Blue-throated Hillstar (Oreotrochilus cyanolaemus) ©Sci-news

The post yesterday, I.O.C. 9.2 Update A Few Days Ago, was to inform you off the latest update. New birds aren’t usually discovered as much as the DNA studies they are providing better insight into how the birds are related. So, they like to shuffle things around, like the 5 new Families. The new species added are many times from subspecies being elevated to full species status.

Today, we will try to figure out who the new species are. As I type this, I have no clue until some investigation begins. So, Let’s Begin!

Version 9.2 (June 22, 2019)

The IOC World Bird List 9.2 contains 10,758 extant species (and 158 extinct species)  classified in 40 Orders,  250 Families and 2,320 Genera.  The list also includes 20,034 subspecies, their ranges and  authors.

Updates include:

SPECIES ADDED:                25 

SPECIES DELETED:             5

ENGLISH NAMES:              9

TAXONOMY:                         37 including  sequence of Orders,  five new Families, and genera of  Petroicidae
Add Species

I know some of this below is confusing for some, but is beneficial for many birdwatchers.

Added Species:

Stejneger’s Scoter (Melanitta stejnegeri) – Split of Stejneger’s Scoter M. stejnegeri from White-winged Scoter M. deglandi
Australian Tern (Gelochelidon macrotarsa) – Split of G. macrotarsa is based on morphological differences
Malagasy Palm Swift (Cypsiurus gracilis) – from African Palm Swift Cypsiurus parvus split
Green-headed Hillstar (Oreotrochilus stolzmanni) – Newly described species based on striking plumage differences from Andean Hillstar (Oreotrochilus estella stolzmanni)
Blue-throated Hillstar (Oreotrochilus cyanolaemus) – Newly described species based on striking plumage differences from Andean Hillstar O. (estella) stolzmanni
Indochinese Roller (Coracias affinis) – Morphologically distinct Indochinese Roller is sister to Purple-winged Roller (C. temmincki) not to Indian Roller despite narrow hybrid zone
Small-headed Elaenia (Elaenia sordida) – Elaenia sordida is split (9.2) from Highland Elaenia based on mtDNA genetics and vocal
Ceara? Woodcreeper (Xiphorhynchus atlanticus) – Split of monotypic Ceara? Woodcreeper is based on genetic, morphological and vocal distinctions
Biak Whistler (Pachycephala [Colluricincla] melanorhyncha) – The endemic Biak Little ‘Shrikethrush’ C. m. melanorhyncha is a whistler, sister to Pachycephala phaionota. Elevated from ssp Colluricincla to species of Pachycephala. Rename
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Little Shrikethrush spp Colluricincla spp – The following splits (9.2) of subspecies groups of the [Arafura] Little Shrikethrush species complex are based on genetics and morphology (Marki et al. 2018, Schodde pers. comm).
Variable Shrikethrush (Colluricincla fortis) – Arafura [Little] Shrikethrush C. megarhyncha Split (9.2) of Variable Shrikethrush includes ssp trobriandi and despecta (with neos and superflua)
Waigeo Shrikethrush (Colluricincla affinis) – Variable Shrikethrush C. fortis Split Waigeo Shrikethrush is monotypic
Mamberamo Shrikethrush (Colluricincla obscura) – Waigeo Shrikethrush C. affinis Split (9.2) of Mamberamo Shrikethrush includes ssp hybridus
Tagula Shrikethrush (Colluricincla discolor) – Split (9.2) monotypic Tagula Shrikethrush
Sepik-Ramu Shrikethrush (Colluricincla tappenbecki) -Split (9.2) of Sepik-Ramu Shrikethrush C. tappenbecki includes ssp madaraszi and maeandrina.
Rufous Shrikethrush (Colluricincla rufogaster) – Split (9.2) of Rufous Shrikethrush includes ssp griseata and goodsoni. Ssp aelptes and normani are included in goodsoni; gouldii and synaptica are included in nominate rufogaster.
Stejneger’s Scoter (Melanitta stejnegeri) – Split (9.2) of Stejneger’s Scoter M. stejnegeri from White-winged Scoter M. deglandi based on lack of hybridization and on morphological characters that include the black rather than brown flanks (deglandi also has brown tinged scapulars), a more obvious hook “nose” on stejnegeri, a longer white post-ocular mark on stejnegeri, and different bill coloration.
Australian Tern (Gelochelidon macrotarsa) – Split of G. macrotarsa is based on morphological differences (Rogers et al. 2005, HBW, Schodde pers. comm).
Malagasy Palm Swift (Cypsiurus gracilis) – Split of Malagasy Palm Swift from African Palm Swift (C. parvus) based on vocalizations and plumage coloration. Includes griveaudi on Comoro Is.
Green-headed Hillstar (Oreotrochilus stolzmanni) – Green-headed Hillstar is split from O. estella based on plumage differences and mtDNA relationship to O. melanogaster.
Blue-throated Hillstar (Oreotrochilus cyanolaemus) – Newly described species based on striking plumage differences from Andean Hillstar O. (estella) stolzmanni.. Genomic analysis of estella species complex desired. New Hummingbird Species Discovered in Ecuador
Indochinese Roller (Coracias affinis) – Morphologically distinct Indochinese Roller is sister to Purple-winged Roller (C. temmincki) not to Indian Roller despite narrow hybrid zone.
Small-headed Elaenia (Elaenia sordida) – Elaenia sordida is split (9.2) from Highland Elaenia based on mtDNA genetics and vocals (Rheindt et al. 2008, Minns 2017, HBW, SACC 806). ENG Small-headed Elaenia follows SACC.

Ceara Woodcreeper (Xiphorhynchus atlanticus) ©HBW

Ceara? Woodcreeper (Xiphorhynchus atlanticus) –  Split of monotypic Ceara? Woodcreeper is based on genetic, morphological and vocal distinctions. ENG: Ceara?
Biak Whistler (Pachycephala [Colluricincla] melanorhyncha) – The endemic Biak Little ‘Shrikethrush’ C. m. melanorhyncha is a whistler, sister to Pachycephala phaionota. Elevated from ssp Colluricincla to species of Pachycephala. Rename
Little Shrikethrush spp (Colluricincla) spp – The following splits (9.2) of subspecies groups of the [Arafura] Little Shrikethrush species complex are based on genetics and morphology, Schodde pers. comm).
Variable Shrikethrush (Colluricincla fortis) – Split (9.2) of Variable Shrikethrush includes ssp trobriandi and despecta (with neos and superflua)
Waigeo Shrikethrush (Colluricincla affinis) – Split Waigeo Shrikethrush is monotypic
Mamberamo Shrikethrush (Colluricincla obscura) – Split (9.2) of Mamberamo Shrikethrush includes ssp hybridus
Tagula Shrikethrush (Colluricincla discolor) – Split (9.2) monotypic Tagula Shrikethrush
Sepik-Ramu Shrikethrush (Colluricincla tappenbecki) – Split (9.2) of Sepik-Ramu Shrikethrush C. tappenbecki includes ssp madaraszi and maeandrina.
Rufous Shrikethrush (Colluricincla rufogaster) – Split (9.2) of Rufous Shrikethrush includes ssp griseata and goodsoni. Ssp aelptes and normani are included in goodsoni; gouldii and synaptica are included in nominate rufogaster.
Hill Blue Flycatcher (Cyornis whitei) – C. whitei is split (9.2) from C. banyumas based on genetics and vocalizations. Includes subspecies lekhakuni, deignani, coerulifrons. Note transfer of established English name Hill Blue Flycatcher to C. whitei.
Indochinese Blue Flycatcher (Cyornis sumatrensis) – Widespread Indochinese Blue Flycatcher is split (9.2) from Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher based on morphology and vocalizations. Includes sumatrensis, indochina, lamprus.
Morotai White-eye (Zosterops dehaani) – Split of Morotai White-eye Z. dehaani from Cream-throated White-eye is based on distinct plumage, exceptional dawn song and submontane/montane ecology
Wakatobi White-eye (Zosterops flavissimus) – Split of Wakatobi White-eye is based on morphology, genetics, and vocalizations (O’Connell et al. 2019)
Campina Thrush (Turdus arthuri) – Split (9.2) of Campina Thrush T. arthuri from Black-billed Thrush T. ignobilis is based on sympatry without intergradation at two Colombian localities.
Pantepui Thrush (Turdus murinus) – Pantepui Thrush is split (9.2) from Black-billed Thrush T. ignobilis based on genetic divergence
Yucatan Gnatcatcher (Polioptila albiventri) – Split (9.2) of Yucatan Gnatcatcher P. albiventris from White-lored Gnatcatcher is based on genetic and vocal distinctions
Nicholson’s Pipit (Anthus nicholsoni) – Split (9.2) of South African pops of Long-billed Pipit is based on their allopatric distributions (southern and East African populations separated by ca. 1 800 km), their non-migratory nature and their high cyt b sequence divergence values. Includes palliditinctus, leucocraspedon, petricolus, and primarius.

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Barbary Falcon now Perregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus pelegrinoides) ssp©Drew Avery

Deleted Species (I can only find 4)
Schouteden’s Swift (Schoutedenapus schoutedeni) DEL AL Scarce Swift S. myioptilus Deemed to be darker juvenile or sub-adult Scarce Swifts subspecies chapini (Fishpool 2019)
Barbary Falcon (Falco pelegrinoides) – SSP of Peregrine Falcon F. peregrinus Barbary Falcon (including subspecies babylonicus) is genetically similar to other subspecies of Peregrine Falcon and treated thus. Demoted back to SSP
Negro Stipple-throated Antwren (Epinecrophylla pyrrhonota) – SSP Negro Stipple-throated Antwren was split from [Napo] Stipple-throated Antwren, but vocalizations are identical and morphological differences slight. Demoted back to SSP
Yasuni Antwren (Epinecrophylla fjeldsaai) – SSP Yasuni Stipple-throated Antwren was split from [Napo] Stipple-throated Antwren, but vocalizations are identical and morphological differences slight. Demoted back to SSP

“He determines and counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by their names. Great is our Lord and of great power; His understanding is inexhaustible and boundless.” (Psalms 147:4-5 AMP)

If the Lord knows the names of all the stars, I wonder what names He calls the Birds by?

Still need to rework the Indexes – Stay Tuned