Grallaricula nana hallsi Donegan, 2008 (1 Viewer)

[Taphrospilus]

Grallaricula nana hallsi Donegan, 2008 OD here

Etymology.-The subspecies epiphet honours the late Alan G. Halls of Caversham, UK (d. January 2005, simultaneous with the discovery of G. n. hallsi). Alan's surname is formed as a fictional second declension Latin noun Hallsus and declined in the genitive singular. Alan became a keen birder in the 1950s and his enthusiasm for birds and tutoring younger people, inclunding myself, never waned. He authored monthly bird articles in his local newspaper, Caversham Bridge, for many years. Alan was a modest person and may have baulked at the notion of a bird named in his honour, but this discovery and others owe much to his encouragement. The name hallsi is not known to be preoccupied or used for any other Grallariidae.

The Eponym Dictionary of Birds claims:

Yariguíes Slate-crowned Antpitta Grallaricula nana hallsi Donegan, 2008
Alan G. Halls (d.2005) was a British birdwatcher whose death occurred around the time that bird was discvered. He wrote articles on birds for his local newspaper, Caversham Bridge. Donegan wrote that Alan Halls had enthusiasm for touring younger birders, including himself.

The Key to Scientific Names

Alan G. Halls (d. 2005) British birdwatcher (subsp. Grallaricula nana).

Maybe we can get his birth year as well and his middle name?

 

[PScofield]

Alan Gerald Halls
Birth
13 Mar 1927
Death
18 Jan 2005