A new genus for the tiny hawk Accipiter superciliosus and semicollared hawk A. collaris (Aves: Accipitridae), with comments on the generic name for the crested goshawk A. trivirgatus and Sulawesi goshawk A. griseiceps
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Abstract Multiple molecular phylogenetic studies have demonstrated that two Neotropical raptors, tiny hawk Accipiter superciliosus and its sister species semicollared hawk A. collaris, are not closely related to core Accipiter, and that A. superciliosus, at least, possesses osteological characters not replicated in the remainder of the genus. Based on these data, there is a need to recognise their distinctiveness at generic level. However, as recently noted in two global bird checklists, no name is available to accommodate them, so we provide a new nomen here. Furthermore, two Asian accipitrids, crested goshawk A. trivirgatus and its presumed closest relative Sulawesi goshawk A. griseiceps, are also phylogenetically distinctive; in this case the genus-group name Lophospiza is applicable. We also designate type species for two genus-group names (Hieraspiza and Eusparvius) currently in the synonymy of Accipiter, and, as an aid to future workers, we provide a synonymy of the genus Accipiter and a list of species currently included in Accipiter for which published molecular phylogenetic data are apparently lacking.
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One of the final two major clades contained the genera Harpagus and two 'Accipiter' species that were recently reclassified in the genus Microspizias.
“One contained the genera Harpagus and two”
From Enigmas no longer: using ultraconserved elements to place several unusual hawk taxa and address the non-monophyly of the genus <i>Accipiter</i> (Accipitriformes: Accipitridae) (2025) · cites this paper as Sangster et al., 2021
In one case only, 'Accipiter' species have been reclassified in a new genus after molecular data showed that they were not members of the larger Accipiter (sensu lato) clade: the Tiny Hawk and Semicollared Hawk are now placed in the genus Microspizias by some authors.
“In one case only, have”
From Enigmas no longer: using ultraconserved elements to place several unusual hawk taxa and address the non-monophyly of the genus <i>Accipiter</i> (Accipitriformes: Accipitridae) (2025) · cites this paper as Sangster et al. (2021)
Harpagus and Microspizias were recovered as sister genera.
“We recovered a sister relationship between the genera Harpagus and Microspizias, which was erected by Sangster et al. (2021) to accommodate the phylogenetic placement of [A.] superciliosus and [A.] collaris.”
From Enigmas no longer: using ultraconserved elements to place several unusual hawk taxa and address the non-monophyly of the genus <i>Accipiter</i> (Accipitriformes: Accipitridae) (2025) · cites this paper as Sangster et al. (2021)
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Catanach, T. A., Halley, M. R., & Pirro, S. (2025) · Biological Journal of the Linnean Society · doi:10.1093/biolinnean/blae028 · Cited by 76 · see citing works
- Authors
- Sangster, G., Kirwan, G. M., Fuchs, J., Dickinson, E. C., Elliott, A., & Gregory, S. M. S.
- Affiliations
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center (NL)
- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (BR)
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- Corresponding author
- Kirwan, Guy M.
- Venue
- Vertebrate Zoology
- Publisher
- Pensoft Publishers
- Published
- 2021-08-02
- Volume
- 71
- Pages
- 419-424
- ISSN
- 1864-5755 (ISSN-L)
- 2625-8498
- OpenAlex
- W3188827324
- Cited by
- 13
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 2
- FWCI
- 1.08
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- diamond
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Vertebrate Zoology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- ZooKeys (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- HAL (submittedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- The Catalogue of Life
- Funders
- Vetenskapsrådet (2015-06455)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Avian ecology and behavior
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Evolution and Paleontology Studies
- Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Parasitology › Bird parasitology and diseases
- Keywords
- Accipiter, Accipiter trivirgatus, new genus, Accipitridae, raptors, genus nomenclature, type species designation, synonymy, molecular phylogeny, osteology, Neotropical birds
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