[Trencalos]

Hi!

I know that the last few years there was a revision of bird names in English, with the goal to have a standard list of bird ames in English to be used interantionally.

Does anybody know where I can get a copy of this list with all the stanard bird names in English.

thank you!

[cuckooroller]

Trencalos,
There is always a revision of bird names in the offing. Trouble with this is that it will never happen. As long as there are conflicting views of what constitutes a species, and as long as there are different authorities redacting taxonomic works based on their own accepted views on bird species, there will always be difference in part in the English Common Names. I can give you two versions in Excel - the Sibley-Monroe, and the Howard & Moore.

[Farnboro John]

Originally Posted by cuckooroller

Trencalos,
There is always a revision of bird names in the offing. Trouble with this is that it will never happen. As long as there are conflicting views of what constitutes a species, and as long as there are different authorities redacting taxonomic works based on their own accepted views on bird species, there will always be difference in part in the English Common Names. I can give you two versions in Excel - the Sibley-Monroe, and the Howard & Moore.

Never mind the taxonomic bit, common usage is (thank goodness) powerful enough to resist the more drastic revisions. I for one am glad to still see Bearded Tit in Britain rather than the once-proposed Bearded Reedling.

I also deplore the habit of adding extensions to perfectly well understood names. Robins come from Europe, other birds such as American Robin need a qualification but NOT our little redbreast. Ditto Cuckoo, Lapwing, Curlew.

Finally, if changing Hedge Sparrow to Dunnock made some taxonomic sense (and retained a sense of British linguistic heritage) Hedge Accentor is a total abortion.

International standardisation is what Latin names are for.

[cuckooroller]

John,
BTW, Robins also come from North America, Central America, South America, Australia, New Guinea, Africa, etc. according to Regional Taxonomic lists such as that in vogue in the British Isles. The Robin of which you speak is formally called European Robin and ranges also outside of the UK. The "Common Cuckoo", the "Northern Lapwing", the "Eurasian Curlew", none of which are endemic to the UK. Much of the common usage of which you speak is limited only to the use in the UK. While I understand the frustration, none of this stuff has anything to do with old colonial politics.

[Trencalos]

HI

Thanks for all the replies. I know this subject causes a lot of responses from people.

But I know there is an international comitee that deals with the standardisation of the common names of birds in English. Coming from South Africa, where we have a lot of our own bird names in English, there was a big debate as well, as a lot of the names of birds were changed to more international names.

But again, I am don't want to start the debate again, I would just like to know where I can get a list of the new standard names.

Thank you!

[baillieswells]

Originally Posted by Farnboro John

Never mind the taxonomic bit, common usage is (thank goodness) powerful enough to resist the more drastic revisions. I for one am glad to still see Bearded Tit in Britain rather than the once-proposed Bearded Reedling.

I also deplore the habit of adding extensions to perfectly well understood names. Robins come from Europe, other birds such as American Robin need a qualification but NOT our little redbreast. Ditto Cuckoo, Lapwing, Curlew.

Finally, if changing Hedge Sparrow to Dunnock made some taxonomic sense (and retained a sense of British linguistic heritage) Hedge Accentor is a total abortion.

International standardisation is what Latin names are for.

Farnboro John has got it right, the Latin name is the only correct international name. There is nothing wrong with local names, for example many USA birds got their common names from the early settlers who gave them names because they resembled or reminded them of birds they remembered from home. I have always called a Hedge Sparrow a Hedge Sparrow, a name I learnt as a child, will continue to do so and damnation to those who call it a Dunnock.