Tanagers (Thraupidae)

Oleaginous Hemispingus (Hemispingus frontalis) - HBW 16, p. 167

French: Tangara ocré German: Olivrückenhemispingus Spanish: Hemispingo Oleaginoso
Other common names: Oleaginous Tanager; Ochraceous/Merida Hemispingus (ignobilis)

Taxonomy: H.[ylophilus] frontalis Tschudi, 1844, east slope of Andes, Peru.
Genus has been thought to belong with New World warblers (Parulidae), but recent molecular-genetic data support placement in present family; monophyly of genus questioned, supported by some molecular data, but other molecular data equivocal. Has been suggested that race ignobilis might merit elevation to species rank, although vocal and behavioural data as yet incomplete. In addition, all four Venezuelan races differ considerably from nominate, but variation appears to be clinal, those farthest E (in NE Venezuela, hence farthest from Andes) differing the most. Review of geographical var.. View all taxonomy...

Subspecies and Distribution:

flavidorsalis Phelps, Sr & Phelps, Jr, 1953 - Perijá Mts, in NW Venezuela (probably also on Colombian side).
hanieli Hellmayr & Seilern, 1914 - coastal range in N Venezuela (Aragua, Vargas, Distrito Federal and Miranda).
iteratus Chapman, 1925 - mountains of NE Venezuela (Sucre and Monagas).

See all 5 subspecies

flavidorsalis Phelps, Sr & Phelps, Jr, 1953 - Perijá Mts, in NW Venezuela (probably also on Colombian side).
hanieli Hellmayr & Seilern, 1914 - coastal range in N Venezuela (Aragua, Vargas, Distrito Federal and Miranda).
iteratus Chapman, 1925 - mountains of NE Venezuela (Sucre and Monagas).
ignobilis (P. L. Sclater, 1862) - Andes of W Venezuela from Lara S to N Táchira.
frontalis (Tschudi, 1844) - Colombia (W Andes of Antioquia, including E slope near Jardín, S very locally to Cauca; C & E Andes, including entire E slope of E range, patchily S of Cundinamarca), and Ecuador (E slope and locally in NW) and Peru S to C Cuzco.