Oleaginous Hemispingus (Sphenopsis) [XC223916]
by Joe Klaiber from Colonia Tovar area, Aragua, Venezuela (duet)
Oleaginous Hemispingus (Sphenopsis frontalis) [XC386744]
by Jerome Fischer from Guacamayos Ridge, Napo, Ecuador (song)
Subspecies
Genus has been thought to belong with New World warblers (Parulidae), but recent molecular-genetic data support placement in present family. Monophyly of genus questioned, supported by some molecular data, but other molecular data equivocal. Has been suggested that subspecies ignobilis might merit elevation to species rank, although vocal and behavioural data as yet incomplete. In addition, all four Venezuelan subspecies differ considerably from nominate, but variation appears to be clinal, those farthest eastern (in north-eastern Venezuela, hence farthest from Andes) differing the most. Review of geographical variation warranted.
The following 5 subspecies are recognised:
flavidorsalis Phelps & Phelps Jr, 1953 - Perijá Mts, in north-western Venezuela (probably also on Colombian side).
hanieli Hellmayr & Seilern, 1914 - Coastal range in northern Venezuela (Aragua, Vargas, Distrito Federal and Miranda).
iterata Chapman, 1925 - Mountains of north-eastern Venezuela (Sucre and Monagas).
ignobilis (Sclater, PL, 1862) - Andes of western Venezuela from Lara south to northern Táchira.
frontalis (Tschudi, 1844) - Colombia (western Andes of Antioquia, including eastern slope near Jardín, southern very locally to Cauca; central and eastern Andes, including entire eastern slope of eastern range, patchily south of Cundinamarca), and Ecuador (eastern slope and locally in north-west) and Peru south to central Cuzco.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet