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Department of Vertebrate Zoology

Division of Birds

Labrador Duck
Labrador Duck
Christina Gebhard © Smithsonian Institution
bar Image of Phyllis and Mort Isler, Research Associates
    Morton L. and Phyllis R. Isler
    Research Associate

  • Phone: (703) 780-8039
  • Fax: (703) 780-8039
  • E-mail: antbird[at]cox.net or islermor[at]si.edu

  • Mailing Address:
    Smithsonian Institution
    Division of Birds
    PO Box 37012, MRC 116
    Washington, DC 20013-7012

  • Shipping Address:
    Smithsonian Institution
    Division of Birds
    1000 Constitution Ave, NW
    Washington, DC 20004
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Research Interests

Reconstruction of geographic patterns of speciation and reexamination of species limits in the Thamnophilidae and Grallariidae of the Neotropics, employing vocal and other behavioral as well as morphological data, in the context of molecular based phylogenies being developed by T. Chesser (Division of Birds) and other collaborators at Louisiana State University, The Field Museum, and the University do Los Andes (Bogotá). Development of an understanding of the evolution of vocal characters by “mapping” them on an molecular-based phylogeny of the Thamnophilidae.

Selected Publications

Isler, M. L., P. R. Isler, B. M. Whitney, and K. J. Zimmer. 2007. Species limits in the “Schistocichla”  complex of Percnostola antbirds (Passeriformes: Thamnophilidae). Wilson Journal of Ornithology 119:53-70.

Isler, M. L., P. R. Isler, and B. M. Whitney. 2007. Species limits in antbirds (Thamnophilidae): the Warbling Antbird (Hypocnemis cantator) complex. Auk 124:11-28.

Isler, M. L., D. R. Lacerda, P. R. Isler, S. J. Hackett, K. V. Rosenberg, and R. T. Brumfield. 2006. Epinecrophylla, a new genus of antwrens (Aves: Passeriformes: Thamnophilidae). Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 119:522-527.

Isler, M. L., P. R. Isler, and R. T. Brumfield. 2005. Clinal variation in vocalizations of an antbird (Thamnophilidae) and implications for defining species limits. Auk 122:433-444.

Zimmer, K. J., and M. L. Isler. 2003. Family Thamnophilidae (Typical Antbirds). Pages 448-681 in Handbook of the Birds of the World, Vol. 8. Broadbills to Tapaculos (del Hoyo J., A. Elliot, and D. A. Christie, Eds.). Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.

Isler, P. R., and B. M. Whitney. 2002. Songs of the Antbirds: Thamnophilidae, Formicariidae, and Conopophagidae.  Ithaca, NY: Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology.

Isler, M. L., J. Alvarez A., P. R. Isler, T. Valqui, A. Begazo, and B. M. Whitney.  2002.  Rediscovery of a cryptic species and description of a new subspecies in the Myrmeciza hemimelaena complex (Thamnophilidae) of the Neotropics.  The Auk 119:362-378.

Isler, M. L., J. Alvarez A., P. R. Isler, and B. M. Whitney.  2001.  A new species of Percnostola antbird (Passeriformes: Thamnophilidae) from Amazonian Peru, and an analysis of species limits within Percnostola rufifrons.  Wilson Bulletin 113:164-176.

Isler, M. L. and P. R. Isler.  1999.  The Tanagers: Natural History, Distribution, and Identification. Smithsonian Institution Press; Washington, DC.  406 pp + color plates.

Isler, M. L., P. R. Isler, and B. M. Whitney.  1998.  Use of vocalizations to establish species limits in antbirds (Passeriformes, Thamnophilidae).  Auk 115:577-590.

Isler, M. L., P. R. Isler, and B. W. Whitney.  1997.  Biography and systematics of the Thamnophilus punctatus complex.  Pp. 355-381 in Studies in Neotropical Ornithology Honoring Ted Parker (J. V. Remsen, Jr., Ed.), Ornithological  Monographs No. 48.

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