Andean Solitaire

The Andean solitaire (Myadestes ralloides) is a species of bird in the family Turdidae, the thrushes. It is found in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. == Taxonomy and systematics == The Andean solitaire was originally described in 1840 as Muscipeta ralloides. It was later reassigned to its present genus Myadestes that had been erected in 1838. During the middle of the twentieth century several authors treated what are now the Andean solitaire, the black-faced solitaire (M. malanops), and varied solitaire (M. coloratus) as conspecific. They are not well differentiated and form a superspecies. The Andean solitaire has these four subspecies: M. r. plumbeiceps Hellmayr, 1921 M. r. candelae Meyer de Schauensee, 1947 M. r. venezuelensis Sclater, PL, 1856 M. r. ralloides (D'Orbigny, 1840) A genetic study published in 2007 determined that some of the subspecies may deserve full species status. Based on that study and vocal differences, the Clements taxonomy recognizes three groups within the species: M. r. plumbeiceps and M. r. ralloides as single-species "groups" and M. r. candelae plus M. r. venezuelensis as the third group. == Description == The Andean solitaire is 17 to 18 cm (6.7 to 7.1 in) long and weighs 25.5 to 37…