Ashy-throated Bush Tanager (Chlorospingus canigularis) [XC57342]
by id from Reserva Iguaque (SFF), Villa de Leyva, Boyaca, Colombia (call)
Ashy-throated Bush Tanager (Chlorospingus canigularis) [XC108413]
by John V. Moore from Santa Cecilia track, above Paquisha, Zamora-Chinchipe, Ecuador (call)
Subspecies
Recent molecular-genetic studies indicate that this genus and Nesospingus, Spindalis and Phaenicophilus form a monophyletic clade that is sister to several New World warbler (Parulidae) genera (including Dendroica, Basileuterus and Vermivora), and are not closely related to other genera of present family. More recent evidence suggests that Chlorospingus is closest to genus Arremonops in family Emberizidae. It has been suggested that isolated subspecies olivaceiceps may represent a separate species. Further study is required.
The following 5 subspecies are recognised:
olivaceiceps Underwood, 1898 - Mountains in Costa Rica (mainly eastern slope in Central Valley and R Reventazón) and western Panama (Bocas del Toro).
canigularis (Lafresnaye, 1848) - Southern end of Venezuelan Andes (Táchira) and on western slope of eastern Andes in Colombia (south to vicinity of Bogotá).
conspicillatus Todd, 1922 - Both slopes of western Andes (from Antioquia south to Cauca) and both slopes of central Andes (from Caldas south to Huila) of Colombia.
paulus Zimmer, JT, 1947 - Western slope of Andes from Ecuador (Chimborazo) south to north-western Peru (Tumbes).
signatus Taczanowski & von Berlepsch, 1885 - Eastern slope from Ecuador (from Napo) south to Peru (Cajamarca, and spottily south to Cuzco).
BirdLife International Species Factsheet