For the purpose of the cartoon, it is still a
Helmeted Honeyeater, as in a cartoon Viking or even a bear, shown as a helmeted honey eater, and that is the joke. Being a bird or not and any taxonomy that applies, is only of minor
relevance to the cartoon. I suggest Helmeted Honeyeater is a nicer name than Western Yellow-tufted Honeyeater.
One reason the Australian list has English names for subspecies is to take account of strong local preferences. Also for conservation reasons. Also some people
like to report subspecies.
And a Helmeted Honeyeater is a Helmeted Honeyeater, whilst at the same time is a Yellow-tufted Honeyeater, whilst at the same time is a honeyeater, whilst at
the same time is a passerine, whilst at the same time is a bird, whilst at the same time is a vertebrate, no matter what the locals call it. Mark’s first point is simply that the Helmeted Honeyeater is now mostly listed as a subspecies of Yellow-tufted Honeyeater.
(Will that change again? If the species continues to evolve separately, in a few thousand years it surely will change). Of many species considered as having various subspecies, many of those subspecies are given distinctive English names (Crimson Rosella,
Yellow Rosella, various forms of tiger, etc), although most are not.
It all depends what taxon you choose to take an interest in. The cartoon equally applies to all, in that a man might reasonably wish to show Beryl a Helmeted
Honeyeater as a point of excitement, even though Beryl may well be familiar with and disinterested in the type of Yellow-tufted Honeyeater we have here. If I go to the area, I like to attempt to see Helmeted Honeyeater because they are different. Whether I
call it Helmeted Honeyeater or helmeted subspecies of Yellow-tufted Honeyeater is trivial.
I miss typed earlier: “large” should be “largely”.
Philip
From: Mark Clayton
Sent: Wednesday, 6 June, 2018 10:46 AM
To:
Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] Apologies to our resident cartoonist.
A Yellow-tufted Honeyeater is a Yellow-tufted Honeyeater no matter what the locals call it
On 6/06/2018 10:27 AM, Philip Veerman wrote:
But the Yellow-tufted Honeyeater would require a slightly different and coloured cartoon. The joke would be just the same. Indeed you could adapt the cartoon
to several species of honeyeaters. Anywhere in the world we can call it a Helmeted Honeyeater. They are different in appearance. The issue is whether we are specifically referring to that subspecies or not and whether we choose to give it a distinctive name.
These are large arbitrary decisions and context specific.
Philip
From: Mark Clayton
Sent: Wednesday, 6 June, 2018 9:50 AM To: Baird, Ian;
Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] Apologies to our resident cartoonist. [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]
Even in Victoria it is still the Yellow-tufted Honeyeater, just with a local name. It is also know as the Helmeted Money-eater down there!
On 6/06/2018 9:43 AM, Baird, Ian wrote:
Only in Victoria! – elsewhere it would be a Yellow-tufted….
From: Mark Clayton
Sent: Wednesday, 6 June 2018 9:04 AM
To:
Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] Apologies to our resident cartoonist.
Ha Ha, very clever
On 6/06/2018 9:02 AM, Martin Butterfield wrote:
