WARNING: Twitching discussed herein (and ultrataxa)

[Lawrie Conole <>]

So far I haven't noticed much discussion on the list about the numerical
effects of Schodde & Mason (1999) on life lists.  Of course this
is a facile point - it's essentially twitching rubbish isn't it!? 
No apologies for that - I warned you in the e-mail subject line.

Schodde the splitter has also indulged in some lumping.  Very even-handed of him really.  I had a look through the tome to see what effect it had on my list (I'd already gleaned it thoroughly for the interesting material on ultrataxa, biogeography, etc. - time for some fun now ....).  As it effects my list (spot the gaps!):

Lumpings:

• Black-eared Miner Manorina melanotis INTO Yellow-throated Miner M. flavigula (-1)
• Spotted Catbird Ailuroedus melanotis INTO Green Catbird A. crassirostris (-1)
• Tasmanian Scrubwren Sericornis humilus INTO White-browed Scrubwren Sericornis frontalis (-1)

Splits:

• Arafura Fantail Rhipidura dryas FROM Rufous Fantail R. rufifrons (+1)
• Australian Pipit Anthus australis FROM Richard's Pipit A. richardi (+1) (additional +1 to World list, as NZ A. novaeseelandiae is split as well by this logic)
• Australian Reed-Warbler Acrocephalus australis FROM Clamorous Reed-Warbler A. stentoreus (+1)
• Grey Fantail R. albiscapa FROM NZ Grey Fantail R. fuliginosa (+1 to World list; 0 to Australian list)
• Mallee Whipbird Psophodes leucogaster FROM Western Whipbird P. nigrogularis (0; as I don't have the WA Western Whipbird)
• Paperbark Flycatcher Myiagra nana FROM Restless Flycatcher M. inquieta (+1)
• Silver-backed Butcherbird Cracticus argenteus FROM Grey Butcherbird C. torquatus (+1)

Total:

• Australian list +2
• World list +4

• 486 ultrataxa
• 279 'Christidis & Boles' species

But seriously for a moment, I'd be interested to see some discussion on
how recognisable some of these ultrataxa are in the field.  Where
ultrataxa overlap we can't fall back on Schodde & Mason's excellent
maps to arbitrate.  I'm intrigued by some of the southern Victorian
ultrataxa for example - an Otways/Strezlecki population of the Brown-headed
Honeyeater.  It'll certainly change the way I look at some of these
birds.

Comments ....... ?????

Cheers -- Lawrie

PS:  Any comments about how many football fields of forest are being cleared while I type this e-mail would be superfluous - I've already thought about that.  It doesn't change my interest in the minutiae of ultrataxa.

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LAWRIE CONOLE
3 Gezireh Street, Pascoe Vale South
Victoria 3044 AUSTRALIA.  37°44'27"S  144°56'17"E
Phone (03) 9354 2484; Mobile (0419) 588 993
E-mail: <>
My home page: http://www.users.bigpond.com/ocoineoil/
Twitchathon: http://www.users.bigpond.com/ocoineoil/sections/cdph.html
BirdInfo-Users: http://www.egroups.com/group/birdinfo-users/info.html
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