Velvet-fronted Grackle

SCI Name:  Lampropsar tanagrinus
Protonym:  Icterus tanagrinus Av.Sp.Nov.Brasil. 1 p.67 pl.64 fig.1
Taxonomy:  Passeriformes / Icteridae / Lampropsar
Taxonomy Code:  vefgra1
Type Locality:  'in locis sylvaticis Parae [= Amazon Valley, Brazil] ; restricted to Itacoatiara, Amazonas, left bank of Amazon by Pinto, 1944, Cat. Aves Brasil (Publ. Dept. Zool., Sao Paulo), pt. 2, p. 565.
Author:  von Spix
Publish Year:  1824
IUCN Status:  Least Concern

DEFINITIONS

LAMPROPSAR
(Icteridae; † Velvet-fronted Grackle L. tanagrinus guianensis) Gr. λαμπρος lampros  brilliant; ψαρ psar, ψαρος psaros  starling. In ornithology psar can also signify an American icterid. "Die Gattung Lampropsar (λαμπρος, glänzend; ψαρ, Staar) scheint der Gattung Molothrus ziemlich nahe zu stehen, unterscheidet sich aber sofort durch den stufigen Schwanz und gehört nach diesem Kennzeichen zu den Scaphidurinen.  Der Schnabel ist im Verleich zu Mothrus [sic] verhältnissmässig länger, gerader, schwächer und weniger breit; Flügel kürzer, abgerundet.  Den Typus dieser Gattung: L. guianensis  n. sp. werden wir in dem bereits mehrfach erwähnten Anhange zu Herrn Schomburgk's Reise beschreiben" (Cabanis 1847); "Lampropsar*) Cab. nov. gen.    Unterscheidet sich von Molothrus durch den verhältnissmässig längeren, geraderen, schwächeren, weniger breiten Schnabel, durch merklich kürzere, mehr abgerundete Flügel und längeren stufigen Schwanz.  Die 4te Schwinge ist in der Regel erst die längste.  Gefieder glänzend schwarz.   78. L. guianensis Cab. nov. spec.  ...  *) Λαμπρος, glänzend; ψαρ, Staar." (Cabanis 1849); "Lampropsar Cabanis, Arch. Naturg., 13, (1), p. 333, 1847;1 idem, in Schomburgk, Reisen Brit. Guiana, 3, "1848," p. 682, 1849—type, by monotypy, Lampropsar guianensis Cabanis.  ...  1Generic characters in comparison to Molothrus outlined, the genotype L. guianensis being a nomen nudum.  Genus and species were not properly diagnosed until two years later, as quoted above." (Hellmayr, 1937, Cat. Birds Americas, Pt. X, p. 100); "Lampropsar Cabanis, 1847, Archiv f. Naturg., 13 (1), p. 333.  Type, by subsequent designation (Cabanis, 1849, in Schomburgk, Reisen Brit.-Guiana, 3 (1848), p. 682) and monotypy, L.[ampropsar] guianensis Cabanis." (Blake in Peters, 1968, XIV, p. 184).
Var. Lamprospar.
Synon. Potamopsar.

tanagrinus
Mod. L. tanagrinus  tanager-like (i.e. in size and appearance)  < genus Tanagra Linnaeus, 1764, tanager; "Corpus magnitudine Alaudae, supra subtusque totum nigerrimum, absque splendore violaceo" (von Spix 1824) (Lampropsar).

SUBSPECIES

Velvet-fronted Grackle (tanagrinus)
SCI Name: Lampropsar tanagrinus tanagrinus
tanagrinus
Mod. L. tanagrinus  tanager-like (i.e. in size and appearance)  < genus Tanagra Linnaeus, 1764, tanager; "Corpus magnitudine Alaudae, supra subtusque totum nigerrimum, absque splendore violaceo" (von Spix 1824) (Lampropsar).

Velvet-fronted Grackle (guianensis)
SCI Name: Lampropsar tanagrinus guianensis
guianae / guianarum / guianensis
Guiana; the original European colonies comprised Essequibo and Demerara (= British Guiana), Berbice and Surinam (= Dutch Guiana), and Cayenne (= French Guiana). In early ornithology “Guiana” and “Cayenne” were often used of species of uncertain provenance presumed to be from Amazonia.
● ex “Troupiale de la Guiane” of Brisson 1760 (syn. Leistes militaris); ex “Petit Aigle de la Guiane” of Mauduyt de la Varenne 1784 (Morphnus); ex “Long-tailed Green Parrakeet, var. A, Guiane Green Parrakeet” of Latham 1781 (syn. Psittacara euops).
● Erroneous TL Guiana (= Luzon = India); ex “Perruche à collier de l’isle de Luçon” of Sonnerat 1776 (syn. Psittacula eupatria).

Velvet-fronted Grackle (boliviensis)
SCI Name: Lampropsar tanagrinus boliviensis
boliviae / boliviana / bolivianum / bolivianus / boliviensis
Bolivia (named after Simón Bolívar (1783-1830) "The Liberator", Venezuelan revolutionary, who helped to expel the Spaniards from their South American empire).

Velvet-fronted Grackle (violaceus)
SCI Name: Lampropsar tanagrinus violaceus
violaceum / violaceus
L. violaceus  violet-coloured, violaceous  < viola  violet.
● ex “Calao Violet” of Levaillant 1801 (syn. Anthracoceros coronatus).
● ex “Perroquet de la Guadeloupe” of Du Tertre 1667-1671, “Psittacus aquarum Lupiarum insulae” of Brisson 1760, “Crick à tête violette” of de Buffon 1770-1783, and “Ruff-necked Parrot” of Latham 1781 (syn. Deroptyus accipitrinus).
● ex “Polytmus cayennensis violaceus” of Brisson 1760, “Colibri violet de Cayenne” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 600, fig. 2, “Colibri violet” of de Buffon 1770-1783, and “Violet Humming-bird” of Latham 1782 (syn. Eulampis jugularis).
● ex “Little Dusky Parrot” of Edwards 1764, “Perroquet varié de Cayenne” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 408, and “Papegai violet” of de Buffon 1770-1785 (syn. Pionus fuscus).
● ex “Cassique de la Louisiane” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 646 (syn. Quiscalus quiscula).
● ex “Lanius capite collo pectoreque e violaceo nigricantibus; digitis duobus anticis, totidemque posticis”” of Koelreuter 1765, “Couroucou à chaperon violet” of de Buffon 1770-1783, and “Violet-headed Curucui” of Latham 1782 (Trogon).
● ex “Violet Corvorant” of Pennant 1785, and “Violet Shag” of Latham 1785 (unident.).
● ex “Merle bleu de la Chine” of Sonnerat 1776 (unident.).

Velvet-fronted Grackle (macropterus)
SCI Name: Lampropsar tanagrinus macropterus
macropterus
Gr. μακροπτερος makropteros  long-winged  < μακρος makros  long; -πτερος
-pteros  -winged  < πτερον pteron wing.
● ex “Gavilan del campo alilargo” of de Azara 1802-1805, no. 31 (syn. Circus buffoni).