Vol.:(0123456789) 1 3 Journal of Ornithology https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-020-01766-9 ORIGINAL ARTICLE Observations on the relationships of some Sundaic passerine taxa (Aves: Passeriformes) previously unavailable for molecular phylogenetic study Subir B. Shakya 1  · M. Irham 2  · Matthew L. Brady 1  · Tri Haryoko 2  · Yuli S. Fitriana 2  · Oscar Johnson 1  · Mustafa Abdul Rahman 3  · Nickson Joseph Robi 4  · Robert G. Moyle 5  · Dewi M. Prawiradilaga 2  · Frederick H. Sheldon 1 Received: 30 September 2019 / Revised: 27 February 2020 / Accepted: 9 March 2020 © Deutsche Ornithologen-Gesellschaft e.V. 2020 Abstract To help resolve phylogenetic and phylogeographic relationships of Southeast Asian birds, we have collected specimens in Borneo, Sumatra, and Java for phylogenetic and morphological study. Here, we compare mitochondrial ND2 gene sequences from some of these new specimens to sequences obtained in previous studies to shed light on genealogical relationships in nine passerine clades: Erythropitta venusta/granatina/ussheri (pittas); Dicrurus hottentottus (drongos); Alophoixus bulbuls; Napothera, Turdinus and Pellorneum babblers; Anthipes fycatchers; Brachypteryx shortwings; and Myophonus whistling thrushes. These comparisons resolve or shed substantial light on taxonomic problems in pittas, Alophoixus, Napothera, Dicrurus, Brachypteryx, and Myophonus, and they confrm assumed (but previously unquantifed) genetic relationships within Turdinus and Anthipes. The resulting trees also allow us to (1) suggest improved taxonomic arrangements in several groups, (2) confrm the rediscovery of a “lost” species within Napothera, and (3) provide the basis for the description of a new subspecies of Alophoixus. Keywords Borneo · Java · ND2 · Phylogeny · Phylogeography · Sumatra Zusammenfassung Beobachtungen zu Beziehungen einiger sundanesischer Sperlingsvogel-Taxa (Aves: Passeriformes), die bisher nicht für molekularphylogenetische Studien verfügbar waren Um die phylogenetischen und phylogeographischen Beziehungen südostasiatischer Vogelarten zu klären, sammelten wir in Borneo, Sumatra und Java Exemplare für phylogenetische und morphologische Studien. Hier vergleichen wir die mitochondrialen ND2-Gensequenzen einiger dieser neuen Exemplare mit Sequenzen, die wir in früheren Studien erhalten haben, um die genealogischen Beziehungen zwischen neun Sperlingsvogel-Kladen zu beleuchten: Erythropitta venusta/ granatina/ussheri (Pittas), Dicrurus hottentottus (Drongos), Alophoixus-Bülbüls, Napothera-, Turdinus- und Pellorneum- Drosslinge, Anthipes-Schnäpper, Brachypteryx-Kurzfügel und Myophonus-Pfeifdrosseln. Diese Vergleiche tragen wesentlich Communicated by M. Wink. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-020-01766-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. * Subir B. Shakya sshaky6@lsu.edu 1 Museum of Natural Science and Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA 2 Research Centre for Biology, Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense, Jl. Raya Jakarta-Bogor Km 46, Cibinong 16911, Indonesia 3 Faculty of Resource Science and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, 94300 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia 4 Sarawak Forestry Corporation, Kota Sentosa, 93250 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia 5 Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Biodiversity Institute, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA