The 2022 taxonomy changes for Central America

7 Nov 2022 By eBird Centroamérica

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Velvety Manakin Lepidothrix velutina © Mathurin Malby

The eBird taxonomy follows the Clements Checklist. Here we present an overview of the 2022 taxonomy changes as they pertain to Central America. To keep things as simple and straightforward as possible, we do not highlight changes to species that occur in Central America in those cases when neither the scientific name nor the common name of the Central American populations change, but only those outside Central America. For example, the Cuban population of Hook-billed Kite was split off from Hook-billed Kite and is now its own species (Cuban Kite Chondrohierax wilsonii), but all Central American populations continue as Hook-billed Kite Chondrohierax uncinatus. For us in Central America there is no functional change. The same applies to Eastern Meadowlark, Bicolored Hawk, Buffy Tuftedcheek, and Bran-colored Flycatcher, among others. If you are interested in these and other worldwide changes, please consult the complete 2022 taxonomical changes overview.

This year in Central America, the only groups that had taxonomical changes in Clements/eBird requiring us to update the regional field guides are the manakins and the flycatchers. Most of these changes involve species in the southern part of the region. All changes are splits; there are no lumps in the region this time. Below is an overview of all nine Central American species which had taxonomical changes in 2022 that affected the common and scientific names of at least one Central American population. We also provide references that were used to justify these changes.

Choco Manakin is split from Green Manakin

Choco Manakin Cryptopipo litae is split from Green Manakin Cryptopipo holochlora, based on genetic and vocal differences. The two species look similar but sound different.

Choco Manakin Cryptopipo litae [map] [media] [my records]
- Cryptopipo litae: extreme eastern Panama (Darién) and adjacent northwestern Colombia to northwestern Ecuador (south to Pichincha)
Green Manakin Cryptopipo holochlora [map] [media] [my records]
- Cryptopipo holochlora: east slope of the Andes from eastern Colombia south through eastern Ecuador and eastern Peru.

Bottom line: All Central American (i.e., Panamanian) Green Manakins are now Choco Manakins. Green Manakin continues to exist as a species but is not found in Central America.

References:

Boesman, P. 2016a. Notes on the vocalizations of Green Manakin (Chloropipo holochlora). HBW Alive Ornithological Note 108. In Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow-on.100108

Harvey, M.G., G.A. Bravo, S. Claramunt, A.M. Cuervo, G.E. Derryberry, J. Battilana, G.F. Seeholzer, J.S. McKay, B.C. O’Meara, B.C. Faircloth, S.V. Edwards, J. Pérez-Emán, R.G. Moyle, F.H. Sheldon, A. Aleixo, B.T. Smith, R.T. Chesser, L.F. Silveira, J. Cracraft, R.T. Brumfield, and E.P. Derryberry. 2020. The evolution of a tropical biodiversity hotspot. Science 370: 1343-1348. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aaz6970

Blue-crowned Manakin is split into Velvety Manakin and Blue-capped Manakin

Blue-crowned Manakin Lepidothrix coronata is split into Velvety Manakin Lepidothrix velutina and Blue-capped Manakin Lepidothrix coronata.

Velvety Manakin Lepidothrix velutina [map] [media] [my records]
- Lepidothrix velutina velutina: humid southwestern Costa Rica to western Panama
- Lepidothrix velutina minuscula: eastern Panama to northwestern Ecuador (south to Pichincha)
Blue-capped Manakin Lepidothrix coronata [map] [media] [my records]
- Blue-capped Manakin (Blue-capped) Lepidothrix coronata [coronata Group] [map] [media] [my records]
- Blue-capped Manakin (Exquisite) Lepidothrix coronata [exquisita Group] [map] [media] [my records]

New genetic work prompted AOS-SACC to recognize populations of Middle America and west of the Andes in Colombia and Ecuador as a distinct species, Velvety Manakin, as compared to a set of populations east of the Andes and in Amazonia. The two species have pronounced vocal differences, a staccato trilled note from Velvety compared to an upslurred whistle from Blue-capped. Look also for plumage differences: blacker plumage in Velvety as well as a black forehead above the bill base (forehead of Blue-capped is blue except for a very narrow band of black right above the bill).

Bottom line: Blue-crowned Manakin no longer exists. Central American populations (Costa Rica, Panama) are now called Velvety Manakin Lepidothrix velutina. The scientific name Lepidothrix coronata is now used for Blue-capped Manakin, which occurs outside Central America.

Reference:

Moncrieff, A.E., B.C. Faircloth, and R.T. Brumfield. 2022. Systematics of Lepidothrix manakins (Aves: Passeriformes: Pipridae) using RADcap markers. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 173: 107525. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2022.107525

Olive-striped Flycatcher is split from Olive-streaked Flycatcher

Olive-striped Flycatcher Mionectes galbinus is split from Olive-streaked Flycatcher Mionectes olivaceus. These species don’t seem to come in contact, but the changeover occurs somewhere in central Panama that is not well known. In Chiriquí, in western Panama, Olive-streaked Flycatcher occurs but in the Canal Zone of Central Panama it is Olive-striped.

Olive-streaked Flycatcher Mionectes olivaceus [map] [media] [my records]
- - foothills and highlands of Costa Rica and western Panama (to Chiriquí and Ngäbe-Buglé)
Olive-striped Flycatcher Mionectes galbinus [map] [media] [my records]
- - central Panama to east slope of the Andes from southern Colombia (Putumayo) south to southern Peru and northwestern Bolivia (La Paz)

The two species are similar in plumage but quite different vocally. Olive-streaked Flycatcher gives a high-pitched, sinuous trill («roller-coaster song»), while Olive-striped Flycatcher gives a variety of high-pitched vocalizations, including short, clipped phrases, and a more complex song that alternates a series of short phrases with a couple of longer phrases.

Bottom line: Olive-striped Flycatcher continues to exist and still occurs in the region, but only from central Panama eastward. Populations in Costa Rica and western Panama are now called Olive-streaked Flycatcher. Potentially confusing is that the old common name (Olive-striped Flycatcher) is now combined with a new scientific name (Mionectes galbinus), while the old scientific name (Mionectes olivaceus) is now combined with a new common name (Olive-streaked Flycatcher). This is unfortunate but sometimes inevitable when applying standard rules for assigning scientific names to populations after splits or lumps.

References:

Boesman, P. 2016b. Notes on the vocalizations of Olive-striped Flycatcher (Mionectes olivaceus). HBW Alive Ornithological Note 117. In Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow-on.100117

Yellow-winged Flycatcher is split from Yellow-margined Flycatcher

Long anticipated, and perhaps just one of many splits needed in this complex, Yellow-winged Flycatcher Tolmomyias flavotectus is split from Yellow-margined Flycatcher Tolmomyias assimilis. Differences in appearance and vocalizations are subtle, but Yellow-winged Flycatcher’s more rhythmic song is higher-pitched with shorter notes; Yellow-winged also has wider yellow edges to the greater coverts than Yellow-margined.

Yellow-winged Flycatcher Tolmomyias flavotectus [map] [media] [my records]
- - E Costa Rica to w Colombia and nw Ecuador
Yellow-margined Flycatcher Tolmomyias assimilis [map] [media] [my records]
- - widespread in Amazonian South America

Bottom line: Yellow-margined Flycatcher Tolmomyias assimilis continues to exist, but this name is no longer used for populations in Central America. All Central American populations (Costa Rica and Panama) are now called Yellow-winged Flycatcher Tolmomyias flavotectus.

References:

Boesman, P. 2016c. Notes on the vocalizations of Yellow-margined Flycatcher (Tolmomyias assimilis). HBW Alive Ornithological Note 121. In Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow-on.100121

Yellow-breasted Flycatcher is split

Yellow-breasted Flycatcher (Olive-faced) and Yellow-breasted Flycatcher (Ochre-lored) are split as Olive-faced Flycatcher Tolmomyias viridiceps and Ochre-lored Flycatcher Tolmomyias flaviventris.

Olive-faced Flycatcher Tolmomyias viridiceps [map] [media] [my records]
- - SE Colombia to e Ecuador, e Peru and upper Amazonian Brazil, N-central Peru (San Martín to Junín), SE Peru (n Puno) to nw Bolivia and sw Brazil
Ochre-lored Flycatcher Tolmomyias flaviventris [map] [media] [my records]
- - E Panama and n Colombia to the Guianas and ne Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago, SW Venezuela (Amazonas) and lower Amazonian Brazil, E Brazil (Maranhão to Espírito Santo and Mato Grosso)

There may be areas where the ranges of these two species approach each other or come in contact, such as northern Bolivia, so we have a slash option for reporting birds in those regions.

Olive-faced/Ochre-lored Flycatcher Tolmomyias viridiceps/flaviventris [map] [media] [my records]

Bottom line: The common name of Yellow-breasted Flycatcher no longer exists. All Central American (Panamanian) populations are now called Ochre-lored Flycatcher Tolmomyias flaviventris.

References:

Almeida, C.I.M. 2017. Filogeografia de Tolmomyias flaviventris (Wied, 1831). Aves: Rhynchocyclidae. Unpublished thesis, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belem. https:/biologia.ufpa.br/arquivos/tccspublicados/2017/Bacharelado/Camila%20Ingrid%20Marques%20Almeida.pdf

Boesman, P. 2016d. Notes on the vocalizations of Yellow-breasted Flycatcher (Tolmomyias flaviventris). HBW Alive Ornithological Note 123. In Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow-on.100123

Mouse-colored Tyrannulet is split, and assigned a different genus

First, a widespread and well-known species Mouse-colored Tyrannulet Phaeomyias murina has moved from genus Phaeomyias to Nesotriccus, in part because its sister relationship with Cocos Tyrannulet Nesotriccus ridgwayi (formerly Cocos Flycatcher). Vocal variability within Mouse-colored Tyrannulet has long made it clear that splits were needed in this species and some taxonomies had already split this species. This year, Clements/eBird divides it into four species as follows:

Tumbes Tyrannulet Nesotriccus tumbezana [map] [media] [my records]
- - Arid tropical sw Ecuador to nw Peru (south to n Lima)
Marañon Tyrannulet Nesotriccus maranonica [map] [media] [my records]
- - northwestern Peru (west slope of the Andes in Piura and Cajamarca, and the arid tropical Marañón Valley)
Northern Mouse-colored Tyrannulet Nesotriccus incomta [map] [media] [my records]
- - Pacific lowlands of southwestern Costa Rica and Panama (Chiriquí to eastern Panama Province), Colombia to Venezuela, the Guianas and n Brazil; Trinidad
Southern Mouse-colored Tyrannulet Nesotriccus murina [map] [media] [my records]
- - Tropical e Peru to nw Bolivia and w Amazonian Brazil, southern Bolivia to Paraguay, northwestern Argentina, and southeastern Brazil; northern distributional limit not certain, may occur farther north in eastern South America

With the 4-way-split and assignment of the Mouse-colored Tyrannulet complex to Nesotriccus, the former concept for Mouse-colored Tyrannulet is adjusted to also include Cocos Tyrannulet (formerly Cocos Flycatcher) to be a genus-wide option to cover any unknown species in the genus. Southern Mouse-colored Tyrannulet may be partially migratory (as an austral migrant) and could occur within the range of Northern Mouse-colored Tyrannulet at least on the Guianan Shield, so exercise great caution in assigning birds in that region to species and try to get audio recordings of vocalizations whenever possible.

Nesotriccus sp. Nesotriccus sp. [map] [media] [my records]

Bottom line: In Central America, Mouse-colored Tyrannulet Phaeomyias murina, found in Costa Rica and Panama, becomes Northern Mouse-colored Tyrannulet Nesotriccus incomta.

References:

Boesman, P. 2016e. Notes on the vocalizations of Mouse-colored Tyrannulet (Phaeomyias murina). HBW Alive Ornithological Note 138. In Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow-on.100138

Ridgely, R.S., and P.J. Greenfield. 2001. The birds of Ecuador: status, distribution, and taxonomy. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, New York.

Schulenberg, T.S., D.F. Stotz, D.F. Lane, J.P. O’Neill, and T.A. Parker III. 2007. Birds of Peru. Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey.

Zucker, M.C., M.G. Harvey, J.A. Oswald, A. Cuervo, E. Derryberry, and R.T. Brumfield. 2016. The Mouse-colored Tyrannulet (Phaeomyias murina) is a species complex that includes the Cocos Flycatcher (Nesotriccus ridgwayi), an island form that underwent a population bottleneck. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 101: 294-302. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2016.04.031

Gray Eleania is split

Another group of nondescript flycatchers with a wide amount of vocal variation, Gray Elaenia is now split into three species. Previous eBird ‘groups’ Gray Elaenia (Choco), Gray Elaenia (Gray), and Gray Elaenia (Gray-headed) are split as Choco Elaenia Myiopagis parambae, Amazonian Elaenia Myiopagis cinerea, and Gray-headed Elaenia Myiopagis caniceps.

Choco Elaenia Myiopagis parambae [map] [media] [my records]
- - Extreme e Panama (Darién) and Tropical w Colombia and nw Ecuador (south to w Cañar)
Amazonian Elaenia Myiopagis cinerea [map] [media] [my records]
- - E Colombia to e Ecuador, ne Peru, s Venezuela and nw Brazil
Gray-headed Elaenia Myiopagis caniceps [map] [media] [my records]
- - southeastern Peru, northern Bolivia, and adjacent Brazil; eastern and southern Bolivia south to northwestern Argentina and east to Paraguay, northeastern Argentina, and south central and eastern Brazil

Bottom line: In Central America (i.e., Panama), Gray Elaenia Myiopagis caniceps becomes Choco Elaenia Myiopagis parambae.

References:

Boesman, P. 2016f. Notes on the vocalizations of Grey Elaenia (Myiopagis caniceps). HBW Alive Ornithological Note 135. In Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow-on.100135

Cuervo, A.M., F.G. Stiles, M. Lentino, R.T. Brumfield, and E.P. Derryberry. 2014. Geographic variation and phylogenetic relationships of Myiopagis olallai (Aves: Passeriformes; Tyrannidae), with the description of two new taxa from the northern Andes. Zootaxa 3873: 1-24. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3873.1.1

Rheindt, F.E., L. Christidis, G.S. Cabanne, C. Miyaki, and J.A. Norman. 2009b. The timing of Neotropical speciation dynamics: A reconstruction of Myiopagis flycatcher diversification using phylogenetic and paleogeographic data. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 53: 961-971. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2009.09.001

White-fronted Tyrannulet is split from Rough-legged Tyrannulet

Widely separated in range and with more vocal differentiation than would be expected for two subspecies, White-fronted Tyrannulet Phyllomyias zeledoni is hereby split from Rough-legged Tyrannulet Phyllomyias burmeisteri.

White-fronted Tyrannulet Phyllomyias zeledoni [map] [media] [my records]
- White-fronted Tyrannulet (Zeledon’s) Phyllomyias zeledoni zeledoni [map] [media] [my records]
- White-fronted Tyrannulet (White-fronted) Phyllomyias zeledoni [leucogonys Group] [map] [media] [my records]
Rough-legged Tyrannulet Phyllomyias burmeisteri [map] [media] [my records]

Bottom line: In Central America (Costa Rica and Panama), Rough-legged Tyrannulet Phyllomyias burmeisteri becomes White-fronted Tyrannulet Phyllomyias zeledoni. Rough-legged Tyrannulet continues to exist, but it does not occur in Central America.

References:

Boesman, P. 2016g. Notes on the vocalizations of Rough-legged Tyrannulet (Phyllomyias burmeisteri). HBW Alive Ornithological Note 137. In Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow-on.100137

Tropical Pewee is split

Since the plumages are so similar, the vocal variation in the Tropical Pewee complex has been hard to make sense of, but a combination of new genetic information and a broader set for audio recordings are helping to delineate the species limits better. Thus, this species is split into three species.

Tumbes Pewee Contopus punensis [map] [media] [my records]
- - Andes of western Ecuador and western Peru (south to Ica)
Southern Tropical Pewee Contopus cinereus [map] [media] [my records]
- Contopus cinereus pallescens
  - eastern Bolivia south to northwestern Argentina, and east to south central and eastern Brazil; rare austral migrant to southeastern Peru
- Contopus cinereus cinereus
  - SE Brazil (Bahia to Paraná) to e Paraguay and ne Argentina
Northern Tropical Pewee Contopus bogotensis [map] [media] [my records]
- Contopus bogotensis brachytarsus
  - Tropical se Mexico (Oaxaca and Veracruz) to Panama
- Contopus bogotensis rhizophorus
  - Arid Pacific littoral of w Costa Rica (Guanacaste)
- Contopus bogotensis aithalodes
  - Isla Coiba (Panama)
- Contopus bogotensis bogotensis
  - Colombia, northern Venezuela, and Trinidad
- Contopus bogotensis surinamensis
  - S Venezuela to the Guianas and ne Brazil

Since ranges in South America are still a bit uncertain, we retain an option for uncertain reporting in South America. This option is unnecessary for Central America, where only one of the three species occurs.

tropical pewee sp. Contopus punensis/cinereus/bogotensis [map] [media] [my records]

Bottom line: All Central American populations of Tropical Pewee Contopus cinereus are now Northern Tropical Pewee Contopus bogotensis. The scientific name of Contopus cinereus continues to be used, but only for some populations outside Central America.

References:

Boesman, P. 2016h. Notes on the vocalizations of Tropical Pewee (Contopus cinereus). HBW Alive Ornithological Note 148. In Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow-on.100148

Worth mentioning is that a Panamanian population of Golden-crowned Flycatcher Myiodynastes chrysocephalus was reassigned to Golden-bellied Flycatcher Myiodynastes hemichrysus. Both species already existed and continue to exist, so from a global perspective this is merely a change of our understanding of the ranges of these species, but the net result is that Panama—and Central America—loses Golden-crowned Flycatcher, while the region already had Golden-bellied.

Other small changes occur at the genus level:

Tiny Hawk: Accipiter superciliosus –> Microspizias superciliosus
Mottled Owl: Ciccaba virgata –> Strix virgata
Black-and-white Owl: Ciccaba nigrolineata –> Strix nigrolineata
Yellow-headed Caracara: Milvago chimachima –> Daptrius chimachima
Lesser Kiskadee: Pitangus lictor –> Philohydor lictor

We hope that Central American birders find this information useful.

Finally, it is worth remembering that taxonomy is a classification of organisms that help us to understand relationships between different groups of organisms. Most Central American bird species were described more than 150 years ago, often based on just a handful of specimens. We are fortunate to live in times when a broader palette of instruments for investigation is at our disposal, and genetic and vocal analysis also help us understand evolutionary patterns. Your recordings, submitted to eBird on your checklists and archived in the Macaulay Library, play and integral part in the progress of science, and ultimately, conservation. After all, a better understanding of (sub)species limits helps us to set biodiversity conservation priorities.

So thank you!

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Choco Manakin is split from Green Manakin

References:

Blue-crowned Manakin is split into Velvety Manakin and Blue-capped Manakin

Reference:

Olive-striped Flycatcher is split from Olive-streaked Flycatcher

References:

Yellow-winged Flycatcher is split from Yellow-margined Flycatcher

References:

Yellow-breasted Flycatcher is split

References:

Mouse-colored Tyrannulet is split, and assigned a different genus

References:

Gray Eleania is split

References:

White-fronted Tyrannulet is split from Rough-legged Tyrannulet

References:

Tropical Pewee is split

References: