Taxonomy

Analysis of avian DNA, biometrics and vocalisations add to our understanding of bird species all the time. We cover all the 'splits', lumps and discoveries.

Taxonomy

A birder's guide to the new-look Rufous Antpitta complex

Alex Berryman summarises the outcome of a major taxonomic update, in which two species became 15.

28/07/2020

Taxonomy

North American corvids are lumped

A new study concludes that Northwestern Crow shows very little overall difference to American Crow.

13/07/2020

Taxonomy

Genetics confirm subalpine warbler complex as three species

A comprehensive taxonomic revision of the group recommends the split of Eastern and Western Subalpine Warblers.

07/05/2020

Taxonomy

A trio of new tapaculos for Peru

A study has formally described three new species of tapaculo, each of which is endemic to the bird-rich South American nation.

10/03/2020

Western Palearctic

Rüppell's Vulture breeding with Griffon Vulture in Spain

Hybridisation has been suspected in the past, but new evidence appears to prove the theory beyond doubt.

23/01/2020

Ornithology

Study reaffirms Iberian Green Woodpecker species status

Hybridisation with Green Woodpecker was found to be minimal.

26/11/2019

General birding

Rarity finders: Steller's Eider in Orkney

Don and Sandra Otter were in for a major surprise when their local patch became a temporary home for an extremely rare Arctic duck.

01/11/2019

General birding

Apparent hybrid Grey × Purple Heron in Western Sahara

Very few examples of this mixed pairing have been fully documented in the past.

31/10/2019

Taxonomy

'New' flowerpecker species described from Borneo

Spectacled Flowerpecker was initially discovered in 2009, but only trapped for genetic testing earlier this year.

24/10/2019

Taxonomy

Torrent Duck: one species or three?

A new study has found significant genetic differences between certain populations of the idiosyncratic Andean duck.

05/10/2019

Taxonomy

Canary Islands Oystercatcher was not a distinct species

DNA testing has provided a surprising conclusion on the taxonomic status of the extinct shorebird.

16/09/2019

Ornithology

Cox's Sandpiper: the species that never was

A rare wader described from Australia was at the heart of a puzzle that took decades to solve. David Callahan tells the story of the rise...

10/09/2019

Latest Rarities

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18/09/2020 22:17	Western Cattle Egret Cornwall Details
18/09/2020 22:08	Wryneck Norfolk Details
18/09/2020 21:54	Pectoral Sandpiper Outer Hebrides Details
18/09/2020 21:53	Common Rosefinch Shetland Details
18/09/2020 21:51	Barred Warbler Shetland Details