Hellmayrs Parakeet 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; […]
Category: 2002
Pernambuco Pygmy owl discovered in 2002
Pernambuco Pygmy-owl 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, […]
Little Sumba Hawk owl discovered in 2002
Little Sumba Hawk-owl 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 […]
Kimberley Pipit discovered in 2002
Kimberley Pipit 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 […]
Cryptic Forest falcon discovered in 2002
Cryptic Forest-falcon 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 […]
Bald Parrot discovered in 2002
Bald Parrot 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 […]