The plain thornbird (Phacellodomus inornatus) is a species of bird in the ovenbird family Furnariidae.
Taxonomy
The plain thornbird was formally described in 1887 by the American ornithologist Robert Ridgway based on a specimen collected in Caracas, Venezuela. He coined the binomial name Phacellodomus inornatus.[2] The specific epithet is Latin meaning "plain" or "unadorned".[3]
The plain thornbird is sometimes considered conspecific with the rufous-fronted thornbird (Phacellodomus rufifrons).[4][5] Support for treating the plain thornbird as a separate species was provided by a 2020 study that compared mitochondrial DNA sequences.[6]
Two subspecies are recognised:[7]
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P. i. inornatus Ridgway, 1887 – north-central Venezuela
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P. i. castilloi Phelps Jr & Aveledo, 1987 – northeast Colombia and west, central Venezuela
Description
The plain thornbird is 15.5 cm (6.1 in) in length. It is similar in appearance to the rufous-fronted thornbird but lacks the rufous forecrown.[8]
Distribution and habitat
It is found in Venezuela and northeast Columbia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forest, dry savanna, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland, and heavily degraded former forest.
References
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^ BirdLife International (2016). "Plain Thornbird (Phacellodomus inornatus)". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
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^ Ridgway, Robert (1887). "Description of a new species of Phacellodomus from Venezuela". Proceedings of the United States National Museum. 10 (619): 152.
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^ Jobling, James A. (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. p. 205. ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4.
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^ Dickinson, E.C.; Christidis, L., eds. (2014). The Howard & Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World. Vol. 2: Passerines (4th ed.). Eastbourne, UK: Aves Press. p. 130. ISBN 978-0-9568611-2-2.
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^ Remsen, J.V. Jr (2003). "Proposal 41: Split Phacellodomus inornatus from P. rufifrons". South American Classification Committee, American Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
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^ Corbett, E.C.; Bravo, G.A.; Schunck, F.; Naka, L.N.; Silveira, L.F.; Edwards, S.V. (2020). "Evidence for the Pleistocene Arc Hypothesis from genome-wide SNPs in a Neotropical dry forest specialist, the Rufous-fronted Thornbird (Furnariidae: Phacellodomus rufifrons)". Molecular Ecology. 29 (22): 4457–4472. doi:10.1111/mec.15640.
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^ Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (January 2021). "Ovenbirds, woodcreepers". IOC World Bird List Version 11.1. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
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^ Ridgely, Robert S.; Tudor, Guy (2009). Birds of South America: Passerines. Helm Field Guides. London: Christopher Helm. pp. 296, 686. ISBN 978-1-408-11342-4.
