August 2013
OVERVIEW
Go directly to Updates and Corrections
This is the eighth installment of Updates and Corrections to the sixth edition of The Clements Checklist of birds of the world; because the Clements Checklist now is tightly interwoven with the taxonomy for eBird, the checklist now is referred to as the eBird/Clements Checklist. The entire checklist (including the 2013 Updates and Corrections) is available as a downloadable spreadsheet (in Excel and .csv formats); this year’s spreadsheet version is eBird/Clements Checklist 6.8.
The spreadsheet contains 14 fields (data columns); the new column is marked with an asterisk:
Change – a brief note to signal that a change from Clements Checklist 6.7 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.
Change comment – A brief explanation of the change from Clements Checklist 6.7 occurred for that entry.
Sort 6.8 * – reflecting the sequence of species in eBird/Clements Checklist 6.7
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 6.7 – reflecting the sequence of species in Clements Checklist 6.7
Sort 6.6 – reflecting the sequence of species in Clements Checklist 6.6
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 6.8 (complete documentation of all changes will be posted soon on the Updates and Corrections pages):
SUMMARY STATISTICS
Species 10324
Subspecies 20864
Groups 2345
Families 229 (with 1 additional, extinct, family)
SPECIES
In this year’s updates, we add 27 (!) new species, that is, species for which there was no entry at all in the previous edition of the eBird/Clements Checklist, most of which are species that only recently were discovered and described. Another 63 species are newly recognized in Clements Checklist due to “splits.” There also is a loss of 6 species due to “lumps.”
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-third supplement to the American Ornithologists’ Union Check-list of North American Birds (July 2012). The most important change for the United States, Canada, and Mexico is the split of Sage Sparrow (Artemisiospiza belli) into two species, Bell’s Sparrow (Artemisiospiza belli) and Sagebrush Sparow (Artemisiospiza nevadensis).
We also are current with decisions of the South American Classification Committee (SACC) through 6 August 2013.
Also noteworthy are the provisional additions of 15 recently described species from Brazil (none of which have yet been vetted by SACC), and of the descriptions of four new species of owls from southeast Asia: a masked-owl (Seram Masked-Owl Tyto almae), a scops owl (Rinjani Scops-Owl Otus jolandae), and two boobooks (Cebu Boobook Ninox rumseyi and Camiguin Boobook Ninox leventisi).
GROUPS
eBird/Clements Checklist has adopted the concept of the group, which initially was developed 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 6.8, we add 138 new groups, but with over 10,000 species to consider, the task of implementing all potential groups still is far from done.
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:
Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis
Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis
Dunlin Calidris alpina
Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle
Black Noddy Anous minutus
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
Common Raven Corvus corax
Horned Lark Eremophila alpestris
African Penduline-Tit Anthoscopus caroli
Pale Flycatcher Bradornis pallidus
Red-backed Scrub-Robin Cercotrichas leucophrys
Yellow-breasted Apalis Apalis flavida
Long-billed Pipit Anthus similis
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
There are several important changes in the higher taxonomy of birds that are introduced in eBird/Clements Checklist 6.8. There are significant revisions of the families Locustellidae (Grassbirds and Allies), Timaliidae (Tree-Babblers, Scimitar-Babblers, and Allies), Pellorneidae (Ground Babblers and Allies), and Leiothrichidae (Laughingthrushes and Allies).
We recognize three new families and lose another one due to a “lump”. Consequently the total number of extant families in the eBird/Clements Checklist increases to 229, with an additional extinct family included as well.
The 230 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.
STRUTHIONIFORMES | ||
1 |
Struthionidae | Ostrich |
2 |
Rheidae | Rheas |
3 |
Casuariidae | Cassowaries |
4 |
Dromaiidae | Emu |
5 |
Apterygidae | Kiwis |
TINAMIFORMES | ||
6 |
Tinamidae | Tinamous |
ANSERIFORMES | ||
7 |
Anhimidae | Screamers |
8 |
Anatidae | Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl |
GALLIFORMES | ||
9 |
Megapodiidae | Megapodes |
10 |
Cracidae | Guans, Chachalacas, and Curassows |
11 |
Numididae | Guineafowl |
12 |
Odontophoridae | New World Quail |
13 |
Phasianidae | Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies |
GAVIIFORMES | ||
14 |
Gaviidae | Loons |
PODICIPEDIDAE | ||
15 |
Podicipedidae | Grebes |
PHOENICOPTERIFORMES | ||
16 |
Phoenicopteridae | Flamingos |
SPHENISCIFORMES | ||
17 |
Spheniscidae | Penguins |
PROCELLARIIFORMES | ||
18 |
Diomedeidae | Albatrosses |
19 |
Procellariidae | Shearwaters and Petrels |
20 |
Hydrobatidae | Storm-Petrels |
21 |
Pelecanoididae | Diving-Petrels |
PHAETHONTIFORMES | ||
22 |
Phaethontidae | Tropicbirds |
CICONIIFORMES | ||
23 |
Ciconiidae | Storks |
SULIFORMES | ||
24 |
Fregatidae | Frigatebirds |
25 |
Sulidae | Boobies and Gannets |
26 |
Phalacrocoracidae | Cormorants and Shags |
27 |
Anhingidae | Anhingas |
PELECANIFORMES | ||
28 |
Pelecanidae | Pelicans |
29 |
Balaenicipitidae | Shoebill |
30 |
Scopidae | Hamerkop |
31 |
Ardeidae | Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns |
32 |
Threskiornithidae | Ibises and Spoonbills |
ACCIPITRIFORMES | ||
33 |
Cathartidae | New World Vultures |
34 |
Sagittariidae | Secretary-bird |
35 |
Pandionidae | Osprey |
36 |
Accipitridae | Hawks, Eagles, and Kites |
OTIDIFORMES | ||
37 |
Otididae | Bustards |
MESITORNITHIFORMES | ||
38 |
Mesitornithidae | Mesites |
EURYPYGIFORMES | ||
39 |
Rhynochetidae | Kagu |
40 |
Eurypygidae | Sunbittern |
GRUIFORMES | ||
41 |
Rallidae | Rails, Gallinules, and Coots |
42 |
Sarothruridae | Flufftails |
43 |
Heliornithidae | Finfoots |
44 |
Aramidae | Limpkin |
45 |
Psophiidae | Trumpeters |
46 |
Gruidae | Cranes |
CHARADRIIFORMES | ||
47 |
Chionidae | Sheathbills |
48 |
Pluvianellidae | Magellanic Plover |
49 |
Burhinidae | Thick-knees |
50 |
Pluvianidae | Egyptian Plover |
51 |
Recurvirostridae | Stilts and Avocets |
52 |
Ibidorhynchidae | Ibisbill |
53 |
Haematopodidae | Oystercatchers |
54 |
Charadriidae | Plovers and Lapwings |
55 |
Pedionomidae | Plains-wanderer |
56 |
Thinocoridae | Seedsnipes |
57 |
Rostratulidae | Painted-Snipes |
58 |
Jacanidae | Jacanas |
59 |
Scolopacidae | Sandpipers and Allies |
60 |
Turnicidae | Buttonquail |
61 |
Dromadidae | Crab Plover |
62 |
Glareolidae | Pratincoles and Coursers |
63 |
Stercorariidae | Skuas and Jaegers |
64 |
Alcidae | Auks, Murres, and Puffins |
65 |
Laridae | Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers |
PTEROCLIFORMES | ||
66 |
Pteroclidae | Sandgrouse |
COLUMBIFORMES | ||
67 |
Columbidae | Pigeons and Doves |
CUCULIFORMES | ||
68 |
Musophagidae | Turacos |
69 |
Opisthocomidae | Hoatzin |
70 |
Cuculidae | Cuckoos |
STRIGIFORMES | ||
71 |
Tytonidae | Barn-Owls |
72 |
Strigidae | Owls |
CAPRIMULGIFORMES | ||
73 |
Aegothelidae | Owlet-Nightjars |
74 |
Podargidae | Frogmouths |
75 |
Caprimulgidae | Nightjars and Allies |
76 |
Nyctibiidae | Potoos |
77 |
Steatornithidae | Oilbird |
APODIFORMES | ||
78 |
Apodidae | Swifts |
79 |
Hemiprocnidae | Treeswifts |
80 |
Trochilidae | Hummingbirds |
COLIIFORMES | ||
81 |
Coliidae | Mousebirds |
TROGONIFORMES | ||
82 |
Trogonidae | Trogons |
CORACIIFORMES | ||
83 |
Todidae | Todies |
84 |
Momotidae | Motmots |
85 |
Alcedinidae | Kingfishers |
86 |
Meropidae | Bee-eaters |
87 |
Coraciidae | Rollers |
88 |
Brachypteraciidae | Ground-Rollers |
89 |
Leptosomidae | Cuckoo-Roller |
90 |
Upupidae | Hoopoes |
91 |
Phoeniculidae | Woodhoopoes and Scimitar-bills |
92 |
Bucerotidae | Hornbills |
93 |
Bucorvidae | Ground-Hornbills |
GALBULIFORMES | ||
94 |
Bucconidae | Puffbirds |
95 |
Galbulidae | Jacamars |
PICIFORMES | ||
96 |
Lybiidae | African Barbets |
97 |
Megalaimidae | Asian Barbets |
98 |
Capitonidae | New World Barbets |
99 |
Semnornithidae | Toucan-Barbets |
100 |
Ramphastidae | Toucans |
101 |
Indicatoridae | Honeyguides |
102 |
Picidae | Woodpeckers |
CARIAMIFORMES | ||
103 |
Cariamidae | Seriemas |
FALCONIFORMES | ||
104 |
Falconidae | Falcons and Caracaras |
PSITTACIFORMES | ||
105 |
Strigopidae | New Zealand Parrots |
106 |
Cacatuidae | Cockatoos |
107 |
Psittacidae | Parrots |
PASSERIFORMES | ||
108 |
Acanthisittidae | New Zealand Wrens |
109 |
Calyptomenidae | African and Green Broadbills |
110 |
Eurylaimidae | Asian and Grauer’s Broadbills |
111 |
Sapayoidae | Sapayoa |
112 |
Philepittidae | Asities |
113 |
Pittidae | Pittas |
114 |
Thamnophilidae | Typical Antbirds |
115 |
Melanopareiidae | Crescentchests |
116 |
Conopophagidae | Gnateaters |
117 |
Grallariidae | Antpittas |
118 |
Rhinocryptidae | Tapaculos |
119 |
Formicariidae | Antthrushes |
120 |
Furnariidae | Ovenbirds and Woodcreepers |
121 |
Tyrannidae | Tyrant Flycatchers |
122 |
Oxyruncidae | Sharpbill |
123 |
Cotingidae | Cotingas |
124 |
Pipridae | Manakins |
125 |
Tityridae | Tityras and Allies |
126 |
Menuridae | Lyrebirds |
127 |
Atrichornithidae | Scrub-birds |
128 |
Ptilonorhynchidae | Bowerbirds |
129 |
Climacteridae | Australasian Treecreepers |
130 |
Maluridae | Fairywrens |
131 |
Meliphagidae | Honeyeaters |
132 |
Dasyornithidae | Bristlebirds |
133 |
Pardalotidae | Pardalotes |
134 |
Acanthizidae | Thornbills and Allies |
135 |
Pomatostomidae | Pseudo-Babblers |
136 |
Orthonychidae | Logrunners |
137 |
Cnemophilidae | Satinbirds |
138 |
Melanocharitidae | Berrypeckers and Longbills |
139 |
Paramythiidae | Tit Berrypecker, Crested Berrypecker |
140 |
Callaeidae | Wattlebirds |
141 |
Notiomystidae | Stitchbird |
142 |
Psophodidae | Whipbirds and Wedgebills |
143 |
Cinclosomatidae | Quail-thrushes and Jewel-babblers |
144 |
Platysteiridae | Wattle-eyes and Batises |
145 |
Vangidae | Vangas |
146 |
Malaconotidae | Bushshrikes and Allies |
147 |
Machaerirhynchidae | Boatbills |
148 |
Artamidae | Woodswallows |
149 |
Cracticidae | Bellmagpies and Allies |
150 |
Pityriaseidae | Bristlehead |
151 |
Aegithinidae | Ioras |
152 |
Campephagidae | Cuckooshrikes |
153 |
Neosittidae | Sittellas |
154 |
Pachycephalidae | Whistlers and Allies |
155 |
Laniidae | Shrikes |
156 |
Vireonidae | Vireos |
157 |
Oriolidae | Old World Orioles |
158 |
Dicruridae | Drongos |
159 |
Rhipiduridae | Fantails |
160 |
Monarchidae | Monarch Flycatchers |
161 |
Corvidae | Crows, Jays, and Magpies |
162 |
Corcoracidae | White-winged Chough and Apostlebird |
163 |
Paradisaeidae | Birds-of-paradise |
164 |
Petroicidae | Australasian Robins |
165 |
Picathartidae | Rockfowl |
166 |
Chaetopidae | Rockjumpers |
167 |
Eupetidae | Rail-babbler |
168 |
Panuridae | Bearded Reedling |
169 |
Nicatoridae | Nicators |
170 |
Alaudidae | Larks |
171 |
Hirundinidae | Swallows |
172 |
Stenostiridae | Fairy Flycatchers |
173 |
Paridae | Chickadees and Tits |
174 |
Remizidae | Penduline-Tits |
175 |
Aegithalidae | Long-tailed Tits |
176 |
Sittidae | Nuthatches |
177 |
Tichodromidae | Wallcreeper |
178 |
Certhiidae | Treecreepers |
179 |
Troglodytidae | Wrens |
180 |
Polioptilidae | Gnatcatchers |
181 |
Cinclidae | Dippers |
182 |
Pycnonotidae | Bulbuls |
183 |
Regulidae | Kinglets |
184 |
Pnoepygidae | Cupwings |
185 |
Macrosphenidae | African Warblers |
186 |
Cettiidae | Bush-Warblers and Allies |
187 |
Phylloscopidae | Leaf-Warblers |
188 |
Acrocephalidae | Reed-Warblers and Allies |
189 |
Locustellidae | Grassbirds and Allies |
190 |
Donacobiidae | Donacobius |
191 |
Bernieridae | Malagasy Warblers |
192 |
Cisticolidae | Cisticolas and Allies |
193 |
Sylviidae | Sylvids |
194 |
Paradoxornithidae | Parrotbills, Wrentit, and Allies |
195 |
Zosteropidae | Yuhinas, White-eyes, and Allies |
196 |
Timaliidae | Tree-Babblers, Scimitar-Babblers, and Allies |
197 |
Pellorneidae | Ground Babblers and Allies |
198 |
Leiothrichidae | Laughingthrushes and Allies |
199 |
Promeropidae | Sugarbirds |
200 |
Irenidae | Fairy-bluebirds |
201 |
Hyliotidae | Hyliotas |
202 |
Muscicapidae | Old World Flycatchers |
203 |
Turdidae | Thrushes and Allies |
204 |
Mimidae | Mockingbirds and Thrashers |
205 |
Sturnidae | Starlings |
206 |
Buphagidae | Oxpeckers |
207 |
Chloropseidae | Leafbirds |
208 |
Dicaeidae | Flowerpeckers |
209 |
Nectariniidae | Sunbirds and Spiderhunters |
210 |
Prunellidae | Accentors |
211 |
Motacillidae | Wagtails and Pipits |
212 |
Urocynchramidae | Przevalski’s Rosefinch |
213 |
Bombycillidae | Waxwings |
214 |
Mohoidae | Hawaiian Honeyeaters [extinct] |
215 |
Ptilogonatidae | Silky-flycatchers |
216 |
Dulidae | Palmchat |
217 |
Hylocitreidae | Hylocitrea |
218 |
Hypocoliidae | Hypocolius |
219 |
Peucedramidae | Olive Warbler |
220 |
Calcariidae | Longspurs and Snow Buntings |
221 |
Parulidae | New World Warblers |
222 |
Thraupidae | Tanagers and Allies |
223 |
Emberizidae | Buntings and New World Sparrows |
224 |
Cardinalidae | Cardinals and Allies |
225 |
Icteridae | Troupials and Allies |
226 |
Fringillidae | Siskins, Crossbills, and Allies |
227 |
Passeridae | Old World Sparrows |
228 |
Ploceidae | Weavers and Allies |
229 |
Estrildidae | Waxbills and Allies |
230 |
Viduidae | Indigobirds |
FUTURE UPDATES
The next annual revision that incorporates revisions to the taxonomy and nomenclature of eBird/Clements Checklist will be released in August 2014.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Please continue to report potential errors, corrections and suggestions for improvement to eBird/Clements Checklist. 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.
Tom Fredericks logged many hours in checking the list for inaccuracies and inconsistencies. 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 and Frank D. Steinheimer 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:
Margaret Alcorn, Vaughan Ashby, John Baur, Jerry Blinn, Stephen Boddington, Sander Bot, Frederick Brammer, Ron Braun, Paul Brooks, Ken Burton, Duncan Campbell, Michael Carmody, Susan Connolly Carmody, Robert Carr, Steve Chalmers, Paul Clapham, Andrew Core, Andrew Duff, Benjamin Freenman, Bert Frenz, Mat and Cathy Gilfedder, Alan Grenon, Bryan Guarente, C. Michael Hogan, Jesper Bay Jacobsen, Rolf Jensen, Oscar Johnson, Raphaël Jordan, Robbin D. Knapp, Peter Kovalik, Niels Larsen, Jack Levene, Robert Lockett, Mark Lockwood, Peter Lowther, Noel Luff, Clive Mann, Curtis Marantz, Jay McGowan, Glenn Mertz, Joe Morlan, Michael O’Brien, Steve Preddy, Paul Prevett, Van Remsen, Michael Retter, Colin Richardson, Steve Rose, John Schillemans, Bengt-Eric Sjölinder, Phil Tizzard, Andrew Whittaker, Sean Williams, Bob Winckler, Jack Windsor, Diane Winer, 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); and Don Roberson.