Jon.Bryant
Well-known member
Just received Birding Asia Number 39 June 2023, which includes their Taxonomic Update.
The interesting points include the following
New Species
'Six years after the expedition that discovered and documented them (see Eaton et al. 2016a), Irtham et al. (2022) describe two birds species new to science from the Meratus Mountains, Kalimantan, Indonesia: Meratus White-eye Zosterops meratuensis and Meratus Jungle-flyctacher Cyornis kadayangensis.
Z.meratyensis is closely related to Lemon-bellied (Z.chloris) and Wakatobi White-eye (Z.flavissimus), but differs in much greener upperparts, a narrower supraloral line and darker underparts. A vocal analysis (vs chloris) show a difference, with birds having a 'shorter duration of phrase and higher average frequency'.
C.kadayangensis is recognised by IOC, Clements and BirdLife International, but Z.meratyensis does not appear to be currently recognised or in the IOC Diary.
Splits
Sangster et al. (2022c) used plumage patterns, acoustics and microchondrial DNA to assess Malay and Great Eared Nightjar - they argue that a congruence of genetic and vocal evidence supports the recognition of temminckii (Malay Eared Nightjar), macrotis, macropterus, and cerviniceps (all currently subspecies of Great Eared Nightjar). They also argue that despite being vocally and genetically inseparable from cerviniceps, jacobsoni also warrants species-level recognition on account of its distinctive plumage. The increase from 2 to 5 species is not currently recognised by IOC, Clements or BirdLife International, and not in the IOC Diary.
Wu et al. (2022a) used bioacoustic and morphometric data, combined with brood-parasite records and habitat partitioning information, to assess Brush Cuckoo (Cacomantis varioulosus) and propose that the species should be split into 5 species - three of these proposed species are named in the Birding Asia, as they occur in the region - Sunda Brush Cuckoo C.sepulcratis (Greater Sundas, west and central Lesser Sundas, Philippines), Sulawesi Brush Cuckoo C.virescens (Sulawesi and Sula archipelago) and Australian Brush Cuckoo C.variolosus). Again, this potential split is not current recognised by IOC, Clements or BirdLife International.
Sin et al. (2022) ignoring the mosiac mix of morphological characters that identify Common Paradise-kingfisher Tanysiptera galeata, consider that based on bioacoustic material the species should be split into six species - Obi Paradise-kingfisher T.obiensis, Rossel Paradise-kingfisher T.rosseliana, Papuan Paradise-kingfisher T.galeata, Halmahera Paradise-kingfisher T.margarethae, Morotai Paradise-kingfisher T.doris and Amboyona Paradise-kingfisher T.nais. Again, this proposal is currently not recognised by IOC, Clements or BirdLife International.
Jonsson et al. (2019) and Rheindt et al (2022) examined Dark-throated Oriole Oriolus xanthonotus in more detail using data on plumage, vocalisation and morphometrics, and recognise Ventriloquial Oriole O.consobrinus as a separate species. This proposal is already accepted by IOC, but not yet by Clements or BirdLife.
Wu et al. (2002b) published the most extensive genomic data on White-rumped Shama (Copsychus malabaricus) to date. Whereas the majority of the paper is dedicated to the undeniably concerning loss of genetic diversity in this complex, they also propose six species should be recognised - White-rumped Shama C.malabaricus, Sri Lankan Shama C.leggei, Kangean Shama C.nigricauda, White-crowned Shama C.stricklandi, Larwo Shama C.omissus and Maratua Shama C.barbouri. Again IOC, Clements and BirdLife International do not recognise this proposal.
Combining multilocus (cyt b and three nuclear introns), acoustic, plumage and morphometric analsysis, Wei et al. (2022b) compared all 11 taxa of the genus Tarsiger. The genetic analysis indicates greater divergence between cyanurus and albocoeruleus and between indicus and formosanus, than between other taxa. Qilian Bluetail T.albocoeruleus is therefore propsoed to be split from Red-flanked Bluetail T.cyanurus, and Taiwan Bush-robin T.formosanus from White-browed Bush-robin T.indicus. These splits are not recognised by IOC, Clements or BirdLife International and interesting the IOC and BirdLife International current do not even recognise albocoeruleus as a subspecies.
O Marcaigh et al. (2022) using genetic, acoustic and morphological evidence suggest that Olive-backed Sunbird Cinnyris jugularis should be split into six subspecies groups and that at least four of these probably deserve species rank. These are Garden Sunbird C.jugularis, Sahul Sunbird C.frenatus, Wakatobi Sunbird C.infrenatus and Ornate Sunbird C.ornatus. The split is currently not recognised by IOC, Clemements of BirdLife International, although IOC has posted an 8 way split in is diary on the 4th October and BirdLife International current recognise two species Olive-backed Sunbird and Rand's Sunbird C.indenburghi.
Support for previous arrangements
de Raad et al. (2022) using whole genome re-sequencing and morphometric data support the split of Eurasian Nutcracker Nucifraga caryocatactes into Southern Nutcracker N.hemispilus and and Northern Nutcracker N.caryocatactes. So far this split has only been recognised by BirdLife International.
Kyyukov et al. (2022) has completed further genetic work, and acoustics to confirm the split of Oriental Magpie P.serica from Eurasian Magpie P.pica. The study also concluded that where hybridisation occurs there is 'dramatically decreased reproductive success'. At the moment BirdLife International is the only taxonomy not to recognise this split.
Possible splits
Maroon Oriole O.trailli is tentatively split on genetics into three species - 1 O.t.trailli, 2 O.t.robinsoni, 3 O.t.nigellicauda and ardens. Silver Oriole O.mellianus is also confirmed as a valid species. The report however goes on to state that this division needs further support through genetic, ecological, morphological, behavioural and acoustic data. The split of Maroon Oriole is not recognised by IOC, Clements or BirdLife International.
Other species level changes are as per the main taxonomies.
Just thought this may be of interest, particularly for those visiting Asia, and particularly some of the remoter archipelagos.
The interesting points include the following
New Species
'Six years after the expedition that discovered and documented them (see Eaton et al. 2016a), Irtham et al. (2022) describe two birds species new to science from the Meratus Mountains, Kalimantan, Indonesia: Meratus White-eye Zosterops meratuensis and Meratus Jungle-flyctacher Cyornis kadayangensis.
Z.meratyensis is closely related to Lemon-bellied (Z.chloris) and Wakatobi White-eye (Z.flavissimus), but differs in much greener upperparts, a narrower supraloral line and darker underparts. A vocal analysis (vs chloris) show a difference, with birds having a 'shorter duration of phrase and higher average frequency'.
C.kadayangensis is recognised by IOC, Clements and BirdLife International, but Z.meratyensis does not appear to be currently recognised or in the IOC Diary.
Splits
Sangster et al. (2022c) used plumage patterns, acoustics and microchondrial DNA to assess Malay and Great Eared Nightjar - they argue that a congruence of genetic and vocal evidence supports the recognition of temminckii (Malay Eared Nightjar), macrotis, macropterus, and cerviniceps (all currently subspecies of Great Eared Nightjar). They also argue that despite being vocally and genetically inseparable from cerviniceps, jacobsoni also warrants species-level recognition on account of its distinctive plumage. The increase from 2 to 5 species is not currently recognised by IOC, Clements or BirdLife International, and not in the IOC Diary.
Wu et al. (2022a) used bioacoustic and morphometric data, combined with brood-parasite records and habitat partitioning information, to assess Brush Cuckoo (Cacomantis varioulosus) and propose that the species should be split into 5 species - three of these proposed species are named in the Birding Asia, as they occur in the region - Sunda Brush Cuckoo C.sepulcratis (Greater Sundas, west and central Lesser Sundas, Philippines), Sulawesi Brush Cuckoo C.virescens (Sulawesi and Sula archipelago) and Australian Brush Cuckoo C.variolosus). Again, this potential split is not current recognised by IOC, Clements or BirdLife International.
Sin et al. (2022) ignoring the mosiac mix of morphological characters that identify Common Paradise-kingfisher Tanysiptera galeata, consider that based on bioacoustic material the species should be split into six species - Obi Paradise-kingfisher T.obiensis, Rossel Paradise-kingfisher T.rosseliana, Papuan Paradise-kingfisher T.galeata, Halmahera Paradise-kingfisher T.margarethae, Morotai Paradise-kingfisher T.doris and Amboyona Paradise-kingfisher T.nais. Again, this proposal is currently not recognised by IOC, Clements or BirdLife International.
Jonsson et al. (2019) and Rheindt et al (2022) examined Dark-throated Oriole Oriolus xanthonotus in more detail using data on plumage, vocalisation and morphometrics, and recognise Ventriloquial Oriole O.consobrinus as a separate species. This proposal is already accepted by IOC, but not yet by Clements or BirdLife.
Wu et al. (2002b) published the most extensive genomic data on White-rumped Shama (Copsychus malabaricus) to date. Whereas the majority of the paper is dedicated to the undeniably concerning loss of genetic diversity in this complex, they also propose six species should be recognised - White-rumped Shama C.malabaricus, Sri Lankan Shama C.leggei, Kangean Shama C.nigricauda, White-crowned Shama C.stricklandi, Larwo Shama C.omissus and Maratua Shama C.barbouri. Again IOC, Clements and BirdLife International do not recognise this proposal.
Combining multilocus (cyt b and three nuclear introns), acoustic, plumage and morphometric analsysis, Wei et al. (2022b) compared all 11 taxa of the genus Tarsiger. The genetic analysis indicates greater divergence between cyanurus and albocoeruleus and between indicus and formosanus, than between other taxa. Qilian Bluetail T.albocoeruleus is therefore propsoed to be split from Red-flanked Bluetail T.cyanurus, and Taiwan Bush-robin T.formosanus from White-browed Bush-robin T.indicus. These splits are not recognised by IOC, Clements or BirdLife International and interesting the IOC and BirdLife International current do not even recognise albocoeruleus as a subspecies.
O Marcaigh et al. (2022) using genetic, acoustic and morphological evidence suggest that Olive-backed Sunbird Cinnyris jugularis should be split into six subspecies groups and that at least four of these probably deserve species rank. These are Garden Sunbird C.jugularis, Sahul Sunbird C.frenatus, Wakatobi Sunbird C.infrenatus and Ornate Sunbird C.ornatus. The split is currently not recognised by IOC, Clemements of BirdLife International, although IOC has posted an 8 way split in is diary on the 4th October and BirdLife International current recognise two species Olive-backed Sunbird and Rand's Sunbird C.indenburghi.
Support for previous arrangements
de Raad et al. (2022) using whole genome re-sequencing and morphometric data support the split of Eurasian Nutcracker Nucifraga caryocatactes into Southern Nutcracker N.hemispilus and and Northern Nutcracker N.caryocatactes. So far this split has only been recognised by BirdLife International.
Kyyukov et al. (2022) has completed further genetic work, and acoustics to confirm the split of Oriental Magpie P.serica from Eurasian Magpie P.pica. The study also concluded that where hybridisation occurs there is 'dramatically decreased reproductive success'. At the moment BirdLife International is the only taxonomy not to recognise this split.
Possible splits
Maroon Oriole O.trailli is tentatively split on genetics into three species - 1 O.t.trailli, 2 O.t.robinsoni, 3 O.t.nigellicauda and ardens. Silver Oriole O.mellianus is also confirmed as a valid species. The report however goes on to state that this division needs further support through genetic, ecological, morphological, behavioural and acoustic data. The split of Maroon Oriole is not recognised by IOC, Clements or BirdLife International.
Other species level changes are as per the main taxonomies.
Just thought this may be of interest, particularly for those visiting Asia, and particularly some of the remoter archipelagos.
