Greater Flowerpiercer (Diglossa major) [XC354909]
by id from Acampamento base do Monte Roraima, Venezuela (call)
Greater Flowerpiercer (Diglossa major) [XC513059]
by Andrew Spencer from Uiramut\u00e3, State of Roraima, Brazil (call)
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.
The following 4 subspecies are recognised:
gilliardi Chapman, 1939 - Auyán-tepui (south-eastern Bolívar), in south-eastern Venezuela.
disjuncta Zimmer, JT & Phelps, 1944 - Tepuis on western side of Gran Sabana (including Ptari-tepui, Sororopán-tepui, Uaipán-tepui, Aprada-tepui, and Acopán-tepui), in south-eastern Venezuela.
major Cabanis, 1849 - Cerro Roraima, including sites within Venezuela, Brazil and Guyana. Also Cerro Cuquenán and Uei-tepui, in extreme south-eastern Bolívar (Venezuela).
BirdLife International Species Factsheet