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22 July 2020 New distributional records of the Blue-faced Parrotfinch (Erythrura trichroa) in the Solomon Islands
Lucas H. DeCicco, Luke B. Klicka, Luke C. Campillo, Ikuo G. Tigulu, Reuben Tako, Joseph Waihuru, Douglas Pikacha, Edgar Pollard, L. Abraham Sirikolo Jr., Xena M. Mapel, Jenna M. McCullough, Michael J. Andersen, David Boseto, Robert G. Moyle
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

Despite a long history of biological exploration, there remains much to learn about the avifauna of the Solomon Islands. Here, we report new records of the Blue-faced Parrotfinch (Erythrura trichroa) on Malaita and Makira islands, thus expanding the known distribution of the species in the geographic Solomon Islands to include Bougainville, Kolombangara, Guadalcanal, Malaita, and Makira islands. Morphometric comparison of specimens from these populations showed no consistent differences in plumage or measurements, although sample sizes were small for all populations (n = 1–2 comparable specimens from 3 populations). Likewise, mitochondrial DNA sequence data showed little genetic differentiation among these populations. Our results suggest that the Blue-faced Parrotfinch exhibits some of the lowest interpopulation divergence of any montane bird species in the Solomon Islands and provides useful comparison to biogeographic patterns in other bird populations that share a similar distribution across multiple Pleistocene islands. Our discovery of 2 new populations of Blue-faced Parrotfinches highlights the need for continued biodiversity work in the region for both conservation and research.

Lucas H. DeCicco, Luke B. Klicka, Luke C. Campillo, Ikuo G. Tigulu, Reuben Tako, Joseph Waihuru, Douglas Pikacha, Edgar Pollard, L. Abraham Sirikolo Jr., Xena M. Mapel, Jenna M. McCullough, Michael J. Andersen, David Boseto, and Robert G. Moyle "New distributional records of the Blue-faced Parrotfinch (Erythrura trichroa) in the Solomon Islands," The Wilson Journal of Ornithology 132(1), 192-197, (22 July 2020). https://doi.org/10.1676/1559-4491-132.1.192
Received: 4 June 2019; Accepted: 11 March 2020; Published: 22 July 2020
KEYWORDS
biogeography
Makira Island
Malaita Island
mitochondrial DNA
montane birds
museum collections
natural history
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