Potential Palearctic splits (1 Viewer)

[Scopoli]

Shore Lark, Scops Owl and Magpie (and indeed Crossbills!) have all been at least superficially covered in the previous articles I've written over the past year or so, hence their exclusion in the current one.

Bearing in mind that the articles only really cover potential splits in Western Palearctic birds (including vagrants, but largely excluding the non-traditionally WP area of the Arabian peninsula), I couldn't find much published evidence to support splits in Red-rumped Swallow (which I certainly considered), and I'm not sure the others have been seriously considered within those parameters.

Having said that, I'm happy to have these and other hyptothetical splits pointed out, and I'm particularly keen to be pushed in the direction of references and evidence. I'm sure I've ommitted some out of ignorance, though all the accounts are of course limited by space considerations.

Cheers
D

 

[Mohamed Amezian]

O halophila was recognised by Dutch Birding in Jan 2002, citing Svensson et al 2000, (and later also by UK400 Club and OSME), presumably based upon differences in morphology and presence of sexual dimorphism.

But Förschler et al 2010 has subsequently concluded that there is actually significantly greater genetic divergence between lugens & persica than between lugens & halophila, suggesting that the split of halophila may have been premature. IOC now lists O persica as a proposed split – perhaps others will follow...

Richard

Thanks Richard,

So O. halophila was recognised years before the Förschler et al (2010) study.

 

[Jos Stratford]

Any talk of status or possible split of Mesopotamian Crow - isolated population of Hooded Crows in marshlands of Mesopotamia, southern Iraq/Iran? Visually quite distinctive, the greys replaced by a pale almost white colour, making them look close to Pied Crows.

 

[Richard Klim]

Mesopotamian Cow

Any talk of status or possible split of Mesopotamian Crow - isolated population of Hooded Crows in marshlands of Mesopotamia, southern Iraq/Iran? Visually quite distinctive, the greys replaced by a pale almost white colour, making them look close to Pied Crows.

Madge & Burn 1994 (Crows & Jays), Porter & Aspinall 2010 (Birds of the Middle East) and OSME treat Corvus (cornix) capellanus as a potential species.

Madge 2009 (HBW14) also comments that capellanus "may well have evolved to full species level".

But I'm not aware of any recent studies.

Richard

 

[Mohamed Amezian]

Tropical relict “subspecies” in the WP

What about the isolated populations of tropical (mainly Ethiopian) species in the W Palearctic, they were traditionally described as distinct subspecies, but I presume that most of these “subspecies” are poorly differentiated. I am thinking, for instance, about Dark Chanting Goshawk, Double-spurred Francolin, Arabian Bustard, Marsh Owl, Brown-throated Sand Martin, Small Buttonquail ... However, my knowledge about these species is limited to the fact that “they are either already extinct or in the edge of extinction in the WP”. Is there any of these "subspecies" that may deserves to be in the “the speculative list”?

regards,

 

[Richard Klim]

Tropical relict "subspecies" in the WP

What about the isolated populations of tropical (mainly Ethiopian) species in the W Palearctic, they were traditionally described as distinct subspecies, but I presume that most of these "subspecies" are poorly differentiated. I am thinking, for instance, about Dark Chanting Goshawk, Double-spurred Francolin, Arabian Bustard, Marsh Owl, Brown-throated Sand Martin, Small Buttonquail ...
Is there any of these "subspecies" that may deserves to be in the “the speculative list”?

Of the examples you've given...

The latest Dutch Birding bird names (2010/07/08) lists Riparia paludicola mauritanica 'Moroccan Brown-throated Martin' as a "distinct subspecies... sometimes... considered specifically distinct".

Richard

 

[Richard Klim]

References

Callahan 2010. Taxonomy: Wonders of the Orient. Birdwatch 220 (Oct 2010): 30-33.

A full list of references consulted will reportedly be posted on the Birdwatch website:
www.birdwatch.co.uk

References now posted:
http://www.birdwatch.co.uk/categories/articleitem.asp?cate=24&topic=120&item=644

Richard

 

[Daniel Philippe]

References now posted:
http://www.birdwatch.co.uk/categories/articleitem.asp?cate=24&topic=120&item=644

I think that "Fadeev, V. 2008. Mitochondrial DNA data imply a stepping-stone colonization of Beringia by Arctic Warbler Phylloscopus borealis. Journal of Avian Biology 39:567-575." should read "Reeves, A. B. et al. ..."

... and "Kylin, H, Louette, M, Herroelen, P and Bouwman, H. 2010. Ornis Fennica 87: 1-8" should read "Kylin, H, Louette, M, Herroelen, P and Bouwman, H. 2010. Nominate Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Larus fuscus fuscus) winter in the Congo basin. Ornis Fennica 87: 1-8."

 

[chris butterworth]

A good paper that seems to indicate that North African Short-toed Treecreeper could be a "full species". Teitze, D.T., Martens, J., Sun, Y.-H. ( 2006 ) Molecular phylogeny of treecreepers ( Certhia ) detects hidden diversity. Ibis, 148: 477-488.

Chris

 

[Richard Klim]

Short-toed Treecreeper

A good paper that seems to indicate that North African Short-toed Treecreeper could be a "full species".
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1474-919X.2006.00547.x/abstract

Harrap 2008 (HBW13) comments "N African race mauritanica exhibits moderately well-marked genetic and also vocal differences from European races and may merit separate species status". Tietze 2007 (PhD thesis) is cited.

And van den Berg 2010 (Dutch Birding bird names) lists mauritanica 'Maghreb Short-toed Treecreeper' as a distinct ssp sometimes considered specifically distinct.

Richard

 

[Daniel Philippe]

Tietze 2007 (PhD thesis) is cited.

There

 

[Richard Klim]

Hodgson's Treecreeper

Tietze 2007 (PhD thesis) is cited.

There

Thanks, Daniel. I hadn't realised before that kwanhsienensis Kleinschmidt & Weigold, 1922 (Kwanhsien, now Dujiangyan, Sichuan), usually synonymised with khamensis, is revalidated - even though the only specimens date from 1914/1915!

Richard (sorry, somewhat beyond the scope of David's article. )

 

[Scopoli]

(sorry, somewhat beyond the scope of David's article. )

Perhaps, but 'Moroccan Short-toed Treecreeper' was mentioned in passing in the North African splits article in June's Birdwatch. Rumour has it that the Sound Approach may be writing about 'Maghreb' forms soon.

Again, no room to discuss in the magazine, but I believe there is some informal debate over other forms such as this:

http://www.kasparek-verlag.de/PDF Abstracts/PDF46 Abstracts/037-040 Forschler.pdf

In any case, European Certhia's are probably not 'done' yet ...

Cheers
D

 

[Ian Lewis]

'Rumour has it that the Sound Approach may be writing about 'Maghreb' forms soon.'

I believe that such a book has been proposed, 'Going Dutch' was a suggested title, but I don't think work has even started on it yet.

The Sound Approaches next book is by Mark Constantine and will be on Poole Harbour, due early next year. I believe WP Owls should follow in due course.

Ian

 

[MJB]

Genetic control mechanism(s) in 'black' and 'grey' crows

Madge & Burn 1994 (Crows & Jays), Porter & Aspinall 2010 (Birds of the Middle East) and OSME treat Corvus (cornix) capellanus as a potential species.

Madge 2009 (HBW14) also comments that capellanus "may well have evolved to full species level".

But I'm not aware of any recent studies.

Richard

Richard,
Haring et al 2007 have a fair bit to say about possible mechanisms that could account for geographically-separated populations of crows having or not having grey in their plumage.

Haring, E, A Gamauf and A Kryukov. 2007. Phylogeographic patterns in widespread corvid birds. Mol. Phyl. Evol. 45: 840-862.

 

[Richard Klim]

Crows

Haring et al 2007 have a fair bit to say about possible mechanisms that could account for geographically-separated populations of crows having or not having grey in their plumage.
Haring, E, A Gamauf and A Kryukov. 2007. Phylogeographic patterns in widespread corvid birds. Mol. Phyl. Evol. 45: 840-862.

Thanks, Mike - I'd forgotten/overlooked that paper.

Richard

 

[MJB]

Splits in Acrocephalus warblers

Thanks, Mike - I'd forgotten/overlooked that paper.

Richard

Richard,
On the same theme, but perhaps it deserves a new thread, I've just had sight of a review copy of Reed & Bush Warblers (Kennerley & Pearson 2010), and the splits relate, quite properly in my view, to the extent of work done on researching populations/taxa, and so are a mix of adventurous and conservative, but the book on a single scan appears a true magnum opus.
It will take me ages to absorb the main points!
They have managed to cover material published in recent months.
However, I hear that there may be some problem with the stock, but I don't know if this is damage or a problem from production - there may be some delay.

 

[Richard Klim]

Acros

...I've just had sight of a review copy of Reed & Bush Warblers (Kennerley & Pearson 2010)...

I've been eagerly looking forward to its publication for several years now - hoping it really will be 2010 - A&C Black's current catalogue states November, but dates usually slip...
Probably the ultimate LBJ guide!

Richard

 

[Richard Klim]

Article online

Callahan 2010. Taxonomy: Wonders of the Orient. Birdwatch 220 (Oct 2010): 30-33.
David Callahan briefly outlines potential Asian and Middle Eastern splits.

Article now posted on the Birdwatch website:
www.birdwatch.co.uk/categories/articleitem.asp?cate=24&topic=120&item=725

Richard

 

[SzimiStyle]

How will Charadrius mongolus mongolus be named then? Mongolian Plover? Any background info of the proposed splitting?

Best, Szimi