A new bird species-found in Colombia?
Tuesday 5 February 2008.
A new bird species - the Antioquia Brush-Finch or Atlapetes blancae - has been described as a result of studies supported by Fundación ProAves in Colombia. Ornithologists are concerned about the conservation of the new species, as nobody knows whether or not it still exists.
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Adult and juvenile Antioquia Brush-Finch (Atlapetes blancae), painted by Robin Restall |
The description of the Antioquia Brush-Finch was published in the latest edition of the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club by Thomas Donegan of ProAves. Three mid-20th century specimens of Atlapetes blancae were found in the natural history museums of Colombian universities, all of which were likely collected near a seminary of La Salle University in Antioquia department of Colombia. Atlapetes blancae has distinctive plumage, confirming its identification as a previously undescribed species. Various explorations in the region where the species was collected over 35 years ago have taken place but none resulted in any observation of the new species.
Donegan said: "Hopefully, a population of the Antioquia Brush-Finch can be found and protected. It is ironic that the world's most recently described bird species may also be among the most endangered." The Antioquia Brush-Finch has been proposed for "Critically Endangered" status, pending further searches.
The species epithet "blancae" honours the Colombian lepidopterologist Blanca Huertas, who has participated with Donegan in many expeditions supported by ProAves. The name blancae also refers to the pale plumage of the new species compared to other brush-finches found in the region.
