NAMES >> Index

1. The Passeriformes, or perching birds, include the majority of world bird species; parrots are the sister group of the perching birds (Hackett et al. 2008)
2. Stiphrornis erythrothorax (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) was previously split into S. erythrothorax, S. sanghensis, S. gabonensis and S. xanthogaster following Beresford and Cracraft (1999), but this treatment is no longer accepted following a review by the BirdLife Taxonomic Working Group. This is because the plumage differences are relatively slight and while DNA data suggests fairly substantial isolation of these taxa, the sampling was from one locality each, fairly distant from the next. Moreover, vocal analysis was inconclusive as to the degree of difference between sanghensis and other taxa. Finally, it is not clear whether there is intergradation or parapatry where the taxa meet; there is mention of apparent intergradation in Cameroon. Collar (2005) took the view that it is premature to regard these taxa as four different species, a view followed by the BirdLife Taxonomic Working Group, at least for the present.
3. Stiphrornis erythrothorax includes ssp pyrrholaemus, gabonensis, xanthogaster, sanghensis (BLI, cf Schmidt et al. 2008)
4. CHANGE: English name of Sheppardia bocagei from Bocage's Robin to Bocage's Akalat to conform to current usage (Keith, Urban, Fry 1992, Dickinson 2003)
5. Tarsiger rufilatus is split from T. cyanurus (Rasmussen & Anderton 2005)
6. CHANGE: English name of Cossypha isabellae to Mountain Robin-Chat to follow Birds of Africa
7. Separate all species of Cercomacra except podobe to Erythropygia (Collar 2005, BLI)
8. Copsychus albiventris is split from C. malabaricus (Rasmussen & Anderton 2005)
9. CHANGE: English name of Brachypteryx major from White-bellied Shortwing to Nilgiri Blue Robin and relocated to genus Myiomela;erroneously placed in Brachypteryx.
10. Myiomela albiventris is split from M. (Brachypteryx) major (Rasmussen & Anderton 2005)
11. CHANGE: English name of Saxicola dacotiae to Canary Islands Stonechat to conform to prevailing usage and documentation that it is imbedded in the phylogeny of 'stonechats' (Zink et al 2009).
12. Saxicola rubicola is split from S.torquatus (Wittmann et al. 1995, Wink et al. 2002); under review by BLI.
13. Saxicola maurus is split from S.torquatus (Wittmann et al. 1995, Wink et al. 2002); under review by BLI.
14. CHANGE: English name of nominate Saxicola torquatus from European Stonechat to African Stonechat, with split of S.rubicola and S.maurus."Stonechat" is traditionally spelled as one word, not two words
15. Separate Buff-streaked Chat from other species of Saxicola to Campicoloides (Collar 2005)
16. Move Blackstart from Cercomela to Oenanthe (Outlaw et al 2009)
17. Separate Moorland Chat from other species of Cercomela to Pinarochroa
18. Separate White-fronted Black Chat and Arnot's Chat from other species of Myrmecocichla to Pentholaea (Collar 2005)
19. Merge species of Madagascar rock thrushes (Pseudocossyphus) into Monticola (Outlaw et al 2007, Collar 2005, BLI)
20. Recent papers do not support previous splits of Amber Mountain Rock Thrush or Benson's Rock Thrush, now included in Forest Rock Thrush (Outlaw et al 2007, Zuccon and Ericson 2010)
21. Melaenornis ardesiacus is mistakenly labelled Yellow-eyed Black Thrush in Version 1.0
22. Rhinomyias nicobaricus is split from R. brunneatus (Rasmussen & Anderton 2005)
23. CHANGE: English name of Ficedula elisae from incorrect Chinese Flycatcher to Green-backed Flycatcher
24. Ficedula riedeli is split from F.dumetoria (Rufous-chested Flycatcher)(Outlaw & Voelker 2006)
25. CORRECT: Scientific name to Cyornis ruckii
26. Cyornis magnirostris is split from C. banyumas (Rasmussen & Anderton 2005)
27. Separate White-gorgeted Flycatcher and Rufous-browed Flycatcher from Ficedula to Anthipes placed before Niltava (Outlaw & Voelker 2006)