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The Azure Jay Cyanocorax caeruleus (Aves: Corvidae) in Paraguay, with restriction of the type locality

Nazario Argentini, Paul Smith, Oscar Rodríguez, Hugo del Castillo, Sergio D. Ríos

Abstract


Cyanocorax caeruleus (Vieillot, 1818) is based on the description by Azara of number 55 Urraca Celeste and has traditionally been ascribed the type locality “Paraguay”. However, Azara based his description on captive birds and a lack of reliable records from the country meant that it was recently eliminated from the official country avifaunal list. Here we provide a discussion of previous reports of the species in Paraguay to vindicate that decision. We also provide the first documented records of the species from Paraguay from the same general area that Azara described as its distribution, thereby reaffirming the accuracy of that work. We also suggest a restricted type locality of “Itapúa department, Paraguay at 27°S latitude” for the species which more accurately reflects these results.




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