Worldwide, ‘Black-shouldered Kite’ for axillaris
is gathering force, if not yet quite incontestable. Apart from C&B,
it is given in Gill & Wright (2006), the latest brave proposal for an
internationally consistent set of English names. G&W give ‘Black-winged’
for caeruleus. However, many people look to the Handbook of the
Birds of the World as the most useful popular encyclopedia on world
birds. This gives ‘Common Black-shouldered Kite’ for caeruleus
and ‘Australian Black-shouldered Kite’ for axillaris.
(Generally northern hemisphere watchers, as well, have to get used to an
additional adjective as part of the rationalising process.) HBW’s
names are also used in its video library. Recently its files under ‘caeruleus’
included footage of an Australian bird, rather surprisingly as the footage was
taken near Perth. It turned out that the person submitting had simply
used the Australian label ‘Black-shouldered Kite’ and the editors
had indexed it under caeruleus. The submitter had failed to
observe the HBW requirement that English names be as in HBW. The
moral is that anyone conversing across borders should be aware of the
possibility of confusion.
Many years ago, in fact about 40, I was watching a ‘black-shouldered
kite’ on the picturesque island of Daru on the PNG side of Torres Strait.
I wasn’t really sure what it was, but I decided to call it
caeruleus. This was in accordance with Abbott’s Law, under which,
in cases of doubt, the identification least likely to give rise to surprise or
challenge is to be preferred. (Abbott’s Law is named for a federal politician
noted for his timid and deferential manner.)
From: Julian Robinson
[
Sent: Wednesday, 30 January 2008 10:42 AM
To: canberrabirds chatline
Subject: [canberrabirds] Black-shouldered or Australian Kites?
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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