Integrative taxonomy documents two additional crypticErithacusspecies on the Canary Islands (Aves)

Abstract

AbstractThe European RobinErithacus rubeculais currently treated as a single species with eight subspecies. A previous molecular study and new molecular, morphometric and bioacoustic data reported here strongly support the recognition of three species in this complex:E. rubecula(Europe, North Africa and Macaronesia except the central Canary Islands),E. superbus(Tenerife) and a recently described subspecies on Gran Canaria which we raise to species rank asE. marionae. The taxa on Tenerife and Gran Canaria have previously been lumped as a single taxon but differ from each other and fromE. rubeculain territorial songs,ticcalls,seepcalls and wing length. All three species are characterised by moderate to high levels of interspecific mitochondrial DNA sequence divergence (mean 4.2–4.8%). Phylogenetic analysis indicates thatE. marionaeis sister toE. superbus + E. rubecula. Recognition of Gran Canaria and Tenerife Robins as separate species adds two single‐island endemics to the Canary Islands avifauna.