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 Avibirds European birdguide online
 New bird species discovered in the 21st century: the year 2002 |
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| Bald Parrot | 
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| Gypopsitta aurantiocephala | NEAR THREATENED |
| Pionopsitta aurantiocephala is known only from a few localities encompassing the Lower Madeira and Upper Tapajós rivers in Amazonian Brazil. Individuals have been seen in gallery forest and in 'campinarana' forest (on white-sand soils). This region is under threat from logging1. Given that the species is currently known only from two habitat types and from a relatively small area, the population is unlikely to be much larger than 10,000 individuals, and it is therefore considered to be Near Threatened. More records are likely to be forthcoming now that it has been formally recognised as a species, and these may clarify its exact status. The new species, which is distinguished from all other parrots by its naked orange head, |
had historically been treated as an immature stage of Pionopsitta (= Gypopsitta) vulturina, a species in which adults have a largely naked, black head, bordered by a collar of yellow and black feathers. Juveniles of vulturina have feathered heads (the feathers being variably green and/or yellow). Not only did the authors find that specimens had well-developed gonads and a well-ossified skull indicating that they were adult birds but they also studied museum specimens of Vulturine Parrot which showed all stages of plumage development but none which resembled the Bald Parrot. It appears to inhabit gallery forest and "campinarana" white-sand soil forest of which there is quite an expanse near the Thaimaçu Lodge and which probably links up with the white-sand area near the Serra de Cachimbo that can be seen from the Cuiabá - Santarém road. It is a strikingly coloured parrot and, were it not for its bald head could be classified as very attractive.
Gaban-Lima, Renato; Raposo, Marcos A. & Höfling, Elizabeth (2002): Description of a New Species of Pionopsitta (Aves: Psittacidae) Endemic to Brazil. Auk 119(3): 815-819.
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| Cryptic Forest-falcon | 
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| Micrastur mintoni | LEAST CONCERN |
| Described in 2002 (Wilson Bull. 114: 421-445), specimens of Micrastur mintoni had been overlooked as Lined Forest-falcon A. gilvicollis or confused with Plumbeous Forest-falcon M. plumbeus for over 100 years, despite the attention of such acutely observant commentators as Charles Hellmayr and Dean Amadon, until Andrew Whittaker finally resolved the mystery of short-tailed specimens of 'M. gilvicollis' from Pará, northern Brazil. The new species appears to have a disjunct range with separate populations through central and eastern Amazonian Brazil as far as northeasternmost Bolivia, which population principally occurs in humid terra firme, and the other in the eastern Brazil Atlantic rainforest, from northern Espírito Santo to southern Bahia, though the latter is speculated to be extinct. Whereas M. gilvicollis is principally restricted to localities north of the Amazon, Cryptic Forestfalcon has yet to be |
| recorded north of the river and to the south they appear to be separated by the rio Madeira. The vocalisations (which proved to be initial key that unlocked recognition of the new species) and morphology of mintoni are distinct from all other forest-falcons. Like others of the genus, mintoni is a shy and often secretive bird that is rarely observed by chance. Apart from call, the main difference between the two species is the shorter tail and its patterning. Adult mintoni have one broad white central tail band, subadults have two broad white to buff bands. In contrast, adult and subadult gilvicollis have a longer tail with two distinctly narrower white tail bands, and immatures have two or three white to buff narrow bands. Other differences include mintoni's more frequently contrasting dark forehead, crown and nape, slightly more extensive orange skin above the eye, bolder horizontal upper breast barring, less extensive lower underpart barring, and lack of a buff wash on the breast. Micrastur mintoni, from Brazil. Whittaker 2003 WilsonBull.(2002) 114 p.421,422 |
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| Kimberley Pipit | 
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| Anthus pseudosimilis | DATA DEFICIENT |
| A recent study of the evolutionary relationships between pipits suggested the existence of a previously undescribed species. Molecular evolutionary relationships in the avian genus Anthus. DNA evidence indicated that a freshly-collected specimen from Kimberley, South Africa, which was originally identified as a Long-billed Pipit Anthus similis, is more closely related to
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| Malindi Pipit A melindae than to Long-billed Pipit. Subsequent comparisons of the specimen revealed several differences with Long-billed and other pipits, including Malindi Pipit. Now, after several years of field work, the pipit is named Kimberley Pipit Anthus pseudosimilis. Kimberley Pipit differs from the sympatric Buffy Pipit A vaalensis and Plain-backed Pipit A leucophrys in having a streaked back and breast. It differs from African Pipit A cinnamomeus in having darker brown streaks on the back, a more extensive breastband with generally heavier streaking, and by its larger size. Although difficult to differentiate from Long-billed Pipit, it differs by a different wing formula and primary emargination, a shorter bill, a longer hind-claw, a more distinct cream supercilium, rufous ear-coverts and black malar stripe; it also differs from Long-billed Pipit in habitat, behaviour and breeding biology. Compared with Kimberley Pipit, Malindi Pipit of coastal Kenya has heavier streaking on the back, a thinner malar stripe and streaking on the belly and flanks. Kimberley Pipit is now known from 17 specimens and several confirmed sight records, all from the interior of South Africa and south-western Namibia. Where it occurs, Kimberley Pipit is fairly common and appears to be sedentary, although some winter movements may occur. The bird was first discovered as a winter visitor to Kimberley. It has been found 70km to the west in the late spring and it would appear to occur at Springfontein in the southern Free State the whole year round. Here at Garingboom Guest Farm I have found eight breeding pairs and Dr Liversidge visited us to do sonograms of their very distinctive display-calls . The best help in the field is their selection of habitat, body language, feeding and displaying behaviour , voice and tail movements. The birds can be picked up at a distance by their upright stance with a slender body and the long tail and comparetively long bright orange legs. They run longer distances than the other pipits and wags its tail downwards. The slightly rufous earcoverts, very prominent eye strip and yellowish flanks are seen in breeding season and their distinctive courtship flight and calls are diagnostic as well. The proposed name of this new specie and specimens come from Kimberley and Rooipoort in the Northern Cape and from Springfontein and Phillipolis in the Southern Free State. Liversidge, R & Voelker, G 2002. The Kimberley Pipit: a new African species. Bull Br Ornithol Club 122: 93-109.
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| Little Sumba Hawk-owl | 
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| Ninox sumbaensis | NEAR THREATENED |
| Since the late 1980s, an unknown owl of the Genus Otus has been reported on the island of Sumba in Indonesia. Through DNA testing, this Owl has now been identified as a Ninox owl, but different to Ninox novaeseelandiae (Southern Boobook Owl), Ninox scutulata (Brown Hawk Owl) and Ninox rudolfi (Sumba Boobook) that are present in Indonesia. Ninox sumbaensis was recently formally described, although the taxa has been known to ornithologists since the late 1980s. It is currently very poorly known and has only been recorded from three localities on Sumba, Indonesia. It appears to be limited to patches of primary, disturbed primary and secondary forest from 600-950 m on Sumba. |
Survey work is required to ascertain the distribution and status of this poorly known owl which is undoubtedly at some risk from ongoing habitat loss. The face is Grey with white eye-brows, while the crown is greyish with fine barring. The bill goes from horn to yellow at the tip. Eyes are yellow.
The throat is rufous with dark stripes and the lower breast is white with dark stripes. Upper parts are light brown with fine, widely spaced dark brown stripes. Scapulars are white. The underside of the flight feathers are barred rufous and cream, and the upperside is barred rufous and dark brown. The tail has 12-13 dark brown bars on a light rufous-brown background.
The legs are feathered on the front down to the toes, but almost bare on the back. The toes have bristly feathers on the top. Feet are yellow, as are the claws, which have have a grey-black tip. (owlpages.com).
Olsen, Jerry; Wink, Michael; Sauer-Gürth, Hedi & Trost, Susan (2002): A new Ninox owl from Sumba, Indonesia. Emu 102: 223-231.
download discovery article
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| Pernambuco Pygmy-owl | 
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| Glaucidium mooreorum | CRITICALLY ENDANGERED |
| Glaucidium mooreorum was newly described from the Reserva Biológica de Saltinho (which covers just 4.8 km2) in Atlantic coastal forest in Pernambuco, Brazil. It was tape-recorded in the same locality in November 1990. The species was also found in a 100 ha forest patch at Usina Trapiche (08 35'S, 35 07'W) in November 2001. It occupies a tiny and severely fragmented range. Playback surveys in lowland forests elsewhere in Pernambuco and Alagoas states since 2004 have failed to locate this species1, and there are no records from other well-surveyed forest sites in the region. Its population has not been |
estimated accurately but is assumed to be tiny based on the lack of records outside its tiny range and continuing deforestation within the area. A typical Neotropical pygmy-owl of the Glaucidium minutissimum species complex. It has a light grey-chestnut coloured crown and head speckled with conspicuous white spots on the face and head to the lower nape. Has a white collar and white underparts streaked with rufous. Back is chestnut. Tail dark with white spots. Similar spp. it differs from its geographically closest relatives in its overall lighter colouration, size and voice. Voice a short phrase of 5-7 notes. It has been recorded in the canopy of old secondary forest where it was observed eating a cicada. An unconfirmed report suggests the species is vocal during the rainy months of April and May1. It has been recorded in forest upto 150 m but has not been found in other well surveyed forest in the region at elevations between 400 and 600 m. The Pernambuco Center where this species was described is by far the most modified region of Atlantic Forest having declined in extent from c. 39,500 km2 to c. 1,900 km2 by 2002. The remainder is severely fragmented and legal restrictions have proven inadequate in halting deforestation from fire and illegal logging. Hunting is also reported to pose a threat to this species.
download discovery article
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Hellmayrs Parakeet
these are the closely related Madeira Parakeets (Arthur Grosset). | 
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| Pyrrhura amazonum | NOT RECOGNIZED |
| It has typically been considered a subspecies of the Painted Parakeet. While reviewing this group, Joseph (2002) discovered that an undescribed population existed in central Brazil (later also found in north-eastern Bolivia). It was described as Pyrrhura snethlageae. No diagnostic difference were found between the taxa amazonum and microtera; it was therefore recommend that the latter should be considered a junior synonym of the former. As with most other taxa of the Pyrrhura picta complex, it was recommended that amazonum should be recognized as a monotypic species, P. amazonum, instead of a subspecies of P. picta. While few have expressed doubts over |
| the validity of snethlageae as a distinct taxon, most authorities recognized neither it nor amazonum as anything but subspecies of P. picta. Ribas confirmed by mtDNA that P. amazonum should be considered a species separate from P. picta (otherwise, P. picta would be paraphyletic), but also showed that snethlageae was very close to, and therefore better considered a subspecies of, P. amazonum. As other members of the Pyrrhura picta complex, it is a long-tailed mainly green parakeet with a dark red belly, rump and tail-tip (tail all dark red from below), a whitish or dull buff patch on the auriculars and bluish remiges. The cheeks and ocular region are dark maroon. The nominate subspecies (P. a. amazonum) has a narrow blue forehead-band and pale grey scaling to the chest. The second subspecies, P. a. snethlageae has little or no blue to the forecrown and its chest is, uniquely for the P. picta complex, overall very pale, almost whitish, with relatively narrow, dark pointed markings. Some individuals of this subspecies have a yellowish eye-ring (the basis for this variation remains unknown), but it is more typically dark grey as in the nominate subspecies. Both subspecies have dark greyish legs. It is restricted to Brazil and Bolivia. It occurs in tropical humid lowland forest and adjacent habitats. It is social and typically seen in pairs or groups. It feeds on fruits, seeds and flowers. The nest is placed in a tree cavity. It is fairly common in most of its range and occurs in several protected areas, e.g. P. a. amazonum occurs in the Amazônia National Park, Pará, Brazil, while P. a. snethlageae occurs in the Cristalino State Park, Mato Grosso, Brazil. (wikipedia).
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