The Wilson Journal of Ornithology 122(2):406–415, 2010

Ornithological Literature

Robert B. Payne, Review Editor

FIELD GUIDE TO THE SONGBIRDS OF imagine ever seeing paintings of many of these SOUTH AMERICA: THE . By that are more ‘‘spot-on.’’ In large measure Robert S. Ridgely and Guy Tudor. University of because he is an avid and highly observant birder Texas Press, Austin, Texas, USA. 2009: 750 who understands the importance of accurate pages and 122 color plates with facing-page maps. shapes and postures, Tudor is able to encapsulate ISBN: 978-0-292-71979-8. $49.95 (paper).— what we need for field identification in the strict There is much to celebrate with publication of confines of a field guide. As is inevitably the case this revamp and update of the first two volumes of when a large number of is treated, a few The Birds of South America (BOSA: Oscine illustrations leave much to be desired (most of passerines, 1989; Suboscine passerines 1994) in which are holdovers from BOSA). White-bearded a more compact format under a single cover. Antshrike (Biatas nigropectus, Plate 20, #3) never Undoubtedly the most anxiously awaited aspect of appears uncrested (except in a museum tray)—the Songbirds is the tremendous contribution of Guy new, undersized male figure and a female bust, at Tudor’s new art; illustrations of 406 species appropriate scale, could have admirably replaced (some as only busts) have been added to the the poor BOSA ones; Plain-crested Elaenia ,1,220 previously depicted ones, a whopping (Elaenia cristata, Plate 44, #7), unrecognizable 33% increase. There remain not illustrated about as is, shows a sharp, spiky crest virtually all the 347 native species of South American passerines, time; White-winged (Xipholena atropur- roughly 18% of the authors’ total number of purea, Plate 69, #7) is a much darker ‘‘blackish- ,1,974 (excluding a few vagrants). Now repre- purple’’ as described in the text; Black-collared sented are all but one (I think) standing Swallow (Atticora melanoleuca, Plate 76, #10) (Stymphalornis , endemic to southeast invariably looks black-and-white (not navy blue) Brazil). in the field even at close range, and the posture is The back cover calls attention to the need for atypical; and all of the pipits (Anthus spp., Plate ‘‘a more compact guide that birders can take into 84, perhaps with the exception of Correndera the field.’’ Given that they intend to show us how Pipit, A. correndera) remain unidentifiable in and to identify 1,981 species of birds, some of themselves. of which are hard to see well, all while traipsing Other closely similar groups of birds, such as through the rainforests and deserts on the the dreaded ‘‘tyrannulets,’’ are well done al- Continent, they may have set themselves up for though there are regrettable problems with a few disappointment. On some levels, they have species that occur in syntopy (together in the same succeeded, it’s just hard to say whether they have habitat) through much of their ranges, particularly tackled the monster or the monster has tackled Rough-legged Tyrannulet (Phyllomyias burmeis- them. Weighing in at 1.28 kg, the book can be teri, Plate 41, #16); Greenish Tyrannulet (P. carried in the field by most birders, but not very virescens, Plate 41, #17); and Mottle-cheeked comfortably by anyone. Perhaps most tellingly, Tyrannulet (Phylloscartes ventralis, Plate 46, #4). almost no one has opted to tote it on recent South The most similar-looking small tyrannids, scat- American birding walks where most folks would tered over several plates (mostly 41, 42, 46), like to be carrying a field guide. I’ve not yet seen could have been grouped in a much more useful anyone with the plates cut out and bound manner for field identification, for starters by separately, all too often the fate of BOSA, but separating exclusively Andean from non-Andean the specter has already come up. The ideal bulk species on different plates, then bunching the may lie about halfway between Songbirds and the members of each broad group that actually much smaller Birds of South America: Non- overlap geographically and occur in the same passerines (Erize et al. 2006, Princeton University habitats. Because the small South American Press). tyrannids, too many of which are not illustrated, Tudor’s illustrations are wonderful; it’s hard to present the most complex field identification 406 ORNITHOLOGICAL LITERATURE 407 problems (female Sporophila seedeaters aside), I for most countries (to the state/department level in had hoped they would be given high priority in the tightest zooms), also works well. Without Songbirds. having looked at most of the maps critically, I The choice was made to insert many of the new think it’s fair to say the level of accuracy is illustrations at varying scales different from the admirably high. I happened to notice that the rest of the (existing) figures on the plate. Some of maps for Black (Cercomacra serva) and the most problematic instances are Plate 52, #8, Blackish Antbird (C. nigrescens) were switched 11; Plate 53, #3, 4, 11, 13 relative to the (their names are bad enough!). Similarly, numbers themselves and the rest of that plate; Plate 61, labeling the maps and figures for Green Honey- #5, 7; Plate 71, #4; Plate 101, #2, 3; and Plate 114, creeper (Chlorophanes spiza) and Red-legged #12 (Dickcissel [Spiza americana] should be Honeycreeper (Cyanerpes caeruleus) are mixed significantly larger than Greenish Yellowfinch up (numbers are correct on the maps and text, so [Sicalis olivascens]!). It is disheartening to see the switch the species’ numbers on the plate of your stunning Araripe ( boker- copy to match). Problems on the level of not manni, Plate 64, #17) relegated to a corner- showing Saffron-crested Tyrant-Manakin (Neo- squeeze at about half-size, below its sister, pelma chrysocephalum) in northern Peru; of (A. galeata). Its illustration showing Long-winged Antwren (Myrmotherula points to another unfortunate feature of all plates longipennis) extensively between the Rio Napo in having new illustrations: something happened in Peru and the Negro in Brazil where it is largely or the production stage so all of the new figures look completely absent; of missing the interface faded relative to those in BOSA. Thus, the red and between Squamate Antbird (Myrmeciza squa- black on the Araripe Manakin are significantly mosa, shown extensively north into Rio de paler or less saturated than these same colors on Janeiro) and White-bibbed Antbird (M. loricata, the Helmeted Manakin. A number of figures of shown far too extensively through interior Bahia, females also have been newly illustrated, an and ranging well into northern coastal Sa˜o Paulo); important advancement, but a field guide really of White-breasted Antbird (Rhegmatorhina hoff- must treat all distinctive female (of the mannsi) crossing (and extensively so) the Rio species illustrated at all). Almost no juvenal Juruena into northern Mato Grosso; of Serra do plumages are shown or described. One of the Mar Tyrannulet (Phylloscartes difficilis) occurring few, Andean Laniisoma (Laniisoma buckleyi, all along the coast of southeast Brazil where Plate 66, #8), is mislabeled the adult female. I known from only a few scattered points high in love the new illustrations of the mockingbirds the mountains; and of showing the threatened (Plate 83) in flight; it would have been great to see Black-and-white Monjita (Xolmis dominicanus) much more of this kind of field-oriented illustra- over much too wide an area in Rio Grande do Sul tion. (it was never known to be so amply distributed, On the plates, each species illustration is even historically)—are somewhat more frequent. numbered and some also have letters A, B, C, Maps for a few very poorly known birds are indicating the figure represents a distinctive annoyingly problematic. For example, an undoc- subspecies. To interpret this information, one umented, single-observer sight-record of the ultra- needs to go to the text. This cumbersome system rare Kinglet Calyptura (Calyptura cristata, Plate could have been made much less so by simply 66, #6) in coastal northern Sa˜o Paulo is mapped putting the letters on the species’ map to inform and cited in the text as if it were fact! This map users of where that taxon (or group of taxa) is should show only the single point of known expected. occurrence (from late Oct 1996) just below The South American distribution of each Tereso´polis, Rio de Janeiro with an arrow species is shown on a correspondingly numbered pointing to a red dot and at most a question mark map on pages opposite or near its illustration, anywhere else; the maximum zoom should have sometimes requiring a little hunting although I got been provided here. used to it. I really like these maps. Several levels In a field guide, the species accounts should of geographic zoom are used to show most of the foster transformation of the painting on the plate highly restricted ranges more clearly. The contrast to a living bird by infusing vital information on between colors chosen for ranges, including habitat and behavior while enabling even the most migrants, and also rivers and political boundaries difficult field identifications. My overall impres- 408 THE WILSON JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGY N Vol. 122, No. 2, June 2010 sion is that over 90% of the species accounts in reason or another (we have no data to judge), were Songbirds are good to excellent; space limitations not mentioned in Songbirds. For one example, the in the Journal precluded my elaboration of Stigmatura wagtail-tyrants go from two to four examples. Transcriptions of vocalizations of most species absent any analysis at all but the well- species are offered, which is usually better than supported (and accepted by the SACC) elevation not having anything but not nearly as helpful as to species status of Schistocichla leucostigma actually hearing the sounds. I highly recommend saturata (Roraiman Antbird, in the Spot-winged obtaining recordings (primary vocalizations of Antbird complex) published in 2005 was not most species have been published or are available recognized. on the internet) ahead of travel to South America. English names are not bound by scientific The used in Songbirds closely principles, and their usage for South American parallels that of the standing South American birds became particularly unstable after the mid- Checklist Committee (SACC) of the American 1980s, when BOSA introduced changes to names Ornithologists’ Union. The SACC was obviously of long standing. In Songbirds, the 2006 IOC heavily referenced although it was not cited classification is followed, even in cases where a anywhere in a 16-page section toward the back novel name of Ridgely’s from BOSA (e.g., Noble of the book titled ‘‘Notes on Taxonomy and Antthrush for nobilis) was rejected in English Names.’’ However, the authors ‘‘express- favor of the traditional name (Striated Antthrush). ly note’’ (page 2) that they ‘‘adhere to the But this has set up some conflicts. For example, a decisions on English names and taxonomy’’ that nomenclatural note on page 691 reads, ‘‘We were recently published on behalf of the Interna- rename Mitrephanes phaeocercus the Northern tional Ornithological Congress (IOC; Gill et al. (rather than the Common) Tufted Flycatcher, 2006–2009, Birds of the World, Recommended preferring to restrict the use of the name English Names, Princeton University Press). The ‘‘Common’’ to species that truly are so.’’ This first bird in the book, Campo Miner (Geositta flycatcher was described from Mexico and most poeciloptera), provides a poignant example of the of its range lies in Middle America. Ridgely and taxonomic swirl that underlies Songbirds. It boils Gwynne (1989, A Guide to the Birds of Panama, down to: (1) the IOC classification, which Princeton University Press) introduced the mod- incorporated new information up to the end of ifier ‘‘Common,’’ and described its status in 2004, maintaining the long-standing Geobates Panama as ‘‘Common.’’ Pointless self-reversal contrary to a 2003 publication suggesting it be like this does not inspire confidence and promotes merged into Geositta; (2) the SACC invoking instability of names. True to form, Ridgely has not primarily genetic data published in 2005 to merge resisted unveiling a few English names that Geobates into Geositta; and finally (3) Songbirds almost seem designed to shake things up. My incontrovertibly following the SACC, not the vote for the standout is … ‘‘-like ’’ IOC. (in place of the entrenched White-banded Tana- Ornithologists and birders frequently express ger, Neothraupis fasciata), not to be confused with their opinions that some taxa or populations of Lanio Shrike-. In sum, there is a great birds could or should be considered distinctive deal of arbitrariness displayed throughout the enough to merit species status. The unilateral taxonomy and English naming used in Songbirds. splitting or lumping of species by authors of such The new Ridgely and Tudor Field Guide to the works as Songbirds and other guide books in Songbirds of South America should become a which no data or analyses of the case(s) are standard in the libraries of all birders, ornitholo- presented for peer-review or independent evalua- gists, and conservationists interested in neotrop- tion (now or a hundred years from now) reside in ical birds, and it is sure to make birds more a bubble drifting around the perimeter of science, accessible to more people, which is at the a ‘‘gray’’ subspecies of taxonomy. In Songbirds, grassroots level of effective bird conservation. If Ridgely and Tudor are ‘‘gray’’ on ,25 taxa you ever dream of birding in South America, buy traditionally considered subspecies. All are inter- and thoroughly enjoy this book. Take it to South esting cases worthy of focused study, and the America with you and use it to ably identify the SACC and other taxonomic committees will soon vast majority of passerine birds you will see.— consider not only all of them but also all of the BRET WHITNEY, Louisiana State Univer- equally or more interesting cases that, for one sity Museum of Natural Science, 119 Foster ORNITHOLOGICAL LITERATURE 409

Hall, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA; e-mail: principal fossil localities, a review of debates [email protected] concerning the relationships among major clades, and conclusions regarding the historical patterns of avian diversity in the Northern and Southern PALEOGENE BIRDS. By Gerald Mayr. hemispheres. Springer-Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg, Germany. Mayr, who recognizes in his preface that any 2009: 262 pages and 64 figures. ISBN: 978-3- review in the present intellectual context will 540-89627-2 ($189.00 USD, cloth; ,$25 per quickly need updating as new discoveries are chapter in electronic form).—The Paleogene made, quite thoroughly summarizes the earlier Period, from ,65 to 23 million years ago, witnessed literature but focuses on key recent discoveries, a profound shifts in the earth system including the great many of which he has made. The commu- origin of permanent ice sheets in Antarctica. Global nity would profit from this book even if it were cooling from peak ‘‘greenhouse Earth’’ conditions merely a synthesis of Mayr’s own work. A prolific is linked to a retreat of Eocene paratropical forests author, he has published over 150 papers since previously extending to the poles and the develop- 1995, more than any other paleo-ornithologist ment of the ‘‘icehouse’’ conditions of the present. over the same time period. Across the same time period, shifts in the ecology, Ornithologists of all kinds will be intrigued diversity, and distribution of nearly every part of the by the bizarre turns that avian evolution took in biota are inferred. New insights into every part of the first part of the Cenozoic. The book presents these Paleogene shifts have been rapidly accruing in exceptional fossils that record novel ecologies recent years. The record of sea-surface temperatures and distributions for well known groups: e.g., and global climates has been significantly refined, Old World hummingbird relatives, giant flight- and vertebrate paleontologists continue to further less divers, and sea birds with bony pseudo- inform our knowledge of changing faunas. teeth. However, at ,$189 USD for a new copy The rapid pace of new discoveries of fossil bird of this slim volume, many non-specialists may species in recent years belies the general idea of elect to visit their local libraries or hope for a their impossibly fragmentary record. The early lower-price soft cover edition. The intended history of extant crown clade avian diversity, primary readership of the book is the paleo- species of which are parts of the major bird ornithological community. However, it will also lineages alive today, has been partially tracked in serve as an important reference for other several short review articles eager to summarize ornithologists and paleontologists seeking ac- the rush of new data recovered in recent years. cess to specific parts of the literature. The book Because relevant paleo-ornithological discoveries seems organized for, and best approached by, are moving forward at an arguably unprecedented skipping from section to section, rather than pace, any summaries must be proximate, abbre- reading from cover to cover. Illustration print viate, and soon out of date. However, the last quality is excellent, although the specialist book-length review focusing on an overlapping might wish for an oversized volume with color time period and set of taxa is the 1999 Second illustrations and larger photographs. Edition of A. Feduccia’s ‘‘The Origin and One is well served by the detailed presentation Evolution of Birds’’ (Yale University Press). With of Mayr’s perspective as that perspective is often a few exceptions, including updating several thought-provoking. Much of the data presented is chapters presenting the author’s views on the fascinating, and comments made as small asides dinosaurian affinities of birds, most of its content could be expanded into journal articles of is from the 1996 First Edition. It is into this considerable interest. Some of the more contro- context that Gerald Mayr, Curator of Ornithology versial ideas forwarded by Mayr and summarized at the Senckenberg Institute, offers a significant in the book concern phylogenetic relationships contribution, a detailed new guide to fossil avian among major lineages of birds; e.g., regarding the diversity from the first part of the Cenozoic. In affinities of penguins with parts of former ,250 dense small-format pages, ‘‘Paleogene ‘‘Pelecaniformes.’’ While not all readers will Birds’’ neatly presents insights into ,40 million agree with these hypotheses, all are supported by years of the early evolution of extant bird clearly presented evidence that is well positioned lineages. The book is largely organized taxonom- to inform new research questions. ically but also includes a brief overview of We still have much to learn about patterns and