August 2016

Overview

Go directly to 2016 Updates & Corrections

This is the 11th installment of Updates and Corrections following the publication (2007) of the 6th 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 2016 Updates and Corrections) is available as a downloadable spreadsheet (in Excel and .csv formats). This year’s spreadsheet version is eBird/Clements Checklist v2016, and will be released on 9 August 2016.

The spreadsheet contains 14 fields (data columns):

sort v2016 – reflects the sequence of species, groups, and subspecies in eBird/Clements v2016

Clements v2016 change – a brief note to signal that a change from eBird/Clements Checklist v2015 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 2016 page for a full explanation of these changes. 

Text for website v2016 – a brief explanation of the change from Clements Checklist 6.9 occurred for that entry. Please consult the Updates and Corrections page 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). Thus, the total number of subspecies recognized in the eBird/Clements Checklist is the sum of all entries listed as “subspecies” and as “group (monotypic).” 

English name 

Scientific 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 v2015 – reflecting the sequence of species in eBird/Clements Checklist v2015 

Sort 6.9 – reflecting the sequence of species in Clements Checklist 6.9

Page 6.0 – reflecting the page number of the species in the last (sixth) print edition (2007)

Here is a brief review of the changes that are introduced in the eBird/Clements Checklist v2016:

Summary Statistics

Species             10514
Subspecies       20634
Groups               3088
Families               237 (with 1 additional, extinct, family)

Species

In this year’s updates, we have a net gain from five new species, that is, species for which there was no entry at all in the previous edition of the eBird/Clements Checklist. One of these is a yet another new species of tapaculo, Perija Tapaculo (Scytalopus perijanus) from South America, and there also is a new species of thrush, Himalayan Thrush (Zoothera salimalii), that recently was described from Asia. We also add three newly recognized “cryptic” species, all of which had not been included at all in earlier editions of the checklist, but recent taxonomic revisions support their recognition as species: Sula Cuckoo-Dove (Turacoena modesta) of Wallacea, and Sandhill Grasswren (Amytornis oweni) and Western Whistler (Pachycephala occidentalis), both of Australia. Another 51 species are newly recognized in the eBird/Clements Checklist due to “splits”. There also is a loss of 12 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-seventh supplement to the American Ornithologists’ Union Check-list of North American Birds (July 2016).  We also are current with decisions of the South American Classification Committee (SACC) through 9 July 2016.

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 v2016, we add 75 new groups.

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:

Common Tern Sterna hirundo
Burrowing Owl Athene cunicularia
Streak-chested Antpitta Hylopezus perspicillatus
Buff-throated Foliage-gleaner Automolus ochrolaemus
Dusky-capped Flycatcher Myiarchus tuberculifer
Goldcrest Regulus regulus
Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita
Tropical Parula Setophaga pitiayumi
Golden Tanager Tangara arthus
Bananaquit Coereba flaveola
Grasshopper Sparrow Ammodramus savannarum
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

One new order is added (Opisthocomiformes), but Apodiformes is merged with Caprimulgiformes. Therefore the total number of orders remains unchanged, at 39 extant orders. Two families are lost: Dromaiidae (Emus) merged into Casuariidae (Cassowaries), and Pelecanoididae (Diving-Petrels) is merged into Procellariidae (Shearwaters and Petrels). On the other hand, five new families are added this year: Eulacestomatidae (Ploughbill); Falcunculidae (Shrike-tit); Rhagologidae (Mottled Berryhunter); Ifritidae (Ifrita); and Melampittidae (Melampittas) Consequently the total number of extant families in the eBird/Clements Checklist increases to 237, with an additional extinct family, for a total of 238 families.

AOU-NACC implemented some sweeping changes this year with regard to the sequence of orders among the non-passerines, and sequence of families within Passeriformes. We have not followed these changes in the current eBird/Clements Checklist, but we expect to so in our next round of revisions (August 2017).

The 237 extant families accepted by Clements Checklist are listed below, with the names of orders in bold CAPITAL lettering, 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 Ostriches (2)
RHEIFORMES (1)
2 Rheidae Rheas (2)
TINAMIFORMES (1)
3 Tinamidae Tinamous (47)
CASUARIIFORMES (2)
4 Casuariidae Cassowaries and Emu (4)
APTERYGIFORMES (1)
5 Apterygidae Kiwis (5)
ANSERIFORMES (3)
6 Anhimidae Screamers (3)
7 Anseranatidae Magpie Goose (1)
8 Anatidae Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl (164)
GALLIFORMES (5)
9 Megapodiidae Megapodes (22)
10 Cracidae Guans, Chachalacas, and Curassows (54)
11 Numididae Guineafowl (6)
12 Odontophoridae New World Quail (33)
13 Phasianidae Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies (174)
GAVIIFORMES (1)
14 Gaviidae Loons (5)
PODICIPEDIFORMES (1)
15 Podicipedidae Grebes (22)
PHOENICOPTERIFORMES (1)
16 Phoenicopteridae Flamingos (6)
SPHENISCIFORMES (1)
17 Spheniscidae Penguins (18)
PROCELLARIIFORMES (4)
18 Diomedeidae Albatrosses (15)
19 Procellariidae Shearwaters and Petrels (92)
20 Hydrobatidae Storm-Petrels (27)
PHAETHONTIFORMES (1)
21 Phaethontidae Tropicbirds (3)
CICONIIFORMES (1)
22 Ciconiidae Storks (19)
SULIFORMES (4)
23 Fregatidae Frigatebirds (5)
24 Sulidae Boobies and Gannets (10)
25 Phalacrocoracidae Cormorants and Shags (40)
26 Anhingidae Anhingas (4)
PELECANIFORMES (5)
27 Pelecanidae Pelicans (8)
28 Balaenicipitidae Shoebill (1)
29 Scopidae Hamerkop (1)
30 Ardeidae Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns (64)
31 Threskiornithidae Ibises and Spoonbills (34)
ACCIPITRIFORMES (4)
32 Cathartidae New World Vultures (7)
33 Sagittariidae Secretary-bird (1)
34 Pandionidae Osprey (1)
35 Accipitridae Hawks, Eagles, and Kites (246)
OTIDIFORMES (1)
36 Otididae Bustards (26)
MESITORNITHIFORMES (1)
37 Mesitornithidae Mesites (3)
EURYPYGIFORMES (2)
38 Rhynochetidae Kagu (1)
39 Eurypygidae Sunbittern (1)
GRUIFORMES (6)
40 Rallidae Rails, Gallinules, and Coots (144)
41 Sarothruridae Flufftails (12)
42 Heliornithidae Finfoots (3)
43 Aramidae Limpkin (1)
44 Psophiidae Trumpeters (3)
45 Gruidae Cranes (15)
CHARADRIIFORMES (19)
46 Chionidae Sheathbills (2)
47 Pluvianellidae Magellanic Plover (1)
48 Burhinidae Thick-knees (10)
49 Pluvianidae Egyptian Plover (1)
50 Recurvirostridae Stilts and Avocets (9)
51 Ibidorhynchidae Ibisbill (1)
52 Haematopodidae Oystercatchers (12)
53 Charadriidae Plovers and Lapwings (67)
54 Pedionomidae Plains-wanderer (1)
55 Thinocoridae Seedsnipes (4)
56 Rostratulidae Painted-Snipes (3)
57 Jacanidae Jacanas (8)
58 Scolopacidae Sandpipers and Allies (97)
59 Turnicidae Buttonquail (16)
60 Dromadidae Crab Plover (1)
61 Glareolidae Pratincoles and Coursers (17)
62 Stercorariidae Skuas and Jaegers (7)
63 Alcidae Auks, Murres, and Puffins (25)
64 Laridae Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers (99)
PTEROCLIFORMES (1)
65 Pteroclidae Sandgrouse (16)
COLUMBIFORMES (1)
66 Columbidae Pigeons and Doves (338)
66.1 OPISTHOCOMIFORMES (1)
67 Opisthocomidae Hoatzin (1)
CUCULIFORMES (2)
68 Musophagidae Turacos (23)
69 Cuculidae Cuckoos (146)
STRIGIFORMES (2)
70 Tytonidae Barn-Owls (18)
71 Strigidae Owls (207)
CAPRIMULGIFORMES (8)
72 Podargidae Frogmouths (15)
73 Caprimulgidae Nightjars and Allies (98)
74 Nyctibiidae Potoos (7)
75 Steatornithidae Oilbird (1)
76 Aegothelidae Owlet-nightjars (10)
77 Apodidae Swifts (105)
78 Hemiprocnidae Treeswifts (4)
79 Trochilidae Hummingbirds (343)
COLIIFORMES (1)
80 Coliidae Mousebirds (6)
LEPTOSOMIFORMES (1)
81 Leptosomidae Cuckoo-Roller (1)
TROGONIFORMES (1)
82 Trogonidae Trogons (44)
BUCEROTIFORMES (4)
83 Upupidae Hoopoes (2)
84 Phoeniculidae Woodhoopoes and Scimitar-bills (8)
85 Bucorvidae Ground-Hornbills (2)
86 Bucerotidae Hornbills (59)
CORACIIFORMES (6)
87 Todidae Todies (5)
88 Momotidae Motmots (14)
89 Alcedinidae Kingfishers (117)
90 Meropidae Bee-eaters (28)
91 Coraciidae Rollers (12)
92 Brachypteraciidae Ground-Rollers (5)
GALBULIFORMES (2)
93 Bucconidae Puffbirds (36)
94 Galbulidae Jacamars (18)
PICIFORMES (7)
95 Lybiidae African Barbets (42)
96 Megalaimidae Asian Barbets (34)
97 Capitonidae New World Barbets (14)
98 Semnornithidae Toucan-Barbets (2)
99 Ramphastidae Toucans (35)
100 Indicatoridae Honeyguides (17)
101 Picidae Woodpeckers (230)
CARIAMIFORMES (1)
102 Cariamidae Seriemas (2)
FALCONIFORMES (1)
103 Falconidae Falcons and Caracaras (65)
PSITTACIFORMES (4)
104 Strigopidae New Zealand Parrots (4)
105 Cacatuidae Cockatoos (21)
106 Psittaculidae Old World Parrots (179)
107 Psittacidae New World and African Parrots (168)
PASSERIFORMES (131)
108 Acanthisittidae New Zealand Wrens (4)
109 Calyptomenidae African and Green Broadbills (6)
110 Eurylaimidae Asian and Grauer’s Broadbills (9)
111 Sapayoidae Sapayoa (1)
112 Philepittidae Asities (4)
113 Pittidae Pittas (44)
114 Thamnophilidae Typical Antbirds (234)
115 Melanopareiidae Crescentchests (4)
116 Conopophagidae Gnateaters (11)
117 Grallariidae Antpittas (53)
118 Rhinocryptidae Tapaculos (59)
119 Formicariidae Antthrushes (11)
120 Furnariidae Ovenbirds and Woodcreepers (303)
121 Tyrannidae Tyrant Flycatchers (419)
122 Oxyruncidae Sharpbill (1)
123 Cotingidae Cotingas (66)
124 Pipridae Manakins (54)
125 Tityridae Tityras and Allies (33)
126 Menuridae Lyrebirds (2)
127 Atrichornithidae Scrub-birds (2)
128 Ptilonorhynchidae Bowerbirds (26)
129 Climacteridae Australasian Treecreepers (7)
130 Maluridae Fairywrens (32)
131 Meliphagidae Honeyeaters (184)
132 Dasyornithidae Bristlebirds (3)
133 Pardalotidae Pardalotes (4)
134 Acanthizidae Thornbills and Allies (64)
135 Pomatostomidae Pseudo-Babblers (5)
136 Orthonychidae Logrunners (3)
137 Cnemophilidae Satinbirds (3)
138 Melanocharitidae Berrypeckers and Longbills (10)
139 Mohouidae Whiteheads (3)
140 Paramythiidae Tit Berrypecker, Crested Berrypecker (2)
141 Callaeidae Wattlebirds (5)
142 Notiomystidae Stitchbird (1)
143 Psophodidae Whipbirds and Wedgebills (5)
144 Cinclosomatidae Quail-thrushes and Jewel-babblers (11)
145 Platysteiridae Wattle-eyes and Batises (30)
146 Vangidae Vangas (39)
147 Malaconotidae Bushshrikes and Allies (49)
148 Machaerirhynchidae Boatbills (2)
149 Artamidae Woodswallows (11)
150 Cracticidae Bellmagpies and Allies (13)
151 Pityriaseidae Bristlehead (1)
152 Aegithinidae Ioras (4)
153 Campephagidae Cuckooshrikes (87)
154 Neosittidae Sittellas (2)
155 Eulacestomatidae Ploughbill (1)
156 Falcunculidae Shrike-tit (1)
157 Pachycephalidae Whistlers and Allies (56)
158 Rhagologidae Mottled Berryhunter (1)
159 Oreoicidae Australo-Papuan Bellbirds (3)
160 Laniidae Shrikes (32)
161 Vireonidae Vireos, Shrike-Babblers, and Erpornis (62)
162 Oriolidae Old World Orioles (35)
163 Dicruridae Drongos (25)
164 Rhipiduridae Fantails (50)
165 Ifritidae Ifrita (1)
166 Monarchidae Monarch Flycatchers (100)
167 Corvidae Crows, Jays, and Magpies (125)
168 Corcoracidae White-winged Chough and Apostlebird (2)
169 Paradisaeidae Birds-of-Paradise (39)
170 Melampittidae Melampittas (2)
171 Petroicidae Australasian Robins (47)
172 Picathartidae Rockfowl (2)
173 Chaetopidae Rockjumpers (2)
174 Eupetidae Rail-babbler (1)
175 Panuridae Bearded Reedling (1)
176 Nicatoridae Nicators (3)
177 Alaudidae Larks (97)
178 Hirundinidae Swallows (86)
179 Stenostiridae Fairy Flycatchers (9)
180 Paridae Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice (63)
181 Remizidae Penduline-Tits (11)
182 Aegithalidae Long-tailed Tits (11)
183 Sittidae Nuthatches (27)
184 Tichodromidae Wallcreeper (1)
185 Certhiidae Treecreepers (11)
186 Troglodytidae Wrens (85)
187 Polioptilidae Gnatcatchers (15)
188 Cinclidae Dippers (5)
189 Pycnonotidae Bulbuls (141)
190 Regulidae Kinglets (6)
191 Pnoepygidae Cupwings (5)
192 Macrosphenidae African Warblers (21)
193 Cettiidae Bush-Warblers and Allies (36)
194 Phylloscopidae Leaf Warblers (76)
195 Acrocephalidae Reed-Warblers and Allies (61)
196 Locustellidae Grassbirds and Allies (61)
197 Donacobiidae Donacobius (1)
198 Bernieridae Malagasy Warblers (11)
199 Cisticolidae Cisticolas and Allies (147)
200 Sylviidae Sylviid Warblers (33)
201 Paradoxornithidae Parrotbills, Wrentit, and Allies (36)
202 Zosteropidae Yuhinas, White-eyes, and Allies (129)
203 Timaliidae Tree-Babblers, Scimitar-Babblers, and Allies (52)
204 Pellorneidae Ground Babblers and Allies (56)
205 Leiothrichidae Laughingthrushes and Allies (144)
206 Promeropidae Sugarbirds (5)
207 Irenidae Fairy-bluebirds (2)
208 Hyliotidae Hyliotas (4)
209 Muscicapidae Old World Flycatchers (315)
210 Turdidae Thrushes and Allies (168)
211 Mimidae Mockingbirds and Thrashers (34)
212 Sturnidae Starlings (122)
213 Buphagidae Oxpeckers (2)
214 Chloropseidae Leafbirds (11)
215 Dicaeidae Flowerpeckers (47)
216 Nectariniidae Sunbirds and Spiderhunters (140)
217 Prunellidae Accentors (13)
218 Motacillidae Wagtails and Pipits (66)
219 Urocynchramidae Przevalski’s Pinktail (1)
220 Elachuridae Spotted Elachura (1)
221 Bombycillidae Waxwings (3)
222 Mohoidae Hawaiian Honeyeaters (5) [extinct]
223 Ptiliogonatidae Silky-flycatchers (4)
224 Dulidae Palmchat (1)
225 Hylocitreidae Hylocitrea (1)
226 Hypocoliidae Hypocolius (1)
227 Peucedramidae Olive Warbler (1)
228 Calcariidae Longspurs and Snow Buntings (6)
229 Parulidae New World Warblers (116)
230 Thraupidae Tanagers and Allies (386)
231 Emberizidae Buntings and New World Sparrows (172)
232 Cardinalidae Cardinals and Allies (48)
233 Icteridae Troupials and Allies (105)
234 Fringillidae Finches, Euphonias, and Allies (224)
235 Passeridae Old World Sparrows (42)
236 Ploceidae Weavers and Allies (116)
237 Estrildidae Waxbills and Allies (140)
238 Viduidae Indigobirds (20)

Future Updates

The next annual revision that incorporates revisions to the taxonomy and nomenclature of the eBird/Clements Checklist will be released in August 2017.

Acknowledgments

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, made useful comparisons with other taxonomies, pointed out errors, and helped with many taxonomic issues through this process; we are extremely grateful for his generous assistance. Peter Kovalik, Frank Gill, David Donsker, Vitor Piacentini, and Alex Lees also have gone out of their way to provide helpful suggestions. 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 providing helpful comments on the eBird/Clements Checklist or for directing us to important literature for our consideration:

Margaret and Richard Alcorn, Desmond Allen, Mike Andersen, Nick Anich, Christian Artuso, Jan Axel Cubilla, Dave Bakewell, David Bell, David Bishop, Matt Brady, Terry Bronson, Paul Clapham, Mark Cranford, Dean Cutten, Theo de Kok, Andrew Dreelin, Pete Dunten, Ken Edwards, Thomas Forster, James Fox, Kimball Garrett, Hector Gómez de Silva, Alan Grenon, Paul Hilder, Mark Hodgson, Peter Hosner, Rich Hoyer, Rob Hutchinson, Praveen J, Alvaro Jaramillo, Leo Joseph, Max Kirsch, Ethan Kistler, Alan Knue, Dan Lane, Niels Larsen, Tony Leukering, Jack Levene, Barbara MacKinnon de Montes, Glenn Mahler, Kevin McGowan, Matt Medler, Glenn Mertz, Steven Mlodinow, Nicholas Pederson, Christian Perez, Suhel Quader, Martin Reid, Colin Richardson, Matthew Sarver, Holger Schritt, Bengt-Eric Sjölinder, Roger Staples, Phil Tizzard, Simon Tonge, Elídier Vargas, Jean-Marc Venel, and Adam Winer, 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.