Diagnosis of a Hybrid Antbird (Phlegopsis-Nigromaculata X Phlegopsis-Erythroptera) and the Rarity of Hybridization among Suboscines

Abstract

Phlegopsis barringeri Meyer de Schauensee, 1951, is suggested to be a hybrid between Phlegopsis nigromaculata and P. erythroptera. This represents the first case of hybridity in the large monophyletic assemblage of New World suboscines comprising the woodcreepers, antbirds, ovenbirds, and tapaculos (parvorders Thamnophilida and Furnariida). The rarity of hybridization among suboscines (Suborder Tyranni) may result from the absence of song learning in this assemblage, resulting in vocal stereotypy within populations and the reduction of mate recognition error by females.