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A DISTINCTIVE NEW SPECIES OF TYRANT FLYCATCHER (PASSERIFORMES: TYRANNIDAE: CNIPODECTES) FROM SOUTHEASTERN PERU

Auk, The, Jul 2007 by Lane, Daniel F, Servat, Grace P, H, Thomas Valqui, Lambert, Frank R

ABSTRACT.-

We describe a distinctive new species of twistwing (Tyrannidae: Cnipodectes) from southeastern Peru. Despite extensive ornithological research in the region, this species has escaped notice, which suggests that it may be restricted to larger blocks of forest dominated by bamboo (Guadua spp.), a habitat poorly surveyed in Amazonia. Currently known from only a few sites in the departments of Madre de Dios and Cuzco, the species appears to be a Guadua specialist, though its life history is very poorly known. To date, the only other species of Cnipodectes, C. subbrunneus (Brownish Twistwing), is not known from most of southeastern Peru. Received 7 January 2005, accepted 5 April 2006.

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Key words: Amazonia, Cnipodectes superrufus, Guadua bamboo specialization, new species, Peru, Rufous Twistwing, Tyrannidae.

Una Nueva Especie Distintiva del Género Cnipodectes (Passeriformes: Tyrannidae) del Sureste de Perú

RESUMEN. - Describimos una nueva especie del género Cnipodectes (Tyrannidae) de la región sureste de Perú. A pesar de las extensas investigaciones ornitológicas en la región, esta especie no ha sido reportada anteriormente, lo que sugiere que se encuentra restringida a grandes extensiones de bosque dominadas por bambú (Guadua spp.), un hábitat que ha sido escasamente muestreado en la Amazonía. Actualmente se le conoce solamente para pocos sitios en los departamentos de Madre de Díos y Cuzco. La nueva especie de Cnipodectes parecería ser una especie residente local y estar asociada a parches de bambú, aunque se conoce muy poco de su historia natural. Hasta la fecha, la única especie en el género era C. subbrunneus, la cual no ha sido reportada para el sureste de Perú.

ON 22 FEBRUARY 1990, G.P.S. netted a large rufous flycatcher in a patch of bamboo (Guadua weberbaueri) while making avifaunal surveys at Pakitza Vigilance Post within the Reserve Zone of Parque Nacional Manu (hereafter "P. N. Manu"), department of Madre de Dios, Peru. At the time, without reference material available, the bird was photographed in hand, prepared as a dried skin, and left unidentified. The specimen was deposited at the Museo Nacional de Historia Natural de la Universidad San Marcos (hereafter "MUSM") under the name Casiornis rufus and published as such by G.P.S. (Servat 1996). The specimen remained unstudied until November 2002, when D.F.L. found it in the MUSM collection and realized that it was an undescribed species of tyrannid in the genus Cnipodectes. After reviewing the literature and making specimen comparisons, it is clear that this is the correct generic allocation (see below). The first natural-history information was obtained on 15 September 2003, when F.R.L. independently found and videotaped an individual in a stand of Guadua spp. near Cocha Cashu Biological Station in P. N. Manu. Amazingly, while we were writing the first draft of this paper in February 2004, T.V.H. reported the species from the lower Rio Urubamba, department of Cuzco, while conducting survey work there with a team from Environmental Resource Management (ERM). There, he made the first tape recordings of the species' voice and made additional behavioral notes. The ERM team collected two additional specimens in February 2004 and another in June. Another specimen was collected by a team of biologists working the lower Río Urubamba in 1997 (Aucca 1998) and deposited in the collection of the Universidad San Antonio Abad in Cuzco (hereafter "MUSAAC"). That specimen was viewed and confirmed to be the same undescribed species of Cnipodectes by D.F.L. in June 2004. Finally, several observers armed with copies of T.V.H.'s recordings reported sightings at several sites in the department of Madre de Dios and even the department of Pando, Bolivia, between August and November 2004. At the time of this writing, these are the only confirmed records of this distinctive new species, which we describe here as

Cnipodectes superrufus, sp. nov.

Rufous Twistwing

Alitorcido Rufo (Spanish)

Holotype.- MUSM 14023; adult male, netted at Puesta Vigilancia Pakitza on the left (north) bank of Río Manu (approximately 11°56'S, 71°15'W) in the Zona Reservada del Parque Nacional Manu, elevation 350 m; 22 February 1990 by Grace P. Servat, field number 322.

Diagnosis. - A tyrannid assignable to genus Cnipodectes by a combination of relatively large size; broad, flat bill surrounded by well-developed rictal bristles; shaggy plumage texture overall; broad, squared tertials with pale inner and outer edges; and primaries twisted in their orientation, with primaries 8-6 having a modified shaft structure on the underside and a raised ridge along the inner web (Zimmer 1939; Fig. 1). Further distinguished from all forms of C. subbrunneus by its richly saturated rufous plumage, larger size, and proportionately narrower bill.

Description of the holotype.- Feathering of crown and auricular areas are between Mahogany Red and Auburn (capitalized colors from Ridgway 1912) with the centers of the elongated "crest" feathers Raw Umber. Loral area with feather bases Ochraceous-Salmon, tips more rufescent; rictal bristles tipped blackish. Back feathers a rich Mahogany becoming intermediate between Mahogany and Burnt Sienna on the rump and uppertail coverts. The chin and upper throat have feather bases Zinc Orange with tips more like Sanford's Brown. There is a broad, ill-defined pectoral band that is between Burnt Sienna and Sanford's Brown. The belly and flanks are between Sanford's Brown and Xanthine Orange, with the vent and undertail coverts a richer color between Burnt Sienna and Sanford's Brown. The upper-tail coloration is Chestnut Brown on the inner webs and basal outer web of each rectrix. The edge of the outer web, which has a decomposed texture, is a richer color between Mahogany Red and Burnt Sienna. The undertail is a drabber Prout's Brown, with the very inner edge of each rectrix Argus Brown. The secondary wing covert feathers (including greater, median, and lesser coverts) are Raw Umber with discrete edging of Mahogany Red. The leading edge of the primary coverts and underwing lining are Xanthine Orange. The primary coverts are Bone Brown. The primaries have the basal shaft area Bone Brown with the outer portions Olive Brown becoming very pale on the basal inner primary webs. The secondaries are Olive Brown, with the very outer edge Sudan Brown. The tertials have the interiors Prout's Brown with a broad inner edge Tawny and an outer edge between Brussels Brown and Auburn Brown. The undersides of the remiges fade to pale Vinaceous-Fawn by the basal inner edge. Soft part colors in life: irides bright red; maxilla brown with tomia appearing paler; mandible pink; tarsi and toes gray.

A DISTINCTIVE NEW SPECIES OF TYRANT FLYCATCHER (PASSERIFORMES: TYRANNIDAE: CNIPODECTES) FROM SOUTHEASTERN PERU

Auk, The, Jul 2007 by Lane, Daniel F, Servat, Grace P, H, Thomas Valqui, Lambert, Frank R

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