Good species?

[Markus Lagerqvist]

Hi,

Does anyone have an opinion on whether these are good species or not:

1. Comoros Green-Pigeon (Treron griveaudi)

2. Salvador's Owlet-Nightjar (Aegotheles salvadorii)

3. Indochinese Swiftlet (Aerodramus rogersi)

[Xenospiza]

For the owlet-nightjar, the following article says salvadorii is possibly not the closest relative of albertisi, but sampling was insufficient:
Dumbacher JP et al 2003. Phylogeny of the owlet-nightjars (Aves: Aegothelidae) based on mitochondrial DNA sequence. Mol Phylogenet Evol 29:540.

[lewis20126]

Hi,

Does anyone have an opinion on whether these are good species or not:

1. Comoros Green-Pigeon (Treron griveaudi)


I've never seen the skins but based on the plates in the recent field guide the differences are probably sufficient to support a split from AGP. The recent subdivision of the pompadour complex in South Asia by Pam were based on similar levels of morphological difference. Most other reasonably distinct allopatric island trerons have been separated for some time (e.g. lesser sundas). I hope someone comes along to provide you with a more considered answer...

cheers, alan

[TimInskipp]

As you can see below, there is not enough known to make a decision about the specific status of Indochinese Swiftlet, and it is probably impossible to distinguish it from Himalayan Swiftlet in the field. It probably should be removed from Himalayan but, clearly, the issue of intra(sub)specific variation should be tackled first.

Inskipp et al. (1996, An annotated checklist of the birds of the Oriental Region) provided the following summary 'Deignan (1955b) described rogersias a subspecies of brevirostris, despite noting that the tarsi were typically unfeathered and apparently overlooking the lack of white barbs at the base of the back feathers. Medway (1962) noted that winter-caught Malayan specimens assigned to rogersi by Deignan (1955b) show wide variation and may comprise more than one species. Sibley & Monroe (1990), quoting M. R. Browning (pers. comm.), suggested a closer affinity of rogersiwith unicolorbut, as there is as yet no published justification for this treatment, rogersiis provisionally left as conspecific with brevirostris.'
Wells (1999, The birds of the Malay Peninsula, Vol. 1) under Group Relations for Himalayan Swiftlet Aerodramus brevirostris[I] noted 'Uncertain. Outstanding issues include the placing of short-winged continental populations relative to species such as [I]A. unicolor (Indian Swiftlet). A. (b.) rogersi Deignan 1955, the so-called Indochinese Swiftlet described from Kanchanaburi province, SW Thailand, and identified in the Peninsula but of unknown status (Deignan 1963), is one of these. Said to be pale-rumped like northwestern nominate brevirostris, but classical Himalayan Swiftlet features - feathered tarsus and white basal barbs on back-feathers - are not among its listed characters. Wing-length variation (116-128 mm) is enough to suggest it might even include more than one taxon (cf. Medway 1962, 1966a).'
Dickinson (2003, The Howard and Moore complete checklist of the birds of the world), referring to rogersi, described it as ‘An enigmatic and unresolved form (or forms) see Wells (1999: 455).’

[TimInskipp]

As you can see below, there is not enough known to make a decision about the specific status of Indochinese Swiftlet, and it is probably impossible to distinguish it from Himalayan Swiftlet in the field. It probably should be removed from Himalayan but, clearly, the issue of intra(sub)specific variation should be tackled first.

Inskipp et al. (1996, An annotated checklist of the birds of the Oriental Region) provided the following summary 'Deignan (1955b) described rogersias a subspecies of brevirostris, despite noting that the tarsi were typically unfeathered and apparently overlooking the lack of white barbs at the base of the back feathers. Medway (1962) noted that winter-caught Malayan specimens assigned to rogersi by Deignan (1955b) show wide variation and may comprise more than one species. Sibley & Monroe (1990), quoting M. R. Browning (pers. comm.), suggested a closer affinity of rogersiwith unicolorbut, as there is as yet no published justification for this treatment, rogersiis provisionally left as conspecific with brevirostris.'
Wells (1999, The birds of the Malay Peninsula, Vol. 1) under Group Relations for Himalayan Swiftlet Aerodramus brevirostris[I] noted 'Uncertain. Outstanding issues include the placing of short-winged continental populations relative to species such as [I]A. unicolor (Indian Swiftlet). A. (b.) rogersi Deignan 1955, the so-called Indochinese Swiftlet described from Kanchanaburi province, SW Thailand, and identified in the Peninsula but of unknown status (Deignan 1963), is one of these. Said to be pale-rumped like northwestern nominate brevirostris, but classical Himalayan Swiftlet features - feathered tarsus and white basal barbs on back-feathers - are not among its listed characters. Wing-length variation (116-128 mm) is enough to suggest it might even include more than one taxon (cf. Medway 1962, 1966a).'
Dickinson (2003, The Howard and Moore complete checklist of the birds of the world), referring to rogersi, described it as ‘An enigmatic and unresolved form (or forms) see Wells (1999: 455).’