This week I got my hands (thanks to Loreta Rosselli) an article describing a new species of parrot of Colombia. 20 years ago, one of the authors spoke to a poultry dealer Melgar (Tolima), who mentioned the existence of a yellow-necked parakeet. In January 2010, doing fieldwork on the Internet, the authors found a photo which apparently confirmed that indeed there was a sort of yellow-necked parakeet, which had gone unnoticed by scientists.
Based solely on this picture of animals captivity, which appeared on the website of a center of attention and appreciation of wildlife in Ibague, the authors ventured to name a new species: Forpus flavicollis. Because the photo is the only source of information to support this apparent discovery, the authors suggested that the birds probably came from an inaccessible location, not yet visited by ornithologists. In addition, they dared to speculate that as the photo was taken in Ibague, it is reasonable to assume that birds came from Quindío. Maybe nobody told them that is in Ibague Tolima and Quindio not (which probably would have allowed them connecting the discovery of this picture with what the dealer told melgareño), but, of course, this geographical error is not the only problem with the article. The first error is so serious, is that the article did not designate a type specimen as required by International Code of Zoological Nomenclature , so technically the description of F. flavicollis is invalid. The second error is the background: these birds do not represent a new species! They are simply Cascabelito ( Forpus conspicillatus) to which I have painted or faded plumage to make them look like something different, a common practice among wildlife traffickers. The Cascabelito is one of the most common species of parrots in Colombia, is abundant in the region from which the photo and also, even as the authors acknowledge, in the photo is clear that besides the individual is the yellow-necked but one which undoubtedly is a Cascabelito that has not been adulterated plumage.
ever heard the story that the great Mono Hernández on one occasion did the same, that she thought she found a new species of parrot plumage typical Colombian. However, if I remember correctly, the monkey was careful enough to wait until the birds molt and regain their normal plumage, so the supposed new species was never described (if anyone knows the story well, any comments are welcome) . What I know is that the book parrot of Colombia, and José Vicente Rodríguez Mono, they mention that alter the plumage of parrots is a widespread activity among the dealers of these animals. Perhaps the authors of the description of " flavicollis F. " did not have access to this book ...
So no, we have a new species of parrot in Colombia but simply an example of bad science in relation to the taxonomy of Colombian birds (see also the discussion on another alleged new species). The article is short so out of curiosity is worth reading, but for those interested in learning about a story about the discovery of a new Psittacidae well supported, I recommend more description Nanopsittaca dachillae , masterfully told Don Stap in A Parrot Without a Name. -
Bertagnolio, P., and L. Racheli. 2010. A new Parrotlet from Colombia, Forpus flavicollis. The Avicultural Magazine 116:129-133.
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