Revision of the status of bird species occurring or reported in Colombia 2018

Abstract

Chilean Flamingo Phoenicopterus chilensis, an Antshrike Thamnophilus sp., Yellow-crowned Elaenia Myiopagis flavivertex and Red-crested Finch Coryphospingus cucullatus are each newly added to the Colombian bird checklist, based on photographic records. Ochraceous Wren Troglodytes ochraceus is added based on a sonogram of an archived sound recording. Red-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon rubricauda, Juan Fernandez Petrel Pterodroma externa, White-chinned Petrel Procellaria aequinoctialis, Tahiti Petrel Pseudobulweria rostrate, Gould's Petrel Pterodroma leucoptera and Lincoln's Sparrow Melospiza lincolnii are each added as unconfirmed based on sight records. Following new publications and a revision, several species are removed from Colombia's checklist: South American Tern Sterna hirundinacea, Christmas Shearwater Puffinus navitatis, White-bellied Storm-Petrel Fregetta grallaria, Bluish-fronted Jacamar Galbula cyanescens, Black-necked Araçari Pteroglossus aracari, Undulated Antshrike Frederickena unduliger, Chestnut-shouldered Antwren Euchrepomis humeralis, Painted Tody-Flycatcher Todirostrum pictum, Roraiman Flycatcher Myiophobus roraimae, Couch's Kingbird Tyrannus couchii and Dotted Tanager Tangara varia. New photographic records allow White-throated Kingbird Tyrannus albogularis and Pacific Parrotlet Forpus coelestis to be promoted from unconfirmed to confirmed status. Short-tailed Field Tyrant Muscigralla brevicauda is returned to confirmed status based on a specimen and further supported by new photographic records presented here. We publish sonograms of archived sound recordings so as to promote Buffthroated Tody-Tyrant Hemitriccus rufigularis and Foothill Schiffornis Schiffornis aenea to confirmed status. Imperial Snipe Gallinago imperialis and Beautiful Treerunner Margarornis bellulus are now known from field observations as well as historical "Bogotá" specimens. Following status revisions, various species are downgraded to unconfirmed status, namely: Galapagos Penguin Spheniscus mendiculus, Little Woodstar Chaetocercus bombus, Black Nunbird Monasa atra, Graychested Greenlet Hylophilus semicinereus, Guianan Gnatcatcher Polioptila guianensis, Pirre Chlorospingus Chlorospingus inornatus, Pine Warbler Setophaga pinus and Palm Warbler Setophaga palmarum (the latter being confirmed on San Andrés and Providencia only, with photographs presented here). We present details of an overlooked specimen record for Colombia and new photographic records of Cape May Warbler Setophaga tigrina and Crimson-breasted Finch Rhodospingus cruentus as well as photographic records of White-bellied Spinetail Mazaria propinqua, Ecuadorian Tyrannulet Phylloscartes gualaquizae and Pink-footed Shearwater Ardenna creatopus, all of which we retain as confirmed species. We present new information on the status of the Mallard Anas platyrhynchos and Feral Pigeon Columba livia as breeding and introduced species. Common Quail Coturnix coturnix is a newly recorded escaped species that lacks evidence of establishment. Island Canary Serinus canaria and Zebra Finch Taeniopygia guttata are now confirmed escapees, due to photographic records. Splits are accepted of Rufescent Antshrike Thamnistes rufescens and Choco Screech-Owl Megascops centralis, with Bogota Sunangel Heliangelus zusii and Colombian Screech-Owl Megascops colombianus no longer recognized as valid species. Several amendments to genus and species names, English names and linear order are made, following recent publications. The Colombian checklist changes to 1,934 species (excluding escapees). Methods for categorizing records and the assessment of the status of species for a national checklist are discussed, in terms of the kinds of records (sight records, photographs, sound recordings, telemetry, specimens, etc), escaped or introduced species and taxonomy. We discuss all identified differences between our list and another recently published checklist of Colombia's birds