Integrative taxonomy of the Plain-backed Thrush(Zoothera mollissima)complex(Aves,Turdidae)reveals cryptic species,including a new species

Background: The Plain-backed Thrush Zoothera mollissima breeds in the Himalayas and mountains of central China. It was long considered conspecific with the Long-tailed Thrush Zoothera dixoni, until these were shown to be broadly sympatric.Methods: We revise the Z. mollissima–Z. dixoni complex by integrating morphological, acoustic, genetic(two mitochondrial and two nuclear markers), ecological and distributional datasets.Results: In earlier field observations, we noted two very different song types of "Plain-backed" Thrush segregated by breeding habitat and elevation. Further integrative analyses congruently identify three groups: an alpine breeder in the Himalayas and Sichuan, China("Alpine Thrush"); a forest breeder in the eastern Himalayas and northwest Yunnan(at least), China("Himalayan Forest Thrush"); and a forest breeder in central Sichuan("Sichuan Forest Thrush"). Alpine and Himalayan Forest Thrushes are broadly sympatric, but segregated by habitat and altitude, and the same is probably true also for Alpine and Sichuan Forest Thrushes. These three groups differ markedly in morphology and songs. In addition, DNA sequence data from three non-breeding specimens from Yunnan indicate that yet another lineage exists("Yunnan Thrush"). However, we find no consistent morphological differences from Alpine Thrush, and its breeding range is unknown. Molecular phylogenetic analyses suggest that all four groups diverged at least a few million years ago, and identify Alpine Thrush and the putative "Yunnan Thrush" as sisters, and the two forest taxa as sisters. Cytochrome b divergences among the four Z. mollissima sensu lato(s.l.) clades are similar to those between any of them and Z. dixoni, and exceed that between the two congeneric outgroup species. We lectotypify the name Oreocincla rostrata Hodgson, 1845 with the Z. mollissima sensu stricto(s.s.) specimen long considered its type. No available name unambiguously pertains to the Himalayan Forest Thrush.Conclusions: The Plain-backed Thrush Z. mollissima s.l. comprises at least three species: Alpine Thrush Z. mollissima s.s., with a widespread alpine breeding distribution; Sichuan Forest Thrush Z. griseiceps, breeding in central Sichuan forests; and Himalayan Forest Thrush, breeding in the eastern Himalayas and northwest Yunnan(at least), which is described herein as a new species. "Yunnan Thrush" requires further study.

Taxonomic status of grey-headed Yellow Wagtails breeding in western China

Background:Field studies from 2011 onwards have demonstrated the presence of a breeding population of Yellow Wagtails(Motacilla flava)in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region,China that is phenotypically distinct from known subspecies occurring in Asia.Here we describe the plumages and vocalisations of this population and discuss its taxonomic status.Methods:The analysis of plumage is based on field studies and photos available online.Recordings of vocalisations are compared with recordings from other Yellow Wagtail populations,and differences are analysed based on sonograms.Mitochondrial DNA from one individual is compared to other Yellow Wagtail taxa.Results:Unlike M.flava subspecies breeding in or near Xinjiang,males in the studied population show a blue-grey head without prominent white supercilium,being most similar to the widely disjunct M.f.cinereocapilla.They differ from the similarly widely allopatric M.f.thunbergi,which might occur as a migrant or vagrant in Xinjiang,by on average cleaner yellow breast and more extensive white on the throat,and from the widely disjunct M.f.plexa and M.f.macronyx,which might also occur on migration in that area,by softer contact calls and slower pace of song.Females are similar to female M.f.feldegg in plumage.The mitochondrial ND2 tree shows the single sample from Xinjiang to be nested in the clade of western Yellow Wagtail taxa.Conclusion:We discuss whether the Xinjiang breeding population could represent an intergrade between subspecies breeding nearby,or whether it is better regarded as a separate as yet unrecognized subspecies.We argue that the localization of its apparent range in relation to other subspecies along with fairly consistent male and female plumages suggest that it is more likely to represent an undescribed taxon,but conclude that more research is needed to firmly establish its status.