Krabbe, N. K., T. S. Schulenberg, K. V. Rosenberg, T. J. Davis, G. H. Rosenberg, P. A. Hosner, D. F. Lane, M. J. Andersen, M. B. Robbins,
C. D. Cadena, T. Valqui, J. F. Slater, A. J. Spencer, F. Angulo & J. Fjeldså. 2020. Untangling avian cryptic diversity in the High Andes: revision of the
Scytalopus [
magellanicus] complex (Rhinocryptidae) in Peru diagnoses three new species. The Auk: in press.
The new species are:
Scytalopus krabbei sp. nov.
[T. S. Schulenberg, D. F. Lane, A. J. Spencer, F. Angulo, and C. D. Cadena]
White-winged Tapaculo
Etymology
The modern knowledge of the systematics of
Scytalopus, including recognition of a level of diversity in the genus that would have astounded earlier generations of ornithologists, is largely due to Niels K. Krabbe, through his careful and thorough research both in the field and in the collection. Having himself contributed to the descriptions of no fewer than 7 new taxa of
Scytalopus, we take great pleasure in taking the opportunity to name this new species in honor of our friend and colleague. The proposed English name refers to the small patch of white on the wing coverts, a feature—otherwise unusual in tapaculos—that is present on all known
S. krabbei specimens.
Scytalopus frankeae sp. nov.
[K. V. Rosenberg, T. J. Davis, G. H. Rosenberg, P. A. Hosner, M. B. Robbins, T. Valqui, and D. F. Lane]
Jalca Tapaculo
Etymology
We are pleased to name this new tapaculo in honor of Dr. Irma Franke, our friend, colleague, former curator of the bird collection at the MUSM, and a major contributor to Peruvian ornithology for over 30 yr. It is especially fitting to name this taxon after her because she participated in the Millpo expedition that discovered the bird in 1985. The recommended English name uses a local Peruvian term for puna and páramo habitat (“jalca”) that has tussock grasses as a primary component, which was the habitat primarily used by the species at the type locality (although less so in Junín). Colloquially, this species has been called Millpo Tapaculo. However, we consider this name to be inappropriate, primarily because Millpo is now known to be at the geographic periphery of the range of the species. Our proposed English name is more reflective of the habitat of
S. frankeae throughout its distribution.
Scytalopus whitneyi sp. nov.
[N. K. Krabbe, J. Fjeldså, P. A. Hosner, M. B. Robbins, and M. J. Andersen]
Ampay Tapaculo
Etymology
We take the opportunity to honor our friend and colleague Bret M. Whitney for his outstanding contributions to Neotropical ornithology over the past 3 decades. Bret’s keen eyes and ears, and his insightful attention to vocalizations and natural history, have given us a much greater understanding of variation and species limits in several challenging groups of tropical birds, and particularly in
Scytalopus. The recommended English name refers to Bosque Ampay, the only protected area where the species occurs.
Fred
New
Scytalopus taxa from the Peruvian Andes. (Upper left) Adult male and female of Jalca Tapaculo,
Scytalopus frankeae from Huánuco. (Upper right) Male
Scytalopus frankeae from Junín. (Lower left) Adult males of Ampay Tapaculo,
Scytalopus whitneyi (left from Apurímac, right from Ayacucho). (Lower right) Adult male (top) and female (below) of White-winged Tapaculo,
Scytalopus krabbei.
Watercolor painting by JF.