Messy Taxonomy (1 Viewer)

[Jon.Bryant]

IOC, Clements and BirdLife Taxonomies vary but in general taxa can be mapped between lists - one authorities subspecies is generally another authorities species.

However, there are a limited number of occasions where mapping is not possible - a species in one list is not recognised as a valid species or subspecies in another list.

There are also occasions when lists recognise the same species, but divide subspecies differently between those species. This means that species do not map cleanly at species level, potentially leading to wrong assignment of observations.

Working through the lists, I think the number of taxa that fall with then above categories are few, with the majority relating to poorly known or extinct species and subspecies. The importance of resolving taxonomy for these taxa could therefore be argued to be trivial for modern ornithology. That said, for extinct taxa or taxa known from only a few specimens, it may well be that no further data will ever be forthcoming to resolve differences of taxonomic opinion.

The 'messy' taxonomic differences, which I have identified between IOC, Clements and BirdLife are listed below

Archibold’s and Mountain Owlet-nightjar

BirdLife recognises Aegotheles archboldi (Archibold’s Owlet-nightjar) as separate from Aegotheles albertisi (Mountain Owlet-nightjar), with the later species considered polytypic.

IOC and Clements treat Aegotheles albertisi as monotypic and do not recognise Aegotheles archboldi.

Barred and Allied Owlet-nightjar

IOC, Clements and BirdLife recognise Aegotheles bennettii (Barred Owlet-nightjar) and Aegotheles affinis (Allied Owlet-nightjar). However, the division of these two species varies at subspecies level, with one subspecies impacted.

Subspecies terborghi

• IOC and Clements treat terborghi as a subspecies of Aegotheles bennettii.
• BirdLife treat terborghi as a subspecies of Aegotheles affinis.

Green-breasted and Black-throated Mango

IOC, Clements and BirdLife recognise Anthracothorax prevostii (Green-breasted Mango) and Anthracothorax nigricollis (Black-throated Mango). However, the division of these two species varies at subspecies level, with one subspecies impacted.

Subspecies Iridescens

• IOC treat iridescens as a subspecies of Anthracothorax prevostii.
• Clements and BirdLife treat iridescens as a subspecies of Anthracothorax nigricollis.

Guanacaste Hummingbird

BirdLife recognises Amazilia alfaroana (Guanacaste Hummingbird).

IOC and Clements do not recognise this form as a valid species or subspecies.

Dusky and Whistling Long-tailed Cuckoo

BirdLife recognise Cercococcyx mechowi (Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo) and Cercococcyx lemaireae (Whistling Long-tailed Cuckoo) as two monotypic species.

IOC and Clements treat Cercococcyx mechowi as monotypic, and do not recognise Cercococcyx lemaireae.

Little Egret and Western Reef-Egret

IOC, Clements and BirdLife recognise Egretta garzetta (Little Egret) and Egretta gularis (Western Reef-egret). However, the division of these species varies at subspecies level, with one subspecies impacted.

Subspecies dimorpha

• Clements treat dimorpha as a subspecies of Egretta garzetta.
• BirdLife treat dimorpha as a subspecies of Egretta gularis.
• IOC treat dimorpha as a separate species Egretta dimorpha (Dimorphic Egret).

Red-chested and African Goshawk

IOC, Clements and BirdLife recognise Accipiter toussenelii (Red-chested Goshawk) and Accipiter tachiro (African Goshawk). However, the division of these species varies at subspecies level, with one or two subspecies impacted.

Subspecies unduliventer

• IOC and Clements treat unduliventer as a subspecies of Accipiter tachiro.
• BirdLife treat unduliventer as a subspecies of Accipiter toussenelii.

Subspecies croizati

• Clements recognise croizati and treat it as a subspecies of Accipiter tachiro.
• IOC and BirdLife treat croizati as a synonym of unduliventer and hence
• IOC consider croizati to be an invalid subspecies of Accipter tachiro
• BirdLife consider croizati to be an invalid subspecies of Accipiter toussenelii.

Eastern and Western Yellow-spotted Barbet

BirdLife recognises Buccanodon duchaillui (Eastern Yellow-spotted Barbet) and Buccanodon dowsetti (Western Yellow-spotted Barbet) as monotypic species.

IOC and Clements treat Buccanodon duchaillui as monotypic and do not recognise Buccanodon dowsetti as a valid species or subspecies.

Little Green Woodpecker and Little Spotted Woodpecker

IOC, Clements and BirdLife recognise Campethera maculosa (Little Green Woodpecker) and Campethera cailliautii (Little Spotted Woodpecker). However, the division of these species varies at subspecies level, with one subspecies impacted.

Subspecies permista

• IOC and BirdLife treat permista as a subspecies of Campethera maculosa.
• Clements treat permista as a subspecies of Campethera cailliautii.

Lord Howe Parakeet

BirdLife recognises Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae (Red-fronted Parakeet) as polytypic species including the extinct subspecies subflavescens.

IOC separates the Red-fronted Parakeet group into multiple species including the extinct species Cyanoramphus subflavescens (Lord Howe Parakeet).

Clements do not recognise subflavescens as either a species or subspecies.

Plain-brown and Plain-winged Woodcreeper

IOC, Clements and BirdLife recognise Dendrocincla fuliginosa (Plain-brown Woodcreeper) and Dendrocincla turdina (Plain-winged Woodcreeper). However, the division of these species varies at subspecies level, with one subspecies impacted.

Subspecies taunayi

• IOC and Clements treat taunayi as a subspecies of Dendrocincla turdina.
• BirdLife treat taunayi as a subspecies of Dendrocincla fuliginosa.

Large and Indian Cuckooshrike

IOC, Clements and BirdLife recognise Coracina javensis (Large Cuckooshrike) and Coracina macei (Indian Cuckooshrike). However, the division of these species varies at subspecies level, with six subspecies impacted.

Subspecies nipalensis, andamana, rexpineti, larvivore, siamensis and larutensis

• IOC and Clements treat these as subspecies of Coracina macei.
• BirdLife treats these as subspecies of Coracina javensis.

Melanesian and Slender-billed Cicadabird

Clements treats Edolisoma tenuirostre (Common Cicadabird) as a polytypic species with 29 subspecies.

IOC and BirdLife recognise the same number of subspecies, but attribute these to multiple species. Within this group, IOC and BirdLife recognise Edolisoma remotum (Melanesian Cicadabird) and Edolisoma tenuirostre (Slender-billed Cicadabird). However, the division of these species varies at subspecies level with three subspecies impacted.

Subspecies matthiae, heinrothi and rooki

• IOC treat these as subspecies of Edolisoma tenuirostre.
• BirdLife treats these as subspecies of Edolisoma remotum.

Arafura and Rufous Shrikethrush

BirdLife treats Colluricincla megarhyncha (Little Shrike-thrush) as a polytypic species with 28 subspecies.

Both IOC and Clements recognise the Little Shrike-Thrush complex as being formed from eight species. Both IOC and Clements recognise Colluricincla megarhyncha (Arafura Shrikethrush) and Colluricincla rufogaster (Rufous Shrikethrush). However, the division of these species varies at subspecies level with one subspecies impacted.

Subspecies wuroi

• IOC includes wuroi within Colluricincla rufogaster griseata.
• Clements treat wuroi as subspecies of Colluricincla megarhyncha.

Balicassiao,Sumatran and Hair-crested Drongo

IOC, Clements and BirdLife recognise Dicrurus sumatranus (Sumatran Drongo), Dicrurus hottentottus (Hair-crested Drongo) and Dicrurus balicassius (Balicassiao). However, the division between the species varies at subspecies level with three subspecies impacted.

Subspecies viridinitens

• IOC treat viridinitens as a subspecies of Dicrurus hottentottus.
• Clements and BirdLife treat viridinitens as subspecies of Dicrurus sumatranus.

Subspecies samarensis and striatus

• BirdLife treats these subspecies as a distinct species Dicrurus striatus (Short-tailed Drongo).
• IOC treats these as subspecies of Dicrurus balicassius
• Clements treats these as subspecies of Dicrurus hottentottus.

Western Square-tailed Drongo

BirdLife treat Dicrurus ludwigii (Square-tailed Drongo) as a single polytypic species. BirdLife do not recognise the subspecies occidentalis, however, there Taxonomic Notes state ‘…populations W of R Niger may represent a further, as yet undescribed, subspecies (Fuchs, Fjeldsa & Bowie in press)’.

IOC and Clements recognise occidentalis as a separate species Dicrurus occidentalis (Western Square-tailed Drongo, with range defined as;

• ‘Senegal to Nigeria (west of the Niger River)’ [Clements].
• ‘Senegal to Nigeria (w of the Niger River)’ [IOC].

The subspecies occidentals therefore aligns in range with the undescribed subspecies mentioned in BirdLife’s Taxonomic Notes.

Moltoni’s and (Western) Subalpine Warbler

IOC, BirdLife and Clements recognise Curruca subalpine (Moltoni’s Warbler).

IOC and Clements recognise Curruca cantillans (Eastern Subalpine Warbler) and Curruca iberiae (Western Subalpine Warbler), whereas BirdLife treat these two species as a single polytypic species Curruca cantillans (Subalpine Warbler).

BirdLife recognise inornate as a subspecies of Curruca cantillans (Subalpine Warbler), whereas IOC and Clements consider inornate to be a junior synonym of Curruca subalpine.

Gould’s and Sclater’s Nightingale-thrush

IOC, Clements and BirdLife recognise Catharus dryas (Gould’s Nightingale-thrush) and Catharus maculatus (Sclater’s Nightingale-thrush). However, the division of these species varies at subspecies level with one subspecies impacted.

Subspecies blakei

• IOC and Clements treat blakei as a subspecies of Catharus maculatus.
• BirdLife treat blakei as a subspecies of Catharus dryas.

Mangrove and Tanahjampea Blue-flycatcher

IOC, Clements and BirdLife recognise Cyornis rufigastra (Mangrove Blue-flycatcher) and Cyornis omissus (Sulawesi Blue-flycatcher).

IOC and BirdLife also recognise Cyornis djampeanus (Tanahjampea Blue-flycatcher). However, IOC consider this species to be monotypic and BirdLife polytypic, and there is a therefore division at subspecies level between Cyornis rufigastra and Cyornis djampeanus.

Subspecies kalaoensis

• IOC treat this as a subspecies of Cyornis rufigastra.
• BirdLife treat this as a subspecies of Cyornis djampeanus.
• Clements treat this as a separate species Cyornis kalaoensis (Kalao Blue Flycatcher) but do not recognise Cyornis djampeanus, treating it as a subspecies of Cyornis omissus

Grey-breasted, Streaky-breasted Spiderhunter and Bornean Spiderhunter

IOC, Clements and BirdLife recognise Arachnothera modesta (Grey-breasted Spiderhunter) Arachnothera affinis (Streaky-breasted Spiderhunter).

BirdLife recognises everetti as a subspecies of Arachnothera affinis, whereas IOC and Clements treat this as a separate species Arachnothera everetti (Bornean Spiderhunter).

The division at species level between the three list, relates to the subspecies pars, as summarised below;

Subspecies pars

• IOC and BirdLife treat this subspecies as inseparable from everetti. Therefore, IOC include pars in Arachnothera everetti and BirdLife in Arachnothera affinis everetti.
• Clements treat pars as a valid subspecies of Arachnothera modesta.

Pallas’s and Reed Bunting

IOC, Clements and BirdLife recognise Emberiza pallasi (Pallas’s Bunting) and Emberiza schoeniclus (Reed Bunting). However, the division of these species varies at subspecies level with one subspecies impacted.

Subspecies minor

• IOC and Clements treat minor as a subspecies of Emberiza pallasi.
• BirdLife treat minor as subspecies of Emberiza schoeniclus.

Eastern and Western Koel

IOC, Clements and BirdLife recognise Eudynamys orientalis (Eastern Koel) and Eudynamys scolopaceus (Western Koel). However, the division of these species varies at subspecies level with one subspecies impacted.

Subspecies corvinus

• IOC and Clements do not recognise this subspecies and do not provide an explanation as to why this is. However, Avibase indicates that the subspecies is synonymised with Eudynamys scolopaceus mindanensis.
• BirdLife recognise corvinus as subspecies of Eudynamys orientalis.

Riparian and Blue-winged Parrotlet

BirdLife treats Forpus xanthopterygius (Blue-winged Parrotlet) as a monotypic species.

IOC and Clements recognise Forpus xanthopterygius. However, Forpus crassirostris (Riparian Parrotlet) is also split from Forpus xanthopterygius as a separate species.

IOC and Clements therefore recognise two distinct species, whereas BirdLife recognises one monotypic species.

Genovesa Cactus-finch and Large Ground-finch

IOC, Clements and BirdLife recognise Geospiza propinqua (Genovesa Cactus-finch) and Geospiza magnirostris (Large Ground-finch). However, the division of these species varies at subspecies level with one subspecies impacted.

Subspecies darwini

• Clements treat darwini as a subspecies of Geospiza propinqua.
• BirdLife treat darwini as subspecies of Geospiza magnirostris.
• IOC do not recognise the subspecies and consider it a hybrid between Geospiza conirostris (Espanola Cactus Finch) and Geospiza magnirostris.

Saffron-cowled Blackbird and Yellow-tailed Oriole

IOC, Clements and BirdLife recognise Xanthopsar flavus (Saffron-cowled Blackbird) Icterus mesomelas (Yellow-tailed Oriole).

Clements recognise xantholemus as a subspecies of Icterus mesomelas. This subspecies is not recognised by IOC of BirdLife and there is no explanation. However BirdLife Taxonomic Notes state ‘Icterus xantholemus, based on a single specimen from S Brazil but erroneously published as from Ecuador, has been shown to be a synonym of present [Xanthopsar flavus]’. Given the shared name xantholemus, it is assumed that this note applies to that taxon Icterus mesomelas xantholemus recognised by Clements.

Olive and Grey-eyed Bulbul

IOC, Clements and BirdLife recognise Iole viridescens (Olive Bulbul) and Iole propinqua (Grey-eyed Bulbul). However, the division of these species varies at subspecies level with three subspecies impacted.

Subspecies cinnamomeoventris and lekhakuni

• IOC and Clements assign these subspecies as Iole viridescens.
• BirdLife assigns these subspecies to Iole propinqua.

Subspecies myitkyinensis

• IOC and Clements assign this subspecies to Iole propinqua.
• BirdLife assigns this subspecies to Iole viridescens.

Stewart (Otago) and Foveaux Shag

IOC recognises Leucocarbo stewarti (Foveaux Shag).

Clements treats this species as a subspecies of Leucocarbo chalconotus (Stewart Shag). However, BirdLife do not recognise Leucocarbo stewarti and treat Leucocarbo chalconotus as monotypic. This is potentially an error with BirdLife’s Taxonomic Notes for Leucocarbo chalconotus stating ‘Given these weaknesses, the claim that the data assembled by Rawlence et al. (2016) ‘strongly support… separate species status’ for stewarti is insubstantial. We recognise stewarti as a subspecies. Two subspecies recognised.’

Red and Cassia Crossbill

IOC and Clements recognise Loxia sinesciuris (Cassia Crossbill) as a separate species from Loxia curvirostra (Red Crossbill).

BirdLife do not recognise Loxia sinesciuris, nor do they recognise sinesciuris as valid subspecies of Loxia curvirostra.

Choco and Vermiculated Screech-owl

IOC and Clements recognise Megascops centralis (Choco Screech-Owl). BirdLife does not recognise Megascops centrals and includes centralis within Megascops vermiculatus vermiculatus (Vermiculated Screech-owl).

Mimic and Mottle-breasted Honeyeater

IOC, Clements and BirdLife recognise Microptilotis analogus (Mimic Honeyeater) and Microptilotis mimikae (Mottle-breasted Honeyeater). However, the division of these species varies at subspecies level with one subspecies impacted.

Subspecies rara

• IOC and BirdLife do not recognise this subspecies. BirdLife Taxonomic Notes state ‘Form rarus, described from single specimen attributed to M.mimikae, is an atypical specimen of [Microptilotis analogus ] (subspecies flavidus) (LeCroy 2011).’
• Clements treat rara as a subspecies of Microptilotis mimikae.

Golden-crowned and Golden-bellied Flycatcher

IOC, Clements and BirdLife recognise Myiodynastes chrysocephalus (Golden-crowned Flycatcher) and Myiodynastes hemichrysus (Golden-bellied Flycatcher). However, the division of these species varies at subspecies level with two subspecies impacted.

Subspecies cinerascens and minor

• IOC treats these subspecies as Myiodynastes chrysocephalus.
• Clements and BirdLife treat these subspecies as Myiodynastes hemichrysus.

Grey-breasted, Streaky-breasted Spiderhunter and Bornean Spiderhunter

BirdLife treats Myrmotherula luctuosa (Silvery-flanked Antwren) as a monotypic species. Taxonomic Notes state ‘Form described as M.fluminensis was initially thought by some to be perhaps a hybrid M.unicolor × luctuosa (Sibley 1990) and later considered possibly a variant of luctuosa (Teixeira 1997); recently obtained recordings of voice confirm that it is, indeed, a variant of luctuosa (Mallet-Rodrigues 2008a).’

However, IOC recognise Myrmotherula luctuosa and Myrmotherula fluminensis (Rio de Janeiro Antwren) as separate species.

Clements also recognises Myrmotherula fluminensis, but treat luctuosa as a subspecies of Myrmotherula axillaris (White-flanked Antwren) – a species also recognised by IOC and BirdLife.

Southern Boobook and Barking Owl

IOC, Clements and BirdLife recognise Ninox boobook (Southern Boobook) and Ninox connivens (Barking Owl). However, the division of these species varies at subspecies level with one subspecies impacted.

Subspecies remigialis

• IOC treat remigialis as a subspecies of Ninox connivens.
• Clements and BirdLife treat remigialis as subspecies of Ninox boobook.

Norfolk Ground Dove

IOC and Clements recognise Pampusana norfolkensis (Norfolk Ground Dove). This species is not recognised by BirdLife, nor do BirdLife attribute norfolkensis to a subspecies of another species.

Golden-spangled and Black-spotted Piculet

IOC and BirdLife recognise Picumnus exilis (Golden-spangled Piculet) as a separate species from Picumnus nigropunctatus (Black-spotted Piculet).

Clements do not recognise Picumnus nigropunctatus, nor do Clements recognise this taxon as a subspecies of Picumnus exilis.

Tawny and Ochraceous Piculet

BirdLife recognise Picumnus fulvescens (Tawny Piculet) as a separate species from Picumnus limae (Ochraceous Piculet).

IOC and Clements do not recognise Picumnus fulvescens as a species, nor do they recognise fulvescens as a valid subspecies of Picumnus limae, treating that species as monotypic.

Brown and Striated Prinia

IOC, Clements and BirdLife recognise Prinia polychroa (Brown Prinia) and Prinia crinigera (Striated Prinia). However, the division of these species varies at subspecies level with one subspecies impacted.

Subspecies bangsi

• IOC and Clements treat bangsi as a subspecies of Prinia crinigera.
• BirdLife treat bangsi as subspecies of Prinia polychroa.

Grey and Timneh Parrot

IOC and BirdLife recognise Psittacus erithacus (Grey Parrot) and Psittacus timneh (Timneh Parrot), whereas Clements recognises only Psittacus Erithacus, with timneh treated as a subspecies.

However, IOC and BirdLife treatment of the princeps subspecies varies,

• IOC treat princeps as a subspecies of Psittacus timneh.
• BirdLife treat princeps as a subspecies of Psittacus Erithacus.

Large and Pale Rock Martin

IOC and BirdLife recognise Ptyonoprogne fuligula (Large Rock Martin) and Ptyonoprogne obsoleta (Pale Rock Martin), whereas Clements recognises only Ptyonoprogne fuligula, with Ptyonoprogne obsoleta treated as subspecies.

However, IOC and BirdLife treatment of the pusilla subspecies varies,

• IOC treat pusilla as a subspecies of Ptyonoprogne fuligula.
• BirdLife treat pusilla as a subspecies of Ptyonoprogne obsolete.

Brace’s and Caribbean Emerald

IOC and BirdLife both recognise the extinct species Riccordia bracei (Brace’s Emerald) and Riccordia elegans (Caribbean Emerald). Previously Clements recognised only Riccordia bracei, with elegans treated as a subspecies. Clements no longer recognises elegans as a subspecies, or as a separate species.

Tropical, Large and Perplexing Scrubwren

IOC, Clements and BirdLife recognise Sericornis beccarii (Tropical Scrubwren) and Sericornis nouhuysi (Large Scrubwren). However, the division of these species varies at subspecies level with one subspecies impacted.

Subspecies idenburgi

• IOC treat idenburgi as a subspecies of Sericornis beccarii.
• Clements and BirdLife treat idenburgi as subspecies of Sericornis nouhuysi.

In addition, BirdLife considers Sericornis nouhuysi stresemanni and a synonym of Sericornis nouhuysi pontifex and Sericornis nouhuysi imitator as a synonym of Sericornis nouhuysi cantans. However, IOC treat stresemanni and cantans as subspecies of Sericornis nouhuysi, and pontifex and imitator as subspecies of a separate species Sericornis virgatus (Perplexing Scrubwren).

White-tailed and Black-crowned Tityra

IOC and Clements do not recognise Tityra leucura (White-tailed Tityra), which is considered to a form of Tityra inquisitor (Black-crowned Tityra), but not a valid subspecies.

BirdLife recognise Tityra leucura as a separate species from Tityra inquisitor.

White-necked and White-throated Thrush

IOC, Clements and BirdLife recognise Turdus albicollis (White-necked Thrush) and Turdus assimilis (White-throated Thrush). However, the division of these species varies at subspecies level with one subspecies impacted.

Subspecies daguae

• Clements treat daguae as a subspecies of Turdus assimilis.
• BirdLife treat daguae as a subspecies of Turdus albicollis.
• IOC consider daguae a separate species Turdus daguae.

Ashy-faced and Common Barn-owl

IOC, Clements and BirdLife recognise Tyto glaucops (Ashy-faced Owl) and Tyto alba (Common Barn-owl). However, the division of these species varies at subspecies level with two subspecies impacted.

Subspecies insularis and nigrescens

• Clements treats these as subspecies of Tyto alba.
• Birdlife treats these as subspecies of Tyto glaucops.
• IOC assigns these to a separate species Tyto furcate (American Barn Owl).

White’s and Scaly Thrush

IOC, Clements an BirdLife recognise Zoothera aurea (White’s Thrush) and Zoothera dauma (Scaly Thrush). However, the division of these species varies at subspecies level with two subspecies impacted.

Subspecies horsfieldi and iriomotensis

• IOC and Clements treat these as subspecies of Zoothera dauma.
• BirdLife treats these as subspecies of Zoothera aurea.

 

[MJB]

Grey-breasted, Streaky-breasted Spiderhunter and Bornean Spiderhunter

BirdLife treats Myrmotherula luctuosa (Silvery-flanked Antwren) as a monotypic species. Taxonomic Notes state ‘Form described as M.fluminensis was initially thought by some to be perhaps a hybrid M.unicolor × luctuosa (Sibley 1990) and later considered possibly a variant of luctuosa (Teixeira 1997); recently obtained recordings of voice confirm that it is, indeed, a variant of luctuosa (Mallet-Rodrigues 2008a).’

However, IOC recognise Myrmotherula luctuosa and Myrmotherula fluminensis (Rio de Janeiro Antwren) as separate species.

Clements also recognises Myrmotherula fluminensis, but treat luctuosa as a subspecies of Myrmotherula axillaris (White-flanked Antwren) – a species also recognised by IOC and BirdLife.

See above. I think you've got one heading without text and one text lacking a a heading.
MJB

 

[Xenospiza]

Pallas’s and Reed Bunting

IOC, Clements and BirdLife recognise Emberiza pallasi (Pallas’s Bunting) and Emberiza schoeniclus (Reed Bunting). However, the division of these species varies at subspecies level with one subspecies impacted.

Subspecies minor

• IOC and Clements treat minor as a subspecies of Emberiza pallasi.
• BirdLife treat minor as subspecies of Emberiza schoeniclus.

I cannot help to decrease the confusion.
From Byers, Olsson, Curson, Buntings and Sparrows, 1995: "E. s. minor (Transbaikalia to Manchuria) It is not quite clear whether this is a valid subspecies or a synonym of pyrrhulina. There is also some confusion as to whether the name minor should be attributed to a race of Pallas's Reed Bunting or of Common Reed Bunting. However, the original, rather inadequate, description does mention rufous edges to upper-wing coverts, and thus obviously to E. schoeniclus."

The original description (a small Reed Bunting) seems more fitting to Pallas's Reed Bunting though:

Bd.2:T.2 (1853) - Reise in den äussersten Norden und Osten Sibiriens während der Jahre 1843 und 1844 mit Allerhöchster Genehmigung auf Veranstaltung der Kaiserlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu St. Petersburg ausgeführt und in Verbindung mit viele

The Biodiversity Heritage Library works collaboratively to make biodiversity literature openly available to the world as part of a global biodiversity community.

www.biodiversitylibrary.org

(page 145, in German).

 

[Welsh Peregrine]

See above. I think you've got one heading without text and one text lacking a a heading.
MJB

I think the Spiderhunter heading is repeated.

 

[Mysticete]

The Golden-bellied/Golden-crowned Flycatcher situation will be resolved in the next chunk of IOC updates. It's mentioned under subspecies (I think) changes on the update page.

 

[awiner]

Feels like deja vu here: my tools for Scythebill output this set of taxonomic warnings (for just the pair of IOC and Clements, since I don't support Birdlife):

IOC Green-breasted Mango (A.p.iridescens) maps to Black-throated Mango (Ecuadorian), but parent maps to Green-breasted Mango
IOC Barking Owl (N.c.remigialis) maps to Southern Boobook (Boobook) (N.b.remigialis), but parent maps to Barking Owl
IOC Golden-crowned Flycatcher (M.c.minor) maps to Golden-bellied Flycatcher (M.h.minor), but parent maps to Golden-crowned Flycatcher
IOC Golden-crowned Flycatcher (M.c.cinerascens) maps to Golden-bellied Flycatcher (M.h.cinerascens), but parent maps to Golden-crowned Flycatcher
IOC Tropical Scrubwren (S.b.idenburgi) maps to Large Scrubwren (S.n.idenburgi), but parent maps to Tropical Scrubwren
IOC Common Cicadabird (E.t.matthiae) maps to Common Cicadabird (Melanesian) (E.t.matthiae), but parent maps to Common Cicadabird (Slender-billed)/(Obi)/(Moluccan)/(Geelvink)/(Rossel)
IOC Common Cicadabird (E.t.heinrothi) maps to Common Cicadabird (Melanesian) (E.t.heinrothi), but parent maps to Common Cicadabird (Slender-billed)/(Obi)/(Moluccan)/(Geelvink)/(Rossel)
IOC Common Cicadabird (E.t.rooki) maps to Common Cicadabird (Melanesian) (E.t.rooki), but parent maps to Common Cicadabird (Slender-billed)/(Obi)/(Moluccan)/(Geelvink)/(Rossel)
IOC Hair-crested Drongo (D.h.viridinitens) maps to Sumatran Drongo (Mentawai), but parent maps to Hair-crested Drongo
IOC Balicassiao (D.b.samarensis) maps to Hair-crested Drongo (Short-tailed) (D.h.samarensis), but parent maps to Balicassiao
IOC Balicassiao (D.b.striatus) maps to Hair-crested Drongo (Short-tailed) (D.h.striatus), but parent maps to Balicassiao
IOC Rock Martin (P.f.pusilla) maps to Rock Martin (Pale Crag-Martin) (P.f.pusilla), but parent maps to Rock Martin (Red-throated)/(Large)

There's also an assortment of eBird "groups", considered distinctive enough to warrant explicit entry, which don't even warrant a subspecies in IOC (all lumped with other subspecies, as best I can tell):

• Band-rumped Swift (aethalea)
• Dark-winged Trumpeter (XIngu)
• Red-tailed Hawk (Krider's), (socorroensis), and (solitudinus)
• Buff-throated Foliage-gleaner (amusos)
• Slaty-capped Flycatcher (transandinus)
• Island Thrush (Ashy)
• Red Crossbill (Crimean)
• Bell's Sparrow (clementeae)

 

[Paul Clapham]

Cicadabird has been a mess for years now. Even if you just look at the history in the Clements list you'll see the differences you described play out from year to year. Latest change: Subspecies remota was incorrectly changed to remotus when the species name was changed from Coracina (feminine) to Edolisoma (neuter) in version 6.7 (2012) and corrected to remotum this year.

And the Rock Martins: I sort of recall that there was a name priority issue regarding pusilla. And looking at the various lists I can't really figure out what the real-life range of that subspecies is.

 

[Jon.Bryant]

See above. I think you've got one heading without text and one text lacking a a heading.
MJB

I think the Spiderhunter heading is repeated.

Apologies. The repeat heading for the Spiderhunters is a mistake. The text should read

Silvery-flanked, White-flanked and Rio de Janeiro Antwren

BirdLife treats Myrmotherula luctuosa (Silvery-flanked Antwren) as a monotypic species. Taxonomic Notes state ‘Form described as M.fluminensis was initially thought by some to be perhaps a hybrid M.unicolor × luctuosa (Sibley 1990) and later considered possibly a variant of luctuosa (Teixeira 1997); recently obtained recordings of voice confirm that it is, indeed, a variant of luctuosa (Mallet-Rodrigues 2008a).’

However, IOC recognise Myrmotherula luctuosa and Myrmotherula fluminensis (Rio de Janeiro Antwren) as separate species.

Clements also recognises Myrmotherula fluminensis, but treat luctuosa as a subspecies of Myrmotherula axillaris (White-flanked Antwren) – a species also recognised by IOC and BirdLife.

 

[Jon.Bryant]

Feels like deja vu here: my tools for Scythebill output this set of taxonomic warnings (for just the pair of IOC and Clements, since I don't support Birdlife):

I really should download and take a look Scythebill. When you mention 'my tools for Scythebill' are you referring to user tools, or separate tools you have developed for admin purposes?

BirdLife Taxonomy doesn't have the greatest following in the bird watching community, so I understand why you don't support them with your software. However, I think it is a bit of a shame their taxonomy is not use by more people, they are after all responsible for defining the conservation status of every bird species in the world.

I think that when BirdLife made their big update in c2017, they became to an extent trial blazers. I haven't done the stats, so it is just my feeling from working through the my mapping files, but I think that Clements latest mods align more with BirdLife than they do IOC. It will be interesting to work out the stats for the IOC update in January - how many changes will be pioneering, how many will result in unification, how many will align the IOC taxonomy with Clements and how many align the IOC taxonomy with BirdLife?

I think BirdLife lost ground some time back. Not having subspecies details in the early versions also made the list less appealing and the lack of range information is a hindrance to this date. I did offer to try and solve the latter issue - I had previously rather cheekily written a webscraper to capture subspecies and range information from HBW Alive, and ran the programme immediately before the product was migrated over to Cornell. I have used the captured data to create version 6B of the taxonomy with range data appended. BirdLife would obviously need to resolve any copyright issues in legally using this data in a published list. However, when I contacted them, I think their greatest concern was setting a precedence and then having to maintaining and updating range information in the future.

 

[awiner]

I really should download and take a look Scythebill. When you mention 'my tools for Scythebill' are you referring to user tools, or separate tools you have developed for admin purposes?

BirdLife Taxonomy doesn't have the greatest following in the bird watching community, so I understand why you don't support them with your software. However, I think it is a bit of a shame their taxonomy is not use by more people, they are after all responsible for defining the conservation status of every bird species in the world.

I think that when BirdLife made their big update in c2017, they became to an extent trial blazers. I haven't done the stats, so it is just my feeling from working through the my mapping files, but I think that Clements latest mods align more with BirdLife than they do IOC. It will be interesting to work out the stats for the IOC update in January - how many changes will be pioneering, how many will result in unification, how many will align the IOC taxonomy with Clements and how many align the IOC taxonomy with BirdLife?

I think BirdLife lost ground some time back. Not having subspecies details in the early versions also made the list less appealing and the lack of range information is a hindrance to this date. I did offer to try and solve the latter issue - I had previously rather cheekily written a webscraper to capture subspecies and range information from HBW Alive, and ran the programme immediately before the product was migrated over to Cornell. I have used the captured data to create version 6B of the taxonomy with range data appended. BirdLife would obviously need to resolve any copyright issues in legally using this data in a published list. However, when I contacted them, I think their greatest concern was setting a precedence and then having to maintaining and updating range information in the future.

The tools are purely admin tools. I hide this sort of mess from users to the greatest extent possible - they're supposed to get transparent mappings - though occasionally the underlying mess bleeds through if people pay very close attention, e.g. I cheat and add a nigropunctatus subspecies to the Clements taxonomy. It's open-source, so the source code is freely available (but I can't say I'm proud of the tools - they're a mess of good-enough heuristics that get augmented at taxonomic update time with manual effort.)

I've considered supporting BirdLife, but it's a lot of extra work and very few people have asked. As I'm sure you can appreciate as well as anyone, keeping the taxonomic mappings up-to-date is the most work-intensive part of supporting Scythebill. (Second up is dealing with false reports from Windows antivirus software. Sigh.) From my standpoint, the important thing is the Red List codes, which can largely be extrapolated for Clements and IOC. (I live in fear of the day someone asks me to support the AOS taxonomy, given that technically a Bermuda birder who ticked both the African and Gray-headed Swamphens would need to report them as just Purple Swamphen for anyone reporting an AOS Area - North list to the ABA!)

 

[Melanie]

Amazilia alfaroana remains an enigma as it only known from one specimen. It might be extinct.

The 'foremost ornithological mystery of Costa Rica': Amazilia alfaroana Underwood, 1896 - PubMed

The hummingbird Amazilia alfaroana is known from a single specimen, collected on the Volcán de Miravalles, in north-west Costa Rica, in September 1895. Since the early 20th century, the taxon has been almost always been treated as a subspecies of Indigo-capped Hummingbird A. cyanifrons, which is...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

 

[Jon.Bryant]

Amazilia alfaroana remains an enigma as it only known from one specimen. It might be extinct.

Yes. I think also quite a few are similar - e.g. that rara race of the Honeyeater, and White-tailed Tityra to name but two.

This is why I said some of the changed don’t have a real consequence for modern ornithology - assuming the enigma is lost to science.

I should probably create another subset of the list - messy taxonomy that matters to ornithology today.

 

[TicoTyler]

Amazilia alfaroana remains an enigma as it only known from one specimen. It might be extinct.

The 'foremost ornithological mystery of Costa Rica': Amazilia alfaroana Underwood, 1896 - PubMed

The hummingbird Amazilia alfaroana is known from a single specimen, collected on the Volcán de Miravalles, in north-west Costa Rica, in September 1895. Since the early 20th century, the taxon has been almost always been treated as a subspecies of Indigo-capped Hummingbird A. cyanifrons, which is...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

I'm always hoping this one will show up, but it very likely is extinct. I do hope they're eventually able to do some DNA work on the one specimen that was collected. Conversely, the area it was collected in is one of the least birded areas of Costa Rica. The entire Miravalles Volcano is in a National Park without any recognized trails. And Costa Rica's National Park restrictions mean you can't enter anywhere that's not an official trail. eBird map of Hot Spots in the area around the Volcano:



I really want to go there sometime to try to document the eisenmanni subspecies of Fiery-throated Hummingbird, which I am the Birds of the World author for. There were only three photos of this subspecies (which is quite morphologically distinct from the nominate) and one audio recording all from clandestine birders. So I still have a glimmer of hope that somewhere hidden on that rarely visited volcano a miniscule population of Amazilia alfaroana might be hiding still. I also hope Clement's/eBird recognizes it as having been a species as the morphological evidence clearly points that way. The only question would be if the location of collection was mislabled.

 

[James Lowther]

Going from memory here, but

Cyornis ssp. klossi is listed as a subspecies of blue-throated blue flycatcher by Dickinson and a subspecies of Hainan BFC on other lists.

Square-tailed/Fork-tailed Drongo Cuckoo is a real mess

Cheers
James

 

[dnsallen]

Going from memory here, but

Cyornis ssp. klossi is listed as a subspecies of blue-throated blue flycatcher by Dickinson and a subspecies of Hainan BFC on other lists.

Square-tailed/Fork-tailed Drongo Cuckoo is a real mess

Cheers
James

Garg, K.M., Yin Gwee, C., Chattopadhyay, B., Ng, N.S., Prawiradilaga, D.M., David,G., Fuchs, J., Le Manh, H., Martinez, J., Olsson, U., Tan Tu, V., Chhin, S., Alström, P., Lei, F., Rheindt, F.E.,When colors mislead: genomics and bioacoustics prompt re-classification of Asian flycatcher radiation (Aves:Niltavinae), Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution (2023)
place klossi in hainanus:
'C. h. klossi Robinson, 1921 – see Zhang et al. (2016) and Ng et al. (2022) for reassignment of this taxon from C. rubeculoides to C. hainanus'

 

[James Lowther]

Yes I think this is just a case where Dickinson takes a while to catch up
James