Inti tanager

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Inti tanager
Heliothraupis oneilli (51648767088).jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Thraupidae
Genus: Heliothraupis
Lane, Burns, KJ, Klicka & Price-Waldman, 2021
Species:
H. oneilli
Binomial name
Heliothraupis oneilli
Lane, Aponte, Rheindt, Rosenberg, GH, Schmitt, CJ & Terrill, 2021
Heliothraupis oneilli map.svg
  Breeding
  Non-breeding

The Inti tanager (Heliothraupis oneilli), also known as the San Pedro tanager, is a species of bird in the family Thraupidae. It is the only member of the genus Heliothraupis. It is restricted to the lower Yungas of western Bolivia and southern Peru. Despite its striking coloration, call, and evolutionary distinctiveness, it was only described in 2021, and the bird's discovery and documentation to Western science only occurred during the prior two decades. [2] On January 31, 2022, the South American Classification Committee of the American Ornithological Society (SACC) announced its formal addition to their South American species list. [3]

Contents

Taxonomy

The first proper observation of this species was made in 2000, when it was discovered in its nonbreeding habitat on a birding tour along the Kosñipata Road in Cuzco department, Peru. Individuals were sighted again in 2003 and 2004 in the same area. [4] Little of the bird's natural history was known until December 2011, when a breeding population of tanagers was discovered in La Paz department, Bolivia. The species was studied at this site over the following decade, and finally described in 2021. [5]

The Inti tanager is thought to be closely related to the black-goggled tanager (Trichothraupis melanops), to which it is the sister species; however, due to its distinctive plumage, it was classified in a different genus from Trichothraupis. The grey-headed tanager (Eucometis penicillata) is thought to be sister to the clade comprising both. [5]

The species is named after the Incan sun god Inti, as a reference to its bright yellow plumage and its tendency to sing late into the morning when the sun is higher in the sky. The specific epithet references renowned ornithologist John P. O'Neill, who had previously described the orange-throated tanager (Wetmorethraupis sterrhopteron), another monotypic genus of Peruvian tanager. Prior to its description, it was referred to as the San Pedro tanager or "Kill Bill tanager", the latter being a reference to Uma Thurman's yellow jumpsuit in the 2003 movie Kill Bill . [6] [7]

Its distinctive appearance and the monotypic status of its genus, which was recognized as soon as it was being studied, makes it unique among other recently-described birds, most of which are cryptic species and closely related to previously-described bird species. [5]

Distribution and habitat

Unusually for tanagers, this species is a migratory one, breeding in the Machariapo Valley north of Apolo, Bolivia, and having a much wider nonbreeding range on the eastern slope of the Andes in southern Peru. [4] Despite its elusiveness and being described only recently, its nonbreeding range includes the region around the Kosñipata Road, which borders Manu National Park and is one of the ornithologically best-studied sites in Peru. [5]

This species breeds in semi-deciduous forests, and likely depends on bamboo and bamboo-like grasses, such as those of the genus Guadua , for optimal breeding conditions. In its nonbreeding range it is thought to inhabit the transition between rainforest and cloud forest, and it has also been seen at patches of Guadua bamboo here. [5]

Description

This is a brightly colored bird with yellow plumage in both sexes, a black supercilium, and a salmon-colored bill. Male birds display a short, bushy crest that can be either raised or flattened. The yellow underwing coverts are unique among the Thraupidae. Morphologically, this bird resembles members of both Cardinalidae and Thraupidae, and only genetic analysis proved that it belonged with the latter. [5]

Behavior

This species has a loud and distinctive song made by both females and males. This singing usually begins late in the morning, well after the dawn chorus of most other birds has finished, and lasts well into the heat of the day when most other birds have stopped calling. [5]

This species is thought to be highly elusive in spite of its distinctive appearance and calls, which is why so few surveys have detected it until recent years. [5]

Conservation

Despite being little-known, this species' habitat has been disturbed little by human activity and large amounts of its habitat are inaccessible to humans, so it is not thought to currently be seriously threatened. However, potential plans by China to build a road between Cuzco and La Paz may bring large amounts of colonizers, which could lead to deforestation in breeding habitat. However, it has been recommended that the species be classified as Data Deficient due to the lack of info on population size, trends, and distribution. [5] [2]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cardinalidae</span> Bird family

Cardinalidae is a family of New World-endemic passerine birds that consists of cardinals, grosbeaks, and buntings. It also includes several other genera such as the tanager-like Piranga and the warbler-like Granatellus. Membership of this family is not easily defined by a single or even a set of physical characteristics, but instead by molecular work. Among songbirds, they range from average-sized to relatively large, and have stout features, some species with large, heavy bills.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tanager</span> Family of birds

The tanagers comprise the bird family Thraupidae, in the order Passeriformes. The family has a Neotropical distribution and is the second-largest family of birds. It represents about 4% of all avian species and 12% of the Neotropical birds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Silver-throated tanager</span> Species of bird from South America

The silver-throated tanager is a species of passerine bird in the tanager family Thraupidae. It is found in Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, and northeastern Peru. It inhabits mossy forests, montane evergreen forests, tropical lowland evergreen forests and forest edges, along with tall secondary forests and disturbed habitat with remnant trees and forest. It is 13 centimetres (5.1 in) long and weighs 22 grams (0.78 oz) on average, and shows slight sexual dimorphism, with duller female plumage. Adult males are mainly bright yellow, with a silvery-white throat bordered above with a black stripe on the cheeks, black streaking on the back, and green edges to the wings and tail. Juveniles are duller and greener.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pardusco</span> Genus of birds

The pardusco is a species of tanager that is endemic to woodland near the timberline in the Andes of central Peru. It is the only member of the genus Nephelornis. This small olive-brown bird is typically seen in groups, which sometimes join mixed species flocks. It has a small range, but is locally fairly common, and consequently considered to be of least concern by BirdLife International and IUCN.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andean gull</span> Species of bird

The Andean gull is a species in subfamily Larinae of the family Laridae, the gulls, terns, and skimmers. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cloud-forest screech owl</span> Species of owl

The cloud-forest screech owl is a species of owl in the family Strigidae. It is found in Bolivia and Peru.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bamboo foliage-gleaner</span> Species of bird

The bamboo foliage-gleaner, also known as the crested foliage-gleaner or dusky-cheeked foliage-gleaner, is a species of bird in the Furnariinae subfamily of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plushcap</span> Genus of birds

The plushcap is a species of bird in the tanager family Thraupidae and it is the only member of the genus Catamblyrhynchus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carmiol's tanager</span> Species of bird

Carmiol's tanager is a species of bird in the cardinal family Cardinalidae that is found in Central America from Nicaragua southwards to northwest Colombia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and heavily degraded former forest. It was formerly considered as conspecific with the yellow-lored tanager.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grey-headed tanager</span> Species of bird

The grey-headed tanager is a widely distributed species of small Neotropical bird in the tanager family Thraupidae. It is the only member of the genus Eucometis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White-winged tanager</span> Species of bird


The white-winged tanager is a medium-sized American songbird in the family Cardinalidae, the cardinals or cardinal grosbeaks. It is found from Mexico, through Central America, across northern South America and as far south as Bolivia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Puna thistletail</span> Species of bird

The puna thistletail is a species of bird in the Furnariinae subfamily of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is found in Peru and Bolivia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bolivian recurvebill</span> Species of bird

The Bolivian recurvebill is a bird species in the Furnariinae subfamily of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is found in Bolivia and Peru.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emerald tanager</span> Species of bird from South America

The emerald tanager is a species of bird in the tanager family Thraupidae. It is found in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Panama. Described by the English ornithologists PL Sclater and Osbert Salvin in 1869, it is a medium-sized species that has a length of 10.6–13 cm (4.2–5.1 in) and a mass of 18–20.5 g (0.63–0.72 oz). It can be identified by its bright green plumage, with black streaking on the back and wings, and a black auricular patch and beak. It also has yellow on the crown and rump. The species shows slight sexual dimorphism, with the females being duller and having yellow-green in place of yellow on the head.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flame-faced tanager</span> Species of bird from South America

The flame-faced tanager is a species of bird in the tanager family Thraupidae. It is endemic to South America and is found in the eastern Andes of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is a distinctive-looking species with black and opalescent green upperparts, opalescent green and buff underparts, and a deep red and yellow face. The subspecies lunigera lacks the deep red on the face, which is replaced with orangish-red.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Golden-naped tanager</span> Species of bird

The golden-naped tanager is a species of bird in the tanager family Thraupidae. It is found in South America from Colombia to Bolivia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests and heavily degraded former forest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saffron-crowned tanager</span> Species of bird from South America

The saffron-crowned tanager is a species of bird in the family Thraupidae. Found in the northern Andes of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela, it inhabits cloud forest, forest edges, and secondary forest, preferring areas with mossy trees. It is an average-sized species of tanager with a blue-green body and yellow head with a black forecrown, lores, orbital area, and chin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yellow-rumped antwren</span> Species of bird

The yellow-rumped antwren is Near Threatened species of bird in subfamily Euchrepomidinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is found in Bolivia and Peru.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue-and-yellow tanager</span> Species of bird

The blue-and-yellow tanager is a species of bird in the tanager family Thraupidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fine-barred piculet</span> Species of woodpecker

The fine-barred piculet is a species of bird in subfamily Picumninae of the woodpecker family Picidae. It is found in Brazil and Peru.

References

  1. BirdLife International (2022). "Heliothraupis oneilli". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2022: e.T216557638A217129881. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 Rhinehart, Tessa (January 2022). "Data & discoveries in the world of birds". Birding . p. 18-21. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
  3. Remsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramunt, A. Jaramillo, D. F. Lane, J. F. Pacheco, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, and K. J. Zimmer. Version 31 January 2022. A classification of the bird species of South America: Recent Changes. American Ornithological Society. https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCRecentChanges.htm retrieved February 1, 2022
  4. 1 2 Kaufman, Kenn (2021-11-16). "The 'Kill Bill Tanager,' a Species New to Science, Finally Has a Real Name". Audubon. Retrieved 2022-10-16.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Lane, Daniel F; Aponte Justiniano, Miguel Angel; Terrill, Ryan S; Rheindt, Frank E; Klicka, Luke B; Rosenberg, Gary H; Schmitt, C Jonathan; Burns, Kevin J (2021-10-29). "A new genus and species of tanager (Passeriformes, Thraupidae) from the lower Yungas of western Bolivia and southern Peru". Ornithology. 138 (4). doi: 10.1093/ornithology/ukab059 . ISSN   0004-8038.
  6. W, Mathieu (2018-02-01). "The Little Stint: 'San Pedro Tanager'". The Little Stint. Retrieved 2021-11-02.
  7. Kirwan, G M. "Inti Tanager". Birds of the World. doi:10.2173/bow.saptan1.01 . Retrieved 2 November 2022.