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.

Continental Egyptian Vultures like this bird are now quantifiably distinct from those of the Canary Islands. Photo: Kousik Nandy (commons.wikimedia.org)

Ornithology

Egyptian Vulture's rapid change

Genetic analysis of Egyptian Vultures on the Canary Islands has potentially revealed just how rapidly a distinct form can evolve.

09/06/2011

Socotra Buzzards, like this adult, specialise in reptiles and invertebrates; here it is tackling a venomous Scolopendra centipede. Photo: R F Porter (with permission).

Taxonomy

Socotra Buzzard declared separate species from Common

A buzzard form known for over 100 years has been declared a 'good' species in a recent paper.

09/06/2011

This female Magnificent Frigatebird photographed in Antigua should be well within the genetic mainstream of its species. Photo: Charlesjsharp (commons.wikimedia.org).

Taxonomy

Galápagos frigatebird gain

The island isolation so important in the speciation of tubenoses now appears to be playing a greater role than thought in the evolution of...

09/05/2011

The Little Shrike-thrush of the subspecies group rufogaster could find itself with more relatives soon. Glen Fergus (common.wikimedia.org)

Taxonomy

Little Shrike-thrush reveals its hidden diversity

David Callahan outlines a new study of the shrike-thrushes that has found much hidden diversity.

09/05/2011

White-tipped Dove is one of the several species likely to be split after new research. photo: Tim Whitehouse (commons.wikimedia.org).

Taxonomy

Doves from above?

A genetic study to evaluate dispersal between North and South america has identified potential new species among American doves.

09/05/2011

Finn Danielsen extracts a Bronze Ground-dove from a mist-net on Makira island in the Solomons - note the prominent eye-ring, often omitted from illustrations. Photo: Knud Andreas Jonsson

Taxonomy

Bleeding-hearts broken

The ground-doves of the Indo-Pacific have now been found to consist of two distinct lineages.

24/03/2011

While Water Rail (above) is genetically consistent across its Eurasian range, eastern birds have now been confirmed as a separate species. Photo: Steve Garvie (commons.wikimedia.org).

Taxonomy

Twin rails travel apart

Water Rail has now been shown to consist of two sister species.

22/03/2011

Arctic Warbler, like this nominate bird at Spurn, East Yorks, in August 2003, is the only species in the complex likely to occur in Britain. Photo: Steve Young (www.birdsonfilm.com).

Taxonomy

Arctic warbler split in three

As anticipated, Arctic Warbler has now been split into three cryptic species due to differences in genetics.

17/03/2011

Cory's Shearwater, taken from a Scilly Pelagic, 5 August 2005. Photo by Ben Lascelles.

Taxonomy

Seabird splits

Having speculated about transatlantic, Macaronesian and Mediterranean splits, David Callahan turns to the tricky subject of potential new...

07/03/2011

The new species of Madagascan wood rail was unknowingly photographed at the Bemaraha Tsingy National Park in 2007. Photo: James Williams.

Taxonomy

Madagascar produces another new bird species.

Examination of two new specimens of wood rail from western Madagascar has resulted in a new species being named.

25/02/2011

Britain has harboured five Lesser Sand Plovers, a species which could be split. This mongolus male (Keyhaven Marshes, Hampshire, 22-26 July 2003) shows the distinctive rufous-toned breast and grey-brown flank streaks. Photo by Andy Farr.

Ornithology

Wonders of the Orient

In the final part of his examination of possible new species that could make the British, Irish and Western Palearctic lists, David...

23/02/2011

Taxonomy

New storm-petrel species found in Chile

Museum work, a 10-day pelagic expedition and a net-gun confirm a new seabird species.

22/02/2011

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