(An individual of Microspizias superciliosus, photographed by Aitor, under CC BY 4.0)

Meaning of name: Microspizias = small hawk

Species included: M. superciliosus (tiny hawk, type species, previously in Accipiter) and M. collaris (semicollared hawk, previously in Accipiter)

Age: Holocene (Meghalayan), extant

Where found: Forests of Central and South America

Notes: Microspizias is a genus of small (thrush-sized) hawks. Fairly little is known about the biology of the two living species, but they appear to prey mostly on other birds. They were formerly classified in the genus Accipiter, which includes a diverse assemblage of other forest-dwelling, bird-hunting hawks, such as the Eurasian sparrowhawk (A. nisus) and the sharp-shinned hawk (A. striatus). However, recent phylogenetic studies have found that the tiny hawk and semicollared hawk are not closely related to members of the genus Accipiter, instead being more closely related to the lizard buzzard (Kaupifalco monogrammicus).

Although some researchers have suggested that the old genus Hieraspiza could be brought back for the tiny hawk and the semicollared hawk on the basis that Gray (1955) designated the tiny hawk as its type species, the authors of a new paper argue that this designation is untenable because the first valid usage of the name Hieraspiza did not include the tiny hawk as a member of this genus. They thus coin the new genus Microspizias for these two species.

Reference: Sangster, G., G.M. Kirwan, J. Fuchs, E.C. Dickinson, A. Elliott, and S.M.S. Gregory. 2021. A new genus for the tiny hawk Accipiter superciliosus and semicollared hawk A. collaris (Aves: Accipitridae), with comments on the generic name for the crested goshawk A. trivirgatus and Sulawesi goshawk A. griseiceps. Vertebrate Zoology 71: 419–424. doi: 10.3897/vz.71.e67501

(An individual of Tepuiornis whitelyi, photographed by Jhonathan Miranda, from the Macaulay Library)

Meaning of name: Tepuiornis = tepui bird [in Greek]

Species included: T. whitelyi (Roraiman nightjar, type species, formerly in Setopagis)

Age: Holocene (Meghalayan), extant

Where found: Open habitats with scattered vegetation in the Pantepui mountains of northern South America

Notes: Tepuiornis whitelyi is a nightjar, a group of nocturnal, insect-eating birds. Nightjars typically spend the day camouflaged against the ground and use their wide mouths to capture flying insects at night. Although it superficially resembles the blackish nightjar (Nyctipolus nigrescens) and is currently classified in the genus Setopagis, genetic studies have shown that the Roraiman nightjar is not closely related to either of these taxa, nor does it appear to have any particularly close relatives among other South American nightjars. As a result, a new study reassigns it to a unique new genus.

Reference: Costa, T.V.V., P. van Els, M.J. Braun, B.M. Whitney, N. Cleere, S. Sigurðsson, and L.F. Silveira. 2023. Systematic revision and generic classification of a clade of New World nightjars (Caprimulgidae), with descriptions of new genera from South America. Avian Systematics 1: 55–99.

(An individual of Megascops alagoensis, photographed by Gustavo Malacco)

Meaning of name: alagoensis = from Alagoas

Suggested common name: Alagoas screech-owl

Age: Holocene (Meghalayan), extant

Where found: Atlantic Forest patches in Alagoas and Pernambuco, Brazil

How much is known: At least four collected specimens (three males and an unsexed individual) are held in museum collections.

Notes: The describers of this species conducted a phylogenetic study on the black-capped screech-owl (Megascops atricapilla) and tawny-bellied screech-owl (M. watsonii). Based on their findings, they suggested that these two species should be split into six different species, two of which were previously unnamed. M. alagoensis is one of these new species; the other is the Xingu screech-owl (M. stangiae).

M. alagoensis was identified as a distinct species primarily on the basis of genetic traits, and the authors did not find any anatomical differences that reliably separate it from these other screech-owls. However, it can be distinguished from its closest living relative, the black-capped screech-owl, by its slightly slower song.

Due to the severe forest fragmentation in its limited range, M. alagoensis is likely Critically Endangered.

Reference: Dantas, S.M., J.D. Weckstein, J. Bates, J.N. Oliveira, T.A. Catanach, and A. Aleixo. 2021. Multi-character taxonomic review, systematics, and biogeography of the Black-capped/Tawny-bellied Screech Owl (Megascops atricapilla-M. watsonii) complex (Aves: Strigidae). Zootaxa 4949: 401–444. doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.4949.3.1

(Illustration of male [above] and female [below] individuals of Heliothraupis oneilli by Daniel F. Lane, from Lane et al., 2021)

Meaning of name: Heliothraupis = sun small bird; oneilli = for John P. O'Neill [American ornithologist]

Suggested common name: Inti tanager

Age: Holocene (Meghalayan), extant

Where found: Forests and woodlands in Cusco, Peru and the Machariapo Valley, La Paz, Bolivia

How much is known: At least 17 collected specimens (16 males and one female) are held in museum collections.

Notes: Heliothraupis is a tanager, an extremely diverse group of songbirds from the American tropics. There are over 380 species of tanager known, and many of them are difficult to tell apart. Male individuals of Heliothraupis, however, are easily recognizable, with an orange head crest, a dark streak above each eye, and a bright yellow face and underside. Their yellow and black color scheme bears some resemblance to orioles of the genus Oriolus (which are not closely related to tanagers). Female Heliothraupis, on the other hand, have a brownish band across their chest and a mostly olive head, and they lack a head crest.

Despite being brightly colored, Heliothraupis is rarely seen, as it appears to spend most of its time hidden in dense vegetation. The oldest verified sighting of one dates to 1993, and the species was not recognized as potentially new to science until the early 2000s. If not for the loud and distinctive song of the male, it is likely that it would be even less frequently recorded.

Based on the relatively few observations that have been made so far, Heliothraupis probably breeds in the Machariapo Valley of western Bolivia, but spends its non-breeding season along the lower slopes of the Andes in southeastern Peru. This type of migratory behavior is uncommon among tanagers. In both its breeding and non-breeding range, Heliothraupis appears to prefer habitats dominated by bamboo and similar plants. Examination of stomach contents and behavioral observations suggest that it feeds mostly on insects and occasionally on fruits.

The closest living relative of Heliothraupis seems to be the black-goggled tanager (Trichothraupis melanops). Given that these two species look very different from one another, the describers of Heliothraupis chose to gave it a new genus instead of classifying it in the same genus as T. melanops.

Prior to being scientifically described, Heliothraupis was known by several nicknames in the birding community, including “San Pedro tanager”, “Manu Road tanager”, and “Kill Bill tanager”. The authors’ proposed common name, “inti tanager”, is derived from the Quechua and Aymara words for “sun”, referencing the bird’s bright yellow plumage.

Reference: Lane, D.F., M.A. Aponte Justiniano, R.S. Terrill, F.E. Rheindt, L.B. Klicka, G.H. Rosenberg, C.J. Schmitt, and K.J. Burns. 2021. A new genus and species of tanager (Passeriformes, Thraupidae) from the lower Yungas of western Bolivia and southern Peru. Ornithology advance online publication. doi: 10.1093/ornithology/ukab059

(Preserved skin of a male individual of Rhynchocyclus cryptus, from Simões et al., 2021)

Meaning of name: cryptus = hidden

Suggested common name: Cryptic flatbill

Age: Holocene (Meghalayan), extant

Where found: Seasonally flooded forests in northwestern Brazil, eastern Peru, and north and central Bolivia

How much is known: Six collected specimens (four males and two females) are held at the Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi.

Notes: The genus Rhynchocyclus belongs to a group of very diverse, mostly insect-eating birds from the Americas, known as the tyrant flycatchers (so called because because some species aggressively harass predators). The Rhynchocyclus species are fairly quiet and unassuming birds that are not very brightly colored, and as a result they tend not to draw much attention in the field. Members of this genus have been given the common name “flatbill” due to their very wide, flattened beak.

In a new study, researchers compared the external anatomy, genetics, and vocalizations of different Rhynchocyclus populations in detail, and suggested that the the olivaceous flatbill (R. olivaceus) should be split into four distinct species. One of these species was previously unnamed, and as a result the authors gave it the new name R. cryptus.

Although the authors did not find any morphological features that reliably distinguish R. cryptus from the other species formerly classified under R. olivaceus, it is genetically distinctive and can be identified by its song. Its closest living relative is the equinoctial flatbill (R. aequinoctialis), from which it appears to be geographically separated. R. cryptus does overlap in range with another flatbill species, the Guianan flatbill (R. guianensis). However, these two species have different habitat preferences, with R. guianensis being more commonly found in upland forests that are not seasonally flooded.

Reference: Simões, C.C., P.V. Cerqueira, P. Peloso, and A. Aleixo. 2021. Integrative taxonomy of flatbill flycatchers (Tyrannidae) reveals a new species from the Amazonian lowlands. Zoologica Scripta advance online publication. doi: 10.1111/zsc.12519

(An individual of Megascops stangiae, photographed by Kleiton Silva)

Meaning of name: stangiae = for Sister Dorothy Mae Stang [activist who advocated for poor farmers and the environment in the Brazilian Amazon, and was murdered in 2005]

Suggested common name: Xingu screech-owl

Age: Holocene (Meghalayan), extant

Where found: Forests in Pará, Brazil, from sea level to 700 m elevation

How much is known: At least eight collected specimens (five males, two females, and an unsexed individual) are held in museum collections.

Notes: The describers of this species conducted a phylogenetic study on the black-capped screech-owl (Megascops atricapilla) and tawny-bellied screech-owl (M. watsonii). Based on their findings, they suggested that these two species should be split into six different species, two of which were previously unnamed. M. stangiae is one of these new species; the other is the Alagoas screech-owl (M. alagoensis).

M. stangiae was identified as a distinct species primarily on the basis of genetic traits, and the authors did not find any anatomical differences that reliably separate it from these other screech-owls. However, it can be distinguished from most of its close relatives by call.

M. stangiae is often the most abundant nocturnal forest bird across its range, especially on forest edges. During the day, it shelters in holes or bundles of dead leaves in the undergrowth.

Reference: Dantas, S.M., J.D. Weckstein, J. Bates, J.N. Oliveira, T.A. Catanach, and A. Aleixo. 2021. Multi-character taxonomic review, systematics, and biogeography of the Black-capped/Tawny-bellied Screech Owl (Megascops atricapilla-M. watsonii) complex (Aves: Strigidae). Zootaxa 4949: 401–444. doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.4949.3.1

(Type specimen of Trogon muriciensis, from Dickens et al., 2021)

Meaning of name: muriciensis = from the Murici Ecological Station

Suggested common name: Alagoas black-throated trogon

Age: Holocene (Meghalayan), extant

Where found: Only known from the Murici Ecological Station, Alagoas, Brazil, in montane Atlantic forest above 500 m elevation

How much is known: At least two collected specimens (an adult male and a subadult male) are held in museum collections; song recordings from five individuals. Only about 20 individuals were sighted in the wild by the describers during fieldwork in 2019.

Notes: Trogons are a group of tropical birds that include the famed resplendent quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno). They are the only group of birds with heterodactyl feet, in which the two inner toes on each foot are both rotated to point backwards. (In most birds, only the innermost toe points backwards, and in a few groups, like cuckoos and parrots, the outermost toe is also rotated.) The name “trogon” means “gnawing”, referring to the birds’ habit of biting holes into dead trees to make their nesting cavities.

The authors of this study performed a phylogenetic analysis and detailed comparison of different populations of black-throated trogon (Trogon rufus), and concluded that it should be split into five distinct species. Four of the five were formerly considered subspecies, whereas T. muriciensis is a newly recognized species. As usual with modern bird taxonomy, time will tell whether this classification scheme is accepted by major ornithological taxonomic committees.

T. muriciensis is closely related to the southern black-throated trogon (T. chrysochloros), but differs from it in the absence of a band on the chest, shorter wings and tail, and a different song. Due to the extremely limited known distribution of T. muriciensis, it is likely Critically Endangered and of urgent conservation concern.

(Illustration of Trogon muriciensis by Eduardo Brettas, from Dickens et al., 2021)

Reference: Dickens, J.K., P.-P. Bitton, G.A. Bravo, and L.F. Silveira. 2021. Species limits, patterns of secondary contact and a new species in the Trogon rufus complex (Aves: Trogonidae). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society advance online publication. doi: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaa169

(An individual of Radinopsyche sellowi, photographed by Hector Bottai, under CC BY-SA 4.0)

Meaning of name: Radinopsyche = slender being

Species included: R. sellowi (caatinga antwren, type species, previously in Herpsilochmus)

Age: Holocene (Meghalayan), extant

Where found: Woodlands and forests in eastern and central Brazil

Notes: Radinopsyche sellowi is a small antbird that was only recognized as a distinct species from the Bahia antwren (Herpsilochmus pileatus) in 2000. A new study finds that it is likely more closely related to the white-bearded antshrike (Biatas nigropectus) than to the species in the genus Herpsilochmus. Given that the caatinga antwren is easily distinguishable from the white-bearded antshrike in appearance, call, and ecology, the authors chose to coin the new genus Radinopsyche for it instead of reassigning it to the genus Biatas.

Reference: Bravo, G.A., B.M. Whitney, R. Belmonte-Lopes, M.R. Bornschein, N. Aristizábal, R. Beco, J. Battilana, L.N. Naka, A. Aleixo, M.R. Pie, L.F. Silveira, E.P. Derryberry, and R.T. Brumfield. 2021. Phylogenomic analyses reveal non-monophyly of the antbird genera Herpsilochmus and Sakesphorus (Thamnophilidae), with description of a new genus for Herpsilochmus sellowi. Ornithology advance online publication. doi: 10.1093/ornithology/ukab025

(Individuals of Aphrastura subantarctica, from Rozzi et al., 2022)

Meaning of name: subantarctica = from the sub-Antarctic region

Suggested common name: Subantarctic rayadito

Age: Holocene (Meghalayan), extant

Where found: Diego Ramírez Archipelago, Magallanes, Chile

How much is known: Three collected specimens (an adult male, an immature male, and an immature female) are held at the Chilean National Museum of Natural History.

Notes: Ovenbirds are a diverse group of small birds from the American tropics, with over 300 recognized species. Among them, the rayaditos (genus Aphrastura) are a distinctive group with “thorn-like” tail feathers. The rayaditos that live on the Diego Ramírez Archipelago (the southernmost point of South America) have previously been assumed to represent a population of thorn-tailed rayadito (A. spinicauda), but a new study suggests that they should be considered a distinct species, A. subantarctica.

The authors of this study discovered that A. subantarctica differs from A. spinicauda in being heavier on average, with shorter tail feathers, longer feet, and a larger beak. Their genetic analyses also found no evidence that the two regularly interbreed. A. spinicauda usually nests in tree hollows, but the windy environment of the Diego Ramírez Archipelago lacks trees. Instead, A. subantarctica appears to nest primarily in holes in the ground, especially the abandoned burrows of seabirds.

A. subantarctica is found only on the Diego Ramírez Archipelago, underscoring the importance of conserving this unique habitat. Fortunately, these islands are currently devoid of invasive predators and are under the protection of the Diego Ramírez Islands-Drake Passage Marine Park.

(Illustration of Aphrastura subantarctica by Mauricio Alvarez Abel, from Rozzi et al., 2022)

Reference: Rozzi, R., C.S. Quilodrán, E. Botero-Delgadillo, C. Napolitano, J.C. Torres-Mura, O. Barroso, R.D. Crego, C. Bravo, S. Ippi, V. Quirici, R. Mackenzie, C.G. Suazo, J. Rivero-de-Aguilar, B. Goffinet, B. Kempenaers, E. Poulin, and R.A. Vásquez. 2022. The Subantarctic Rayadito (Aphrastura subantarctica), a new bird species on the southernmost islands of the Americas. Scientific Reports 12: 13957. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-17985-4

(Hindlimb bones of Dornraptor normani, from Baron, 2024)

Meaning of name: Dornraptor = Dornwaraceaster [Anglo-Saxon name for the region roughly corresponding to what is now Dorset] thief [in Latin]; normani = for David B. Norman [British paleontologist]

Age: Early Jurassic (Hettangian–Sinemurian)

Where found: Blue Lias Formation, Dorset, UK

How much is known: A partial hindlimb and a partial femur (thigh bone).

Notes: Fossils of Dornraptor were originally identified in 1859 as specimens of the armored plant-eating dinosaur Scelidosaurus. Later authors thought that they more likely belonged to theropods, but left them unnamed. A new study of these specimens considers them distinct enough to be given a new genus and species. Based on phylogenetic analyses, Dornraptor was probably an early member of Averostra, the group of theropods that unites ceratosaurs and the stiff-tailed tetanurans.

Reference: Baron, M.G. 2024. A new name for old bones: a reassessment of Early Jurassic theropod remains from Dorset, England. Palaeontologia Electronica 27: 25. doi: 10.26879/1346