The “correct” name for a species depends on what “Authority” you use. In the latest version of the IOC list (5.4) just released it is named as Horsfield’s Bronze
Cuckoo, i.e. NO hyphen. There are quite a few names when the hyphen has now been dropped – shrikethrush, shriketit, cuckooshrike etc. Even within birdlife Australia, there seems to be some controversy as to what list is used. The Birdlife Australia hierarchy
uses the Birdlife International list while their Rarities panel appears to use something akin to the IOC list. Then there is the Clements list which is American in origin and I think the list that is followed by Birdlife International and I believe is the
one used by Birdlife Australia. All very confusing. There are other lists available as well!!
The easiest thing for people to do is choose a list and stick with it. No matter who you follow it will always cause problems as taxonomists will never agree,
such is the world of taxonomy! One thing to always remember is that ALL these lists are obsolete the moment they are published!! The reason I use the IOC list is that it is regularly updated (3-4 times a year) with new species added or others split and elevated
to full specific status, or deleted.
I agree with Geoffrey Dabb’s plea to get Mr Horsfield’s name correct. I also had a problem with my computer’s spellchecker making
Petroica multicolor (it just changed it when I finished typing the word and I had to correct it manually) to
P. multicolour. The same goes for the Swift Parrot, Lathamus discolor/discolour.
Again I had to manually change it to the correct spelling. I’m sure there are probably others.
Mark
From: Philip Veerman
Sent: Saturday, 31 October 2015 11:46 AM
To: 'Geoffrey Dabb';
Subject: RE: [canberrabirds] Noisy Narrabundah Hill today
I agree with Geoffrey of course, to the extent to that of drawing attention to halting an ongoing error so that it is not prolonged. One previous person who I
corrected on the same issue who knew that what he sent out was wrong, pointed out that the computer spell checker (not him) made the mistake which he had missed, as it did not accept “Horsfield”. That it did accept “horse” and “field” is only borderline relevant.
Beyond that, this is just a chat line open to all levels of contributors and minor typos or edit errors can be ignored and this is not a formal forum and if we understand the purpose (even including humour) that is generally OK. Beyond that there is also another
issue that the right name is Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo. The presence of capitalisation and positioning of any hyphen and apostrophe in names of bird species each contributes to the meaning of the name, to make it right or wrong. Even in the case of King-Parrot
that probably should be King’s Parrot, what is right has become quite confused......
Philip
From: Geoffrey Dabb
Sent: Saturday, 31 October 2015 9:15 AM
To:
Subject: FW: [canberrabirds] Noisy Narrabundah Hill today
Can we stamp out this outbreak of Horsefield’s virus before it spreads further? The name is ‘HORSFIELD’S’ - for Dr Thomas Horsfield (1773-1859)
From: Virginia Abernathy
Sent: Friday, 30 October 2015 8:54 PM
To: casburnj; canberrabirds; jandaholland
Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] Noisy Narrabundah Hill today
Hi Iliana,
I don't know if you saw this email yet, but they mention seeing several yellow-rumped thornbill and a Horsefield's bronze cuckoo fledgling of a yellow-rumped thornbill
at Narrabundah Hill. Don't know if that's too far for you or not, but thought you might be interested.
Cheers,
Virginia
From: casburnj <>
Sent: 30 October 2015 15:21
To: canberrabirds; jandaholland
Subject: [canberrabirds] Noisy Narrabundah Hill today
41 Species on a warm sunny morning.
Of these the most interesting were;
2 Tawny Frogmouth (ON), 2 Horsefields Bronze Cuckoo, one of which was chased by 2 Speckled Warbler, the other dependent upon Yellow-rumped Thornbill.
There were plenty of Yellow-rumped Thornbill, an estimate of 14 Rufous Songlark (quietening down as the morning wore on), 3 Varied Sitella, 7 Black-faced Cuckoo Shrike and 2 Sacred Kingfisher appearing to be a pair in the same vicinity. There were approximately
6 White-winged Triller some of which appeared to be in dispute over territory. Unfortunately Common Myna have increased in number to about 8 and Starlings are breeding successfully. No noisy Myna have been seen to date in this region!
A pleasing morning.
Jean
