Johnny Allan
Dip or Glory
Hi there,
at the moment I'm trapped on a UK400Club 'List of lists'. I don't want to be there as I follow the BOU British List but apparently it is compulsory if you twitch birds in Britain and you become subject to their taxonomy.
Anyway, whilst I'm there, I'm looking at the UK400Club taxonomy, at the moment Redpolls. Now the BOU recognise three species of Redpoll, those being:
Lesser Carduelis cabaret
Common Carduelis flammea
Arctic Carduelis hornemanni (exilipes and hornemanni)
The UK400 Club recognise five species, the above three plus:
North Western Carduelis rostrata
Hornemann's Carduels hornemanni (hornemanni)
I am always being told that there's a distinct possibility that C cabaret and flammea are likely to be lumped again so where does Redpoll taxonomy stand at the moment ? Is there any consensus or is it still under investigation ?
I have tried to glean what I can from books and the net but can't find the latest thoughts. I noticed, of course, that the latest Collins Bird Guide has cabaret and flammea together.
I know that there are some knowledgeable guys out there, with some expertise on this subject, who I'm hoping can help me to understand the latest thinking on Redpolls
Many thanks
Johnny Allan
at the moment I'm trapped on a UK400Club 'List of lists'. I don't want to be there as I follow the BOU British List but apparently it is compulsory if you twitch birds in Britain and you become subject to their taxonomy.
Anyway, whilst I'm there, I'm looking at the UK400Club taxonomy, at the moment Redpolls. Now the BOU recognise three species of Redpoll, those being:
Lesser Carduelis cabaret
Common Carduelis flammea
Arctic Carduelis hornemanni (exilipes and hornemanni)
The UK400 Club recognise five species, the above three plus:
North Western Carduelis rostrata
Hornemann's Carduels hornemanni (hornemanni)
I am always being told that there's a distinct possibility that C cabaret and flammea are likely to be lumped again so where does Redpoll taxonomy stand at the moment ? Is there any consensus or is it still under investigation ?
I have tried to glean what I can from books and the net but can't find the latest thoughts. I noticed, of course, that the latest Collins Bird Guide has cabaret and flammea together.
I know that there are some knowledgeable guys out there, with some expertise on this subject, who I'm hoping can help me to understand the latest thinking on Redpolls
Many thanks
Johnny Allan