Taxonomic evaluation of the Grallaria rufula (Rufous Antpitta) complex (Aves: Passeriformes: Grallariidae) distinguishes sixteen species
Author
Isler, Morton L.
Author
Chesser, Terry
Author
Robbins, Mark B.
Author
Cuervo, Andrés M.
Author
Cadena, Carlos Daniel
Author
Hosner, Peter A.
text
Zootaxa
2020
2020-07-21
4817
1
1
74
journal article
10.11646/zootaxa.4817.1.1
1175-5326
3954698
7CBDB6A9-9AF9-495F-A55A-83BF36A4934D
Grallaria spatiator
Bangs, 1898
, subspecies elevated to species
Sierra
Nevada
Antpitta
Includes population designated
spatiator
in the analysis.
Diagnosis.
Upperparts and flanks reddish-yellow-brown; anterior underparts paler grading into grayish white posterior underparts. A combination of trilled long and short songs (
Fig. 3
) distinguishes
G. spatiator
from all other taxa in the complex except
G. saltuensis
. Trilled long songs of
G. spatiator
differ from those of
G. saltuensis
by having more notes, faster pace, and a greater decline in frequency of note peaks. Short songs of
G. spatiator
appear to differ from those of
G. saltuensis
by faster pace and higher initial frequencies of note peaks, although sample sizes were limited.
Distribution.
Endemic to
Colombia
in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in
Magdalena
,
La Guajira
, and
Cesar
,
2200–2900 m
.
Plumage.
Overall plumage of upperparts, including rectrices, remiges (wing edgings paler), crown and auriculars, dark reddish yellow-brown (7.5Y 4/4–10YR4/3) shading to color of underparts in malar area. Overall plumage of underparts, including undertail coverts, light grayish white tinged brownish yellow; broad breast band brownish yellow (2.5Y–10YR 6/8); flanks like upperparts (specimen photographs App. 6,
Figs. A14
, A33, and A34).
Etymology.
The English name Sierra Nevada is a shortened name widely used in
Colombia
for the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, to which this species is restricted. The name was also used by
Krabbe
et al.
(2019)
.
Remarks.
Grallaria spatiator
is specifically distinct based on vocal characters, supported by plumage characters and mtDNA genetic distance of>8.5% from all other populations. See Remarks under
Grallaria saltuensis
.