Towards a more coherent taxonomy for the woodcreepers Xiphorhynchus guttatus and X. guttatoides (Aves: Passeriformes: Dendrocolaptidae)

We reviewed alpha taxonomy of Xiphorhynchus guttatus and X. guttatoides (Aves: Dendrocolaptidae), which were historically considered conspecific and are now treated as comprising three and four subspecies, respectively. Our aim was to improve knowledge of the group’s evolution and diversity. Based on our own analyses of morphological data and comparison with previously published molecular studies, under the Phylogenetic Species Concept this group is shown to contain five taxa that are considered to represent valid species: Xiphorhynchus guttatus, X. polystictus, X. guttatoides, X. vicinalis and X. eytoni. Our results reinforce the importance of using multiple sets of characters and a philosophically robust species concept, as well as an appropriate alignment between the chosen concept and the methodology for determining specific limits to resolve the taxonomy of complex species groups.