Amazonian Hybrids

Recently, Jason T. Weir (University of Toronto Scarborough) and colleagues published a paper on the role of rivers in the origin of Amazonian bird species. In this paper, they also present genetic evidence (based on thousands of SNPs) for hybridization between seven bird species pairs at Amazonian headwaters. The hybridizing species belong to three different passerine families: Furnariidae (Ovenbirds), Pipridae (Manakins) and Thamnophilidae (Antbirds). Consequently, these pages have been updated!

Snow-capped Manakin (Lepidothrix nattereri)

References

Weir, J. T., Faccio, M. S., Pulido-Santacruz, P., Barrera-Guzman, A. O. & Aleixo, A. (2015). Hybridization in headwater regions, and the role of rivers as drivers of speciation in Amazonian birds. Evolution 69, 1823-1834.

Recent Updates: Flycatchers, Birds-of-Paradise, Eagles and Malagasy Passerines

The following papers have been added to the bird order summaries for the respective orders/families. Enjoy the reading!

Muscicapidae – Ficedula

Laaksonen, T., Sirkia, P. M., Calhim, S., Brommer, J. E., Leskinen, P. K., Primmer, C. R., Adamik, P., Artemyev, A. V., Belskii, E., Both, C., Bures, S., Burgess, M. D., Doligez, B., Forsman, J. T., Grinkov, V., Hoffmann, U., Ivankina, E., Kral, M., Krams, I., Lampe, H. M., Moreno, J., Magi, M., Nord, A., Potti, J., Ravussin, P. A. & Sokolov, L. (2015). Sympatric divergence and clinal variation in multiple coloration traits of Ficedula flycatchers. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 28, 779-790. DOI: 10.1111/jeb.12604

Collared Flycatcher (Ficedula albicollis) in Poland. © Frank Vassen

Bernieridae – Xanthomixis

Block, N. L., Goodman, S. M., Hackett, S. J., Bates, J. M. & Raherilalao, M. J. (2015). Potential merger of ancient lineages in a passerine bird discovered based on evidence from host-specific ectoparasites. Ecology and Evolution 5, 3743-3755.

Short-billed Tetraka (Xanthomixis zosterops) on the nest

Paradisaeidae

Martin, P. R. (2015). The paradox of the Birds-of-Paradise: persistent hybridization as a signature of historical reinforcement. Ideas in Ecology and Evolution 8.

Lesser Bird-of-Paradise (Paradisaea minor) © Reza Patrama

Accipitriformes – Aquila

Maciorowski, G., Mirski, P. & Vali, U. (2015). Hybridisation dynamics between the Greater Spotted Eagles Aquila clanga and Lesser Spotted Eagles Aquila pomarina in the Biebrza River Valley (NE Poland). Acta Ornithologica 50, 33-41.

Greater Spotted Eagle (Aquila clanga) © Вых Пыхманн