Latest IOC Diary Updates (69 Viewers)

[opisska]

I am a bit confused by the red-rumped swallows. I understand that observations of Red-rumped Swallow in Europe become rufula, while those from Asia, together with all of observations previously marked as Striaded Swallow go to daurica - so that's two species for two species, not much changed. Then however in Africa, there is melanocrissus - is it clear that all observations from Kenya are now this species, or does rufula winter there as well?

 

[Viktor Björkert]

I scanned their decisions on Avibase

Are the WGAC decisions publicly available and, if so, from where?

 

[gusasp]

Are the WGAC decisions publicly available and, if so, from where?

No, not yet, in a list format. However, WGAC:s position is noted in Avibase for every taxon. That’s why I compiled a list of my own. See here for instance on previously mentioned rufula (scroll way down): Cecropis rufula (Lesser Striated Swallow (rufula)) - Avibase

 

[njlarsen]

I am a bit confused by the red-rumped swallows. I understand that observations of Red-rumped Swallow in Europe become rufula, while those from Asia, together with all of observations previously marked as Striaded Swallow go to daurica - so that's two species for two species, not much changed. Then however in Africa, there is melanocrissus - is it clear that all observations from Kenya are now this species, or does rufula winter there as well?

One thing to check is this: Red-rumped Swallow - Weekly Abundance Map - eBird Status and Trends

Another is the field guide which says rufula is present but relatively rare in Winter.
Niels

 

[Jim LeNomenclatoriste]

I am a bit confused by the red-rumped swallows. I understand that observations of Red-rumped Swallow in Europe become rufula, while those from Asia, together with all of observations previously marked as Striaded Swallow go to daurica - so that's two species for two species, not much changed. Then however in Africa, there is melanocrissus - is it clear that all observations from Kenya are now this species, or does rufula winter there as well?

I thought all these taxa were going to be lumped into one

 

[gusasp]

The Red-rumped Swallows treatment now showing in the Proposed Splits and Lumps IOC pages.

Will be interesting to see some of the others appear in due course…

Actually they’re all Actual Splits and Lumps (AS, AL) now, just not yet posted in the Species section or the diary.

 

[exilipes]

Actually they’re all Actual Splits and Lumps (AS, AL) now, just not yet posted in the Species section or the diary.

Indeed, hence my phrasing

 

[opisska]

At this point, I am really hoping that the convergence will eventually happen, because then iNaturalist will just handle all splits and lumps for me. For now, they sadly insist on following the Clements.

 

[Mysticete]

At this point, I am really hoping that the convergence will eventually happen, because then iNaturalist will just handle all splits and lumps for me. For now, they sadly insist on following the Clements.

I think the forecast is the process should be finished and published by the end of 2025, probably early 2025

 

[Bowerbirder]

Get ready for some lumps! Eager to piece together the final WGAC list, I scanned their decisions on Avibase, species by species for those where IOC, eBird/Clements and BLI differ in recognition. Since base line is the IOC list, I presumed that any changes from the first to the last version had to be genuine. Also, presumably all the IOC updates coming in now follow WGAC decisions. Of course, these stances might not be the final ones, but we’re getting close now!

My quick glance showed that there are 165 lumps not yet announced by IOC, but only 40 splits. Most of the lumps are species only IOC recognize, but I’ve found a few that have had universal recognition up to now. Surprises (at least to me) are lumps of Porphyrio-swamphens, Maghreb Owl, Hooded Crow, Amur Stonechat and the newly split Chinese Long-tailed Rosefinch. Among the splits, a few are novel, like the rearrangement of Edolisoma and some Pachycephala Whistlers, plus the Red-rumped Swallow complex (striolata subsumed in daurica, but European swallow split as rufula and African as melanocrissa, including domicella).

I've probably missed a whole bunch, but holler if you want to see the list anyway!

What are the Porphyrio lumps, gusasp?

 

[Mysticete]

Get ready for some lumps! Eager to piece together the final WGAC list, I scanned their decisions on Avibase, species by species for those where IOC, eBird/Clements and BLI differ in recognition. Since base line is the IOC list, I presumed that any changes from the first to the last version had to be genuine. Also, presumably all the IOC updates coming in now follow WGAC decisions. Of course, these stances might not be the final ones, but we’re getting close now!

My quick glance showed that there are 165 lumps not yet announced by IOC, but only 40 splits. Most of the lumps are species only IOC recognize, but I’ve found a few that have had universal recognition up to now. Surprises (at least to me) are lumps of Porphyrio-swamphens, Maghreb Owl, Hooded Crow, Amur Stonechat and the newly split Chinese Long-tailed Rosefinch. Among the splits, a few are novel, like the rearrangement of Edolisoma and some Pachycephala Whistlers, plus the Red-rumped Swallow complex (striolata subsumed in daurica, but European swallow split as rufula and African as melanocrissa, including domicella).

I've probably missed a whole bunch, but holler if you want to see the list anyway!

I would love a copy of the list.

I am skeptical however that Avibase necessarily is reliable for this information at this phase. It just seems weird that they would provide an early preview of changes in this manner.

 

[johnallcock]

No, not yet, in a list format. However, WGAC:s position is noted in Avibase for every taxon. That’s why I compiled a list of my own. See here for instance on previously mentioned rufula (scroll way down): Cecropis rufula (Lesser Striated Swallow (rufula)) - Avibase

Wow, I really hope Lesser Striated Swallow is a placeholder name that doesn't get adopted. It would get very easily confused with Lesser Striped Swallow and it's not very helpful (rufula is not really 'striated'). Meanwhile they have proposed Daurian Red-rumped Swallow for daurica (including the previous Striated), so it wouldn't even be the 'Lesser' to complement a 'Greater' and all previous work discussing Striated could be confused in future as discussing rufula rather than striolata!

 

[gusasp]

Wow, I really hope Lesser Striated Swallow is a placeholder name that doesn't get adopted. It would get very easily confused with Lesser Striped Swallow and it's not very helpful (rufula is not really 'striated'). Meanwhile they have proposed Daurian Red-rumped Swallow for daurica (including the previous Striated), so it wouldn't even be the 'Lesser' to complement a 'Greater' and all previous work discussing Striated could be confused in future as discussing rufula rather than striolata!

I wouldn’t focus too much on the English names in Avibase. IOC has rufula as European Red-rumped.

 

[Markus Lagerqvist]

Now updated in the diary as well:

Jun 24 Post lump of Striated Swallow with (Eastern) Red-rumped Swallow.

Jun 24 Post lump of West African Swallow with African Red-rumped Swallow.

Jun 24 Post splits of European Red-rumped Swallow and African Red-rumped Swallow from (Eastern) Red-rumped Swallow.

 

[opisska]

I understand that they want to keep the format of "lump/split per line", but this could really have been better described by a unified sentence, because it's essentially a complete rearrangement of subspecies across 4 species.

 

[Ian Lewis]

I take it Sri Lankan Swallow C. hyperthra isn't involved in this rearrangement

I've got hundreds of 'red-rumped' swallow records from all across the WP, Afrotropics and Asia. Re-assigning them is going to be a big headache. I can see a lot of Cecropsis sp coming up, especially in Africa in the northern winter

 

[Markus Lagerqvist]

Jun 25 Move the Australasian cuckoos formerly attributed to Chrysococcyx to Chalcites.

 

[Jim LeNomenclatoriste]

Jun 25 Move the Australasian cuckoos formerly attributed to Chrysococcyx to Chalcites.

He should restrict the genus Chrysococcyx only for African species by revalidating Chalcococcyx for maculatus and xanthorhynchus

 

[Markus Lagerqvist]

Pied Bronze Cuckoo

Chalcites crassirostris

ADD

AS

Little Bronze Cuckoo

Pied Bronze Cuckoo Chalcites crassirostris is split from Little Bronze Cuckoo C. minutillus based on distinctive plumage and vocalizations (Eaton et al. 2021; HBW/BLI).

 

[Andy Adcock]

I take it Sri Lankan Swallow C. hyperthra isn't involved in this rearrangement

I've got hundreds of 'red-rumped' swallow records from all across the WP, Afrotropics and Asia. Re-assigning them is going to be a big headache. I can see a lot of Cecropsis sp coming up, especially in Africa in the northern winter

I read it as a three way split of Red-rumped creating

Eastern Red-rumped Swallow,
European Rd-rumped Swalllow
African Red-rumped Swallow

Sri Lankan, shouldn't be involved as I read it and it shouldn't be that hard, working them out?