Distinguishing the Arctic Warbler Species Complex in Taiwan

The Arctic warbler (Phylloscopus borealis) species complex includes three species that are difficult to distinguish by coloration and body size during the nonbreeding season. Taiwan is located along the potential migration routes of three warblers, but there is little evidence of the presence of the Japanese leaf warbler (P. xanthodryas) and Kamchatka leaf warbler (P. examinandus). In this study, we confirmed the three species by comparing the sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (CO1) gene from samples collected in eastern Taiwan. We also compared the plumage coloration and body size of these samples, but the three species could not be distinguished by these traits. Additionally, we suggest that 31.8% of the CO1 gene sequences for these species deposited in the Barcode of Life Data System need to be updated.

Read the full article, published by Zoological Studies, here

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