Parus spp.

[egalinou]

In a web-site I visited I saw some latin namesI was not aware of...Lophophanes cristatus for Crested tit
Periparus ater for Coal tit
Cyanistes caeruleus for Blue tit
Does anybody know when this "change" happened and maybe more info about it?

[Jos Stratford]

In a web-site I visited I saw some latin namesI was not aware of...Lophophanes cristatus for Crested tit
Periparus ater for Coal tit
Cyanistes caeruleus for Blue tit
Does anybody know when this "change" happened and maybe more info about it?

Family divorse and separation papers were signed some months ago, t'was a mighty bust up - Marsh and Willow Tits have gone off in a huff on their own too.

There was a thread on Birdforum at the time, I'll see if I can unearth it.

[Jos Stratford]

The following is from the BOU WEBSITE...

Generic limits of tits
Molecular phylogenetic analysis of the tits (Paridae) based on mitochondrial cytochrome b sequences (Gill et al. 2005. Auk122: 121–143) suggests the existence of six major clades among species traditionally included in Parus: blue tits ('Cyanistes'), great tits (Parus s.s.), North American crested tits ('Baeolophus'), Eurasian crested tits ('Lophophanes'), coal tits ('Periparus') and chickadees ('Poecile'). The data indicate that the blue tits (P. caeruleus, P. cyanus) branched off before all other species of Parus (s.l.). However, their phylogenetic position relative to Yellow-browed Tit Sylviparus modestus and Sultan Tit Melanochlora sultanea differed between analyses. Pseudopodoces humilis, previously misclassified in Corvidae, was sister to the great tits in one analysis but basal to all tits except 'Cyanistes', Sylviparus and Melanochlora in another. The position of Pseudopodoces humilis among tits was previously suggested by James et al. (2003. Ibis145: 185–202) based on morphological and preliminary mitochondrial DNA data. Gill et al. (2005) proposed to recognize nine genera of tits. They argued that, in addition to Pseudopodoces, Sylviparus and Melanochlora, the six groups of Parus should each be elevated to generic level. Recognizing (i) that Parus would not be monophyletic if the status quo is maintained, (ii) that inclusion of Pseudopodoces, Sylviparus and Melanochlora in Parus would result in an even more diverse taxon, and (iii) that Parus already is one of the largest genera of birds, we have adopted the arrangement proposed by Gill et al. (2005). The tits on the British List should be listed as follows:

• Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus

• Great Tit Parus major

• Crested Tit Lophophanes cristatus

• Coal Tit Periparus ater

• Willow Tit Poecile montanus

• Marsh Tit Poecile palustris

[egalinou]

thanks!

[cuckooroller]

Perhaps the most illuminating recent work done after Gill's rearrangement is "A preliminary review of the Aegithalidae, Remizidae and Paridae, Eck, S & J. Martens. Zool.Med.Leiden 80-5 (1), 21.xii.2006". A number of rather surprising splits, and relumps, and a good discussion of higher taxonomy, including Pseudopodoces perhaps a sister species to the species around P. major. But, I won't say more until I have had time to read it through several times and digest it myself. It just came out.

[AlexC]

• Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus

• Great Tit Parus major

• Crested Tit Lophophanes cristatus

• Coal Tit Periparus ater

• Willow Tit Poecile montanus

• Marsh Tit Poecile palustris

Is this definite in European classification yet?

[Xenospiza]

Is this definite in European classification yet?
Europe is a patchwork of different opinions, Alex!
The Dutch are usually officially ahead (but sometimes by mistake), but the birders are always reluctant.

[AlexC]

You guys need an AOU equivalent. Just SAYING... 8-P

Or at least have someone just claim that they're the authority, even if they're wrong. Which brings us to an interesting question - what's more important? Stability? Or the illusion of stability?

[njlarsen]

I think it has been mentioned before, but there is a European counterpart to AOU which is the AERC. However, not all national taxonomic committees seem to like that; at least not yet???

Niels

[Gentoo]

• Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus

• Great Tit Parus major

• Crested Tit Lophophanes cristatus

• Coal Tit Periparus ater

• Willow Tit Poecile montanus

• Marsh Tit Poecile palustris
__________________So Europe, or at least the British have adopted poecile for the Chickadee-like tits? And here I thought the AUO was over ambitious to elevate that to generic status.

[egalinou]

I found the names in a Norwegian site called Cyberbirding (http://cyberbirding.uib.no)

[Docmartin]

• Willow Tit Poecile montanus




For the pedants, because 'Poecile ' is feminine, it should be Poecile montana. A correction will be listed.

[pianoman]

Pseudopodoces humilis, previously misclassified in Corvidae

Yikes, that was a bit of a drastic reassessment?

[cuckooroller]

Yikes, that was a bit of a drastic reassessment?


Hi Pianoman,

Yes, perhaps. However, certainly understandable given that until relatively recently avian systematists could only work with comparative anatomy, gross morphology and behavioral information. This is quite certainly an aberrant Tit for many reasons...

[pianoman]

Hi Pianoman,

Yes, perhaps. However, certainly understandable given that until relatively recently avian systematists could only work with comparative anatomy, gross morphology and behavioral information. This is quite certainly an aberrant Tit for many reasons...


Yes, and having now seen a picture of said bird I understand the mistake...