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Question on Grey-headed Whistler Pachycephala griseiceps taxonomy

To: "Dave Torr" <>, "Paul Van Gasse" <>, "Dave Sargeant" <>
Subject: Question on Grey-headed Whistler Pachycephala griseiceps taxonomy
From: "Mike Carter" <>
Date: Mon, 3 Sep 2007 11:16:01 +1000
These have been split in the past, e.g. in the Official 1923 Australian Checklist, the form in the Top End, NT, was known as Brown Whistler P.simplex and that in NE Queensland as Grey Whistler P griseiceps. Later they were lumped. The 1994 official Australian Checklist by Christidis & Boles, hinted that it would like to split them (but spelt the Grey griseoceps) but retained them as one species for reasons of 'stability' something generally lacking in taxonomy! My understanding is that new Australian Checklist will do likewise so for real people there will be 8 not 9 Whistlers in Australia. Foreigners can count what they like!
I've not heard either referred to as Grey-headed Whistler.

Mike Carter
30 Canadian Bay Road
Mount Eliza  VIC 3930
Tel  (03) 9787 7136




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