The Wilson Journal of Ornithology 123(3 ):454—458, 2011 
SPECIES RANK OF PHIBALURA (FLAVIROSTRIS) BOLIVIAN A BASED 
ON PLUMAGE. SOFT PART COLOR, VOCALIZATIONS, AND 
SEASONAL MOVEMENTS 
A. BENNETT HENNESSEY 
ABSTRACT. The Swallow-tailed Cotinga (PhibaluraJJavirostris) has traditionally been considered to consist of mo 
subspecies. P. f flavirostris of southeastern Brazil's foothill forest and. isolated by -2.500 km. a population of P. f. 
h °' V ' a "“ cenlral ‘ western Bolivia The plumage of the two taxa is distinctly different; boliviano males have a longer tail 
and body plumage is significantly less sexually dimorphic. The iris of boliviano is mustard yellow, distinct from the blood 
red ins of flavirostris. P.f boliviano has dull to bright orange-yellow feet whereas flavirostris has pink feet. Onlv one 
voca .zat.on type is recorded for PJ, flavirostris, whereas at least five calls and a song are known for P. f boliviano, which 
vocalizes significantly more often. The Brazilian P. fflavirostris has strong seasonal movements, whereas P.f bolimna 
thC diagn0SaWe differencc * ■***«" ‘he two taxa. it is highly probable thev are separate 
Rerefve 'l 7 n T‘ “ C " t,C y endan S cred for its declining small population due to continual habitat loss. 
Received 7 December 2010. Accepted 4 April 2011. 
The Swallow-tailed Cotinga ( Phibalura flcivh 
rostris) has traditionally been considered to be 
comprised of two allopatric subspecies. P. f 
flavirostris of southeastern Brazil foothill forest, 
(400-1,200 m asl) and P.f boliviano, which is 
restricted to an isolated Andean intermontane 
savanna and semi-humid forest matrix (1,400- 
2.000 m asl ) surrounded by moist montane forest 
in the Department of La Paz, Bolivia. The two 
populations are separated by ~2,500 km of 
tropical lowland forest, Pantanal, and Beni 
Savanna habitat. Chapman (1930) described 
boliviano as a new subspecies based on two 
specimens (American Museum of Natural Histo¬ 
ry) collected by R. S. Williams in 1902 from 
Aten. La Paz Department, Bolivia. Krabbe (1984) 
noted a mounted boliviano in the Zoological 
Museum. University of Copenhagen, collected 
prior to 1847, in La Paz Department, Bolivia, but 
without further details. These three specimens 
provided the only information available Tor 
f ° r 9S yCarS Until ils discovery in 
2000 (Hennessey 2002). 60 km north of the 
original collection site (14 39' S, 68 36' W, 
2.000 m asl). I present new data from field 
observations, photographs, and sound recordings 
that provide evidence of unique plumage, vocal 
breeding, and ecological characteristics that 
suggest P. f boliviano should be elevated to 
species rank under the biological species concept. 
s-SSL® d :.rr c - ^ 
abhennessey@armonia-bo.org 
METHODS 
Plumage comparisons are based on 3 boliviano 
specimens (American Museum of Natural History 
IAMNH); Zoological Museum, University of 
Copenhagen), photographs of 17 individuals 
(Bromfield et a). 2004; J. C. Atienza, pen. 
comm.; Mileniusz Spanowicz. pers. comm.) and 
field observations of 46 boliviano individuals 
in the Apolo Region (14 36' S, 68 30’ VV) of 
Bolivia. Behavioral and ecological comparisons 
arc based on a year-round breeding survey (2008) 
and a continued monitoring program by William 
Perm lino, and tape recordings of 13 individuals 
made during field work on 4. 5, and 18 October 
2002. and 4-12 December 2003 in Apolo. La Paz. 
The flavirostris comparisons are based on eight 
specimens (AMNH; Philadelphia Academy of 
Natural Science: Goeldi Musuem), 18 hrs of field 
observations of 14 individuals, and sound record¬ 
ings of eight individuals from 26 October to 2 
November 2004 in Intervales National Park. State 
of Sao Paolo. Brazil (24 12' S to 24 : 32' S. 48 ; 
03' W to 48 c 32' W). 
RESULTS 
Plumage. The plumage of boliviano is sexu¬ 
ally dimorphic. The male has a dark gray crown 
with a large, semi-concealed fiery-red central 
crown patch (central crown feathers tipped black). 
A well-defined black facial mask bordered by 
white below and on the neck extends to the ear 
coverts; it has an orange-yellow malar stripe, chin, 
and lower throat with some dusky barring 
laterally: and the sides of neck and breast black 
and variable white to yellowish-white (upper 
454 
