Indigo Flowerpiercer (Diglossa indigotica) [XC41650]
by Dusan M. Brinkhuizen from Mashpi Reserve turnoff, 9km past La Delicia, Pichincha, Ecuador (song, song of adult)
Indigo Flowerpiercer (Diglossa indigotica) [XC105789]
by Sam Woods from San Francisco - Monta\u00f1a entre Mashpi - Pachijal 0\u00b06'42.66''N 78\u00b054'9.85''O, Ecuador (song, territorial song)
Subspecies
No subspecies.
Genus has sometimes been placed in Coerebidae or Parulidae or even, because of an apparent close relationship to Acanthidops, in Emberizidae. Molecular phylogenies indicate that it is most closely related to Xenodacnis and to Acanthidops, Haplospiza and Catamenia (the last three genera currently placed in Emberizidae), and that all clearly belong in present family. Members of this clade may also be closely related to the Oreomanes/Conirostrum clade. This species, along with Deep-blue Flowerpiercer (Diglossa glauca), Bluish Flowerpiercer (Diglossa caerulescens) and Masked Flowerpiercer (Diglossa cyanea), has sometimes been placed in separate genus, Diglossopis, on grounds of some important anatomical features (of corneous tongue, bony palate, maxillo-palatines and mandible, and structure of rhamphotheca), all of which may set them apart from present genus. These four species, with a proportionately smaller bill hook, may have evolved only once, while all other flowerpiercers (with larger hook) may have evolved multiple times. However, recent molecular-genetic data indicate that these four "small-billed" species do not form a monophyletic group, and all flowerpiercers are best retained in a single genus.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet