The joys of revisionism. It’s one way for taxonomists to make their mark
without defining a new species.
I guess it will be a straightforward process for species that only occur in one
country. I am not sure who would arbitrate over species that breed in numerous
countries or are international migrants. (There are heaps of shorebirds and
seabirds potentially affected).
I think they should rename Victoria’s Riflebird at the same time as Albert’s
Lyrebird (Victoria became a shadow of herself when Albert died).
I wonder if the powers that be will want to change the name from Royal to
Federal Spoonbill when Australia eventually becomes a republic :)
Regards, Laurie
> On 4 Nov 2023, at 9:01 am, Geoffrey Dabb <> wrote:
>
> … are blowing through our bird names. For more than 10 years the possibility
> of changing English-language bird names referring to a person (‘personal’ or
> ‘eponymous’ names) has been on the table. There are no longer any ‘correct’
> or standard names, so the names used are a matter for the user - whether an
> organisation or government agency or field guide - or just someone talking
> or writing about birds. Birdlife Australia, as one name-using organisation,
> has taken an in-principle decision to move away from personal names. How
> this is to be done will be explained in due course by Birdlife Australia. As
> it happens, a similar decision has just been taken for North America by the
> American Ornithological Society (AOS). That’s OK. Each generation can
> decide on its own bird names.
>
> Here are a few more points. The initiative does not affect the many
> scientific names that refer to a person. For the time being at least, names
> referring to a place that bears a personal name will not be affected (e.g.
> Lord Howe Woodhen, Tasmanian Native-hen). Both the organisations mentioned
> see their projects as directed to species that occur mainly in the respective
> geographic areas they cover. So in the case of Australia Baillon’s Crake
> might not be due for attention. That raises the question how the many oceanic
> seabirds with personal names will be dealt with. Perhaps that will be a
> matter for global lists as they adopt their own policies in reaction to this
> development.
>
> Both organisations intend to take a consultative approach and look for
> appropriate descriptive names. Experience of that task suggests that this
> will not be all that simple, particularly if features descriptive of the male
> only are to be avoided. Albert’s Lyrebird will be an early candidate for
> the chopping block. Not only does Prince Albert not deserve to have a bird
> named for him but the ‘lyre’ refers to the male only, of a different species.
>
> Geoffrey
>
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