A NEW SPECIES OF SPINETAIL (FURNARIIDAE: SYNALLAXIS)

FROM THE RO ORINOCO OF VENEZUELA

Rvsurv.Se describe una nueva especie del genero SynallaxisS. beverlyae coleccionada en vegetacin arbustiva de las islas
uviales del ro Orinoco en la seccin media del ro al sur de Puerto Ayacucho, cerca de la frontera colombo-venezolana, y en la seccin
baja del mismo Orinoco, en Venezuela. Esta especie haba permanecido sin identicar probablemente porque las islas formadas por
sedimentos no fueron examinadas en expediciones anteriores. Con respecto al plumaje, esta especie es similar a S. albescens, pero
con respecto a sus vocalizaciones tiene ms similitud con S. albigularis, S. hypospodia, y S. spixi. La nueva especie est asociada, hasta
donde sabemos, a vegetacin secundaria arbustiva sujeta a inundacin estacional en islas y bordes del ro. Su distribucin restringida y
requerimientos ecolgicos especcos la convierten en una especie de preocupacin en torno a su conservacin.
485
Te Auk 126(3):485492, 2009
Te American Ornithologists Union, 2009.
Printed in USA.
Te Auk, Vol. I26, Number 3, pages 4834. ISSN uuu4-8u38, electronic ISSN I938-4234. 2uu9 by Te American Ornithologists Union. All rights reserved. Please direct
all requests for permission to photocopy or reproduce article content through the University of California Presss Rights and Permissions website, http:iiwww.ucpressjournals.
comireprintInfo.asp. DOI: Iu.I323iauk.2uu9.u8u36
Una Nueva Especie de Furnariidae (Synallaxis) del Ro Orinoco en Venezuela
STEVEN L. HILTY
1,2,4
AND DAVID ASCANIO
3
1
Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Research Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66045, USA;
2
6316 West 102nd Street, Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66212, USA; and
3
Apartado Postal 78006, La Urbina 1074, Caracas, Venezuela
4
E-mail: shilty@kc.rr.com
Ans:vc:.We describe a new species of spinetail, Synallaxis beverlyae (Ro Orinoco Spinetail), from river island scrub in the
lower and middle sections of the main river channel of the Ro Orinoco in Venezuela and adjacent Colombia. Tis taxon has been
overlooked previously because river islands were not examined by earlier collecting expeditions. In plumage the species is closest to
the widespread Pale-breasted Spinetail (S. albescens), but in vocalizations it is most similar to Dark-breasted Spinetail (S. albigularis),
Cinereous-breasted Spinetail (S. hypospodia), and Spixs Spinetail (S. spixi). Te new species is, as far as we know, restricted to scrubby
river island vegetation and adjacent river edges that are subject to seasonal inundation. It is presently known only from two well-
separated areas but is likely to occur on appropriate intervening islands. Te restricted range and narrow ecological requirements of
S. beverlyae are a conservation concern. Received February , accepted September .
Key words: Furnariidae, new species, Ro Orinoco, Ro Orinoco Spinetail, river island specialization, Synallaxis beverlyae, Venezuela.
O Juvv I998, S.L.H. was traveling by boat up the Ro
Orinoco, -22 km south of Puerto Ayacucho, Venezuela. Passing
a small river island, he noted two unfamiliar vocalizations, one
of a ycatcher (Stigmatura sp.) and the other unknown. He made
sound recordings of both vocalizations, and subsequent observa-
tions revealed that the unknown vocalization was by a spinetail in
the genus Synallaxis. However, it was clear from the song that this
was an unnamed species. During the next several hours, sound
recordings of this new vocalization were played to several Pale-
breasted Spinetails (Synallaxis albescens) that were present and
vocalizing on the island, and playbacks of vocalizations of Pale-
breasted Spinetails were presented to several individuals of the
new taxon. All individuals responded strongly to conspecic song,
but no individual responded to the other taxons vocalizations.
S.L.H. alerted members of the Coleccin Ornitolga Phelps
in Caracas to the presence and locality of the new species and of
the Stigmatura sp. In May I999, eight specimens of the Synallaxis
sp. were obtained by Phelps museum associates from the original
island, along with specimens of the Stigmatura sp. One additional
specimen of the Synallaxis sp. was obtained in January 2uuI. Te
specimens of Synallaxis were noted simply as an unnamed spin-
etail (Hilty 2uu3). Subsequently, the species was also found far
downriver, in the delta of the Ro Orinoco. In July 2uu3, while con-
ducting a search of river islands at the southern end of the Orinoco
delta in the state of Delta Amacuro, and using S.L.H.s original re-
cordings, D.A. found a population of this Synallaxis on a small,
muddy, bush-covered river island known locally as Isla Cai-
mn. In August 2uu6, the species also was found in pioneering
trees (Salix sp. and Tessaria sp.) on another nearby Orinoco river
island, known locally as Isla La Playa, in the southwestern corner
of the Orinoco Delta. Te presence of this downriver population
suggests that the new taxon may be distributed on other, interven-
ing islands in the lower and middle Orinoco River.
On I6 October 2uu6, a group of -9I observers organized
by Victor Emanuel Nature Tours visited Isla Caimn, using
inatable landing crafts (Zodiacs). Ten guides, including
486 HILTY AND ASCANIO AUK, VOL. 126
the authors, M. Braun, V. Emanuel, P. English, A. Farnsworth,
P. Greeneld, R. S. Ridgely, A. Whittaker, and K. J. Zimmer, set
out in nine separate parties in an exploratory sweep of the is-
lands perimeter. Because the island had recently been inun-
dated, soft mud limited exploration. Scrub and bushy pioneer
vegetation (mostly I4 m in height) on the island was bent down-
stream by prior ooding. Te upstream portion of the island also
was densely overgrown with herbaceous vines. Between dawn
and IIuu hours, seven or eight pairs of the new species of Synal-
laxis were located within -Iuu m of the river edge. Areas farther
inland on the island could not be reached at the time but prob-
ably contained other individuals. Two pairs along the northeast
shore of the island were separated by only 7u8u m, but other
pairs were more widely separated. Tape recordings of vocaliza-
tions were made and digital photographs of several individuals
were obtained by James Brown and David Cahlander. Since then,
a few other observers have seen this species here or near Puerto
Ayacucho. It gives us pleasure to describe this new species, which
we propose to call
Synallaxis beverlyae, sp. nov.
Ro Orinoco Spinetail
Guito del Ro Orinoco (Spanish)
Holotype.Coleccin Ornitolgia Phelps (COP), Caracas, no.
8uI23, female (ovary mass s 3mm, skull Iu ossied), from a small
unnamed river island west of a larger island known locally as Isla
Garcita (32939N, 673729W, I3u m elevation), in the Ro
Orinoco, and -22 km south of Pto. Ayacucho, Venezuela (Fig. I).
Tis section of the river separates Venezuela and Colombia. Col-
lected on I3 May I999 by D.A., M. Lentino, and I. Carreno, pre-
pared by I. Carreno. Recordings of voice by S.L.H. are deposited at
the Macaulay Library, Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Ithaca,
New York (accession numbers: LNS I3928uI39287). Photographs
by James Brown (copies are catalogued at Visual Resources for Or-
nithology [VIREO], Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia
[accession numbers: b6uiIiuuIb6uiIiuu4]).
Diagnosis: Morphology.A typical Synallaxis in appear-
ance, with rufous cap and shoulders, otherwise, generally dull,
FIG. 1. Map of Venezuela showing approximate locations on Ro Orinoco of Synallaxis beverlyae. (1) Type-locality island in middle Ro Orinoco,
Amazonas, Venezuela; (2) Isla La Playa in Ro Mnamo, Delta Amacuro (visual and vocal evidence); and (3) Isla Caimn in the southern branch of Ro
Orinoco, Delta Amacuro (visual, vocal, and photographic evidence).
JULY 2009 NEW SPECIES OF SPINETAIL 487
grayish brown plumage with pale underparts and long, pointed,
spine-tipped tail feathers (Fig. 2). Sexes similar. Te new species
is most similar morphologically to the widespread S. albescens,
though decidedly paler than almost all subspecies of that species.
It is also similar to the geographically isolated Spixs Spinetail
(S. spixi) of the Atlantic forest region of southeastern Brazil south
to northeastern Argentina, and somewhat less similar to White-
bellied Spinetail (S. propinqua), a shorter-tailed taxon restricted
to young river islands within the Amazon river basin (Ridgely and
Tudor I994). Compared with S. a. trinitatis (the subspecies that
overlaps in range with the new taxon and which is now merged
into S. a. insignis, Remsen 2uu3), this new species has a slightly
longer and thinner bill, forehead, sides of head, and neck are paler
and grayer, the pale supercilium is more prominent, the rufous
color of crown and shoulders is of a slightly lighter hue, the ru-
fous of the shoulders is generally less extensive, underparts are
whiter and the breast and sides have a grayish tinge (rather than
the brownish tinge of S. a. insignistrinitatis), belly and crissum
are decidedly paler (less brownish), iris color is usually paler and
light grayish to tan to pale brownish yellow (contra dark-eyed
S. albescens). For unknown reasons (age), eye color in both taxa
may vary somewhat, but in the area of overlap, the individuals of
S. albescens that we observed had dark eyes. Te plumage dier-
ences noted between the two syntopic taxa approach the range
of variation found among the many subspecies of the widely dis-
tributed S. albescens, in particular southern S. a. australis, which
is notably whitish below. Te new taxon diers most obviously
from all other Synallaxis in voice (below). Morphological mea-
surements of the new taxon and of S. a. insignistrinitatis are pre-
sented in Table I.
Diagnosis: Voice.Te primary vocalizations of members of
the large genus Synallaxis fall broadly into one of four vocal types,
with some overlap, as follows: (I) mostly two- or three-note calls,
often with the rst note well separated (more than half of the spe-
cies), (2) low-pitched chuckling or churring notes, rattles, sput-
tering notes, or higher-pitched trills, (3) a series of similar notes
repeated, sometimes descending in pitch, and (4) a series of four or
more notes, usually with the rst note accented and on a slightly
dierent pitch than the following series of notes, thus produc-
ing a distinct beat or syncopation. Synallaxis beverlyae belongs
within this last group, which includes Dark-breasted Spinetail
(S. albigularis), Cinereous-breasted Spinetail (S. hypospodia), and
S. spixi, none of which overlaps in range with it. Natural songs of
S. beverlyae dier from songs of S. spixi and S. hypospodia in be-
ing lower in pitch and in the long series of repeated notes delivered
more slowly and distinctly (not run together in a rattle-trill), thus,
internote distance is greater. Te new taxons song further diers
from S. hypospodia in having fewer than half as many notes. Natu-
ral songs of S. albigularis, a western Amazonian species, are even
lower-pitched than those of S. beverlyae, are uttered in a shorter,
more abrupt delivery, and have about the same number of notes or
fewer. Although these four species share broadly similar song pat-
terns, their songs sound remarkably dierent from one another
and, thus, are easily distinguished.
Type locality.In addition to the type locality (see above),
the new species is known from photographs and voice recordings
from two islands in or near the Ro Orinoco delta: a large alluvial
island (Isla Caiman) in the state of Delta Amacuro (u8283uN,
6II73uW) and a smaller island (La Playa) near Barrancas,
Monagas (u842u7N, 62II43W). All localities are in the main
Orinoco channel or close to it.
FIG. 2. Adult Synallaxis beverlyae, October 2006, Isla Caimn, Ro Ori-
noco, Delta Amacuro, Venezuela. (Photograph courtesy of Jim Brown.)
TABLE 1. Some standard measurements of Synallaxis beverlyae and of Synallaxis albescens trinitatisinsignis, the species most simi-
lar to the new taxon morphologically (all specimens from Venezuela; M male, F female). Mean values are given, with range and
sample size in parentheses.
Species Body mass (g) Wing
a
(mm) Tail (mm) Culmen
b
(mm) Tarsus (mm)
S. beverlyae (M) I3.3 33.8 77.9 II.4 I9.I
(I3I4, n 4) (3238.8, n 3) (73.I8u.3, n 3) (Iu.9I2.2, n 3) (I8.4I9.8, n 3)
S. beverlyae (F) I2.3 34 77.4 I2.2 I9.2
(II.3I3, n 3) (3I36.3, n 3) (7379.2, n 3) (II.3I2.8, n 3) (I8.8I9.8, n 3)
S. albescens (M) 34.I 73.2 II.3 I9.u
(3233.3, n Iu) (7278.2, n 9) (Iu.3I2, n Iu) (I8.6I9.3, n 4)
S. albescens (F) 33.I 76.3
c
II.3 I8.7
(3I33.4, n 3) (7676.6, n 2) (II.2I2.I, n 3) (n I)
a
Wing chord.
b
Exposed culmen from base of bill to bill tip.
c
Tail measurements of three additional females not included because of heavily worn feathers.
488 HILTY AND ASCANIO AUK, VOL. 126
Description of holotype.Color descriptions and numbers
follow Smithe (I973, I98I). Some feather colors were also com-
pared with color swatches in Ridgway (I9I2). Forecrown medium
neutral gray (84), crown from anterior margin of eyes to nape
cinnamon rufous tinged orange (closest to cinnamon rufous 4u),
loral area, auriculars, and sides of head and neck nearest smoke
gray (43), becoming slightly grayer on hindneck, weakly dened
grayish white (paler than pale neutral gray 86) supercilium ex-
tending posteriorly from top of eye, narrow, curved line beneath
lower half of eye whitish (inconspicuous), mantle and back light
olive brown (closest to drab 27), rump similar but slightly paler
and closer to fawn color (23), lesser and median upper wing co-
verts cinnamon rufous (4u), greater upper wing coverts tinged
cinnamon rufous (4u), ight feathers plain grayish brown (very
slightly darker than back and closest to russet 34), with inner
vane of ight feathers and tertials dusky brown (closest to burnt
umber 22), tail long and graduated, with outer vane narrow, in-
ner vane broad, and feather tips narrowing to an acuminate point
with small, bare shaft protruding, tail closest to russet (34), with
slight rufescent tinge to feathers (least rufescent on central pair
of feathers), tail feathers from below similar but slightly duller,
wing linings white with a few feathers near chamois (I23d) at
leading edge and bend of wing from below, rest of under-wing
nearest grayish horn color (9I) but slightly darker, chin and
throat dull white, with usually concealed basal portion of feath-
ers blackish (tips and sides of feathers whitish), varying amount
of black freckling may show on throat and, in life, show in aggres-
sive display, feathers of throat can be erected to reveal an exten-
sive, triangular black patch, white of throat shades gradually to
pale drab gray (II9c), with a pale clay tinge (nearest 26) to smoky
brown tinge (II9c) on chest, lower breast and belly whitish with
faint pale clay tinge, especially on sides, under-tail coverts light
drab brown (nearest beige 2I9b and tawny olive 223b). Bare parts
in life: iris light drab color (nearest 27) in holotype but varying
from light grayish brown to brownish yellow, tarsi pale horn gray,
feet dark horn gray, bill horn gray with distal half of lower man-
dible paler.
Measurements of holotype.Wing chord (unattened) 34.4
mm, tail length (longest central feather) 78.I mm, bill length
(distal end of nares to tip) 9 mm, exposed culmen II.3 mm, total
length I39 mm, body mass I3 g. Some standard measurements of
the series of holotype and paratypes (below) combined are shown
in Table I.
Paratypes.In addition to the holotype, there are eight para-
types. Four were collected on I2 May I999, as follows: male (COP
8uI22), skull Iu ossied, testis 7 3 mm, male (COP 8uI24), tes-
tis 7 3 mm, male (COP 8uI23), skull Iu ossied, testis 6 3
mm, and male (COP 8uI29), no data. Tree more examples were
collected on I3 May I999, as follows: male (COP 8uI26), testis 6
3 mm, female (COP 8uI28), ovary mass 6 4 mm, and male (COP
8uI27), testis 3 3 mm. One specimen was collected on 6 June
2uuu, as follows: female (COP 8u3uI), ovary mass 3 3 mm. All
paratypes were collected and prepared by M. Lentino, D.A., and I.
Carreno at the same location as the holotype.
Etymology.Te specic epithet honors Beverly J. Hilty,
wife of the senior author, acknowledging her unwavering sup-
port and encouragement, her devotion to family during her hus-
bands long absences, and her invaluable eld assistance in Latin
America. Te English name highlights the river where this spe-
cies is found.
List of tape recordings examined.S. beverlyae: Venezuela:
type locality (S.L.H., D.A., C. Marantz), edo. ( estado, or state)
Delta Amacuro, Isla Caimn, south branch of Ro Orinoco
(S.L.H., D.A., and others). S. albescens: Venezuela: edo. Amazonas,
type locality of S. beverlyae, edo. Falcn, northwest of Barquisim-
eto, edo. Apure, Hato Cedral (S.L.H.), Suriname: Zanderij (S.L.H.),
Argentina: Buenos Aires prov. ( province), west of Baha Blanca
(S.L.H.), Brazil: Mato Grosso, Chapada (K. Zimmer), S. propin-
qua: Peru: dpto. ( departamento) Loreto, lower Ro Napo (S.L.H.),
S. albigularis: Peru: dpto. Loreto, lower Ro Napo (S.L.H.), dpto.
Madre de Dios, near Atalaya at Hacienda Amazonia (S.H.), S. sub-
pudica: Colombia: dptos. Boyac and Cundinamarca (lvarez et
al. 2uu7), S. azarae: Venezuela: edo. Merida, 2,Iuu m (S.L.H.), Peru:
dpto. Cuzco, Manu Biosphere Reserve Cultural Zone, 2,23u m
(S.L.H.), S. gujanensis: Venezuela: edos. Delta AmacuroBolvar
border, Ro Grande (S.L.H.), Peru: dpto. Madre de Dios, near Ata-
laya at Hacienda Amazonia (S.L.H.), Bolivia: dpto. Santa Cruz,
Jardn Botnico, Santa Cruz (S.L.H.), S. cinerascens: Brazil: south-
east Atlantic coast (T. Parker), Mato Grosso, Cuiab (K. Zimmer),
Mato Grosso, south of Cuiab at Pocone (S.L.H.), S. spixi: Argen-
tina: Buenos Aires prov., Magdalena (Straneck I99u), S. frontalis:
Argentina: Salta prov., north of Salta (S.L.H.), Bolivia: dpto. Santa
Cruz, city of Santa Cruz (S.L.H.), Argentina: Entre Rios prov.,
Parque Nacional El Palmar (Straneck I99u), S. candei: Venezu-
ela: edo. Lara, northwest of Barquisimeto (S.L.H.), S. castanea:
Venezuela: edo. Vargas, near Colonia Tovar (S.L.H.), S. unirufa:
Venezuela: edo. Merida (S.L.H.). Vocalizations of other species ex-
amined, some from commercial recordings, include S. rutilans,
S. cherriei, S. erythrothorax, S. brachyura, S. tithys, S. maccon-
nelli, S. moesta, S. cabanisi, S. scutata, S. cinnamomea, and S. stic-
tothorax (Coopmans et al. 2uu4, Lysinger et al. 2uu3, Marantz and
Zimmer 2uu6).
REMARKS
Variation within the type series.Among the nine specimens in
the type series, no dierences in plumage were detected between
males and females (as is typical for this genus and for the Fur-
nariidae in general). One (male COP 8uI22) shows a slightly more
intense brownish tinge to the upperparts than the holotype (fe-
male) and is slightly grayer-tinged on sides of head and neck and
underparts. Tis same male has slightly more extensive white on
the throat than others in the series. Male COP 8uI26 has slightly
browner underparts, but the manner of specimen preparation pre-
vents an unequivocal comparison. Te extent of rufous color on the
feathers of the crown and wing coverts is similar in all specimens.
Similarly, the intensity (hue) of rufous on the crown and shoulders
in the small series shows almost no detectable variation.
Habitat and predicted distribution.We have found S. bev-
erlyae on three islands in the Orinoco river system. Te rst, the
type locality, is a small, semipermanent island of rock and boul-
ders with depositional sand and soil deposits at its downstream
end (Fig. 3). Tis site is typical of many islands in the middle and
upper sections of the Ro Orinoco. Here, the river ows clear and
relatively fast, with numerous long, shallow rapids. Because of the
rocky terrain and generally narrow oodplain, the river channel at
JULY 2009 NEW SPECIES OF SPINETAIL 489
this point and upriver is less prone to wander in its oodplain than
farther downriver. Te color of the water in this section of the
river varies from slightly brownish (inuence of the often turbid
Ro Ventuari) to clear and blackish, which is evidence of the inu-
ence of white sand soils that dominate the rivers upper reaches.
We also documented, by voice and photographs, the pres-
ence of S. beverlyae on two additional river islands (Fig. 3, bot-
tom two photos), both far downriver in the Orinoco delta. One
of these sites is a large alluvial island (Isla Caimn) located
in the main southern channel of the Orinoco, where it passes
through the delta, the third site is a smaller island (La Playa),
located near the Ro Mnamo, a large northeast-owing river
that demarks the western boundary of the delta at present.
Isla La Playa is relatively close to Barrancas, Monagas. Both
islands are composed of recent sand and soil deposits that form
when ood waters subside and are subject to extensive erosion
and modication during each rainy season. In this respect,
they dier substantially from the type-locality island, which
is relatively permanent. Te Ro Mnamo, however, has been
damned, and Isla La Playa now experiences less dramatic sea-
sonal ooding.
A large number of both types of islands occur in the Ro Ori-
noco. Islands above the conuence of the Ro Meta with the Ori-
noco (Fig. I) are mostly permanent or semipermanent islands like
the type-locality site, whereas those below the Meta are almost
entirely nonpermanent, sandy and muddy islands. Te change in
the Orinocos gradient and ow is dramatic. At or near the con-
uence of the Ro Meta with the Orinoco, the Orinoco changes
quickly from a clear, fast-owing river to a slow, muddy, serpen-
tine river with relatively little gradient. Here the Orinoco wanders
within its broad, at oodplain and overows its banks soon af-
ter the onset of each rainy season. Temporary sand islands char-
acterize this part of the river, and most are inundated for several
months each year.
Te vegetation on islands in the upper and lower portions of
the Orinoco also diers markedly. At the type locality, a few taller
trees (to -I2 m) and dense mats of herbaceous and woody shrubs
and vines (to about 34 m) formed nearly impenetrable barriers
around the perimeter of the island and in some areas in the in-
terior of the island. A few small trees of the genus Cecropia also
populated the island. Tessaria sp. (Asteraceae), a small pioneer-
ing shrub or small tree common on islands in Amazonia and the
lower Orinoco, was not found here.
On Isla Caiman and Isla La Playa, in the delta region, pio-
neer vegetation consisted of only a few kinds of scrubby or stunted
trees (including Salix sp. and Tessaria sp.). Tall grass and rapidly
spreading herbaceous vines overtopped and smothered younger
woody vegetation. Various age-stages of Cecropia spp. were pres-
ent on some islands but not on Isla Caimn. Te island was split
or partly split in several places by large diagonal erosion chan-
nels from previous ood seasons, and by long muddy washes and
pools that dry, bake hard, and crack in the sun. Similar vegetative
succession occurs on river islands in the Amazon basin, and this
has important consequences for bird communities (Remsen and
Parker I983, Rosenberg I99u).
Few islands in either the upper or the lower section of the
Ro Orinoco have been systematically explored ornithologically.
We predict that S. beverlyae will be found on an undetermined
number of river islands that share these vegetative characteristics,
especially in the ood-prone lower half of the river. It also may
occur in the lower section of the Ro Meta, because the Meta has
sandy and brushy islands similar to those in the lower half of the
Ro Orinoco.
FIG. 3. Island locations of Synallaxis beverlyae. Top: type locality, the
small unnamed island west of Isla Garcitas, middle Ro Orinoco, Amazo-
nas, Venezuela (photograph by S.L.H., 1998). Middle: Isla Caimn, lower
Ro Orinoco, Delta Amacuro, Venezuela (visual, vocal, and photographic
evidence; photograph by S.L.H., 2006). Bottom: Isla La Playa, Cao
Mnamo, Monagas-Delta Amacuro border, Venezuela (visual and vocal
recordings by D.A.; photograph by D.A., 2006).
490 HILTY AND ASCANIO AUK, VOL. 126
In the Amazonian region of northeastern Peru and adja-
cent southeastern Colombia, >23u species have been identied
in riverine habitats, and >24 of these species are restricted exclu-
sively to habitats on islands (Remsen and Parker I983). Rosenberg
(I99u), working only on a few islands near Iquitos, Peru, found
I9 island specialists. Comparable information is unavailable for
the Orinoco river system, but our limited observations suggest a
much smaller number of island specialists in the Orinoco. During
a high-water period in August, D.A. observed one S. beverlyae in
river-edge vegetation near Isla Caimn, which suggests that river
island species are capable of moving locally in response to ood-
ing. However, the dynamic and cyclical nature of ooding of the
Orinoco river islands and its eect on island birds remain undoc-
umented. On Amazonian river islands near Iquitos, we have ob-
served several island specialists foraging in riverbank vegetation
(i.e., in and near the city of Iquitos) in sites that did not ood when
nearby river islands were inundated. Future investigations in the
Orinoco region should explore riverbanks and nearby oodplain
sites with vegetation similar to that found on nearby islands, espe-
cially during periods of high water, when island birds may be tem-
porarily forced away from preferred sites.
Behavior.In general, S. beverlyae behaves much like most
others of the genus, being rather furtive and keeping within vine
tangles and leafy cover, where it forages from ground level up to
-3 m. During the morning hours, it may sing from a semi-open
elevated location in vegetation, but generally it keeps out of sight
and is usually quiet during the heat of the day. Our observations
indicate that the new taxon occurs in pairs and that, locally, popu-
lations can be fairly dense.
Vocalizations.We obtained a large number of unsolicited
primary advertising songs, as well as songs and rattle calls in re-
sponse to playback, at both the type locality and downriver at Isla
Caimn. Te most frequent vocalization is a territorial advertising
song (Fig. 4A) given frequently during the rst hour or so at dawn
and, much less often, later in the day. Te song consists of about
six to nine notes, the rst slightly stronger and separated by a brief
pause or hesitation from the remaining series. Occasionally, birds
gave songs consisting of as few as three notes (Fig. 4A). Another
vocalization (Fig. 4B), given in response to playback, consisted of a
longer sequence of about I3 or I6 notes, the last 3 or 6 (or more) ac-
celerating and run together. In each of these songs, sound energy
is broadly concentrated near 3 kHz, with noticeable harmonic
bands at higher pitch and one at lower pitch. Other vocalizations
include a harsh rattle and loud single note given by agitated birds
in response to playback.
Spectrograms of primary songs of S. albigularis, S. spixi, and
S. hypospodia also are shown in Figure 4CE. Te songs of S. bev-
erlyae are most similar structurally to songs of these three species.
Each species song is characterized by an emphasized introductory
note and then a diagnostic pause after which the remaining notes
follow. Songs of S. albigularis are lowest in pitch, with sound en-
ergy concentrated in the range of 22.3 kHz, and also are the most
FIG. 4. Spectrograms of songs of Synallaxis beverlyae, three Synallaxis spp. with structurally similar vocalizations, and S. albescens, which has similar
plumage but very different vocalization. (A) Advertising song and (B) response to playback of S. beverlyae song from the type locality, 3 January 1998.
(C) Advertising song of S. albigularis from a river island near mouth of Ro Napo, Iquitos, Peru, 26 January 1998. (D) Advertising song of S. spixi from
Magdalena, Buenos Aires province, Argentina (Straneck 1990). (E) Song of S. hypospodia from Brazil, Mato Grosso, south of Cuiab at Pocon, June
2003. (F) Advertising song of S. albescens from the type locality of S. beverlyae, 3 January 1998. Recordings by S.L.H. unless noted otherwise.
JULY 2009 NEW SPECIES OF SPINETAIL 491
nasal of the group. Songs of S. spixi are shorter and higher-pitched
than those of albigularis or S. beverlyae, with maximum sound
energy at -4 kHz. Synallaxis hypospodia has the highest-pitched
song of the group, with sound energy concentrated at -4.3 kHz.
Its song is also faster and consists of many more notes. Te adver-
tising song of S. albescens is shown for comparison with that of S.
beverlyae (Fig. 4F). Although S. albescens is remarkably similar in
plumage to the new taxon, its simple two-note song bears no re-
semblance to any vocalization of the latter.
Systematic anities.Remsen (2uu3) lists 33 species in
the genus Synallaxis. Almost all are notable for their conserva-
tive plumage color and pattern and for relatively minor plumage
dierences among species, despite radiation into a wide range of
habitats and elevations and a distribution that spans the entire lat-
itudinal range of the Neotropics and, in a few cases, beyond. Given
that most species occur low in vegetation, their furtive behavior
and modest plumage are not surprising. However, vocalizations of
most species within the group are distinctive, even though many
rely on simple two- or three-note calls or short churrs or rattles or
other structurally simple and repetitive notes.
Te new species is most similar in plumage to S. albescens,
and the two are found together locally on some river islands in
the Orinoco. However, S. albescens occurs in a much wider array
of habitats, and its songs are so dissimilar that the two may not be
each others closest relative. Of three species in the genus Synal-
laxis that are vocally similar to S. beverlyae, S. albigularis is the
only one that occurs in river-edge vegetation including cane and
tall grass on Amazonian river islands and grass and marshes with
emergent woody vegetation. It is usually associated with water or
wet vegetation (Ridgely and Tudor I994), however, throughout its
range, it occupies a broader spectrum of habitats than S. bever-
lyae. By contrast, S. spixi and S. hypospodia occur in dry-to-wet
grass and scrub habitats, including cerrado, and are less associated
with vegetation near water. Synallaxis spixi ranges from sea level
to >2,uuu m, and S. hypospodia up to 7uu m.
Despite vocal similarities, S. albigularis, S. spixi, and S. hy-
pospodia are not as similar to S. beverlyae in plumage as S. albe-
scens is. All three species are darker above than S. beverlyae, and
much darker and grayer below. Tese dierences in plumage mor-
phology, along with vocal dierences, more narrowly dened hab-
itat preferences, and geographic isolation of S. beverlyae from its
closest vocal allies, argue that this taxon meets the requirements
for a species under any species concept. Because the new species
is not in direct contact with some of the taxa that may be its clos-
est relatives, reproductive isolation cannot be directly assessed.
However, the suite of dierences in habitat, voice, and plumage
among S. beverlyae and other species in this genus suggest that it
has diverged to the level associated with species-level dierences
in this genus. Te dierences between it and its presumed closest
allies are as great as or greater than those among many currently
recognized species in the genus. Further, the new species is syn-
topic with S. albescens, the species closest to it in plumage, on Ori-
noco river islands.
Conservation.Although threats to S. beverlyae associated
with human activities appear to be minor at present, the known
and presumed range of the species, which includes suitable river
islands from the type locality downriver to the Orinoco delta, is
small. Te present dam on the Cano Mnamo has reduced water
ow into portions of the northern and middle delta of the Orinoco
and has simultaneously caused more water to divert into south-
ern channels of the delta. Te eect of this change on water ow
on river islands and associated ora and fauna is undocumented,
but it is likely that islands in the southern part of the delta are now
subjected to greater seasonal uctuation in water levels, whereas
those in the north may experience more stable conditions. In both
cases, the results are likely to aect early-succession plants. His-
torically, however, similar changes have probably occurred many
times in the delta as river ow has alternated between channels
with expansion of the delta.
More immediate threats include subsistence-level agricul-
tural activities such as corn and bean cultivation during low-water
seasons on river islands and, locally, clearing of island vegetation
to accommodate increasing tourism on sandy islands. Seasonal
ooding is most dramatic in the lower half of the river basin, the
zone where the new species occurs, but this part of the river is
the most dicult for humans to modify. At present, there are no
dams anywhere above the delta of the Ro Orinoco. A dam would
have the potential to aect almost all riverine wildlife, including
S. beverlyae, by altering the natural ow of the river and the nor-
mal cycles of island formation and destruction.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We thank M. Lentino for obtaining collecting permits and accom-
panying the collecting expeditions to the islands of the middle
Orinoco and for providing access to the Coleccin Ornitolgica
Phelps (COP) in Caracas, Venezuela. M. Martinez facilitated our
work at the COP in various ways. We thank C. Marantz for the
time-consuming task of providing sound recordings of this spe-
cies for comparison with our own and for access to his detailed
eld notes on the plumage and behavior of this species. I. Carreno
of COP prepared most of the specimens, M. B. Robbins provided
access to specimen material at the Natural History Museum, Uni-
versity of Kansas, and K. J. Zimmer provided sound recordings of
several Synallaxis spp. from Brazil. Travel opportunities in Latin
America were made possible, in part, by Victor Emanuel Nature
Tours. Ascanio Birding Tours provided nancial assistance for
two expeditions. R. S. Ridgely, K. J. Zimmer, and A. Whittaker
shared information on the genus Synallaxis and their eld obser-
vations and comments on this new taxon. We are greatly indebted
to . Nyri for preparing nal spectrograms, helping with the
map, and advising on tabular material. J. V. Remsen, Jr., an anony-
mous reviewer, and associate editor H. F. James made numerous
helpful suggestions and improvements to the manuscript.
LITERATURE CITED
ivvvz, M., V. Cvo, O. Lvvvov, o A. M. Cuvvvo. 2uu7.
Gua sonora de las aves de los Andes colombianos. [Audio CDs.]
Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York.
Coovrs, P., J. V. Moovv, N. Kvnnv, O. Jn, K. S. Bvvo,
M. Lvsiovv, L. Nvvvv:v, o R. S. Riooviv. 2uu4. Te
Birds of Southwest Ecuador. [Audio CDs.] John V. Moore Nature
Recordings, San Jose, California.
Hii:v, S. L. 2uu3. Birds of Venezuela, 2nd ed. Princeton University
Press, Princeton, New Jersey.
492 HILTY AND ASCANIO AUK, VOL. 126
Lvsiovv, M., J. V. Moovv, N. Kvnnv, P. Coovrs, D. F. Lv,
L. Nvvvv:v, J. Niisso, o R. S. Riooviv. 2uu3. Te
Birds of Eastern Ecuador, vol. I: Te Foothills and Lower Sub-
tropics. [Audio CDs.] J. V. Moore Nature Recordings, San Jose,
California.
Mv:z, C. A., o K. J. Zirrvv. 2uu6. Bird Voices of Alta Flo-
resta and Southeastern Amazonian Brazil. [Audio CDs.] Cornell
Laboratory of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York.
Rvrsv, J. V., Jv. 2uu3. Family Furnariidae (Ovenbirds). In Hand-
book of the Birds of the World, vol. 8: Broadbills to Tapaculos (J.
del Hoyo, A. Elliott, and D. A. Christie, Eds.). Lynx Edicions, Bar-
celona, Spain.
Rvrsv, J. V., Jv., o T. A. Pvvv III. I983. Contribution of river-
created habitats to bird species richness in Amazonia. Biotropica
I3:22323I.
Riooivv, R. S., o G. Tuoov. I994. Te Birds of South America, vol.
2: Te Suboscine Passerines. University of Texas Press, Austin.
Rioov, R. I9I2. Color Standards and Color Nomenclature. Pub-
lished by the author, Washington, D.C.
Rosvnvvo, G. H. I99u. Habitat specialization and foraging behav-
ior by birds of Amazonian river islands in northeastern Peru.
Condor 92:427443.
Sri:nv, F. B. I973. Naturalists Color Guide. American Museum of
Natural History, New York.
Sri:nv, F. B. I98I. Naturalists Color Guide, part III. American
Museum of Natural History, New York.
S:vvc, R. I99u. Canto de las Aves Pampeanas I. [Audio cassette.]
Editorial L.O.L.A. (Literature for Latin America), Buenos Aires.
Associate Editor: H. F. James