August 2014

Overview

Go directly to 2014 Updates & Corrections

This is the ninth installment of Updates and Corrections to the sixth edition of The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World; because the Clements Checklist is tightly interwoven with the taxonomy for eBird, the checklist now is referred to as the eBird/Clements Checklist. The entire checklist (including the 2014 Updates and Corrections) is available as a downloadable spreadsheet (in Excel and .csv formats); this year’s spreadsheet version is eBird/Clements Checklist 6.9.

The spreadsheet contains 14 fields (data columns); the new column is marked with an asterisk:

Sort 6.9 – reflects the sequence of species, groups, and subspecies in eBird/Clements Checklist 6.9

Change – a brief note to signal that a change from Clements Checklist 6.8 occurred for that entry. Sometimes only a single change is made per entry; sometimes several changes are made, although only one or two may be noted in the spreadsheet. In all cases, please consult the Updates and Corrections – August 2014 page for a full explanation of these changes.

Text for website – a brief explanation of the change from Clements Checklist 6.8 occurred for that entry. Please consult the Updates and Corrections page [link] for a more complete explanation of these changes.

Category – reflecting whether the entry on that line is a species; a subspecies; a monotypic group (i.e., a group that is equivalent to a single subspecies); or a polytypic group (a group composed of two or more subspecies). So, the total number of subspecies recognized in Clements Checklist is the sum of all entries listed as “subspecies” and as “group (monotypic).”

Scientific name

English name

Range

Order

Family

Extinct – an entry in this column means that the species or subspecies is extinct

Extinct year – reflects the year the species or subspecies went extinct (or, since the extinction date rarely is known with certainty, the last year in which it was reported); “xxxx” is used when the date of extinction was not readily accessible.

Sort 6.8 – reflecting the sequence of species in Clements Checklist 6.8

Sort 6.7 – reflecting the sequence of species in Clements Checklist 6.7

Page 6.0 – reflecting the page number of the species in the last (sixth) print edition

Here is a brief review of the changes that are introduced in the eBird/Clements Checklist 6.9:

SUMMARY STATISTICS

Species             10,404
Subspecies       20,768
Groups               2,851
Families              234 (with 1 additional, extinct, family)

SPECIES

In this year’s updates, we add 12 new species, that is, species for which there was no entry at all in the previous edition of the eBird/Clements Checklist. Four of these are species that only recently were discovered and described – two from South America, one from the Philippines, and one from the Western Palearctic – whereas the others are species that had been overlooked until recent taxonomic revisions highlighted the distinctiveness of these poorly known birds. Another 78 species are newly recognized in Clements Checklist due to “splits.” There also is a loss of 12 species due to “lumps” (9 species) and species now considered to be invalid (3 species).

As before, we update the taxonomy and nomenclature of species for North America, based on decisions of the North American Checklist Committee (NACC), through the Fifty-fifth supplement to the American Ornithologists’ Union Check-list of North American Birds (July 2014).  We also are current with decisions of the South American Classification Committee (SACC) through 31 July 2014.

GROUPS

eBird/Clements Checklist has adopted the concept of the group, which initially was developed by for eBird, a free, global online system to manage your bird records and bird lists. A “group” is a distinctive (field identifiable) subspecies or group of subspecies. The group is not a formal taxonomic unit, but often represents a potential future split (and so groups are a valuable taxonomic tool for the savvy birder).

Groups first were added to Clements Checklist in December 2009 (Clements Checklist 6.5). In the eBird/Clements Checklist 6.9, we add 538 new groups, but with over 10,000 species to consider, the task of implementing all potential groups still is far from done. With this revision, Jacob C. Cooper deserves a tremendous debt of gratitude from our team for his thorough review of groups for species in Africa, and a large number of the new additions were ones that he researched and recommended.

Some of our attempts at arranging subspecies into groups are incomplete: one or more distinctive subspecies have been identified as groups, but the remaining subspecies have been left “hanging” – they do not belong to any of the groups we have created in that species, but we have yet to form one or more new groups to accommodate them. These “hanging” subspecies now are highlighted in two ways: 1) the sequence of subspecies and naming of the groups within the species always make it clear that these are not included in a group (i.e., they follow a monotypic group or the species as a whole, so are clearly not a component of any groups listed above; and 2) in the spreadsheet we have color coded these “hanging” subspecies in gray to further clarify that their status with respect to groups remains unresolved.

Species with partially formulated (“hanging”) groups are the following:

Burrowing Owl Athene cunicularia
Streak-chested Antpitta Hylopezus perspicillatus
Buff-throated Foliage-gleaner Automolus ochrolaemus
Dusky-capped Flycatcher Myiarchus tuberculifer
Brown-crested Flycatcher Myiarchus tyrannulus
Tropical Parula Setophaga pitiayumi
Bananaquit Coereba flaveola
Golden Tanager Tangara arthus
Red Crossbill Loxia curvirostra

We welcome any help in assigning these “hanging subspecies” to groups, especially if it can be supported by published references.

HIGHER LEVEL TAXONOMY

Three new orders are added, all in the ratites, for a total of 37 extant orders. We recognize five new families. Consequently the total number of extant families in the eBird/Clements Checklist increases to 234, with an additional extinct family included as well.

The 234 extant families accepted by Clements Checklist are listed below, with the names of orders in bold CAPITAL lettering and the names of newly recognized families in bold, and with an additional extinct family listed in brackets. We also provide the number of families in each order (in parentheses, after the name of each order), and the number of species in each family (in parentheses, after the name of each family).

STRUTHIONIFORMES  (1)

1

Struthionidae Ostrich  (1)
RHEIFORMES  (1)

2

Rheidae Rheas  (2)
TINAMIFORMES  (1)

3

Tinamidae Tinamous  (47)
CASUARIIFORMES  (2)

4

Casuariidae Cassowaries  (3)

5

Dromaiidae Emu  (3)
APTERYGIFORMES  (1)

6

Apterygidae Kiwis  (5)
ANSERIFORMES  (3)

7

Anhimidae Screamers  (3)

8

Anseranatidae Magpie Goose  (1)

9

Anatidae Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl  (164)
GALLIFORMES  (5)

10

Megapodiidae Megapodes  (22)

11

Cracidae Guans, Chachalacas, and Curassows  (54)

12

Numididae Guineafowl  (6)

13

Odontophoridae New World Quail  (33)

14

Phasianidae Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies  (173)
GAVIIFORMES  (1)

15

Gaviidae Loons  (5)
PODICIPEDIFORMES  (1)

16

Podicipedidae Grebes  (22)
PHOENICOPTERIFORMES  (1)

17

Phoenicopteridae Flamingos  (6)
SPHENISCIFORMES  (1)

18

Spheniscidae Penguins  (18)
PROCELLARIIFORMES  (4)

19

Diomedeidae Albatrosses  (15)

20

Procellariidae Shearwaters and Petrels  (85)

21

Pelecanoididae Diving-Petrels  (4)

22

Hydrobatidae Storm-Petrels  (25)
PHAETHONTIFORMES  (1)

23

Phaethontidae Tropicbirds  (3)
CICONIIFORMES  (1)

24

Ciconiidae Storks  (19)
SULIFORMES  (4)

25

Fregatidae Frigatebirds  (5)

26

Sulidae Boobies and Gannets  (10)

27

Phalacrocoracidae Cormorants and Shags  (40)

28

Anhingidae Anhingas  (4)
PELECANIFORMES  (5)

29

Pelecanidae Pelicans  (8)

30

Balaenicipitidae Shoebill  (1)

31

Scopidae Hamerkop  (1)

32

Ardeidae Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns  (64)

33

Threskiornithidae Ibises and Spoonbills  (33)
ACCIPITRIFORMES  (4)

34

Cathartidae New World Vultures  (7)

35

Sagittariidae Secretary-bird  (1)

36

Pandionidae Osprey  (1)

37

Accipitridae Hawks, Eagles, and Kites  (243)
OTIDIFORMES  (1)

38

Otididae Bustards  (26)
MESITORNITHIFORMES  (1)

39

Mesitornithidae Mesites  (3)
EURYPYGIFORMES  (2)

40

Rhynochetidae Kagu  (1)

41

Eurypygidae Sunbittern  (1)
GRUIFORMES  (6)

42

Rallidae Rails, Gallinules, and Coots  (141)

43

Sarothruridae Flufftails  (9)

44

Heliornithidae Finfoots  (3)

45

Aramidae Limpkin  (1)

46

Psophiidae Trumpeters  (3)

47

Gruidae Cranes  (15)
CHARADRIIFORMES  (19)

48

Chionidae Sheathbills  (2)

49

Pluvianellidae Magellanic Plover  (1)

50

Burhinidae Thick-knees  (10)

51

Pluvianidae Egyptian Plover  (1)

52

Recurvirostridae Stilts and Avocets  (9)

53

Ibidorhynchidae Ibisbill  (1)

54

Haematopodidae Oystercatchers  (12)

55

Charadriidae Plovers and Lapwings  (67)

56

Pedionomidae Plains-wanderer  (1)

57

Thinocoridae Seedsnipes  (4)

58

Rostratulidae Painted-Snipes  (3)

59

Jacanidae Jacanas  (8)

60

Scolopacidae Sandpipers and Allies  (96)

61

Turnicidae Buttonquail  (16)

62

Dromadidae Crab Plover  (1)

63

Glareolidae Pratincoles and Coursers  (17)

64

Stercorariidae Skuas and Jaegers  (7)

65

Alcidae Auks, Murres, and Puffins  (25)

66

Laridae Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers  (99)
PTEROCLIFORMES  (1)

67

Pteroclidae Sandgrouse  (16)
COLUMBIFORMES  (1)

68

Columbidae Pigeons and Doves  (329)
CUCULIFORMES  (3)

69

Musophagidae Turacos  (23)

70

Opisthocomidae Hoatzin  (1)

71

Cuculidae Cuckoos  (145)
STRIGIFORMES  (2)

72

Tytonidae Barn-Owls  (18)

73

Strigidae Owls  (207)
CAPRIMULGIFORMES  (5)

74

Aegothelidae Owlet-Nightjars  (10)

75

Podargidae Frogmouths  (15)

76

Caprimulgidae Nightjars and Allies  (97)

77

Nyctibiidae Potoos  (7)

78

Steatornithidae Oilbird  (1)
APODIFORMES  (3)

79

Apodidae Swifts  (104)

80

Hemiprocnidae Treeswifts  (4)

81

Trochilidae Hummingbirds  (338)
COLIIFORMES  (1)

82

Coliidae Mousebirds  (6)
TROGONIFORMES  (1)

83

Trogonidae Trogons  (44)
CORACIIFORMES  (11)

84

Todidae Todies  (5)

85

Momotidae Motmots  (13)

86

Alcedinidae Kingfishers  (95)

87

Meropidae Bee-eaters  (28)

88

Coraciidae Rollers  (12)

89

Brachypteraciidae Ground-Rollers  (5)

90

Leptosomidae Cuckoo-Roller  (1)

91

Upupidae Hoopoes  (2)

92

Phoeniculidae Woodhoopoes and Scimitar-bills  (8)

93

Bucorvidae Ground-Hornbills  (2)

94

Bucerotidae Hornbills  (59)
GALBULIFORMES  (2)  

95

Bucconidae Puffbirds  (36)

96

Galbulidae Jacamars  (18)
PICIFORMES  (7)

97

Lybiidae African Barbets  (42)

98

Megalaimidae Asian Barbets  (34)

99

Capitonidae New World Barbets  (14)

100

Semnornithidae Toucan-Barbets  (2)

101

Ramphastidae Toucans  (35)

102

Indicatoridae Honeyguides  (17)

103

Picidae Woodpeckers  (230)
CARIAMIFORMES  (1)

104

Cariamidae Seriemas  (2)
FALCONIFORMES  (1)

105

Falconidae Falcons and Caracaras  (65)
PSITTACIFORMES  (4)

106

Strigopidae New Zealand Parrots  (4)

107

Cacatuidae Cockatoos  (21)

108

Psittaculidae Old World Parrots  (179)

109

Psittacidae New World and African Parrots  (167)
PASSERIFORMES  (126)

110

Acanthisittidae New Zealand Wrens  (4)

111

Calyptomenidae African and Green Broadbills  (6)

112

Eurylaimidae Asian and Grauer’s Broadbills  (9)

113

Sapayoidae Sapayoa  (1)

114

Philepittidae Asities  (4)

115

Pittidae Pittas  (49)

116

Thamnophilidae Typical Antbirds  (232)

117

Melanopareiidae Crescentchests  (4)

118

Conopophagidae Gnateaters  (10)

119

Grallariidae Antpittas  (53)

120

Rhinocryptidae Tapaculos  (57)

121

Formicariidae Antthrushes  (11)

122

Furnariidae Ovenbirds and Woodcreepers  (298)

123

Tyrannidae Tyrant Flycatchers  (419)

124

Oxyruncidae Sharpbill  (1)

125

Cotingidae Cotingas  (66)

126

Pipridae Manakins  (54)

127

Tityridae Tityras and Allies  (33)

128

Menuridae Lyrebirds  (2)

129

Atrichornithidae Scrub-birds  (2)

130

Ptilonorhynchidae Bowerbirds  (20)

131

Climacteridae Australasian Treecreepers  (7)

132

Maluridae Fairywrens  (28)

133

Meliphagidae Honeyeaters  (183)

134

Dasyornithidae Bristlebirds  (3)

135

Pardalotidae Pardalotes  (4)

136

Acanthizidae Thornbills and Allies  (64)

137

Pomatostomidae Pseudo-Babblers  (5)

138

Orthonychidae Logrunners  (3)

139

Cnemophilidae Satinbirds  (3)

140

Melanocharitidae Berrypeckers and Longbills  (10)

141

Mohouidae Whiteheads  (3)

142

Paramythiidae Tit Berrypecker, Crested Berrypecker  (2)

143

Callaeidae Wattlebirds  (3)

144

Notiomystidae Stitchbird  (1)

145

Psophodidae Whipbirds and Wedgebills  (5)

146

Cinclosomatidae Quail-thrushes and Jewel-babblers  (10)

147

Platysteiridae Wattle-eyes and Batises  (30)

148

Vangidae Vangas  (39)

149

Malaconotidae Bushshrikes and Allies  (49)

150

Machaerirhynchidae Boatbills  (2)

151

Artamidae Woodswallows  (11)

152

Cracticidae Bellmagpies and Allies  (13)

153

Pityriaseidae Bristlehead  (1)

154

Aegithinidae Ioras  (4)

155

Campephagidae Cuckooshrikes  (87)

156

Neosittidae Sittellas  (2)

157

Pachycephalidae Whistlers and Allies  (57)

158

Oreoicidae Australo-Papuan Bellbirds  (3)

159

Laniidae Shrikes  (32)

160

Vireonidae Vireos, Shrike-Babblers, and Erpornis  (62)

161

Oriolidae Old World Orioles  (35)

162

Dicruridae Drongos  (25)

163

Rhipiduridae Fantails  (50)

164

Monarchidae Monarch Flycatchers  (98)

165

Corvidae Crows, Jays, and Magpies  (125)

166

Corcoracidae White-winged Chough and Apostlebird  (2)

167

Paradisaeidae Birds-of-Paradise  (41)

168

Petroicidae Australasian Robins  (46)

169

Picathartidae Rockfowl  (2)

170

Chaetopidae Rockjumpers  (2)

171

Eupetidae Rail-babbler  (1)

172

Panuridae Bearded Reedling  (1)

173

Nicatoridae Nicators  (3)

174

Alaudidae Larks  (94)

175

Hirundinidae Swallows  (86)

176

Stenostiridae Fairy Flycatchers  (9)

177

Paridae Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice  (59)

178

Remizidae Penduline-Tits  (12)

179

Aegithalidae Long-tailed Tits  (11)

180

Sittidae Nuthatches  (27)

181

Tichodromidae Wallcreeper  (1)

182

Certhiidae Treecreepers  (11)

183

Troglodytidae Wrens  (82)

184

Polioptilidae Gnatcatchers  (16)

185

Cinclidae Dippers  (5)

186

Pycnonotidae Bulbuls  (141)

187

Regulidae Kinglets  (6)

188

Pnoepygidae Cupwings  (5)

189

Macrosphenidae African Warblers  (21)

190

Cettiidae Bush-Warblers and Allies  (36)

191

Phylloscopidae Leaf-Warblers  (76)

192

Acrocephalidae Reed-Warblers and Allies  (61)

193

Locustellidae Grassbirds and Allies  (60)

194

Donacobiidae Donacobius  (1)

195

Bernieridae  Malagasy Warblers  (11)

196

Cisticolidae Cisticolas and Allies  (147)

197

Sylviidae Sylviid Warblers  (32)

198

Paradoxornithidae Parrotbills, Wrentit, and Allies  (36)

199

Zosteropidae Yuhinas, White-eyes, and Allies  (130)

200

Timaliidae Tree-Babblers, Scimitar-Babblers, and Allies  (52)

201

Pellorneidae Ground Babblers and Allies  (56)

202

Leiothrichidae Laughingthrushes and Allies  (144)

203

Promeropidae Sugarbirds  (5)

204

Irenidae Fairy-bluebirds  (2)

205

Hyliotidae Hyliotas  (4)

206

Muscicapidae Old World Flycatchers  (313)

207

Turdidae Thrushes and Allies  (162)

208

Mimidae Mockingbirds and Thrashers  (34)

209

Sturnidae Starlings  (122)

210

Buphagidae Oxpeckers  (2)

211

Chloropseidae Leafbirds  (11)

212

Dicaeidae Flowerpeckers  (47)

213

Nectariniidae Sunbirds and Spiderhunters  (140)

214

Prunellidae Accentors  (13)

215

Motacillidae Wagtails and Pipits  (65)

216

Urocynchramidae Przevalski’s Rosefinch  (1)

217

Elachuridae Spotted Elachura  (1)

218

Bombycillidae Waxwings  (3)

219

Mohoidae Hawaiian Honeyeaters  (5)    [extinct]

220

Ptiliogonatidae Silky-flycatchers  (4)

221

Dulidae Palmchat  (1)

222

Hylocitreidae Hylocitrea  (1)

223

Hypocoliidae Hypocolius  (1)

224

Peucedramidae Olive Warbler  (1)

225

Calcariidae Longspurs and Snow Buntings  (6)

226

Parulidae New World Warblers  (114)

227

Thraupidae Tanagers and Allies  (386)

228

Emberizidae Buntings and New World Sparrows  (172)

229

Cardinalidae Cardinals and Allies  (48)

230

Icteridae Troupials and Allies  (104)

231

Fringillidae Finches, Euphonias, and Allies  (217)

232

Passeridae Old World Sparrows  (42)

233

Ploceidae Weavers and Allies  (116)

234

Estrildidae Waxbills and Allies  (140)

235

Viduidae Indigobirds  (20)

 

FUTURE UPDATES

The next annual revision that incorporates revisions to the taxonomy and nomenclature of eBird/Clements Checklist will be released in August 2015.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Please continue to report potential errors, corrections and suggestions for improvement to eBird/Clements Checklist (please send taxonomic changes, suggestions, or questions to cornellbirds@cornell.edu). Many of the errors that you find are ones that would have taken a long time to notice, so we appreciate your help, and we do want to hear from you. Please keep in mind, of course, that the easiest corrections or proposed revisions are the ones that are accompanied by a supporting reference or citation.

Denis Lepage, who runs Avibase, carefully reviewed our files, compared with other taxonomies, pointed out errors, and helped with many taxonomic issues through this process; we are extremely grateful for his generous assistance. Normand David provided critical advice on some nomenclatural issues. We take full responsibility, of course, for any remaining errors. We also are grateful to Bruce Beehler, Terry Chesser, Thane Pratt, and George Sangster for providing advance copies of works in progress.

We also thank the following for their help in pointing out errors in eBird/Clements Checklist or for directing us to important literature for our consideration:

Richard Alcorn, Margaret Alcorn, Desmond Allen, Mike Andersen, Svetlana Ashby, Vaughan Ashby, Jan Axel Cubilla, Ron Batie, David Bishop, Nik Borrow, Simon Boyes, Mike Burrell,  Ken Burton, Pete Chalmers, Steve Chalmers, Jamie Chavez, Paul Clapham, Ken Cole, Steve Collins, Jacob Cooper, Andrew Core, Peter Derven, Robert Dowsett, Andrew Dreelin, Josh Engel, Roger Evans, Andrew Farnsworth, Pedro Fernandes, Shawneen Finnegan, Stuart Fisher, Rob Fowler, Benjamin Freeman, Kimball Garrett, Alan Grenon, Paul Gurn, Mary Gustafson, Alireza Hashemi, Mark Hodgson, Peter Hosner, Rich Hoyer, Rob Hutchinson, Praveen J, Jesper Bay Jacobsen, Alvaro Jaramillo, Simon Kingston, Ethan Kistler, Richard Klim, Oliver Komar, Yann Kolbeinsson, Peter Kovalik, Thomas Kuenzel, Raman Kumar, Laurie Bingaman Lackey, Niels Larsen, Jack Levene, Tony Leukering, Dali Lin, Robert Lockett, Noel Luff, Colin Lunt, Glenn Mahler, James Maley, Matt Medler, Tony Menart, Steven Mlodinow, Atefeh Moosavian, Joe Morlan, Colby Neuman, Mark O’Brien, Michael O’Brien, Ryan O’Donnell, Steve Olesen, Georges Olioso, Vernon Parker, Harvey L. Patten, Tommy Pedersen, Thane Pratt, Steve Preddy, Suhel Quader, Van Remsen, Colin Richardson, Peter Roberts, Steve Rose, Phil Rostron, Rex Rowan, Reid Rumelt, Matt Sadowski, Holger Schritt, Jacob Socolar, Roger Staples, Gavino Stebel, Erik Streufert, Jane Tatchell, Michael N. Trevor, and Bill Volkert, as well as the wider community of eBird users, the always astute members of the Taxonomy and Nomenclature group on BirdForum, and no doubt others who we may have inadvertently overlooked.

Thanks to all for your support, and we look forward to your feedback.

Thomas S. Schulenberg (Avian Taxonomist); Marshall J. Iliff, Brian L. Sullivan, and Christopher L. Wood (eBird Project Leaders); Thomas A. Fredericks (eBird Database Administrator); and Don Roberson.