Intraspecific variation of three plumage-cryptic bulbul species

Abstract

Bird songs and morphometry are frequently used to distinguish bird species which are plumage-cryptic, or to delineate boundaries of subspecies. Rubigula flaviventris, Pycnonotus finlaysoni and Brachypodius melanocephalos have each recognized subspecies along the Thai-Malay Peninsula, however the range-limit of the subspecies distribution is still ambiguous and genetic data from a previous own study suggests a revision of the subspecies distribution and the subspecies barriers is warranted. To analyze the subspecies boundaries based on potential song and morphometric traits, we recorded, measured, and analyzed song characters and morphometry of the three bulbuls along the Thai-Malay Peninsula. The geographic variation of songs and morphometry differs significantly for specific traits; however, we could not find any trait discontinuities that would be in accordance with previously documented phylogeographic divides. Instead trait variation was mostly clinal and followed a North-South gradient in line with Bergmann’s rule. Due to the lack of distinctiveness of any subspecific taxon, we conclude that shallow genetic divides on the Thai-Malay Peninsula are not indicative of potential species-level splits in the three species of our study.