Vocal recognition suggests premating isolation between lineages of a lekking hummingbird

Species with genetically differentiated allopatric populations commonly differ in phenotypic traits due to drift and/or selection, which can be important drivers of reproductive isolation. Wedge-tailed sabrewing (Campylopterus curvipennis) is a species complex composed of three genetically and acoustically differentiated allopatric lineages which correspond to currently recognized subspecies in Mexico: C. c. curvipennis (Sierra Madre Oriental), C. c. pampa (Yucatán Peninsula), and C. c. excellens (Los Tuxtlas). Although excellens is taxonomically recognized as a distinct species, there is genetic evidence that lineages excellens and curvipennis have diverged from each other later than pampa. In this study, we experimentally tested C. c. curvipennis song recognition as a major factor in premating reproductive isolation for lineage recognition. To this end, we conducted a song playback experiment to test whether territorial males of one C. c. curvipennis lek discriminate among potential c...