
%0 Journal Article
%A Parker, S.A. 
%T Taxonomy of the populations of <i>Sericornis beccarii</i> inhabiting Cape York Peninsula
%J Emu
%D 1970/06/01
%V 70
%N 2
%P 69-72
%K 
%R https://doi.org/10.1071/MU970069
%U https://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/MU970069 
%X There are two distinct forms of the Little Scrub Wren Sericornis beccarii inhabiting Cape York Peninsula: S. b. minimus, known only from the northern tip, with well-defined facial pattern, white-tipped wing-coverts and yellowish underparts. and S. b. dubius (= capensis) from the Rocky Scrub district, with much less clearly defined facial pattern, buffy or dull white-tipped wing-coverts and cinnamon-tinged underparts. Morphologically intermediate specimens are known from geographically intermediate localities. Sexual dimorphism is discussed; it is slight in S. b. minimus, but apparently present to a marked degree in S. b. dubius. A tentative reconstruction of the evolutionary history of the two forms is outlined; it is concluded that dubius has diverged farther than the other races of S. beccarii from the ancestral stock by losing its clear-cut facial pattern. Gene-flow at present between minimus and dubius is considered unlikely in view of the now fragmentary distribution of the rain-forest in the intervening area. 
