Heliothraupis oneilli Lane et al., 2021 (new genus and species)
(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
