RE: Boobooks,Moreporks et al.

["Conole, Lawrie" <>]

>  The problem surrounding the Boobook complex is an interesting one. If
> subspecies of Ninox novaeseelandiae/boobook were to be split off what
> would
> be the affiliation of the Lord Howe Island (now extinct) and Norfolk
> Island birds? Would they become species in their own right or be
> lumped
> with the New Zealand or Australian birds? I would assume the Norfolk
> Island subspecies lie with the New Zealand birds as they were found to
> be
> closest to them and now the last female has been mated with New
> Zealand
> males. 
> 
.. and what, if any, relationship exists between N.
novaeseelandiae/boobook and taxa such as Sumba Boobook N. rudolfi,
Ochre-bellied Boobook N. ochracea & Speckled Boobook N. punctulata of
Wallacea (Western Indonesia) ... or is the vernacular "Boobook" just a
flag of convenience for these small Ninox spp.?

Lawrie Conole                    Project Officer
Museum of Victoria           Collection & Regional Services
PO Box 666E                        Ph (03) 9669 9732
Melbourne Vic 3001          Fax (03) 9663 3669
AUSTRALIA                        Email <>

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