Lineage diversity in a widely distributed New World passerine bird, the House Wren.

This article focuses on the evolutionary lineage diversity within the House Wren complex (Troglodytes aedon and allies), the most widely distributed New World passerine bird. Using extensive sampling across its range, the study analyzed mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) obtained via restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (RADseq) to assess phylogeographic structure and taxonomic relationships. Results revealed deep genetic differentiation with several discordances between mtDNA and nuclear SNP phylogenies, including paraphyly of eastern and western T. aedon in mtDNA but monophyly in RADseq data, likely due to factors such as sex-biased dispersal, incomplete lineage sorting, or selection on mtDNA. The RADseq data support recognition of distinct evolutionary lineages corresponding to eastern and western T. aedon, T. a. brunneicollis, T. a. musculus, and island taxa (e.g., T. a. beani, T. sissonii, T. tanneri), highlighting complex diversification and introgression patterns across North, Central, and South America and the Caribbean.