When colors mislead: Genomics and bioacoustics prompt re-classification of Asian flycatcher radiation (Aves: Niltavinae).

Traditional classification of many animals, including birds, has been highly dependent on external morphological characters like plumage coloration. However, both bioacoustics and genetic or genomic data have revolutionized our understanding of the relationships of certain lineages and led to sweeping taxonomic re-organizations. In this study, we present a case of erroneous delimitation of genus boundaries in the species-rich flycatcher subfamily Niltavinae. Genera within this subfamily have historically been delineated based on blue versus brown male body plumage until recent studies based on a few mitochondrial and nuclear loci unearthed several cases of generic misclassification. Here we use extensive bioacoustic data from 43 species and genomic data from 28 species for a fundamental reclassification of species in the Niltavinae. Our study reveals that song is an important trait to classify these birds even at the genus level, whereas plumage traits exhibit ample convergence and have led to numerous historic misattributions. Our taxonomic re-organization leads to new biogeographic limits of major genera, such that the genus Cyornis now only extends as far east as the islands of Sulawesi, Sula, and Banggai, whereas Eumyias is redefined to extend far beyond Wallace's Line to the islands of Seram and Timor. Our conclusions advise against an over-reliance on morphological traits and underscore the importance of integrative datasets.

Chromosome-level genome assembly of the European green woodpecker Picus viridis.

The European green woodpecker, Picus viridis, is a widely distributed species found in the Western Palearctic region. Here, we assembled a highly contiguous genome assembly for this species using a combination of short- and long-read sequencing and scaffolded with chromatin conformation capture (Hi-C). The final genome assembly was 1.28 Gb and features a scaffold N50 of 37 Mb and a scaffold L50 of 39.165 Mb. The assembly incorporates 89.4% of the genes identified in birds in OrthoDB. Gene and repetitive content annotation on the assembly detected 15,805 genes and a ∼30.1% occurrence of repetitive elements, respectively. Analysis of synteny demonstrates the fragmented nature of the P. viridis genome when compared to the chicken (Gallus gallus). The assembly and annotations produced in this study will certainly help for further research into the genomics of P. viridis and the comparative evolution of woodpeckers. Five historical and seven contemporary samples have been resequenced and may give insights on the population history of this species.