Russlac123
Well-known member
If Scottish Crossbill is a species then shouldnt the same apply to Balearic, Corsican, Cyprus, African, "Balkan", and other races?
-
Welcome to BirdForum, the internet's largest birding community with thousands of members from all over the world. The forums are dedicated to wild birds, birding, binoculars and equipment and all that goes with it.
Please register for an account to take part in the discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.
Scottish Crossbill (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter StevePreddy
- Start date
jpoyner
Well-known member
Or to put it another way "If Balearic, Corsican, Cyprus, African, "Balkan", are races, then shouldn't the same apply to Scottish Crossbill!
J
Richard Klim
-------------------------
Or to put it another way "If Balearic, Corsican, Cyprus, African, "Balkan", are races, then shouldn't the same apply to Scottish Crossbill!
J
For many years Scottish Crossbill has been claimed to be the only endemic species from probably the most intensively birded/studied nation in the world. Despite much study, and observation by hundreds (thousands?) of birders each year in a bird tourism hotspot, it is quite astonishing that it is still one of only 60-70 species globally classified by IUCN / BirdlLife International as 'Data Deficient', i.e. in the same category as Vaurie's Nightjar, Sillem's Mountain Finch etc.!
Given the complex and yet to be understood worldwide variation in crossbills, it's hard not to conclude that otherwise conservative views on taxonomy were slightly stretched to allow the perhaps premature recognition of a national endemic (and possibly to provide additional justification for the conservation of Caledonian pine forest?).
[And then there's the prevalence of Parrot Crossbill in Scotland in some years, despite continuing classification as a BBRC rarity.]
Richard
Last edited:
Similar threads
