Masked Flowerpiercer (Diglossa cyanea) [XC262524]
by Paul Coopmans from Esmeraldas: Cayapachupa, Cordillera de Tois\u00e1n, Cotacachi-Cayapas Ecological Reserve, Ecuador (alarm call, alarm calls)
Masked Flowerpiercer (Diglossa cyanea) [XC487487]
by Arcadio Marin from Andes, San Pedro de los Milagros, Antioquia, Colombia (song)
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 Indigo Flowerpiercer (Diglossa indigotica), Deep-blue Flower-piercer (Diglossa glauca) and Bluish Flower-piercer (Diglossa caerulescens), 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. Distributional limits of subspecies obscura of present species uncertain. Not yet recorded on Colombian side of Perijá Mts, but may extend south to meet nominate subspecies near border of Venezuela with Colombia.
The following 5 subspecies are recognised:
obscura Phelps & Phelps Jr, 1952 - Sierra de Perijá, in western Venezuela.
tovarensis Zimmer, JT & Phelps, 1952 - Coastal cordillera of northern Venezuela (in Aragua and Distrito Federal).
cyanea (Lafresnaye, 1840) - Andes of Venezuela (southern from Trujillo) and all three ranges in Colombia and Andes of Ecuador (except far south-west).
dispar Zimmer, JT, 1942 - Andes of south-western Ecuador and north-western Peru.
melanopis Tschudi, 1844 - Andes of Peru (except north-west) south to Andes in Bolivia (to Santa Cruz).
BirdLife International Species Factsheet