August 2019 | Clements Checklist

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Note About 2020 Updates & Corrections

Although we usually release a new version of the Clements Checklist in August, unfortunately we will NOT be able to issue an update in 2020. Instead, the next release of an updated eBird/Clements Checklist will be sometime early in 2021, although the date of this release is not yet scheduled.

This delay is driven by technical considerations. The Lab’s database management systems are being overhauled throughout 2020, and we will not be able to implement any taxonomic revisions in the eBird/Clements Checklist until we complete this database work. We apologize for the delay, and we look forward to being ready to release an update again next year.

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Overview

Go directly to 2019 Updates & Corrections

This is the 14th installment of Updates and Corrections following the publication, in 2007, of the 6th edition of The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. Because the Clements Checklist has become tightly interwoven with the taxonomy for eBird, the checklist now is referred to as the eBird/Clements Checklist. The entire checklist (including the 2019 Updates and Corrections) is available as a downloadable spreadsheet (in Excel and .csv formats). This year’s spreadsheet version is eBird/Clements Checklist v2019, and was released on 15 August 2019.

The spreadsheet contains 14 fields (data columns):

sort v2019 – Reflects the sequence of species, groups, and subspecies in eBird/Clements v2019

Clements v2019 change – A brief note to signal that a change from eBird/Clements Checklist v2018 occurred for that entry. Sometimes only a single change is made per entry; in other cases several changes are made.

text for website v2019 – Provides a fuller explanation of the change(s) from Clements Checklist v2018 that occurred for that entry. The documentations of changes in the checklist also will be reproduced (soon) on the Updates and Corrections 2019 page.

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 v2018 – Reflecting the sequence of species in eBird/Clements Checklist v2018

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 v2019:

SUMMARY STATISTICS

Species 10721
Subspecies 20452

Groups 3800

Families 248 (with 1 additional, extinct, family)

SPECIES

In this year’s updates, we have a net gain from four newly described species, which come from three different regions: Blue-throated Hillstar (Oreotrochilus cyanolaemus) is endemic to southern Ecuador, Western Square-tailed Drongo (Dicrurus occidentalis) is widespread in western sub-Saharan Africa, Cream-eyed Bulbul (Pycnonotus pseudosimplex) occurs on Borneo, and Rote Leaf Warbler (Phylloscopus rotiensis) is restricted to Rote (an island in the Lesser Sundas), Indonesia. This year we also align our treatment of extinct species with that of BirdLife International, which among the major global avian checklists has taken the most thorough evaluation of extinct bird species. We also adopt the BirdLife International policy of only including species that persisted beyond the year 1500 A.D. Thus one extinct species, Forbes’s Snipe (Coenocorypha chathamica), is deleted, but we add 47 extinct species that we previously had overlooked. Another 106 species are newly recognized in the eBird/Clements Checklist due to “splits”, while there is a loss of 20 species due to “lumps.”

As before, we update the taxonomy and nomenclature of species for North America, based largely on decisions of the North American Checklist Committee (NACC), through the Sixtieth supplement to the American Ornithological Society’s Check-list of North American Birds (July 2019). We also are current with decisions of the South American Classification Committee (SACC) through 20 June 2019.

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). This year, for example, almost all of the 106 splits were upgraded from a group to a species.

Our attempt at arranging subspecies into groups is incomplete with respect to Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra). For this species, we recognize 12 monotypic groups, but we also list eight subspecies that are not identified as groups. These “hanging” subspecies are color coded in gray in the eBird/Clements Checklist to clarify that their status with respect to groups remains unresolved. Note that in eBird we also recognize 16 call types in Red Crossbill; at least some of these eventually may prove to be equivalent to a named subspecies.

HIGHER LEVEL TAXONOMY

No new families are added this year, but two families are lumped. Cracticidae (Bellmagpies and Allies) is merged with Artamidae (Woodswallows); the combined family now is called Artamidae (Woodswallows, Bellmagpies, and Allies). And Paradoxornithidae (Parrotbills, Wrentit, and Allies) is merged into Sylviidae (Sylviid Warblers); the combined family is Sylviidae (Sylviid Warblers, Parrotbills, and Allies). The total number of extant families in the eBird/Clements Checklist therefore is 248, with an additional extinct family (Mohoidae Hawaiian Honeyeaters), for a total of 249 families.

We also extensively revise the sequence of families in the passerines, and of tyrant flycatchers and related families in the suboscines.

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 (54)

11 Numididae Guineafowl (6)

12 Odontophoridae New World Quail (33)

13 Phasianidae Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies (180)

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 (98)

24 Nyctibiidae Potoos (7)

25 Steatornithidae Oilbird (1)

26 Aegothelidae Owlet-nightjars (10)

27 Apodidae Swifts (112)

28 Hemiprocnidae Treeswifts (4)

29 Trochilidae Hummingbirds (349)

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 (67)

45 Pedionomidae Plains-wanderer (1)

46 Thinocoridae Seedsnipes (4)

47 Rostratulidae Painted-Snipes (3)

48 Jacanidae Jacanas (8)

49 Scolopacidae Sandpipers and Allies (96)

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 (97)

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 (216)

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 (234)

CARIAMIFORMES (1)

103 Cariamidae Seriemas (2)

FALCONIFORMES (1)

104 Falconidae Falcons and Caracaras (66)

PSITTACIFORMES (4)

105 Strigopidae New Zealand Parrots (4)

106 Cacatuidae Cockatoos (21)

107 Psittaculidae Old World Parrots (189)

108 Psittacidae New World and African Parrots (173)

PASSERIFORMES (141)

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 (44)

115 Thamnophilidae Typical Antbirds (234)

116 Melanopareiidae Crescentchests (4)

117 Conopophagidae Gnateaters (11)

118 Grallariidae Antpittas (55)

119 Rhinocryptidae Tapaculos (60)

120 Formicariidae Antthrushes (11)

121 Furnariidae Ovenbirds and Woodcreepers (304)

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 (422)

127 Menuridae Lyrebirds (2)

128 Atrichornithidae Scrub-birds (2)

129 Ptilonorhynchidae Bowerbirds (27)

130 Climacteridae Australasian Treecreepers (7)

131 Maluridae Fairywrens (33)

132 Meliphagidae Honeyeaters (187)

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 (57)

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 (53)

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 (33)

167 Corvidae Crows, Jays, and Magpies (129)

168 Cnemophilidae Satinbirds (3)

169 Melanocharitidae Berrypeckers and Longbills (10)

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 (97)

181 Panuridae Bearded Reedling (1)

182 Nicatoridae Nicators (3)

183 Macrosphenidae African Warblers (21)

184 Cisticolidae Cisticolas and Allies (155)

185 Acrocephalidae Reed Warblers and Allies (61)

186 Locustellidae Grassbirds and Allies (62)

187 Donacobiidae Donacobius (1)

188 Bernieridae Malagasy Warblers (11)

189 Pnoepygidae Cupwings (5)

190 Hirundinidae Swallows (86)

191 Pycnonotidae Bulbuls (149)

192 Phylloscopidae Leaf Warblers (77)

193 Scotocercidae Bush Warblers and Allies (36)

194 Aegithalidae Long-tailed Tits (11)

195 Sylviidae Sylviid Warblers, Parrobtills, and Allies (68)

196 Zosteropidae White-eyes, Yuhinas, and Allies (136)

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

198 Pellorneidae Ground Babblers and Allies (59)

199 Leiothrichidae Laughingthrushes and Allies (146)

200 Regulidae Kinglets (6)

201 Tichodromidae Wallcreeper (1)

202 Sittidae Nuthatches (27)

203 Certhiidae Treecreepers (11)

204 Polioptilidae Gnatcatchers (20)

205 Troglodytidae Wrens (85)

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 (173)

212 Muscicapidae Old World Flycatchers (322)

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 (47)

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 (139)

229 Viduidae Indigobirds (20)

230 Prunellidae Accentors (13)

231 Passeridae Old World Sparrows (43)

232 Motacillidae Wagtails and Pipits (66)

233 Fringillidae Finches, Euphonias, and Allies (227)

234 Calcariidae Longspurs and Snow Buntings (6)

235 Rhodinocichlidae Thrush-Tanager (1)

236 Emberizidae Old World Buntings (44)

237 Passerellidae New World Sparrows (131)

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 (110)

247 Mitrospingidae Mitrospingid Tanagers (4)

248 Cardinalidae Cardinals and Allies (49)

249 Thraupidae Tanagers and Allies (377)

FUTURE UPDATES

The next annual revision that incorporates revisions to the taxonomy and nomenclature of the eBird/Clements Checklist will be released in August 2020.

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 ones that are accompanied by a supporting reference or citation.

Denis Lepage, who administers 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. 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, David Donsker, and Frank Gill, 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:

Roger Ahlman, Nicholas Allen, Per Alström, Christopher Amano-Langtree, Nick Athanas, Mike Burrell, John Carlson, Jacob Cooper, Andrew Cubbon, Terry Doyle, Pete Dunten, Kimball Garrett, Jeff Gerbracht, Mat and Cathy Gilfedder, Alan Grenon, Paul Hilder, Rich Hoyer, Arco Huang, Praveen J, Oscar Johnson, Alan Johnston, Max Kirsch, Dan Lane, Niels Larsen, Jack Levene, Bernard Master, Jay McGowan, Fernando Medrano, Glenn Mertz, Nial Moores, Joe Morlan, Peter Nichols, Dave Nutter, Yoav Perlman, Colin Richardson, Dave Sargeant, Holger Schritt, Ross Silcock, Eric Tull, Wich’yanan Limparungpatthanakij, 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, Brian L. Sullivan, Christopher L. Wood, and Thomas A. Fredericks.