And yet another "How Many......" thread. Buntings and New World Sparrows (1 Viewer)

[chris butterworth]

As a couple of my last forays into the 'How Many.........' area have been based on families that could be considered to have a limited distribution I thought "Buntings. There's a cracking group with a wide distribution throughout most of the world and containing some stunning looking birds and some right pigs to ID". I've only included those in the family Emberizidae as there are a shed load of other species sniffing around the edges here

Crested Bunting - Nthn India
Yellowhammer - UK > Altai Republic
Pine Bunting - UK, Tuva > Heilungjiang, China
Cirl Bunting - UK > Turkey
Koslov's Bunting - Tibet
Rock Bunting - Spain > Nepal
Godlewski's Bunting - Altai Rep / Tuva, Heilungjiang, China
Meadow Bunting - Tuva > Japan
Grey-necked Bunting - Turkey
Ortolan Bunting - UK, Spain > Turkey
Cretzschmar's Bunting - Greece, Turkey
Striated Bunting - Israel, UAE, Ethiopia, Kenya
House Bunting - Morocco, Tunisia
Cinammon-breasted Bunting - Sub-saharan Africa
Chestnut-eared Bunting - Nei Mongol Zizhiqu, China > Japan
Little Bunting - UK, Scandinavia > Japan
Yellow-browed Bunting - Heibaihe, China
Rustic Bunting - UK, Sweden > Japan
Yellow-throated Bunting - Heilungjiang, China > Japan
Yellow-breasted Bunting - UK, Scandinavia > Japan
Chestnut Bunting - E China
Common Golden-breasted Bunting - Sub-saharan Africa
Somali Golden-breasted Bunting - Ethiopia, Kenya
Brown-rumped Bunting - Gambia, Ethiopia
Cabani's Bunting ( s.s. ) - Gabon
Three-streaked Bunting - Tanzania
Black-headed Bunting - UK, Balkans > Turkey
Red-headed Bunting - Nthn India
Yellow Bunting - Japan
Black-faced Bunting - UK, Tuva > Japan
grey Bunting - Japan
Pallas' Bunting - Tuva, Japan
Reed Bunting - UK > Japan
Ochre-rumped Bunting - Japan
Corn Bunting - UK > Turkey
Lapland Longspur - Holarctic
Smith's Longspur - Churchill, Manitoba
Snow Bunting - Holarctic
Lark Bunting - Texas
Red-fox Sparrow - British Columbia, Ontario
Slate-coloured Fox Sparrow - British Columbia > California
Song Sparrow - UK, Nth America
Lincoln's Sparrow - Nth America
Swamp Sparrow - E Nth America
Rufous-collared Sparrow - Dom. Rep., Costa Rica, Venezuela, Argentina
Harris' Sparrow - Churchill, Manitoba
White-crowned Sparrow - Uk, Nth America
White-throated Sparrow - UK, E Nth America
Golden-crowned Sparrow - British Columbia
Volcano Junco - Costa Rica
Dark-eyed Junco - UK, Nth America
Savannah Sparrow - Nth America
Belding's Sparrow - California
Seaside Sparrow - New York, florida, Texas
Sharp-tailed Sparrow - Ontario, New York
LeConte's Sparrow - Ontario
Grasshopper Sparrow - Nth America, Jamaica, Dom. Rep., Costa Rica
Grassland Sparrow - Argentina
Yellow-browed Sparrow - Venezuela
Am. Tree Sparrow - nth America
Chipping Sparrow - Nth America
Clay-coloured Sparrow - Ontario
Timberline Sparrow - British Columbia
field Sparrow - E Nth America
Black-chinned Sparrow - California
Vesper Sparrow - Nth Am,erica
Lark Sparrow - california, Florida
Black-throated Sparrow - Texas
Sage Sparrow - California
Stripe-headed Sparrow - Costa Rica
Bachman's Sparrow - Florida
Botteri's Sparrow - Costa Rica
Zapata Sparrow - Cuba
Plumbeous Sierrafinch - venezuela, Argentina
Black-throated Finch - Falkland Is.
Slaty Finch - Costa Rica, Venezuela
Peg-billed Sparrow - Costa Rica
Gough I. Bunting - Gough I.
Nightingale Bunting - Tristan, Inaccessable, Nightingale
Wilkin's Bunting - Tristan, Nightingale
Common Duicafinch - Argentina
Stripe-tailed Yellowfinch - Venezuela
saffron Finch - Venezuela
Blue-black Grassquit - Trinidad
Slate-coloured Seedeater - Costa Rica, Venezuela
Grey Seedeater - Venezuela, Trinidad
Variable Seedeater - Costa Rica
White-collared Seeedeater - Costa Rica
Lined Seedeater - Trinidad
Yellow-billed seedeater - venezuela
Rusty-breasted Seedearter -Costa Rica, Venezuela, Trinidad
Nicaraguan Seedfinch - Costa Rica
Lesser Seedfinch - Costa Rica, Venezuela, Trinidad
Blue Seedeater - Costa Rica
Cuban Bullfinch - Cuba
Cuban Grassquit - Cuba
Yellow-faced Grassquit - Cuba, Jamaica, Costa Rica, Venezuela
Black-faced Grassquit - Cuba, Dom. Rep., Jamaica
Sooty Grassquit - Venezuela, Trinidad
Yellow-shouldered Grassquit - Jamaica
Gtr. Antillean Bullfinch - Dom. Rep., Jamaica
Green-tailed Towhee - california
Rufous-sided Towhee - E. USA
Spotted Towhee - W. Nth America
Californian Towhee - California
Canyon Towhee - Texas
White-eared Groundsparrow - Costa Rica
Orange-billed Sparrow - costa rica
Pacific Sparrow - Costa Rica
Black-striped Sparrow - Costa Rica, Venezuela
Yellow-throated Brushfinch - Costa Rica
Chestnut-capped Brushfinch - Venezuela
Stripe-headed Brushfinch - Venezuela
Big-footed Sparrow - Costa Rica
Yellow-thighed Sparrow - Costa Rica
Pileated Finch - Venezuela

That should be 116 .

Chris

 

[Peter C.]

Whoa! Not bad, Chris.

You know, you might want to look into that Sharp-tailed Sparrow - the Ontario one would be a Nelson's Sparrow, for sure, but the New York one ....? I don't know which you're more likely to get there, but I see there are a lot of Saltmarsh sightings on eBird. There are some Nelson's Sparrow for costal NY too, but fewer, and only in spring/fall.

Not that eBird is definitive or anything...

 

[jc122463]

Definitely a difficult group to sort out taxonomically. As you say, some tricky species but some real crackers as well! Based on Clements, it looks like I'm at 93.

Common Bush-Tanager
Dusky Bush-Tanager
Yellow-throated Bush-Tanager
Peruvian Sierra-Finch
Mourning Sierra-Finch
Plumbeous Sierra-Finch
Ash-breasted Sierra-Finch
Band-tailed Sierra-Finch
Collared Warbling-Finch
Blue-black Grassquit
Variable Seedeater
Caqueta Seedeater
White-collared Seedeater
Black-and-white Seedeater
Yellow-bellied Seedeater
Parrot-billed Seedeater
Chestnut-bellied Seedeater
Thick-billed Seed-Finch
Large-billed Seed-Finch
Band-tailed Seedeater
Plain-colored Seedeater
Yellow-faced Grassquit
Dull-colored Grassquit
Green Warbler-Finch
Gray Warbler-Finch
Vegetarian Finch
Woodpecker Finch
Large Tree-Finch
Small Tree-Finch
Small Ground-Finch
Large Ground-Finch
Common Cactus-Finch
Medium Ground-Finch
Large Cactus-Finch
Slaty Finch
Glossy Flowerpiercer
Black Flowerpiercer
White-sided Flowerpiercer
Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercer
Masked Flowerpiercer
Red-crested Cardinal
Red-capped Cardinal
Tanager Finch
Yellow-thighed Finch
Sooty-faced Finch
Olive Finch
Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch
Orange-billed Sparrow
Stripe-headed Brush-Finch
Green-backed Sparrow
Black-striped Sparrow
White-naped Brush-Finch
Pale-naped Brush-Finch
Tricolored Brush-Finch
Yellow-breasted Brush-Finch
White-winged Brush-Finch
Cuzco Brush-Finch
Green-tailed Towhee
Spotted Towhee
White-eared Ground-Sparrow
Canyon Towhee
California Towhee
Stripe-headed Sparrow
American Tree Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Lark Sparrow
Black-throated Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Yellow-browed Sparrow
Henslow's Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Rufous-collared Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Harris's Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Rock Bunting
Lark-like Bunting
Cinnamon-breasted Bunting
Cape Bunting
Chestnut-eared Bunting
Yellow-breasted Bunting
Golden-breasted Bunting
Somali Bunting
Cabanis's Bunting
Chestnut Bunting
Black-faced Bunting
Corn Bunting

 

[viator]

By comparison a low 34 (using IOC)

Slaty Bunting
Corn Bunting
Rock Bunting
Cirl Bunting
Tristram's Bunting
Chestnut-eared Bunting
Little Bunting
Yellow-browed Bunting
Rustic Bunting
Yellow-throated Bunting
Yellow-breasted Bunting
Chestnut Bunting
Black-faced Bunting
Pallas' Bunting
Reed Bunting
Song Sparrow
Rufous-collared Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Savannah Sparrow
Grasshopper Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Clay-coloured Sparrow
Brewer's Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Lark Sparrow
Black-throated Sparrow
Sage Sparrow
Green-tailed Towhee
Spotted Towhee
California Towhee
Albert's Towhee
Yellow-billed Cardinal

 

[Peter C.]

Do you guys all have databases or something? I can't get over how quickly you generate these lists.

 

[jc122463]

Do you guys all have databases or something? I can't get over how quickly you generate these lists.

I don't know about others, but I keep my list in the downloadable excel Clements checklist. It definitely makes it easier to sort and find species quickly!

Cheers,
Benji

EDIT: Here's the link if you're interested - http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist

 

[viator]

Do you guys all have databases or something? I can't get over how quickly you generate these lists.

In my case yes I have my own database with the taxonomy synchronized to the IOC (except where I decide to disagree).

 

[Mysticete]

It's likely the old world buntings and new world sparrows will eventually be split...IIRC, Emberizidae sensu stricto is one of the earliest diverging nine-primaried oscine lineages. Calcariidae has already been split off and are not "closely" related to either group.

Here is my list for all three families

EMBERIZIDAE (8, mostly Japan, but also South Africa and UK)
Cape Bunting
Meadow Bunting
Yellowhammer
Chestnut-cheeked Bunting
Common Reed Bunting
Black-faced Bunting
Gray Bunting
Japanese Reed Bunting

CALCARIIDAE (4, all within ABA)
Lapland Longspur
Chesnut-collared Longspur
Snow Bunting
McCown's Longspur

PASSERELIDAE (35 species, all ABA)
Rufous-crowned Sparrow
Nelson's Sparrow
Grasshopper Sparrow
Black-throated Sparrow
Olive Sparrow
Sage Sparrow (Bell's and Interior forms)
Lark Bunting
Lark Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco (All US forms except White-winged)
Yellow-eyed Junco
Swamp Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Abert's Towhee
California Towhee
Canyon Towhee
Savannah Sparrow (Including Belding's and Large-billed)
American Tree Sparrow
Fox Sparrow (all 4 forms)
Bachman's Sparrow
Botteri's Sparrow
Cassin's Sparrow
Green-tailed Towhee
Eastern Towhee
Spotted Towhee
Vesper Sparrow
Black-chinned Sparrow
Brewer's Sparrow
Clay-colored Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Harris's Sparrow

 

[Jeff Hopkins]

Using Clements as a basis, I'm at 142. Should be a few more coming in the next few weeks. I'm off to Central Asia on Monday!

Common Bush-Tanager
Dusky (-Bellied) Bush-Tanager
Sooty-capped Bush-Tanager
Yellow-throated Bush-Tanager
Ashy-throated Bush-Tanager
Black-hooded Sierra-Finch
Grey-hooded Sierra-Finch
Mourning Sierra-Finch
Plumbeous Sierra-Finch
Ash-breasted Sierra-Finch
Bay-chested Warbling-Finch
Rufous-sided Warbling-Finch
Gray-throated Warbling-Finch
Blue-black Grassquit
Buffy-fronted Seedeater
Slate-colored Seedeater
Plumbeous Seedeater
Variable Seedeater
Caqueta Seedeater
White-collared Seedeater
Rusty-collared Seedeater
Lined Seedeater
Black-and-white Seedeater
Yellow-bellied Seedeater
Double-collared Seedeater
White-bellied Seedeater
Tawny-bellied Seedeater
Chestnut-bellied Seedeater
Chestnut-throated Seedeater
Thick-billed Seed-Finch
Lesser (Chestnut bellied) Seed-Finch
Band-tailed Seedeater
Plain-colored Seedeater
Cuban Bullfinch
Yellow-faced Grassquit
Black-faced Grassquit
Green Warbler Finch
Small Tree-Finch
Small Ground-Finch
Large Ground-Finch
Common Cactus-Finch
Medium Ground-Finch
Large Cactus-Finch
Yellow-shouldered Grassquit
Puerto Rican Bullfinch
Greater Antillean Bullfinch
Lesser Antillean Bullfinch
Barbados Bullfinch
Orangequit
St. Lucia Black Finch
Uniform Finch
Glossy Flower-piercer
Black Flower-piercer
White-sided Flower-piercer
Slaty Flower-piercer
Bluish Flower-piercer
Masked Flower-piercer
Greenish Yellow-Finch
Patagonian Yellow-Finch
Saffron Finch
Grassland Yellow-Finch
Red-crested Cardinal
Red-capped Cardinal
Yellow-billed Cardinal
Coal-crested Finch
Red-crested Finch
Yellow-thighed Finch
Large-footed Finch
Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch
Pectoral Sparrow
Saffron-billed Sparrow
Orange-billed Sparrow
Stripe-headed Brush-Finch
Black-headed Brush-Finch
Olive Sparrow
Green-backed Sparrow
Black-striped Sparrow
Pale-naped Brush-Finch
Tricolored Brush-Finch
Yellow-breasted Brush-Finch
Slaty Brush-Finch
White-winged Brush-Finch
Green-tailed Towhee
Spotted Towhee
Eastern Towhee
Rusty Sparrow
Rufous-crowned Sparrow
Canyon Towhee
California Towhee
Abert's Towhee
Rufous-winged Sparrow
Stripe-headed Sparrow
Botteri's Sparrow
Cassin's Sparrow
Bachman's Sparrow
American Tree Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Clay-colored Sparrow
Brewer's Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Black-chinned Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Lark Sparrow
Five-striped Sparrow
Black-throated Sparrow
Sage Sparrow
Lark Bunting
Savannah Sparrow
Grasshopper Sparrow
Grassland Sparrow
Yellow-browed Sparrow
Baird's Sparrow
Henslow's Sparrow
Le Conte's Sparrow
Nelson's (Sharp-tailed) Sparrow
Saltmarsh (Sharp-tailed) Sparrow
Seaside Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Rufous-collared Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Harris's Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Volcano Junco
Dark-eyed Junco
Yellow-eyed Junco
Yellowhammer
Meadow Bunting
Ortolan Bunting
House Bunting
Tristram's Bunting
Little Bunting
Rustic Bunting
Yellow-throated Bunting
Somali Golden-breasted Bunting
Black-headed Bunting
Black-faced Bunting
Reed Bunting
Corn Bunting

 

[Larry Lade]

Using Clements 4th ed. I come up with 144 species (however, I suspect that some of the birds may have been moved to another category in later editions of his checklist).

 

[Peter C.]

In my case yes I have my own database with the taxonomy synchronized to the IOC (except where I decide to disagree).

I have my own Excel Workbook set up - but that has the disadvantage that I am required to be diligent and keep it maintained. This doesn't happen very often. I like your idea of making my own DB (partly in order to have the freedom to disagree), and just run queries on it, but of course that would require my spending time learning to write the thing... |=o|

 

[csanchez7]

Here is my list, 78 species according to the latest Clements:

Plumbeous Sierra-Finch
Ash-breasted Sierra-Finch
Collared Warbling-Finch
Blue-black Grassquit
Variable Seedeater
White-collared Seedeater
Black-and-white Seedeater
Yellow-bellied Seedeater
Parrot-billed Seedeater
Chestnut-bellied Seedeater
Thick-billed Seed-Finch
Chestnut-bellied Seed-Finch
Band-tailed Seedeater
Plain-colored Seedeater
Yellow-faced Grassquit
Dull-colored Grassquit
Black-faced Grassquit
Slaty Flowerpiercer
Glossy Flowerpiercer
Black Flowerpiercer
White-sided Flowerpiercer
Indigo Flowerpiercer
Deep-blue Flowerpiercer
Bluish Flowerpiercer
Masked Flowerpiercer
Saffron Finch
Red-capped Cardinal
Tanager Finch
Yellow-thighed Finch
Large-footed Finch
White-naped Brush-Finch
Pale-naped Brush-Finch
Tricolored Brush-Finch
Yellow-breasted Brush-Finch
White-winged Brush-Finch
Pale-headed Brush-Finch
Crimson-breasted Finch
Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch
Orange-billed Sparrow
Black-capped Sparrow
Stripe-headed Brush-Finch
Olive Sparrow
Black-striped Sparrow
White-eared Ground-Sparrow
Green-tailed Towhee
Spotted Towhee
California Towhee
Eastern Towhee
Abert's Towhee
Stripe-headed Sparrow
Cassin's Sparrow
Bachman's Sparrow
Rufous-crowned Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Clay-colored Sparrow
Brewer's Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Lark Sparrow
Black-throated Sparrow
Sage Sparrow
Lark Bunting
Savannah Sparrow
Grasshopper Sparrow
Yellow-browed Sparrow
Henslow's Sparrow
Le Conte's Sparrow
Nelson's Sparrow
Seaside Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Rufous-collared Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Harris's Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco

If I add the Bush-Tanagers, I have an additional six species. I believe the flowerpiercers, grassquits, and seedeaters should be placed within the tanagers at some point?
Carlos

 

[Mysticete]

Yep, grassquits and seedeaters are actually tanagers. Yellow-faced Grassquit and White-collared Seedeater are the only tanagers I have seen so far.

 

[chris butterworth]

Peter C : - Thanks. I'll check out the Sharp-tails ( another tick :t: :t: :t: :t: :t: ) ........... and.......... Yup. I've got a hard drive full of obscure databases, birds ( garden, patch, county, UK, Western and Eastern Palearctic yada, yada, yada), molluscs ( ditto - plus marine, freshwater, terrestrial ), plants, plant galls, mammals etc

Mysticete :- I knew some bu**er would bring me back down to earth

Chris

 

[csanchez7]

Yellow-faced Grassquit and White-collared Seedeater are the only tanagers I have seen so far.

You need to make your way into the neotropics to see some real tanagers.

Those just will not do.

Carlos

 

[chris butterworth]

You need to make your way into the neotropics to see some real tanagers.

Those just will not do.

Carlos

You should start a " How many Tanagers" thread. Just to be a total sod :t: :t: :-O :-O

Chris

 

[Mysticete]

hehe...what can I say? Some people enjoy molt and aging birds, or intricate gull identification, I enjoy taxonomy.

 

[ovenbird43]

Boy I need to get with the program... I maintain my list in an excel sheet and I still have the Bush-Tanagers in Thraupidae and Yellow-faced Grassquit etc. in Emberizidae. I have flowerpiercers and conebills in Thraupidae (no longer?). And I haven't yet moved the longspurs to their own family. So here is my expanded list of Emberizidae of past, present and future (95):

Common Bush-Tanager
Sooty-capped Bush-Tanager
Yellow-throated Bush-Tanager
Dusky Bush-Tanager
Gray-hooded Bush-Tanager
Black-backed Bush-Tanager
Cinereous Conebill
Blue-backed Conebill
Capped Conebill
Bicolored Conebill
Chestnut-vented Conebill
Masked Flowerpiercer
Bluish Flowerpiercer
Black Flowerpiercer
Glossy Flowerpiercer
Rusty Flowerpiercer
White-sided Flowerpiercer
Eastern Towhee
Spotted Towhee
Abert's Towhee
Canyon Towhee
California Towhee
Green-tailed Towhee
Orange-billed Sparrow
Saffron-billed Sparrow
Olive Sparrow
Black-striped Sparrow
White-eared Ground-Sparrow
Yellow-faced Grassquit
Sooty Grassquit
Saffron Finch
Grassland Yellow-Finch
Wedge-tailed Grass-Finch
Blue-black Grassquit
Yellow-thighed Finch
Large-footed Finch
White-collared Seedeater
Variable Seedeater
Lesson's Seedeater
Chestnut-bellied Seedeater
Yellow-bellied Seedeater
Plumbeous Seedeater
Rusty-collared Seedeater
Double-collared Seedeater
Lesser Seed-Finch
Thick-billed Seed-Finch
Plain-colored Seedeater
Paramo Seedeater
Band-tailed Seedeater
Plumbeous Sierra-Finch
Red-rumped Warbling-Finch
Sooty-faced Finch
Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch
Stripe-headed Brush-Finch
Pale-naped Brush-Finch
Rufous-naped Brush-Finch
Tricolored Brush-Finch
White-naped Brush-Finch
White-winged Brush-Finch
Lark Bunting
Black-throated Sparrow
Sage Sparrow
Rufous-crowned Sparrow
Rufous-winged Sparrow
Bachman's Sparrow
Cassin's Sparrow
Stripe-headed Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Clay-colored Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Brewer's Sparrow
American Tree Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Lark Sparrow
Yellow-browed Sparrow
Grassland Sparrow
Grasshopper Sparrow
Henslow's Sparrow
Le Conte's Sparrow
Saltmarsh Sparrow
Nelson's Sparrow
Seaside Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Harris's Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Rufous-collared Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Yellow-eyed Junco
Volcano Junco
Lapland Longspur
Smith's Longspur
McCown's Longspur
Chestnut-collared Longspur
Snow Bunting

 

[Joshua-B]

There's a cracking group with a wide distribution throughout most of the world
Chris

Except Australia |8|| |;|
EDIT: Oh, incase you haven;t guessed, I've seen 0...

 

[chris butterworth]

Except Australia |8|| |;|
EDIT: Oh, incase you haven;t guessed, I've seen 0...

Ah, but you have your own cracking groups such as Honeyeaters. Blue-faced and the Spinebills .............. stunning.

Chris

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Off to look at my lists again :t:

C