Family Tanagers (Thraupidae)

Least Concern

Slaty Flowerpiercer (Diglossa plumbea)

Taxonomy

French: Percefleur ardoisé German: Einfarb-Hakenschnabel Spanish: Pinchaflor plomizo

Taxonomy:

Diglossa plumbea

Cabanis

, 1861,

Costa Rica

Closely related to and formerly considered conspecific with D. baritula and D. sittoides, genetic data suggesting that the three form a monophyletic group. Proposed race veraguensis (described from Cordillera de Veraguas, in SW Panama) is now considered inseparable from populations in rest of species’ range. Monotypic.

Distribution:

Highlands of Costa Rica (from C Guanacaste) S to W Panama (E to Veraguas).

Descriptive notes

11 cm; 9·3–10·1 g. Small, plain grey or brown flowerpiercer with slender and slightly recurved bill, lower mandible more obviously upturned than upper... read more

Voice

Both calls and song weak and not far-carrying. Call a high, thin, weak “tsip” or a... read more

Habitat

Bushy and overgrown clearings, dense vegetation along forest borders, hedgerows, flower gardens and... read more

Food and feeding

Nectar; also substantial quantities of insects. Occurs singly, in pairs, and occasionally in family groups that includes adult pair and an... read more

Breeding

Following information mainly from studies in Costa Rica. Breeding period centred on second (or longer) rainy season, Aug–Dec, occasional... read more

Movements

Largely resident. May wander or migrate seasonally to higher or lower elevations in response to... read more

Status and conservation

Not globally threatened. Restricted-range species: present in Costa Rica and Panama Highlands EBA. Fairly common to common. Occurs in a number of protected areas, among them... read more

Bibliography

Public comments

Scientific classification

Class: Aves

Order: Passeriformes

Family: Thraupidae

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In past, included in a much broader Emberizidae. Probably sister to Cardinalidae, with these two perhaps sister to Mitrospingidae#R #R #R #R. Family limits and internal structure extensively revised in recent years on basis of numerous genetic studies#R #R #R #R #R #R. These have led to subdivision into 15 subfamilies, as well as numerous other notable changes (as compared to HBW) including: relocation herein of Parkerthraustes and Saltator from Cardinalidae, and of Charitospiza, Coryphaspiza, Embernagra, Emberizoides, Incaspiza, Porphyrospiza, Tiaris, Euneornis, Loxipasser, Loxigilla, Melanospiza, Certhidea, Platyspiza, Pinaroloxias, Geospiza, Volatinia, Coryphospingus, Rhodospingus, Sporophila, Piezorina, Xenospingus, Poospiza, Donacospiza, Sicalis, Phrygilus, Nesospiza, Rowettia, Melanodera, Haplospiza, Acanthidops, Idiopsar, Catamenia, Lophospingus, Diuca, Gubernatrix and Paroaria from Emberizidae (=Passerellidae); and also removal of Chlorophonia and Euphonia to Fringillidae, of Rhodinocichla to Rhodinocichlidae, of Chlorospingus to Passerellidae, of Phaenicophilus to Phaenicophilidae, of Spindalis to Spindalidae, of Nesospingus to Nesospingidae, of Calyptophilus to Calyptophilidae, of Lamprospiza, Mitrospingus and Orthogonys to Mitrospingidae, and of Habia, Chlorothraupis and Piranga to Cardinalidae. Generic limits within family also extensively revised, and associated sequence of species followed herein#R.

Subfamily: Diglossinae

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Subfamily (“highland tanagers”, as 75% occur above 2500 m) established very recently as an outcome of first comprehensive molecular phylogeny of Thraupidae, with strong support for clade containing species with highly divergent bill morphologies and ecological niches, with only Conirostrum, Oreomanes (herein merged into Conirostrum) and Diglossa previously treated as tanagers (Conirostrum sometimes in Parulidae) and the remainder in Emberizidae#R. Three main clades: (1) Conirostrum conebills, (2) a “yellow clade” comprising Sicalis, Melanodera, Rowettia, Nesospiza and hooded sierra-finches from what proves to be a polyphyletic Phrygilus#R, and (3) a “grey/blue clade” comprising Diglossa, Catamenia, four sierra-finches moved from Phrygilus, one former member of Diuca, plus Haplospiza, Spodiornis, Acanthidops, Idiopsar and Xenodacnis#R.

Genus: Diglossa Wagler, 1832

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Has sometimes been placed in Coerebidae or Parulidae or even, because of an apparent close relationship to Acanthidops, in Emberizidae, but molecular evidence locates it in present subfamily of Thraupidae, with recent data revealing a rather surprising sister relationship with Catamenia and no need for recognition of Diglossopis for some members of genus#R.

See full taxonomic structure and notes