I just saw the latest version of splits and lumps from BirdLife, see the
thread on Birdforum or google BIrdLife 2014 Splits and lumps.
Certainly plenty of splits, but a couple of very irritating lumps as
well, as according to them Norfolk (Is) Parakeet or Tasman Parakeet and
New Caledonian Parakeet are part of Red-crowned Parakeet, seemingly
because they don't fit the Tobias et al criteria of basically looking
significantly different. This seems to be a classic case of applying
criteria where they don't really work and ignoring everything else (
genetic evidence such as it is, the evolutionary history of the islands
with many other endemic species-level taxa (and more to come, hello
Norfolk Is Whistler....)
Also, and I know this doesn't count as reason for splitting or indeed
lumping, but I for one am bothered by a potential change in
conservation status from CR (if it's not, why not?) for the Norfolk Is
(Tasman) Parakeet to I think Near Threatened if taken as part of the NZ
Red-crowned Parakeet. With a national government slashing costs left
right and centre and conservation being relegated to the margins this is
possibly highly regrettable. My suggestion to BirdLife was basically
leave well enough alone, this is all a matter of opinion anyway and can
be interpreted either way, but a change that has possible negative
conservation impacts ought to be avoided at this time.
My thoughts on the Tobias criteria are that they are fine in many cases,
but it won't work for groups that are not well differentiated by plumage
e.g. Meliphaga, Collocalia, the dreaded Tapaculos etc, and as ever all
factors need to be considered.
On a cheerier note (maybe), you do now get 12 for the price of one from
the aptly named Variable Dwarf Kingfisher, I just wonder how these
actually work if measured using Tobias et al criteria, since many (not
all) seem to vary only in shades of body and bill colouration?
Ceyx (lepidus) magarethae Dimorphic Dwarf (Variable) Kingfisher
Ceyx (lepidus) wallacii Sula Dwarf (Variable) Kingfisher
Ceyx (lepidus) cajeli Buru Dwarf (Variable) Kingfisher
Ceyx (lepidus) solitarius New Guinea Dwarf (Variable) Kingfisher
Ceyx (lepidus) dispar Manus Dwarf (Variable) Kingfisher
Ceyx (lepidus) mulcatus New Ireland Dwarf (Variable) Kingfisher
Ceyx (lepidus) sacerdotis New Britain Dwarf (Variable) Kingfisher
Ceyx (lepidus) meeki North Solomons Dwarf (Variable) Kingfisher
Ceyx (lepidus) collectoris New Georgia Dwarf (Variable) Kingfisher
Ceyx (lepidus) nigromaxilla Guadalcanal Dwarf (Variable) Kingfisher
Ceyx (lepidus) gentianus Makira Dwarf (Variable) Kingfisher
Ghana beckons, but if you feel like it do lobby BirdLife about the
Tasman Parakeet and its New Caledonian sibling.......
Oh, and don't forget the poor old Manus Masked Owl which is likewise
being written out of history despite being basically totally unknown and
Data Deficient if not Critically Endangered. Zoogeographic
nonsense......... and with that I'm away to Ghana
Phil Gregory
Website 1: Http://www.sicklebillsafaris.com
Website 2: Http://www.cassowary-house.com.au
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