The BirdLife Australia Working List is based on the global list sponsored by Handbook of the Birds of the World and BirdLife International. In that, it is
‘Australian Little Bittern’. The BLA English Names Committee has no proposal to change that English name. Where the taxonomy permits, English (Australia) in eBird will use the WLAB name.
It is unfortunate that different name preferences are becoming more entrenched as listers insist on following ‘their’ preferred list. I believe a few regional
groups are using IOC, but not COG (so far).
It is likely the WLAB name will continue to be use d for various official purposes, in legislation for example.
From: David McDonald (personal)
[
Sent: Sunday, 18 December 2016 6:28 PM
To:
Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] Black-backed Bittern
Hmm, not so sure about 'outdated name', Julian. Australian Little Bittern
Ixobrychus dubius is the current name in the BirdLife Australia Working List v2, and that is the taxonomy & nomenclature that COG uses.
For info - David
On 18/12/2016 6:12 PM, Julian Teh wrote:
Philip, Australian Little Bittern is the outdated name for Black-backed Bittern. Black-backed has been in effect since IOC 3.1 (2012).
Shorty - nice shot!! I’ll be going for a hunt!
On 18 Dec. 2016, at 6:06 pm, Philip Veerman <> wrote:
Nice photo. It is a male Little Bittern. I did not know the name Black-backed Bittern. A quick look in books doesn’t reveal it. Strangely Cayley’s book uses that
name as an alternate for the Brown Bittern, which does not suit it, as it doesn’t have a black-back.
Got to see him this morning in front of Cygnus hide. A few have been reporting it as heard on e-bird recently.
