Perplexing Scrubwren (Sericornis virgatus) [XC604717]
by id from Arfak Mountain Trek, near Mokwan Village, West Papua >1800m (approx), Indonesia (call)
Perplexing Scrubwren (Sericornis virgatus) [XC163272]
by Ken Behrens from Arfak Mountain Trek, near Mokwan Village, West Papua >1800m (approx), Indonesia (call)
Subspecies
Part of a species group that also includes Large Scrubwren (Sericornis nouhuysi), Tropical Scrubwren (Sericornis beccarii) and Large-billed Scrubwren (Sericornis magnirostra). Often treated as conspecific with Tropical Scrubwren (Sericornis beccarii), and a number of as yet unnamed forms from Bomberai Peninsula (Fakfak Mts, Kumawa Mts) and from eastern New Guinea (Mt Bosavi/L Kutubu) may belong with either species. In other areas, however, the two seem to behave as separate species, replacing each other altitudinally with little or no overlap. Present species may form link between Tropical Scrubwren (Sericornis beccarii) of lowlands and hills and Large Scrubwren (Sericornis nouhuysi) of mountains. Intergrades with Tropical Scrubwren (Sericornis beccarii) known from Mt Bosavi, where specimen from 750 m a typical beccarii, and from 1520 m one specimen almost typical of present species and another intermediate between the two (most resembling beccarii). A specimen from 1450 m on nearby Mt Sisa is also intermediate, but closer to present species. Genetic and vocal studies required in order to help to unravel relationships within this complex of poorly known taxa.
The following 5 subspecies are recognised:
imitator Mayr, 1937 - North-western New Guinea (Arfak Mts).
jobiensis Stresemann & Paludan, 1932 - Yapen I, in Geelvink Bay (north-western New Guinea).
boreonesioticus Diamond, 1969 - North-eastern New Guinea (Bewani Mts, Torricelli Mts, Prince Alexander Mts).
pontifex Stresemann, 1921 - Victor Emanuel Mts, Hunstein Range, and Sepik Mts (Lordberg), in north-central New Guinea.
virgatus (Reichenow, 1915) - Northern slopes of Sepik-Ramu drainage, in north-eastern New Guinea.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet