I wonder if anyone can help me (please answer direct). I am revising my
lifelists, and converting them to the current taxonomy (based on Monroe and
Sibley, and as per Clements 4th Ed). I am having some difficulty
correlating my observations of spp of sunbirds in Africa with the current
lists, in particular, some of the "double-collared" group.
When I lived in Africa, the principle reference materials available to me
were the 6-volume Mackworth-Praed and Grant set - African Handbook of
Birds. These listed a number of "double-collared" sunbirds and their races.
It now seems all is rearranged, and the new spp do not always seem to
relate to all the races or species. My old observations are not therefore
straightforward, particularly my Rwanda and Zaire ones.
The old spp were the Northern, Eastern, Southern and Greater
double-collared sunbirds, and races did move between some spp in M-P&G from
series to series. But in general the race description and distribution
remained clear.
I believe I have the following corresponces straight:
N. ludovicensis (Montane D-cS) = old N. ludovicensis ludovicensis
N. preussi (Preuss' DcS) = old N. ludovicensis preussi + N.l.reichenowi
N. mediocris (Eastern D-cS) = old N. mediocris mediocris + N.m.usambaricus
+
N.m.fuelleborni (which = N.m.bensoni)
N. chalybea (Southern D-cS) = old N.chalybeus chalybeus + N.c.subalaris
N. manoensis (Miombo D-cS) = old N. chalybeus intermedius + N.c.manoensis
(which = N.c.bractiatus)
N. afer (Greater D-cS) = old N. afer afer
N. stuhlmanni (Stuhlmann's D-cS) = N. afer stuhlmanni
N. prigoginei (Prigogine's D-cS) = N. afer prigoginei
But where in this new scheme of things do the following fit?
(old names:)
N. afer chapini
N. afer graueri (aka N. chalybeus graueri)
N. afer whytei
If chapini and graueri are placed with preussi, they overlap ranges, which
suggests sympatricity. If with anything else, they do not match the stated
ranges. And whytei is a Malawi endemic - where does it fit without
sympatricity?
Further van Perlo states ludovicensis occurs rarely in w.Uganda - is this
the same as the Angolan ludovicensis which is now considered endemic there,
or a synonym for graueri or another?
Any help gratefully received!
Colin T. Richardson
P.O. Box 86, LAE Morobe Prov. 411, PNG
Ph.+675-4725657 (home)
+675-4721488 (ext.17) (office)
+675-4721873 (fax)
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