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Stripe-capped Sparrow question (1 Viewer)

Larry Sweetland

Formerly 'Larry Wheatland'
I'm a bit puzzled as to which of the new splits is found around Joaquin v Gonzales in Salta province, NW Argentina. The habitat there is Chaco, but if I'm interpreting the range correctly, then the form at this site is Yungas Sparrow (or is it Chaco Sparrow??)

Thanks for anyone solving this
 
I'm a bit puzzled as to which of the new splits is found around Joaquin v Gonzales in Salta province, NW Argentina. The habitat there is Chaco, but if I'm interpreting the range correctly, then the form at this site is Yungas Sparrow (or is it Chaco Sparrow??)

Thanks for anyone solving this
Figure 2 in the SACC proposal A. Split Rhynchospiza strigiceps in two species, and B. Establish English names is a map which should answer your question. It's indeed true that Salta province has both species, but it looks to me like the map shows a distinct Yungas/Chaco split.
 
It should be nominate strigiceps there, and the map that Paul linked seems very accurate in my experience, though I've not been to Joaquin Gonzalez myself. Certainly Nacho is one of the most expert ornithologists for Argentina, and is based in the Salta/Jujuy area, so I would be shocked if the map weren't pretty much perfect.

Interestingly, though, the split isn't a clear yungas/chaco split once you're actually in that area, as the "Yungas Sparrow" (dabbenei) occurs mostly in the drier / scrubbier lower altitude parts of the Andean foothills below the Yungas elevation band. Personally, I've never seen it in proper yungas, but rather around 1000m elevation in scrubby chaco serrano habitat, and it certainly looks more like chaco than yungas when you're there.

The nominate form seems to occur from just about Joaquin Gonzalez to the east, and dabbenei (Yungas Sparrow) starts about 20-30km E of Joaquin Gonzalez, where the first hills start, south of PN El Rey. This outlying line of hills / small sierra is home to EcoPortal de las Piedras, PN El Rey, and is essentially chaco serrano vegetation up to about 1500m giving way to yungas above about 1600-1800m, depending on exposition, and it seems that the eastern slope of these hills is the eastern limit of the range of dabbenei.

I did a quick look for media on Macauley/eBird and there is one photo from Joaquin Gonzalez, but it's poor and the face is hidden - it still just about looks convincing for nominate, as expected. The rest of the photos that I was able to see from nearby sites correspond perfectly to the map that Paul linked above in the SACC proposal.

One other note - anyone who goes to this area, you don't even really need to look for detailed gen or select a specific site to find dabbenei. Anywhere within about 20km of the cities of Salta or Jujuy where you have scrubby chaco/monte type vegetation around 1000-1200m, you should find this species without much trouble. I've kicked up tons of them without trying while (not yet successfully) trying to actually see a Huayco Tinamou.
 
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Should this not be west of JVG?

Yes it most definitely should! It appears that I cannot go back and edit my post at this point, so the typo will remain up there but it should read that the range of Yungas Sparrow (dabbenei) starts about 20-30km WEST of Joaquin Gonzalez, where the first hills are.
 
Yes it most definitely should! It appears that I cannot go back and edit my post at this point, so the typo will remain up there but it should read that the range of Yungas Sparrow (dabbenei) starts about 20-30km WEST of Joaquin Gonzalez, where the first hills are.
Don't worry Josh, I spotted that too, figured you must have just had a slip of the brain, and didn't think it was worth bothering you about :)
 
Don't worry Josh, I spotted that too, figured you must have just had a slip of the brain, and didn't think it was worth bothering you about :)
Well that puts me in my place doesn't it. Silly me for pointing it out.
Yes it was clearly a typo, but surely worth pointing out for the sake of anyone else looking at the very detailed and helpful original post.
 
Well that puts me in my place doesn't it. Silly me for pointing it out.
Yes it was clearly a typo, but surely worth pointing out for the sake of anyone else looking at the very detailed and helpful original post.
Not at all, well worth pointing out for other interested parties 👍
 
Checking my notes, I have seen Stripe-capped Sparrow precisely two times, once north of Salta (at Dique Campo Alegre) and the second east of Joaquin V Gonzalez (in the Chaco of Taco Pozo) which seems good for an armchair tick! Great news, thanks.
 
Checking my notes, I have seen Stripe-capped Sparrow precisely two times, once north of Salta (at Dique Campo Alegre) and the second east of Joaquin V Gonzalez (in the Chaco of Taco Pozo) which seems good for an armchair tick! Great news, thanks.
I had to check my notes too, and had also only seen them at two sites, and my sites were further apart than your two sites. Both the same species for me though 😩
 
Checking my notes, I have seen Stripe-capped Sparrow precisely two times, once north of Salta (at Dique Campo Alegre) and the second east of Joaquin V Gonzalez (in the Chaco of Taco Pozo) which seems good for an armchair tick! Great news, thanks.

I don't think there's any doubt you'll have seen both nominate and the recently split dabbenei with sightings at those two locales.
 
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