Birds 16new bird species A total <strong>of</strong> 16 new bird species have been discovered in the <strong>Amazon</strong> in the past 10 years. The new avian additions to the region span a diverse range <strong>of</strong> bird families and include the discovery <strong>of</strong> a raptor from southern <strong>Amazon</strong>ia. The cryptic forest-falcon (Micrastur mintoni) was discovered in 2002 49 . This Brazilian species has bright orange skin around its eyes. The overall population <strong>of</strong> the falcon is presumed to be large, given its wide range. But little is generally known about this new species. In 2007, a new bird was described from the Peruvian <strong>Amazon</strong> 50 . The rufous twistwing (Cnipodectes superrufus) displays a multitude <strong>of</strong> red-brown variations. Despite extensive ornithological research in the south-eastern region <strong>of</strong> Madre de Dios, this species had escaped notice, largely because <strong>of</strong> its inaccessible natural habitat: it is restricted to thickets <strong>of</strong> thorny 5m-tall bamboo (Guadua weberbaueri), a habitat poorly surveyed in <strong>Amazon</strong>ia. Originally only known from a few sites in Madre de Dios and a neighbouring region, the known distribution <strong>of</strong> the bird was later extended from 3,400 to 89,000 sq km <strong>of</strong> Guadua-dominated forest across Madre de Dios (Peru), Pando (Bolivia) and Acre (Brazil). The former includes Manu National Park 51 . According to scientists, the rufous twistwing is probably the least abundant <strong>of</strong> all bamboo specialists in <strong>Amazon</strong>ia. The risk <strong>of</strong> extinction in the short term is low, but recent development projects, including the paving <strong>of</strong> the Interoceanic highway, will increase human settlement and habitat destruction in the region 52,53 . In addition, the socioeconomic value <strong>of</strong> large bamboos and the increasing tendency to harvest them 54 suggest the extent <strong>of</strong> suitable habitat for the species may decline in the future. Already considered critically endangered is the Iquitos gnatcatcher (Polioptila clementsi), discovered in 2005 55 . Also from the Peruvian <strong>Amazon</strong>, this new bird was discovered in the Reserva Nacional Allpahuayo-Mishana, just west <strong>of</strong> Iquitos, in the Loreto region <strong>of</strong> Peru. It is a rare sight in the white-sand forest it inhabits. Surveys <strong>of</strong> available habitat within the reserve have only located 15 pairs. And since its discovery, the species has apparently become more difficult to locate year on year. Today the species is at real risk <strong>of</strong> extinction, owing to an extremely small range and population, and deforestation in the zone. Available habitat continues to be threatened by clearance for agriculture, facilitated by government incentives to encourage colonisation <strong>of</strong> land surrounding Iquitos; and logging <strong>of</strong> forest within a national reserve, for construction, fuelwood and charcoal 56 . The ancient and slow-growing varillal forests, prime habitat <strong>of</strong> Polioptila clementsi, occur on especially nutrient-poor, quartzitic soils, and may never be able to regenerate if destroyed 57 . <strong>Amazon</strong>ian forests growing on white sand and other nutrient-poor soils hold many ornithological surprises. A few years earlier, in 2001, another new species, the mishana tyrannulet (Zimmerius villarejoi) was described, again from the white-sand varillal forest near Iquitos, in the Loreto region <strong>of</strong> Peru 58 . Among the many birds <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Amazon</strong>, parrots are <strong>of</strong>ten the most spectacular in colour. The bald parrot (Pyrilia aurantiocephala, originally known as Pionopsitta aurantiocephala), a member <strong>of</strong> the true parrot family, caused a sensation when it was described in 2002 59 , mainly because it is hard to believe that such a large and colourful bird could have escaped the notice <strong>of</strong> the world. As its name suggests, the species has an extraordinary bald head, devoid <strong>of</strong> plumage, but is otherwise a strikingly colourful bird. It displays an extraordinary spectrum <strong>of</strong> colour, from an “intensely orange-coloured head” 60 , to yellowgreen nape, parrot green body with wings <strong>of</strong> green, suffused with ultramarine blue, cyan, orange-yellow, emerald green and scarlet, and feet <strong>of</strong> orangeyellow. The parrot is known only from a few localities in the Lower Madeira and Upper Tapajós rivers in <strong>Amazon</strong>ian Brazil. It is currently known only from two habitat types and from a relatively small area. This population <strong>of</strong> birds is currently under threat from logging; scientists point out that although the region in which they collected specimens <strong>of</strong> Pionopsitta aurantiocephala is currently economically managed through environmental tourism, nearby regions around the headwaters <strong>of</strong> the Tapajós river and the entire southern fringe <strong>of</strong> <strong>Amazon</strong>ia are constantly threatened by the destructive activities <strong>of</strong> logging companies 61 . 24 amazon alive! I a decade <strong>of</strong> discovery <strong>1999</strong>-<strong>2009</strong>
7a. 7b. © Arthur Grosset 7c. 7a. Bald parrot (Pionopsitta aurantiocephala) 7b. Cryptic forest-falcon (Micrastur mintoni) 7c. Rufous twistwing (Cnipodectes superrufus) © Joseph Tobias © Andrew Whittaker amazon alive! I a decade <strong>of</strong> discovery <strong>1999</strong>-<strong>2009</strong> 25
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