August 2021
Overview
This is the 15th installment of The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World following the publication, in 2007, of the 6th edition of The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. Although we typically update the checklist annually, we did not have a release in 2020, due to a database upgrade. Because the Clements Checklist has become tightly interwoven with eBird, the checklist now is referred to as the eBird/Clements Checklist. The entire checklist (including documentation of all revisions) is available as a downloadable spreadsheet (in Excel and .csv formats). This year’s spreadsheet version is eBird/Clements Checklist v2021, and was released on 24 August 2021.
As usual, we will post a list of the major 2021 Updates & Corrections (e.g., new species, splits, lumps, and name changes) here at a later date. As noted above, however, full documentation of all changes is incorporated into the spreadsheet itself; and eBird also has a very useful summary of the major changes as well.
The spreadsheet contains 13 fields (data columns):
sort v2021 – Reflects the sequence of species, groups, and subspecies in eBird/Clements v2021
Clements v2021 change – A brief note to signal that a change from eBird/Clements Checklist v2019 occurred for that entry. Sometimes only a single change is made per entry; in other cases several changes are made.
text for website v2021 – Provides a fuller explanation of the change(s) from Clements Checklist v2019 that occurred for that entry.
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 (1) 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, an approximation of the last year in which it was reported); “xxxx” is used when the date of extinction is not readily accessible.
sort v2019 – Reflecting the sequence of species in eBird/Clements Checklist v2019
page 6.0 – Reflecting the page number of the species in the last (sixth) print edition (2007)
Summary Statistics
Species 10824
Subspecies 20458
Groups 3761
Families 248 (with 1 additional, extinct, family)
Species
In this year’s updates, we add a remarkable total of 17 newly described species, which come from three different regions. As so often is the case, South America contributes the greatest number of new species (nine), although all of these result from taxonomic revisions of just two (but speciose!) genera: Oxapampa Antpitta Grallaria centralis, Ayacucho Antpitta Grallaria ayacuchensis, Puno Antpitta Grallaria sinaensis, Chami Antpitta Grallaria alvarezi, Chachapoyas Antpitta Grallaria gravesi, and Panao Antpitta Grallaria oneilli, which are distributed in the northern Andes, in Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia; and White-winged Tapaculo Scytalopus krabbei, Ampay Tapaculo Scytalopus whitneyi, and Jalca Tapaculo Scytalopus frankeae, all of which are endemic to the Andes of Peru. The next largest set of additions are from tropical Asia (six), with one from New Guinea – Satin Berrypecker Melanocharis citreola – and five from Indonesia and insular Malaysia: Alor Myzomela Myzomela prawiradilagae, Taliabu Myzomela Myzomela wahe, Peleng Fantail Rhipidura habibiei, Taliabu Bush Warbler Locustella portenta, and Spectacled Flowerpecker Dicaeum dayakorum. Finally, there two newly described species from Africa, Kilombero Cisticola Cisticola bakerorum and White-tailed Cisticola Cisticola anderseni, both of which occur in southern Tanzania.
Groups
eBird/Clements Checklist has adopted the concept of the group, which initially was developed by 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 v2021, we have a net loss of 39 groups, as many of this year’s splits represent groups that were upgraded to a species.
Higher-Level Taxonomy
No new families are added or lost this year, and so the total number of extant families in the eBird/Clements Checklist remains 248, with an additional extinct family (Mohoidae Hawaiian Honeyeaters), for a total of 249 families. The nomenclature and sequence of species and genera were revised in several families, however, most notably in Phasianidae (Pheasants, Grouse, Quail, and Allies); Trochilidae (Hummingbirds);Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants and Shags); the lorikeets (Psittaculidae Old World Parrots, in part); Meliphagidae (Honeyeaters); Locustellidae (Grassbirds and Allies); Sylviidae (Sylviid Warblers, Parrotbills, and Allies); Zosteropidae (White-eyes, Yuhinas, and Allies); Timaliidae (Tree-Babblers, Scimitar-Babblers, and Allies); Pellorneidae (Ground Babblers and Allies); and Leiothrichidae (Laughingthrushes and Allies).
The 248 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 (46)
CASUARIIFORMES (1)
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 (174)
GALLIFORMES (5)
9 Megapodiidae Megapodes (22)
10 Cracidae Guans, Chachalacas, and Curassows (56)
11 Numididae Guineafowl (6)
12 Odontophoridae New World Quail (33)
13 Phasianidae Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies (181)
PHOENICOPTERIFORMES (1)
14 Phoenicopteridae Flamingos (6)
PODICIPEDIFORMES (1)
15 Podicipedidae Grebes (22)
COLUMBIFORMES (1)
16 Columbidae Pigeons and Doves (348)
MESITORNITHIFORMES (1)
17 Mesitornithidae Mesites (3)
PTEROCLIFORMES (1)
18 Pteroclidae Sandgrouse (16)
OTIDIFORMES (1)
19 Otididae Bustards (26)
MUSOPHAGIFORMES (1)
20 Musophagidae Turacos (23)
CUCULIFORMES (1)
21 Cuculidae Cuckoos (147)
CAPRIMULGIFORMES (8)
22 Podargidae Frogmouths (16)
23 Caprimulgidae Nightjars and Allies (97)
24 Nyctibiidae Potoos (7)
25 Steatornithidae Oilbird (1)
26 Aegothelidae Owlet-nightjars (10)
27 Apodidae Swifts (112)
28 Hemiprocnidae Treeswifts (4)
29 Trochilidae Hummingbirds (352)
OPISTHOCOMIFORMES (1)
30 Opisthocomidae Hoatzin (1)
GRUIFORMES (6)
31 Sarothruridae Flufftails (11)
32 Rallidae Rails, Gallinules, and Coots (159)
33 Heliornithidae Finfoots (3)
34 Aramidae Limpkin (1)
35 Psophiidae Trumpeters (3)
36 Gruidae Cranes (15)
CHARADRIIFORMES (19)
37 Chionidae Sheathbills (2)
38 Pluvianellidae Magellanic Plover (1)
39 Burhinidae Thick-knees (10)
40 Pluvianidae Egyptian Plover (1)
41 Recurvirostridae Stilts and Avocets (9)
42 Ibidorhynchidae Ibisbill (1)
43 Haematopodidae Oystercatchers (12)
44 Charadriidae Plovers and Lapwings (68)
45 Pedionomidae Plains-wanderer (1)
46 Thinocoridae Seedsnipes (4)
47 Rostratulidae Painted-Snipes (3)
48 Jacanidae Jacanas (8)
49 Scolopacidae Sandpipers and Allies (97)
50 Turnicidae Buttonquail (17)
51 Dromadidae Crab Plover (1)
52 Glareolidae Pratincoles and Coursers (17)
53 Stercorariidae Skuas and Jaegers (7)
54 Alcidae Auks, Murres, and Puffins (25)
55 Laridae Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers (99)
EURYPYGIFORMES (2)
56 Rhynochetidae Kagu (1)
57 Eurypygidae Sunbittern (1)
PHAETHONTIFORMES (1)
58 Phaethontidae Tropicbirds (3)
GAVIIFORMES (1)
59 Gaviidae Loons (5)
SPHENISCIFORMES (1)
60 Spheniscidae Penguins (18)
PROCELLARIIFORMES (4)
61 Diomedeidae Albatrosses (15)
62 Oceanitidae Southern Storm-Petrels (9)
63 Hydrobatidae Northern Storm-Petrels (18)
64 Procellariidae Shearwaters and Petrels (96)
CICONIIFORMES (1)
65 Ciconiidae Storks (19)
SULIFORMES (4)
66 Fregatidae Frigatebirds (5)
67 Sulidae Boobies and Gannets (10)
68 Anhingidae Anhingas (4)
69 Phalacrocoracidae Cormorants and Shags (40)
PELECANIFORMES (5)
70 Pelecanidae Pelicans (8)
71 Balaenicipitidae Shoebill (1)
72 Scopidae Hamerkop (1)
73 Ardeidae Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns (68)
74 Threskiornithidae Ibises and Spoonbills (36)
CATHARTIFORMES (1)
75 Cathartidae New World Vultures (7)
ACCIPITRIFORMES (3)
76 Sagittariidae Secretarybird (1)
77 Pandionidae Osprey (1)
78 Accipitridae Hawks, Eagles, and Kites (250)
STRIGIFORMES (2)
79 Tytonidae Barn-Owls (18)
80 Strigidae Owls (225)
COLIIFORMES (1)
81 Coliidae Mousebirds (6)
LEPTOSOMIFORMES (1)
82 Leptosomidae Cuckoo-Roller (1)
TROGONIFORMES (1)
83 Trogonidae Trogons (43)
BUCEROTIFORMES (4)
84 Upupidae Hoopoes (3)
85 Phoeniculidae Woodhoopoes and Scimitarbills (8)
86 Bucorvidae Ground-Hornbills (2)
87 Bucerotidae Hornbills (59)
CORACIIFORMES (6)
88 Todidae Todies (5)
89 Momotidae Motmots (14)
90 Alcedinidae Kingfishers (118)
91 Meropidae Bee-eaters (28)
92 Coraciidae Rollers (13)
93 Brachypteraciidae Ground-Rollers (5)
GALBULIFORMES (2)
94 Bucconidae Puffbirds (36)
95 Galbulidae Jacamars (18)
PICIFORMES (7)
96 Lybiidae African Barbets (41)
97 Megalaimidae Asian Barbets (34)
98 Capitonidae New World Barbets (14)
99 Semnornithidae Toucan-Barbets (2)
100 Ramphastidae Toucans (36)
101 Indicatoridae Honeyguides (17)
102 Picidae Woodpeckers (233)
CARIAMIFORMES (1)
103 Cariamidae Seriemas (2)
FALCONIFORMES (1)
104 Falconidae Falcons and Caracaras (65)
PSITTACIFORMES (4)
105 Strigopidae New Zealand Parrots (4)
106 Cacatuidae Cockatoos (21)
107 Psittaculidae Old World Parrots (190)
108 Psittacidae New World and African Parrots (175)
PASSERIFORMES (142)
109 Acanthisittidae New Zealand Wrens (4)
110 Calyptomenidae African and Green Broadbills (6)
111 Eurylaimidae Asian and Grauer’s Broadbills (9)
112 Sapayoidae Sapayoa (1)
113 Philepittidae Asities (4)
114 Pittidae Pittas (46)
115 Thamnophilidae Typical Antbirds (237)
116 Melanopareiidae Crescentchests (4)
117 Conopophagidae Gnateaters (11)
118 Grallariidae Antpittas (68)
119 Rhinocryptidae Tapaculos (65)
120 Formicariidae Antthrushes (12)
121 Furnariidae Ovenbirds and Woodcreepers (306)
122 Pipridae Manakins (53)
123 Cotingidae Cotingas (65)
124 Tityridae Tityras and Allies (33)
125 Oxyruncidae Sharpbill, Royal Flycatcher, and Allies (7)
126 Tyrannidae Tyrant Flycatchers (425)
127 Menuridae Lyrebirds (2)
128 Atrichornithidae Scrub-birds (2)
129 Ptilonorhynchidae Bowerbirds (27)
130 Climacteridae Australasian Treecreepers (7)
131 Maluridae Fairywrens (32)
132 Meliphagidae Honeyeaters (190)
133 Dasyornithidae Bristlebirds (3)
134 Pardalotidae Pardalotes (4)
135 Acanthizidae Thornbills and Allies (65)
136 Pomatostomidae Pseudo-Babblers (5)
137 Orthonychidae Logrunners (3)
138 Cinclosomatidae Quail-thrushes and Jewel-babblers (12)
139 Campephagidae Cuckooshrikes (89)
140 Mohouidae Whiteheads (3)
141 Neosittidae Sittellas (3)
142 Psophodidae Whipbirds and Wedgebills (5)
143 Eulacestomatidae Ploughbill (1)
144 Oreoicidae Australo-Papuan Bellbirds (3)
145 Falcunculidae Shrike-tit (1)
146 Paramythiidae Tit Berrypecker and Crested Berrypecker (2)
147 Vireonidae Vireos, Shrike-Babblers, and Erpornis (63)
148 Pachycephalidae Whistlers and Allies (63)
149 Oriolidae Old World Orioles (38)
150 Machaerirhynchidae Boatbills (2)
151 Artamidae Woodswallows, Bellmagpies, and Allies (24)
152 Rhagologidae Mottled Berryhunter (1)
153 Platysteiridae Wattle-eyes and Batises (31)
154 Vangidae Vangas, Helmetshrikes, and Allies (39)
155 Pityriasidae Bristlehead (1)
156 Aegithinidae Ioras (4)
157 Malaconotidae Bushshrikes and Allies (50)
158 Rhipiduridae Fantails (54)
159 Dicruridae Drongos (29)
160 Paradisaeidae Birds-of-Paradise (42)
161 Ifritidae Ifrita (1)
162 Monarchidae Monarch Flycatchers (100)
163 Corcoracidae White-winged Chough and Apostlebird (2)
164 Melampittidae Melampittas (2)
165 Platylophidae Crested Shrikejay (1)
166 Laniidae Shrikes (34)
167 Corvidae Crows, Jays, and Magpies (128)
168 Cnemophilidae Satinbirds (3)
169 Melanocharitidae Berrypeckers and Longbills (11)
170 Callaeidae Wattlebirds (5)
171 Notiomystidae Stitchbird (1)
172 Petroicidae Australasian Robins (49)
173 Picathartidae Rockfowl (2)
174 Chaetopidae Rockjumpers (2)
175 Eupetidae Rail-babbler (1)
176 Hyliotidae Hyliotas (4)
177 Stenostiridae Fairy Flycatchers (9)
178 Paridae Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice (63)
179 Remizidae Penduline-Tits (11)
180 Alaudidae Larks (99)
181 Panuridae Bearded Reedling (1)
182 Nicatoridae Nicators (3)
183 Macrosphenidae African Warblers (21)
184 Cisticolidae Cisticolas and Allies (161)
185 Acrocephalidae Reed Warblers and Allies (61)
186 Locustellidae Grassbirds and Allies (66)
187 Donacobiidae Donacobius (1)
188 Bernieridae Malagasy Warblers (11)
189 Pnoepygidae Cupwings (5)
190 Hirundinidae Swallows (86)
191 Pycnonotidae Bulbuls (151)
192 Phylloscopidae Leaf Warblers (79)
193 Scotocercidae Bush Warblers and Allies (36)
194 Aegithalidae Long-tailed Tits (11)
195 Sylviidae Sylviid Warblers, Parrobtills, and Allies (69)
196 Zosteropidae White-eyes, Yuhinas, and Allies (142)
197 Timaliidae Tree-Babblers, Scimitar-Babblers, and Allies (54)
198 Pellorneidae Ground Babblers and Allies (62)
199 Leiothrichidae Laughingthrushes and Allies (143)
200 Regulidae Kinglets (6)
201 Tichodromidae Wallcreeper (1)
202 Sittidae Nuthatches (28)
203 Certhiidae Treecreepers (11)
204 Polioptilidae Gnatcatchers (21)
205 Troglodytidae Wrens (86)
206 Elachuridae Spotted Elachura (1)
207 Cinclidae Dippers (5)
208 Buphagidae Oxpeckers (2)
209 Sturnidae Starlings (123)
210 Mimidae Mockingbirds and Thrashers (34)
211 Turdidae Thrushes and Allies (174)
212 Muscicapidae Old World Flycatchers (327)
213 Bombycillidae Waxwings (3)
214 Mohoidae Hawaiian Honeyeaters (5) [extinct]
215 Ptiliogonatidae Silky-flycatchers (4)
216 Dulidae Palmchat (1)
217 Hylocitreidae Hylocitrea (1)
218 Hypocoliidae Hypocolius (1)
219 Promeropidae Sugarbirds (2)
220 Modulatricidae Dapple-throat and Allies (3)
221 Dicaeidae Flowerpeckers (48)
222 Nectariniidae Sunbirds and Spiderhunters (143)
223 Irenidae Fairy-bluebirds (2)
224 Chloropseidae Leafbirds (11)
225 Peucedramidae Olive Warbler (1)
226 Urocynchramidae Przevalski’s Pinktail (1)
227 Ploceidae Weavers and Allies (118)
228 Estrildidae Waxbills and Allies (140)
229 Viduidae Indigobirds (20)
230 Prunellidae Accentors (13)
231 Passeridae Old World Sparrows (43)
232 Motacillidae Wagtails and Pipits (67)
233 Fringillidae Finches, Euphonias, and Allies (229)
234 Calcariidae Longspurs and Snow Buntings (6)
235 Rhodinocichlidae Thrush-Tanager (1)
236 Emberizidae Old World Buntings (44)
237 Passerellidae New World Sparrows (132)
238 Calyptophilidae Chat-Tanagers (2)
239 Phaenicophilidae Hispaniolan Tanagers (4)
240 Nesospingidae Puerto Rican Tanager (1)
241 Spindalidae Spindalises (4)
242 Zeledoniidae Wrenthrush (1)
243 Teretistridae Cuban Warblers (2)
244 Icteriidae Yellow-breasted Chat (1)
245 Icteridae Troupials and Allies (105)
246 Parulidae New World Warblers (111)
247 Mitrospingidae Mitrospingid Tanagers (4)
248 Cardinalidae Cardinals and Allies (49)
249 Thraupidae Tanagers and Allies (381)
Future Updates
The next annual revision that incorporates revisions to the taxonomy and nomenclature of the eBird/Clements Checklist will be released in August 2022.
Acknowledgments
Please continue to report potential errors, corrections, and suggestions for improvement of the eBird/Clements Checklist 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 ones that are accompanied by a supporting reference or citation.
We are excited to be working with a team of representatives from other global checklists to minimize differences between the lists and to coordinate on taxonomic revisions and nomenclatural issues. As part of these efforts, we especially wish to thank Nigel Collar, Paul Donald, David Donsker, and Pam Rasmussen, each of whom contributed valuable insights and served as a sounding board on many issues related to taxonomy and nomenclature. We take full responsibility, of course, for any remaining errors. We are grateful to Terry Chesser for providing advance copies of works in progress, and to both Terry and to Van Remsen for their too-little appreciated roles in chairing regional classification committees.
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:
Gary Allport, Ernesto Alvarado Reyes, Dave Bakewell, Avery Bartels, Ned Brinkley, Ken Burton, Paul Clapham, Karen D’Alessandri, Paul Donald, Andy Elliott, Garry George, Mat and Cathy Gilfedder, Doug Gochfeld, Alan Grenon, Piotr Hass-Sandej, Praveen J, Lee Jones, Peter Kaestner, Peter Kennerley, Max Kirsch, Peter Kovalik, Niels Larsen, Jack Levene, Robert Lockett, Jay McGowan, Glenn Mertz, Shai Mitra, Joe Morlan, Thane Pratt, Hugo Rainey, Colin Richardson, Don Roberson, Craig Robson, Steve Rose, Daan Sandee, Fabrice Schmitt, Fred Sheldon, David Slager, Andrew Spencer, Zack Weber, Wich’yanan Limparungpatthanakij, Johnny Wilson, 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 inadvertently may have overlooked.
Thanks to all for your support, and we look forward to your feedback.
Thomas S. Schulenberg, Marshall J. Iliff, Shawn M. Billerman, Thomas A. Fredericks, Jeff Gerbracht, Denis LePage, Brian L. Sullivan, and Christopher L. Wood.