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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