Latest IOC Diary Updates (8 Viewers)

[Swindon Addick]

Western Yellow-billed Barbet Trachyphonus goffinii (including togoensis) is split from (Eastern) Yellow-billed Barbet Trachyphonus purpuratus (including elgonensis) based on differences in morphology and deep mtDNA divergence (Moyle 2004; del Hoyo & Collar 2014; HBW/BirdLife).

Western being Sierra Leone to Togo, Eastern being bits of Nigeria and all points south-east of that. The Birdlife distribution maps suggest there a clear break between the two, the gap being a Yellow-billed Barbet-free zone.

 

[Jacana]

So if I'm reading the spreadsheet right that's Taiwan, China and the Himalayas in the new species, with the very northern bit of China and the entire of the rest of the world remaining as Spotted.

That's my reading of it too. Southern reaches as far as Beijing.

 

[Paul Clapham]

Mar 15 Post split of Vella Lavella Monarch from Kolombangara Monarch.

Mar 15 Post split of Malaita Monarch from Solomons Monarch.

 

[Andy Adcock]

I can attest to the fact that the ones in Taiwan are visibly different, I wonder, given their isolation, if they could be further split?

So if I'm reading the spreadsheet right that's Taiwan, China and the Himalayas in the new species, with the very northern bit of China and the entire of the rest of the world remaining as Spotted.

Sula and Sulawesi into one species, the rest of the world remains Slender-billed. Except the 2 subspecies split off in 2021, which are now 2 species.

Here's the Birdlife map

Southern Nutcracker (Nucifraga hemispila) - BirdLife species factsheet

 

[MJB]

So if I'm reading the spreadsheet right that's Taiwan, China and the Himalayas in the new species, with the very northern bit of China and the entire of the rest of the world remaining as Spotted.

Except for Kashmir Nutcracker N. multipunctata...
MJB

 

[Larry Sweetland]

Mar 15 Post split of Vella Lavella Monarch from Kolombangara Monarch.

Mar 15 Post split of Malaita Monarch from Solomons Monarch.

There appears to be a lot more interest in the nutcracker split than these 😆

 

[Acanthis]

A noteworthy elimination of 4 English name patronyms, all of which honour European or US persons for Indo-Chinese birds (the great French ornithologist Verreaux should need no introduction; from google of the others, looks like another French scientist, a US geologist and a Hungarian nobleman).

I refer to the other BF discussions on that topic...

Oh God! Those replacements are almost instantly forgettable!

 

[Swindon Addick]

Oh God! Those replacements are almost instantly forgettable!

The IOC's stated reason for the change is "to align with other major world bird lists", so unless you think the IOC have transcribed one of the names incorrectly, all complaints should be directed to the people behind those other lists rather than the IOC. The new names may be forgettable, but the old ones had already been forgotten.

 

[Mysticete]

I am not going to feel too bad about losing Szechenyi's Monal-Partridge, given the likelihood of me completely garbling that name in pronunciation...

 

[Acanthis]

The IOC's stated reason for the change is "to align with other major world bird lists", so unless you think the IOC have transcribed one of the names incorrectly, all complaints should be directed to the people behind those other lists rather than the IOC. The new names may be forgettable, but the old ones had already been forgotten.

Oh no one is going to listen to my quiet little plea for better thought-out, more memorable names😊
If I ever get to see these species I'll probably wind up using the scientific names on my life list.

Maybe its just a personal psychological trait.
To give an example, I have seen 2 species of chat-tyrant: d'Orbigny's and..... the other one😂
The first I'll always remember - cool-sounding name!
Who was d'Orbigny? Couldn't care less!

The second I just now went to BotW to check. "White-browed "
Terrible name as its not the only chat-tyrant with a white brow, but it does I believe translate the species name "leucophrys".
Fair enough but it does smack of laziness.

Incidentally the Spanish names translate I believe to 'Cinnamon Chat-tyrant' and 'Grey/Gray Chat-tyrant' respectively, and these IMO are better names if replacements were needed.
Well let's face it 'd'Orbigny's' has a target painted on it.

Anyway, apologies for my little tangent

 

[Mysticete]

Mar 16 Post split of Babar Whistler from Yellow-throated Whistler.

 

[Acanthis]

I am not going to feel too bad about losing Szechenyi's Monal-Partridge, given the likelihood of me completely garbling that name in pronunciation...

Come on, it's Hungarian maybe?
Not too difficult 🤣🤣🤣

 

[James Lowther]

I think it’s not too bad, something like Sechenyee

James

 

[James Lowther]

This does raise the question as to how an alt-right birder is supposed to feel about patronymics originating in difficult to pronounce foreign languages?

Confusing!

Cheers
James

 

[Andy Adcock]

I'd like to ask why the IOC seem to be making all the concessions in regard to naming?

 

[njlarsen]

I'd like to ask why the IOC seem to be making all the concessions in regard to naming?

I don't think they are. I have seen similar wordings ("name changed to align with major checklists" or something similar) in the 2023 Clements checklist and expect to see more in the next one.
Niels

 

[Andy Adcock]

I don't think they are. I have seen similar wordings ("name changed to align with major checklists" or something similar) in the 2023 Clements checklist and expect to see more in the next one.
Niels

Fair enough if that's the case but there does seem to be the familiar attack on eponyms in particular.

 

[l_raty]

The IOC's stated reason for the change is "to align with other major world bird lists", so unless you think the IOC have transcribed one of the names incorrectly, all complaints should be directed to the people behind those other lists rather than the IOC.

This is a very strange argument.
Already tried to argue with a cop that you were speeding "to align your speed with that of the three other drivers" present on the road, so that all the blame should be directed to them rather than you? Did it work?
"To align with other major world bird lists" on any issue related to English names, is entirely a choice made by the IOC.

 

[Jacana]

Mar 16 Post split of monotypic Tahiti Swallow and polytypic Pacific Swallow.

 

[Jacana]

I'd like to ask why the IOC seem to be making all the concessions in regard to naming?

I'm not sure they are? It's just that we see IOC updates more frequently than we see updates from other authorities.