence of semi-concealed coronal patch, and a horny spur next to the alula; the three wing bars align it with M. caniceps and M. olallai (cf. Ridgway 1907; Zimmer 1941; Coopmans & Krabbe 2000). Our two male specimens have completely dark olive-green backs with no trace of the gray tones that characterize adult males of all races of M. caniceps , and the three well-defined wing bars are pale yellow and narrow, differing from the bold white wing bars of male M. caniceps . Females of M. caniceps differ from males in the combination of gray confined to the pileum with olive-green backs, yellow wing markings, and yellow crown patches (except females of M. c. absita and M. c. parambae , which have white crown patches, Fig. 8 ). By contrast, M. olallai lacks sexual dichromatism ( Coopmans & Krabbe 2000). Although we do not have a female specimen of M. o. coopmansi , all individuals seen in the field in pairs or as individual birds in multi-species flocks were similar to males; hence we believe that sexual dichromatism is also lacking in the new subspecies. With respect to the nominate taxon, M. o. coopmansi differs strongly in its whitish belly with at most a trace of pale yellow, and its plain pale olive-gray breast, as opposed to the bright yellow belly and olive-green wash across the breast with faint streaking of M. o. olallai ( Fig. 7 ). Because both of our specimens are in fresh plumage, these differences cannot be due to fading. The new taxon agrees with the types of M. o. olallai in its reduced pale yellow wing markings and the concealed white (not yellow) crown patches, but the gray pileum is darker.

Description of holotype. Capitalized color codes follow a standard guide ( Smithe 1975; 1981). Forehead and crown are blackish-gray (Black Neutral Gray 82), with a dusky brown tinge on the sides (near Dusky Brown 19) and a large semi-concealed white patch on the midcrown formed by white feathers with dark gray tips (Dark Neutral Gray 83). The crown becomes paler (shading to Dark Neutral Gray 83) posteriorly, blending to olive gray on the nape (near Glaucous 79) and to dark olive green (between Basic and Auxiliary Olive Green 46–47) on the upper back. Scapulars, back, rump, and upper tail-coverts are also olive green but brighter (Bunting Green 150).

Rectrices (including rachises) are olive brown dorsally (near Van Dyke Brown 121) with lateral margins olive green (Bunting Green 150) and with a narrow tip (ca. 0.5 mm) dull buffy yellow (lighter than Cream Color 54). On the ventral surface, rectrices are light olive gray overall, shading to brownish-gray toward the tips (darker than Smoke Gray 45); their inner margins shade to olive gray (Olive-Gray 42) and rachises are yellowish white but olive towards the tip. Wings are dark brownish gray (Sepia 119), with upper wing coverts washed with olive green (Auxiliary Olive Green 47). Wings exhibit three narrow and sharply defined pale yellow bars (distal edge of outer webs lighter than Pale Sulphur Yellow 157); the two proximal bars are ca. 1.5 mm wide and the distal bar (greater coverts) 1.2 mm. Primaries have a narrow, indistinct brownish-olive margin on the outer webs (restricted to the proximal half), whereas secondaries and tertials have pale yellow tips (near Pale Sulphur Yellow 157 but paler) and well-defined edges (ca. 1 mm) on the outer webs ( Fig. 9 ). Underwing coverts are whitish yellow, but feathers of the wrist are brownish dark gray (Vandyke Brown 221) bordered with pale yellow. From below, the flight feathers look brownish gray with inner edge yellowish. Feathers of the chin and center of the throat are dull white with indistinct pale gray borders (near Light Neutral Gray 85), giving the impression of faint, blurry streaking, shading to dull pale gray (between Glaucous 80 and Smoke Gray 44) on sides of neck and head and across breast, where forming a distinct band. The grayish breast passes fairly abruptly on the lower breast to yellowish white on the middle and posterior abdomen, and the sides are lightly smudged pale grayish. The flanks are yellowish (near Olive-Yellow 52 and lighter than Pale Sulphur Yellow 157), whereas the lower tail coverts are dull olive (paler than Auxiliary Olive Green 48). In the face, eye-ring feathers are white and cheeks mottled by feathers with pale gray centers and rachises with distal barbules dark gray (Black Neutral Gray 82). Lores show pale gray speckling and a small dark spot (near Black Neutral Gray 82) that contrast with the whitish feathers on the sides of the base of the maxilla, and black tiny soft bristles project forward around the bill. Soft parts in life as follows: iris reddish brown; maxilla black, mandible mostly black but shading to gray on base and gonys; legs and feet dark gray with black nails and yellowish soles. Wing span: 196 mm; wing length: 61.4 mm; tail at the insertion of central rectrices to the tip: 51.2 mm; tarsus: 16.2 mm; bill length from anterior edge of nares: 6.9 mm; bill length from base of skull: 12.4 mm; bill depth at anterior edge of nares: 3.35 mm; bill width at anterior edge of nares: 3.7 mm; mass 12.0 g (measured with Pesola) and light fat. Skull was 60% ossified, Bursa of Fabricius was absent, and testes measured 7 x 3 mm (left) and 5 x 3 mm (right). The holotype shows no signs of molt and is in fresh plumage. The stomach content included remains of insect larvae, Hymenoptera, and spiders.

Paratype. ICN 35903, subadult male, from Bosque Guayabito, Amalfi, Department of Antioquia, Colombia (6°52’N, 75°36’W; 1825 m elevation); collected and prepared by A.M.C. (field number 713) on 4 January 2005 (see Fig. 1 ). Differs from holotype in having more extensive pale gray speckling on lores and faint brownish shaftstreaks on anterior forehead. The tips of its rectrices have more indistinct, narrower (ca. 0.3 mm) dull buffy margins. Auriculars show distinct whitish shafts, and the streaking on the throat is more extensive and slightly more distinct (the feathers with narrower whitish areas medially and broader gray lateral borders). Breast band, narrower and less distinct than in the holotype, is pale brownish-gray (near Smoke Gray 45) and its posterior edge is blurred by indistinct pale brownish-gray and yellowish-white streaking on the lower breast and upper abdomen and sides, passing to clear yellow (much paler than Pale Sulphur Yellow 157) on the lower abdomen ( Fig. 7 ). Soft parts as follows: iris bright brownish-red; bill black, base of mandible gray; legs and feet dark gray, black nails and yellowish soles. Wing length: 59.6 mm; tail at the insertion of central rectrices to the tip: 50.4 mm; tarsus: 14.0 mm; bill length from anterior edge of nares: 6.6 mm; bill length at base of skull: 11.4 mm; bill depth at anterior edge of nares: 3.3 mm; bill width at anterior edge of nares: 3.57 mm; mass 10.5 g, with moderate fat. Skull was 80% ossified (Bursa of Fabricius not examined), and left testes measured 3.4 x 2.5 mm. The paratype is in fairly fresh plumage. Stomach contents included insect remains (elytra, pronota). Differences from the holotype are likely due to either age or feather wear; despite its relatively more ossified skull, the paratype male appeared younger in plumage than the adult holotype male, which had no Bursa of Fabricius and showed enlarged testes. Ossification in this genus is often delayed.

Primary formula in the type series. P7-P8-P9 are the longest, nearly the same length; P6 1.2 mm (holotype) to 1.3 mm (paratype) shorter; P10 4.6 mm shorter (holotype) or 4.1 mm shorter (paratype); P5 5.7 mm shorter in both, thus P10 longer than P5 but shorter than P6 (7=8=9>6>10>5).

Etymology. The epithet honors the late Paul Coopmans (1967–2007) in recognition of his acute talent for recognizing bird vocalizations in the field and his knowledge of Neotropical birds. Coopmans made many important discoveries using his extraordinary identification skills by ear (see Krabbe 2008), including Myiopagis olallai , Scytalopus unicolor , Henicorhina negreti , and an unnamed Megascops screech-owl from Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Photograph of the “ Antioquia Myiopagis ” exhibiting some of the characteristics, including light gray underparts, mossy green back, dark gray head, immaculate white crown patch, and reddish-brown eyes, that distinguish it from other taxa. Collected in an Andean cloud forest (1825 m) at Bosque Guayabito, Amalfi, Department of Antioquia, Colombia (ICN 35903).

FIGURE 7. Dorsal (top), ventral (middle), and lateral (bottom) views of specimens of closely related Myiopagis flycatchers of Andean cloud forests. From left to right: “ Antioquia Myiopagis ”: ICN 38437, 35903 (males); Myiopagis olallai: MECN 7141 (male), 6902 (male holotype), 7142 (female), 6903 (female paratype), AMNH 819936 (male); “ Perijá Myiopagis ”: COP 6733 (unsexed), Pons 3861 (male), 3860 (female).

FIGURE 8. Male (left) and female (right) specimens of differentiated lineages of the paraphyletic Myiopagis caniceps. From left to right: M. caniceps caniceps: LSUMZ 32295, 124630; M. c. aff. caniceps: LSUMZ 102674, 85215; M. c. cinerea: LSUMZ 110744, 115989; M. c. absita: USNM 483342, 483341 (types); M. c. parambae: AMNH 499606 (holotype), ANSP 147150 (female). For further information, see Appendix 1.

FIGURE 9. Spread left wing from the holotype of Myiopagis olallai coopmansi (ICN 38437).