Clements 2023 Checklist Update (2 Viewers)

[Andy Adcock]

It is only ignorance that makes people believe that applying a modifier to one name means the original also needs one. Gull-billed Tern and Australian Gull-billed Tern would be a perfectly grammatical and understandable combination.

John

Agree.

 

[Andy Adcock]

For me, the main problem with either Medium or Intermediate Egret is that it requires comparison with two species. This invites confusion when faced with a lone bird, or with two birds (are they Great/Intermediate or Intermediate/Cattle or Great/Little, etc.)? This is made even worse in Asia by the presence

Surely, when you have three species called Great, Intermediate and Little, it should be obvious that those names relate to comparisons with each other, I don't know how Cattle Egret would enter the thought process?

I'm sure I've made mistakes when ID'ing members of this group but there are features to look for and they are usually, identifiable in isolation.

 

[Andy Adcock]

Oh, I quite like Paddyfield Egret, actually. Nice idea.

That tells you nothing, they can all occur in Paddyfields, including Cattle Egret.

 

[Andy Adcock]

Wagler's Intermediate Egret is one possible solution; it also would have the happy knack of setting the AOS in a tizzy... Another six years will celebrate the bicentenary of the OD...

An alternative would be to peruse a selection of synonyms: Midpoint, Mean, Midway, Centre/Centermost, Equidistant, Innermost, Medial, Mid and Middlemost have varying levels of merit or appeal...
MJB

Long-gapeline Egret, Not-quite-so Long-gapeline Egret and obviously, Little Egret or Kink-necked Egret, Not-quite so Kink-necked Egret and Small Kink-necked Egret.

 

[Andy Adcock]

Midway's out at once - is it even within the bird's distribution? Given the amount of people who don't seem to understand average speed cameras I think Mean must also be ruled out as liable to be misunderstood! We have a Middle Spotted Woodpecker so perhaps Middle Egret.... but having recently mentioned that there's no need for a qualifier just because every near relative has one, perhaps the best way to emphasise the sheer mediocrity of this bird would be to just call it Egret.*

* Maybe Mediocre Egret is an option too?

John

I think we're talking ourselves in to a 'lump'.

 

[Jim LeNomenclatoriste]

Surely, when you have three species called Great, Intermediate and Little,

And the Lesser and you have the Dalton bros

 

[Andy Adcock]

And the Lesser and you have the Dalton bros

?

 

[Jim LeNomenclatoriste]

?

Ah, you don't have the ref

 

[Kirk Roth]

It is only ignorance that makes people believe that applying a modifier to one name means the original also needs one. Gull-billed Tern and Australian Gull-billed Tern would be a perfectly grammatical and understandable combination.

John

So the clear solution to our egret problem that only the ignorant could object to:

Great Egret
Intermediate Egret
Egret
Eastern Intermediate Egret
Little Egret

Done, and on to the next problem!

 

[Jim LeNomenclatoriste]

Great Egret
Intermediate Egret
Egret
Eastern Intermediate Egret
Little Egret

Done, and on to the next problem!

Be more simple

Egret #1
Egret #2
Egret #3
Etc ..

 

[jts1882]

Surely there is room for a Nonjener Egret

 

[Surreybirder]

Surely there is room for a Nonjener Egret

Sorry, I don't get it!

 

[Andy Adcock]

Sorry, I don't get it!

Nor I?

 

[delia todd]

Surely there is room for a Nonjener Egret

Could work... "jener" means "that one" in German!

 

[jts1882]

Sorry, I don't get it!

Nor I?

I'm sorry, too.

 

[pbjosh]

I'm plenty familiar with that song but was scratching my head as well... not sure many people were going to make that leap!

 

[Surreybirder]

I'm sorry, too.

Very droll - but I'd never have got it without the reference

 

[jts1882]

It helps to have extremely bad French.

 

[Andy Adcock]

I'm plenty familiar with that song but was scratching my head as well... not sure many people were going to make that leap!

Yep, far too cryptic for me.

 

[Jim LeNomenclatoriste]

Surely there is room for a Nonjener Egret

Mdr, I got it (finally)