Up to 10 news species of North American crossbill? (1 Viewer)

Ruff

Two birds in one.

• Jul 14, 2017

• #1

Maybe, but it might be necessary to hire an ornithologist to sort them out for you.

This is an excellent and also entertaining essay on a team of crossbill researchers and it provided me with all kinds of new information about the species, which for the reasons stated are always transitory in most places here. Quite lengthy, so I'm only posting the link.

http://www.hcn.org/articles/endangered-species-will-the-wests-newest-species-go-extinct

 

J

James Lowther

Well-known member

• Jul 14, 2017

• #2

interesting article thanks,
James

 

Andy Adcock

Worst person on Birdforum

• Jul 14, 2017

• #3

Good luck with that!

We have enough trouble in the UK with just two (or is it only one?) resident species.

 

Nutcracker

Stop Brexit!

• Jul 15, 2017

• #4

andyadcock said:

Good luck with that!

We have enough trouble in the UK with just two (or is it only one?) resident species.

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Two (Parrot & Common). But at least 7 different call types.

 

F

fugl

Well-known member

• Jul 15, 2017

• #5

Very interesting article. 10 new species of crossbill, what a wonderful thing that would be! Drive the competitive lister crazy of course. . ..

 

S

Sangahyando

Well-known member

• Jul 15, 2017

• #6

fugl said:

Very interesting article. 10 new species of crossbill, what a wonderful thing that would be! Drive the competitive lister crazy of course. . ..

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Or anyone who visited the area and just noted down "Red Crossbill" without adding observational details... something which I've been guilty of with other species that were later split...

 

F

fugl

Well-known member

• Jul 15, 2017

• #7

Sangahyando said:

Or anyone who visited the area and just noted down "Red Crossbill" without adding observational details... something which I've been guilty of with other species that were later split...

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Even detailed notes wouldn't be enough since according to the article the call types are only reliably distinguishable by spectrograph. If and when the splits occur, I imagine the listing fraternity will come up with someway to cope. Competitive listing's just a hobby after all, and as such the rules can be as ad hoc and arbitrary as necessary to keep things moving along smoothly. Me, as an amateur of evolutionary theory and (nowadays) a very lukewarm lister, I just glory in the sheer biological interest of the situation.

 

Last edited: Jul 15, 2017

D

davercox

Dave Cox

Supporter

• Jul 15, 2017

• #8

James Lowther said:

interesting article thanks,
James

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But "sinesciurus" again ... :-C