Beni greenlet

Why in News?

For over six decades, an olive-green bird in Bolivia’s Beni savannas was misclassified, but new studies have confirmed it as a distinct species.

• The Beni greenlet is a newly confirmed bird species, characterised by its small size and greenish-grey plumage.
• Scientific Name – Hylophilus Moxensis.
• Family – Muscicapidae.
• Genus – Hylophilus.
• Research Methods Used – Researchers used various methods to distinguish the bird from closely related species.
  • Genetic analysis – Mitochondrial gene sequencing
  • Morphological analysis – Detailed comparison of physical traits
• Field observations – Direct observation of birds in their natural habitat.
• Study of vocalisations, including song structure and “V-shaped notes.”
• Appearance –
  • The species has a small body with predominantly greenish-grey upperparts, a paler grey to whitish belly and throat, short, rounded wings, and a relatively short tail.
  • It has dark eyes with a faint or indistinct eye-ring.
  • The bird has light brown-grey patches near its ears, a dark area around the base of the beak, and a reddish top and forehead.
  • Its eyes are completely dark, and unlike similar birds, it does not have black or brown markings around the ears.
• Habitat – It inhabits tropical moist lowland forests of northern Bolivia, primarily occupying the canopy and forest edges.
• Distribution –
  • Primary range – Northern Bolivia.
  • Endemism – Currently considered endemic to the Beni region, with no confirmed records outside this area.
• Diet – Primarily insectivorous, feeding on insects and small arthropods; may also consume fruits occasionally.
• Social behaviour – Usually small groups or pairs; relatively secretive and shy, making it difficult to observe.
  • Threats – Habitat loss with altered rainfall patterns, increased drought, human activities like logging, infrastructure development, riverine and floodplain modifications.
• Conservation status – It has not yet been assessed or assigned a conservation category by the IUCN Red List.

Reference

Indian Defence Review | Beni greenlet