Black-shouldered or Australian Kites?

[Julian Robinson <>]

Does anyone know what the latest Christidis & Boles says about
Elanus axillaris (Black-shouldered Kites)?  i.e. have they
accepted a renaming of our bird to Australian Kite?

My understanding is there are 3 now-accepted distinct look-alike species
- axillaris, caeruleus and leucurus.   I
think the story is this...

Axillaris is endemic to and the only one found in
Australia, majority agreed name is Black-shouldered Kite (if so, hurrah
because it's a rare bird for which Oz gets to keep a well-used common
name in competition with the old world).

Caeruleus - Africa and Europe - majority agreed name is
Black-winged Kite (but formerly Black-shouldered).

Leucurus - Nth and Sth America - majority agreed name is
White-tailed Kite (but formerly Black-shouldered also).

I know it has been a source of learned argument for some time but
wondered if the world has agreed on the above or whether instead the
forces of evil have pushed us to take on "Australian" and given
"Black-shouldered" back to one of the others.

I am interested partly because I came upon the issue when posting a photo
to a bird identification group, and partly because I've been looking for
an example where the Australian species managed to keep the good moniker
rather than have to skulk off with the slightly painful and always less
descriptive "Australian" or "Australasian" name
("Clamorous" being our greatest loss, I think.  I'm not so
worried about "Richard's" bec it wasn't so
descriptive).






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