Bird evolution and taxonomy

Coucals are large, predatory, primarily ground-dwelling cuckoos of the genus Centropus, with 26 extant species ranging from Africa to Australia. Their evolutionary and biogeographical history are poorly understood and their fossil record almost non-existent. Only one species (Centropus phasianinus) currently inhabits Australia, but there is now fossil evidence for at least three Pleistocene species. One of these (Centropus colossus) was described from southeastern Australia in 1985. Here we describe additional elements of this species from the same site, and remains of two further extinct species from the Thylacoleo Caves of the Nullarbor Plain, south-central Australia. The skeletal morphology and large size of the three extinct species indicates that they had reduced capacity for flight and were probably primarily ground-dwelling. The extinct species include the two largest-known cuckoos, weighing upwards of 1 kg each. They demonstrate that gigantism in this lineage has been more marked in a continental context than on islands, contrary to the impression gained from extant species. The evolutionary relationships of the Australian fossil coucals are uncertain, but our phylogenetic analysis indicates a possible close relationship between one of the Nullarbor species and extant Centropus violaceus from the Bismarck Archipelago. The presence of three coucals in southern Australia markedly extends the geographical range of the genus from tropical Australia into southern temperate regions. This demonstrates the remarkable and consistent ability of coucals to colonize continents despite their very limited flying ability.

The avifauna of Indonesia is one of the richest in the world but the taxonomic status of many species remains poorly documented. The sole species of scops owl known from Lombok has long been assigned to the widespread Moluccan Scops Owl Otus magicus on the basis of superficial similarities in morphology. Field work in 2003 has shown that the territorial song of the scops owls inhabiting the foothills of Gunung Rinjani differs dramatically from that of O. magicus and is more similar to those of Rufescent Scops Owl O. rufescens and Singapore Scops Owl O. cnephaeus. Detailed comparisons of sound recordings and museum specimens with those of other scops owls in Wallacea and the Indo-Malayan region have confirmed the distinctiveness of the Lombok population. We describe Otus jolandae as a new species, the Rinjani Scops Owl. It is locally common at elevations from 25–1350 m. and occurs within Gunung Rinjani National Park. The new species is known from seven specimens collected by Alfred Everett in 1896. Otus jolandae represents the first endemic bird species from Lombok.

We describe a striking new species of Grallaria antpitta from wet, upper subtropical forest in the upper Rio Chinchipe drainage, provincia Zamora-Chinchipe, Ecuador Notes on its natural history and molecular systematics are presented along with spectrograms of its voice. The species is readily diagnosed by its large size, unique white facial markings, and voice. Initial results from DNA sequence analyses place the new species in a well-supported clade that includes Grallaria nuchalis (which is syntopic with the new species, G. hypoleuca, G. watkinsi, and G. ruficapilla.

Since early in its taxonomic history, placement of the Socorro Wren (Thryomanes sissonii) has been an object of contention. Of particular interest is its current placement in the genus Thryomanes, which makes that genus ditypic and leads to an odd biogeographic scenario for the Socorro Wren’s colonization of Socorro Island. We assessed its phylogenetic position by analyzing 516 base pairs of mitochondrial DNA sequences from the ND2 gene of this species and 14 additional wren taxa. Contrary to its present placement, the Socorro Wren is nested phylogenetically within the House Wren species complex, being placed as sister to the clade Troglodytes aedon + T. musculus. The current hypothesis (i.e. sister to Thryomanes bewickii) is strongly invalidated by our analysis. Our analyses indicate that the most appropriate taxonomic classification for the Socorro Wren is Troglodytes sissonii.

Recently acquired tissue makes possible a first molecular assessment of the taxonomic position of the Soccoro Island endemic mimid Mimodes graysoni . Mitochondrial DNA sequence data from the ND-2 gene was analyzed using parsimony, maximum likelihood and bayesian methods of inference. These methods all placed Mimodes graysoni within a strongly supported clade containing four representatives of the genus Mimus. Retention of the monotypic Mimodes would make Mimus paraphyletic, therefore Mimodes graysoni is more properly placed in the genus Mimus.

Despite an extensive described fossil record of Galliformes (Aves:`landfowl'), very few specimens have been considered within a phylogenetic context. Here we present a cladistic analysis and description of a new, well-preserved and well-dated fossil specimen from the Middle Eocene Bridger Formation of Wyoming (c. 50 Ma). Amitabha urbsinterdictensis gen. et. sp. nov. is assigned to Galliformes on the basis of the presence of derived characters including double, and open, incisurae laterales on the sternum and an incisura capitis of the proximal humerus that is enclosed from the crus dorsale fossa by a distinct ridge. Amitabha is considered to be a member of the large and diverse`phasianoid' clade of Galliformes (including, for example, the pheasants, peafowl and turkeys) owing to a lack of extensive pneumaticity in the sternal plate. The age of this avian taxon and degree of preservation allow for a discussion of the use of fossil birds for the calibration of`molecular clock' hypotheses and dating divergences within Neornithes in general, and Galliformes in particular.