Updates and Corrections—October 2024

Notes

This document accompanies the eBird/Clements Checklist v2024 spreadsheet (tap or click link for downloads and recommended citation).

Note the following:

• Numbers preceding accounts are taxon order numbers specific to the 2024 eBird/Clements update. These differ from year to year but are used here to facilitate sequential treatment.
• WGAC (Working Group Avian Checklists of the IOU) is now referred to throughout as AviList. Where AviList 1.0 is cited, a decision taken by the AviList panel has been enacted in Clements et al. (2024); publication of AviList 1.0 is expected in 2025.
• The IOC-WBL, also known simply as IOC, is the Gill and Donsker and Gill et al. checklists (https://www.worldbirdnames.org/new/); the version referred to is always 14.2 unless specifically stated (but note that specific taxonomic decisions may have been implemented in earlier versions than 14.2).
• BLI v8.1: HBW and BirdLife International (2024). Handbook of the Birds of the World and BirdLife International digital checklist of the birds of the world. Version 8.1. Available at: http://datazone.birdlife.org/userfiles/file/Species/Taxonomy/HBW-BirdLife_Checklist_v81_Jan24.zip
• NACC: https://checklist.americanornithology.org/
• SACC: https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCBaseline.htm
• * Used in cases where multiple change types affect a taxon, and the change is explained later in the entry.

Species Gains and Losses

Splits

Spot-bellied Bobwhite Colinus leucopogon is split from Crested Bobwhite Colinus cristatus

Summary: (1→2 species) The short-crested, mostly white-throated (in males) bobwhite forms from Central America through west-central Costa Rica are now split from the long-crested, mostly rufous-throated (in males) from southwestern Costa Rica through northern South America. Males of both species still show a great deal of geographic variation, but this is considerably reduced compared to the previous single-species treatment.

Details: v2024 taxa 1030–1050, text: Polytypic Crested Bobwhite Colinus cristatus is split into polytypic Spot-bellied Bobwhite Colinus leucopogon (with subspecies incanus, hypoleucus, leucopogon, leylandi, sclateri, and dickeyi) and polytypic Crested Bobwhite Colinus cristatus (with subspecies mariae, panamensis, decoratus, cristatus, littoralis, badius, leucotis, bogotensis, parvicristatus, horvathi, barnesi, mocquerysi, and sonnini).

Many taxa of Colinus from Guatemala through northern South America, which show a bewildering array of plumage variation among males, have long been treated as members of a single species, Crested Bobwhite Colinus cristatus (e.g., Hellmayr and Conover 1942, Sibley and Monroe 1990, NACC). Numerous other authors have however treated them as comprising two species, with the northern taxa treated as Spot-bellied Bobwhite Colinus leucopogon (e.g., Peters 1934, Wolters 1976, Blake 1977, Stiles and Skutch 1989, Carroll 1994, Madge and McGowan 2002, Dyer and Howell 2023). Indeed, earlier versions of Clements (at least through the 3^rd) and Howard and Moore (through the 3^rd edition) had adopted the two-species approach. Colinus leucopogon (Lesson, 1842) was originally described as a full species, as were three of its currently recognized subspecies (hypoleucus, leylandi, and sclateri). For Colinus cristatus (Linnaeus, 1766), six of its subspecies (decoratus, leucotis, parvicristatus, horvathi, mocquerysi, and sonnini) were described at the species level.

The northern taxa of the leucopogon group, distributed from southern Guatemala through west-central Costa Rica, all lack a long crest but otherwise vary in males from having almost completely white underparts (in Guatemala and western El Salvador) through extensively and heavily spotted below on a brown or rufous background. In Honduras and western Nicaragua, males have black throats, while in northwestern Costa Rica males have white throats and rufous, white-spotted underparts. The southern taxa of the cristatus group, occurring from southwestern Costa Rica, have noticeably elongated crests but are otherwise similarly diverse as in the leucopogon group; while males of most taxa have rufous throats (unlike any taxa of the leucopogon group), others of the cristatus group have white or black throats. Notably, the taxa that approach each other most closely in Costa Rica are very strikingly different in numerous respects. As far as known these taxa (dickeyi of the leucopogon group in northwestern and west-central Costa Rica and mariae of the cristatus group in southwestern Costa Rica) are entirely allopatric, and mariae appears to be rare in Costa Rica (Dyer and Howell 2023).

A recent genetic study utilizing samples from all subspecies of both groups (Salter et al. 2022) showed that the leucopogon and cristatus groups are monophyletic, though closely related. This monophyly of the groups demonstrates at least that the plumage features that define the groups are likely shared derived characters. Vocalizations are said to differ somewhat between the two groups (Stiles and Skutch 1989; Sandoval et al. in prep., cited in Sandoval 2020). It should, however, be noted that Colinus vocalizations are highly conserved, and that no published vocal analysis is yet available.

The IOC-WBL checklist has treated the two groups as separate species since IOC-WBL v1.0. The SACC position on species limits is not explicitly stated (https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCBaseline.htm), and the leucopogon group is extralimital to the SACC region of coverage. In the HBW/BLI checklist (del Hoyo and Collar 2014), the leucopogon group is treated as a separate species. The incongruence between IOC-WBL and HBW/BLI vs. Clements checklists led to consideration by the AviList panel, which voted for the two-species treatment. NACC has long treated the leucopogon group as conspecific with the cristatus group, following Hellmayr and Conover 1942, but subsequent to the AviList decision, proposal 2024-C-18 to NACC by Chesser (2024), https://americanornithology.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/2024-C-1-26-final.pdf, was accepted by NACC. Thus, the two-species AviList 1.0 treatment adopted here (Clements et al. 2024, van Dort and Sandoval 2024) aligns with IOC-WBL, BLI, and NACC (Chesser et al. 2024), among others.

English names: Continued use of the English name Crested Bobwhite for the cristatus group is maintained, as this group includes the conspicuously crested members, the name mirrors the specific epithet, and the range of the cristatus group now recognized as a species is considerably larger than that of the Spot-bellied Bobwhite. Continued usage of Spot-bellied Bobwhite for Colinus leucopogon is imperfect because members of certain taxa of both species may have spotted or unspotted bellies, and that the specific epithet, which means “white beard” also applies to members of both species (but mostly to leucopogon). However, the name Spot-bellied Bobwhite is adopted as it is deeply entrenched specifically with reference to Colinus leucopogon, is reasonably accurate and descriptive, and no obvious improvement is available.

Olive-capped Coua Coua olivaceiceps is split from Red-capped Coua Coua ruficeps

Summary: (1→2 species) Much remains to be learned about their interrelationships, but on present evidence southwestern Madagascar’s Olive-capped Coua is better considered a separate species from Red-capped Coua of northwestern Madagascar. Field observers can improve knowledge by documenting any sightings in intervening areas of west-central Madagascar.

Details: v2024 taxa 3023–3024, text: Polytypic Red-capped Coua Coua ruficeps is split into monotypic Red-capped Coua Coua ruficeps and monotypic Olive-capped Coua Coua olivaceiceps.

Despite the striking difference in crown coloration between the two coua taxa Coua ruficeps Gray, 1846 and olivaceiceps (Sharpe, 1873) that led Sharpe to describe the latter as a new species, their treatment has since been highly controversial, with some authors (e.g., Payne 2005, Erritzøe et al. 2012) citing a zone of introgression of unclear width as sufficient rationale for their conspecificity. In the case of del Hoyo and Collar (2014), a narrow zone of hybridization was considered to add to the evidence for separate species status. Conversely, other authors cited apparent sympatry between them as evidence of separate species status (Sinclair and Langrand 1998), while Benson et al. (1976) cited specimens of only one form from an area treated by others as being inhabited by both (Kirwan et al. 2024).

Dowsett-Lemaire (2004) considered the vocalizations to differ strongly, based on a small number of recordings then available. The much larger sample now available online seems to confirm differences in pace and frequency of the rising song type, with ruficeps delivering a slower, lower-pitched version than that of olivaceiceps (see for example ruficeps xc 86881 vs. olivaceiceps xc 26573). Other vocalization types do not appear to differ strikingly. A vocal analysis will be required for confirmation of putative differences, and playback experiments may shed further light on species limits.

Given the clear differences in plumage, apparent allopatry based on specimens (R. Dowsett in litt.) and examination of online photographs, and apparent song differences, Coua olivaceiceps is now treated by AviList as specifically distinct, and thus Coua ruficeps is now considered monotypic, under the assumption that the burden of proof should be on demonstrating conspecificity in the face of evidence to the contrary. The two-species AviList 1.0 treatment adopted here (Clements et al. 2024) aligns with IOC-WBL v14.2, and BLI v8.1, but not Peters (1940), Wolters (1976), Sibley and Monroe (1990), or Dickinson and Remsen (2013). Genetic comparisons of the two taxa are lacking, however, and further study of all aspects of their taxonomy is required.

English names: Coua ruficeps, whether referring to both taxa or to ruficeps sensu stricto has long been known as “Red-capped Coua”, although Coua ruficeps was called Olive-capped Coua by Sibley and Monroe (1990). Its range is only slightly larger than that of Coua olivaceiceps, and it may thus be argued that the name ruficeps now should be changed to avoid confusion with olivaceiceps. In addition, the cap is rufous or chestnut rather than true red, although this applies equally to other couas and indeed many other birds, and changing it in this case could lead to further disruption. Because the name “Red-capped Coua” is highly entrenched for ruficeps, and due to a lack of good alternatives, this name is maintained for the now-monotypic Coua ruficeps. Coua olivaceiceps has been known as “Olive-capped Coua” (del Hoyo and Collar 2014), “Brown-capped Coua” (Hawkins et al. 2015, where not split), and “Green-capped Coua” (Sinclair and Langrand 2013; eBird Group). As the cap is not green, but brownish-olive, and “Olive-capped” mirrors the specific epithet, that name is adopted here.

Burchell’s Coucal Centropus burchellii is split from White-browed Coucal Centropus superciliosus

Summary: (1→2 species) The common coucal of savanna and disturbed habitats in eastern Africa, the White-browed Coucal and its black-crowned counterpart in southern Africa, the Burchell’s Coucal, are now treated as separate species.

Details: v2024 taxa 3065–3072, text: Polytypic White-browed Coucal Centropus superciliosus is split into polytypic White-browed Coucal Centropus superciliosus (with subspecies superciliosus and loandae) and polytypic Burchell’s Coucal Centropus burchellii (with subspecies fasciipygialis and burchellii).

Multiple African coucal species look similar to Burchell’s, with solid black crowns and sides of face, while the White-browed Coucal Centropus superciliosus sensu stricto, when it does not include Burchell’s Coucal, stands out due to the strikingly different head patterns in adults from the southwestern Arabian peninsula through eastern Africa (superciliosus group) compared to those of the southern third of Africa (burchellii group). They have long been considered conspecific, as there is a known area of hybridization (Dowsett and Dowsett-Lemaire 2006, Dowsett et al. 2008, Kirwan et al. 2024), but this is poorly studied. Adding to the confusion, young adults of burchellii apparently may breed in an immature plumage that appears similar to superciliosus or intergrades.

Vocalizations are similar between the superciliosus and burchellii groups, but do not appear to have been comprehensively studied, nor has genetic evidence been brought to bear on the issue to our knowledge.

Based on the high level of plumage differentiation between the two groups in this group of otherwise conservatively plumaged coucals over vast areas, with a seemingly narrow zone of hybridization, AviList 1.0 and thus Clements et al. (2024) recognize Centropus burchellii Swainson, 1838 (originally described as a full species, as was its subspecies fasciipygialis) as a separate species from Centropus superciliosus Hemprich and Ehrenberg, 1829. This aligns with Sibley and Monroe (1990) and IOC-WBL 14.2, but not BLI v8.1, Dickinson and Remsen (2013), Peters (1940), or Wolters (1976).

English names: The name Burchell’s Coucal for Centropus burchellii has long been in use (e.g., Sibley and Monroe 1990). There is no obvious alternative for this species which has very similar plumage to other black-crowned African species (Senegal, Coppery-tailed, and Blue-headed), and it matches the specific epithet, so for the present at least this familiar name is retained.

The name White-browed Coucal for Centropus superciliosus also has a very long history, is uniquely appropriate for the adult of this species, and also echoes the specific epithet. However, it has been extensively used for the combined species, and both have similar range sizes. Since it is such a familiar bird over a wide area, and the name is helpfully descriptive, White-browed Coucal is nevertheless retained.

Mentawai Malkoha Phaenicophaeus oeneicaudus is split from Chestnut-breasted Malkoha Phaenicophaeus curvirostris

Summary: (1→2 species) The distinctively plumaged Mentawai Malkoha adds yet another species to the list of endemics of this formerly underappreciated archipelago off western Sumatra.

Details: v2024 taxa 3125–3131, text: Polytypic Chestnut-breasted Malkoha Phaenicophaeus curvirostris is split into polytypic Chestnut-breasted Malkoha Phaenicophaeus curvirostris (with subspecies singularis, curvirostris, deningeri, microrhinus, and harringtoni) and monotypic Mentawai Malkoha Phaenicophaeus oeneicaudus.

Of the six subspecies that have long been united under Phaenicophaeus curvirostris (Shaw, 1810), the form oeneicaudus Verreaux and Verreaux, 1855 endemic to the Mentawai Islands west of central Sumatra stands out on the basis of plumage coloration and was originally described at the species level, although it was not even granted group status by Sibley and Monroe (1990). The all-dark green (vs. largely chestnut) tail and underparts of oeneicaudus from the lower breast to the vent are the most obvious differences from all the other taxa, but oeneicaudus also differs in its iridescent green mantle, and from all except harringtoni of Palawan (also originally described as a full species, as was the Bornean subspecies microrhinus) by its extensively bare front of face. These differences led both del Hoyo and Collar (2014) and Eaton et al. (2016) to consider oeneicaudus a separate species.

The Asian malkohas vocalize infrequently and indistinctly, and their vocalizations can even be mistaken for those of squirrels. The few recordings that do exist are not known to be helpful in determining species limits, although further documentation of their vocalizations, analyses, and playback experiments might possibly provide further informative data. To our knowledge, genetic data have not been brought to bear on this issue.

Nevertheless, based on these plumage differences deemed more consistent with species than subspecies status, AviList and thus Clements (2024) confer full species status to Phaenicophaeus oeneicaudus. This AviList 1.0 treatment now aligns with BLI v8.1, IOC-WBL 14.2, and Eaton et al. (2021), though not with Peters (1940), Wolters (1976), van Marle and Voous (1988), Sibley and Monroe (1990), Inskipp et al. (1996), or King (1997). It should be noted that the Palawan form harringtoni also has several plumage differences from the others that suggest its species status should be reevaluated as well in future.

English names: The name Chestnut-breasted Malkoha is retained for Phaenicophaeus curvirostris with the split of Phaenicophaeus oeneicaudus, because the former is the parent species with a much broader distribution, it has long been used, and it is very widely familiar. The name Mentawai Malkoha for Phaenicophaeus oeneicaudus is highly appropriate and already somewhat familiar through its usage in the past decade by del Hoyo and Collar (2014) and Eaton et al. (2016), and is therefore adopted here.

Pied Bronze-Cuckoo Chalcites crassirostris is split from Little Bronze-Cuckoo Chalcites minutillus

Summary: (1→2 species) Pied Bronze-Cuckoo is yet another restricted-range endemic of the remote Tanimbar and Kai islands of eastern Indonesia, while Little Bronze-Cuckoo is readily encountered in its vast Asian and Australasian range.

Details: v2024 taxa 3272–3289, text: Polytypic Little Bronze-Cuckoo Chrysococcyx minutillus is split into polytypic Little Bronze-Cuckoo Chrysococcyx minutillus (with subspecies peninsularis, albifrons, cleis, minutillus, barnardi, aheneus, jungei, misoriensis, poecilurus, russatus, rufomerus, and salvadorii) and monotypic Pied Bronze-Cuckoo Chrysococcyx crassirostris. [*See Generic Changes for move from Chrysococcyx to Chalcites.]

The widespread Australasian Chalcites minutillus Gould, 1859 complex (formerly in Chrysococcyx; see Generic Changes) shows considerable morphological variation and has been variously treated as comprising one to four species (Ford 1981, Parker 1981, Payne 2005). The four-species circumscription does not align well with vocalizations (which are quite similar over a vast area) or biogeographical patterns. By far the most morphologically and vocally distinctive form is crassirostris (Salvadori, 1878, originally described as a full species) of Tanimbar and Kai islands, in the far eastern Indonesian archipelago, which is geographically surrounded by more typical members of the minutillus complex (of which five subspecies were originally described at the species level: barnardi, misoriensis, poecilurus, russatus, and rufomerus). Based on its phenotypic and vocal distinctiveness, Chalcites crassirostris is now treated as a full monotypic species by AviList 1.0 and Clements et al. 2024), aligning with Peters (1940), Sibley and Monroe (1990), Higgins (1999), Inskipp et al. (1996), King (1997), Dickinson and Remsen (2013), Eaton et al. (2021), IOC-WBL 14.2, and BLI v8.1, though not with Wolters (1976), Payne (2005), and several other sources. Based on mtDNA, however, Chalcites crassirostris is not strongly diverged from other taxa of the minutillus complex sampled (Sorensen and Payne 2005).

The single Babar specimen ascribed to subspecies salvadorii has been considered closest to crassirostris in plumage and thus a subspecies of crassirostris when that is split (del Hoyo and Collar 2014), or alternatively a hybrid between crassirostris and Chalcites minutillus rufomerus (Ford 1982, Dickinson and Remsen 2013), but recent visual and aural observations on Babar suggest that salvadorii is a subspecies of minutillus (Eaton et al. 2016). Taxon rufomerus has also sometimes been treated as a subspecies of crassirostris but is similar vocally to other forms of minutillus, and is quite dissimilar in plumage to crassirostris (Eaton et al. 2016). Seemingly minor vocal differences between eastern and western groups of the minutillus complex require study, and more than two species may ultimately be recognized.

English names: The English name Little Bronze-Cuckoo for Chalcites minutillus remains unaltered with the split of Chalcites crassirostris, as Chalcites minutillus with its many subspecies has a vastly larger range and the name is deeply entrenched. The small-range Chalcites crassirostris is widely known as Pied Bronze-Cuckoo (e.g., Sibley and Monroe 1990), and that name is reasonably appropriate although it suggests the species is black-and-white rather than iridescent green-and-white. Furthermore, two of the subspecies often treated therein (which are less or not at all pied in appearance) have been reassigned to Chalcites minutillus, and hence confusion is possible with the retention of this name. Nevertheless, given its wide usage in current works including Eaton et al. (2016, 2021) and the lack of obvious alternatives, Pied Bronze-Cuckoo Chalcites crassirostris is maintained here.

Brush Cuckoo Cacomantis variolosus is split into five species

Summary: (1→5 species) With the five-way split of Brush Cuckoo, the number of endemic bird species in Sulawesi and the Solomon Islands rises, and remote Manus Island (north of New Guinea) gains another endemic.

Details: v2024 taxa 3319–3339, text: Polytypic Brush Cuckoo Cacomantis variolosus is split into polytypic Sunda Brush Cuckoo Cacomantis sepulcralis (with subspecies sepulcralis and everetti), monotypic Sulawesi Brush Cuckoo Cacomantis virescens, polytypic Sahul Brush Cuckoo Cacomantis variolosus (with subspecies major, tymbonomus, infaustus, obscuratus, variolosus, macrocercus, websteri, and fortior), monotypic Solomons Brush Cuckoo Cacomantis addendus, and monotypic Manus Brush Cuckoo Cacomantis blandus.

It has long been apparent that the widespread, polytypic Brush Cuckoo Cacomantis variolosus (Vigors and Horsfield, 1827) complex requires revision. Two species have been recognized recently, based on the apparent breeding sympatry in the Moluccas (White and Bruce 1986, Rheindt and Hutchinson 2007) and a strikingly different vocal type given by Moluccan Cuckoo Cacomantis aeruginosus Salvadori, 1878. A recent comprehensive paper (Wu et al. 2022a) elucidates vocal and morphological variation across the range of Cacomantis variolosus and shows that it is best treated as five species, and that Cacomantis sepulcralis (Müller, 1843) should retain separate species status. In addition, an undescribed taxon evidently occurs in the Tanimbar Islands (Wu et al. 2022a). The AviList 1.0 treatment of Cacomantis variolosus as comprising five species (Clements et al. 2024) now aligns with IOC-WBL 14.2, but not with Peters (1940), Wolters (1976), Sibley and Monroe (1990), Inskipp et al. (1996), King (1997), Dickinson and Remsen (2013) or BLI v8.1. A comprehensive genetic analysis of the Cacomantis variolosus complex is still lacking.

In summary, the species now recognized are polytypic Cacomantis sepulcralis of southeast Asia through Philippines and the western Lesser Sundas (originally described as a full species); monotypic Cacomantis virescens (Brüggemann, 1876) of Sulawesi and associated islands; polytypic Cacomantis variolosus of the Moluccas and eastern Lesser Sundas through New Guinea and Australia to the Bismarck Archipelago; monotypic Cacomantis blandus Rothschild and Hartert, 1914 of the Solomon Islands; and monotypic Cacomantis addendus Rothschild and Hartert, 1901 of Manus in the Admiralty Islands, western Bismarck Archipelago. All these species-level taxa were originally described as species, as were three of the subspecies subsumed under Cacomantis variolosus sensu stricto (tymbonomus, infaustus, and websteri).

English names: The geographic names adopted for the daughter species of the Cacomantis variolosus complex agree with those proposed in Wu et al. (2022a), with the exception of replacing Australasian Brush Cuckoo for Cacomantis variolosus with Sahul Brush Cuckoo because of the species’ wide occurrence in the eastern Indonesian archipelago. Retention of the term “brush” in the name helps minimize confusion with the many other regional cuckoos. No hyphen is used in Brush Cuckoo as it has not been conclusively shown that these taxa form a monophyletic group.

 Karimui Owlet-nightjar Aegotheles terborghi is split from Barred Owlet-nightjar Aegotheles bennettii

Summary: (1→2 species) Papua New Guinea now has another narrowly endemic bird species, the Karimui Owlet-nightjar, still one of that region’s most mysterious birds, and a major challenge to encounter in the field in its limited known range in the Karimui Basin.

Details: v2024 taxa 3765–3770, text: Polytypic Barred Owlet-nightjar Aegotheles bennettii is split into monotypic Karimui Owlet-nightjar Aegotheles terborghi and polytypic Barred Owlet-nightjar Aegotheles bennettii (with subspecies wiedenfeldi, bennettii, and plumifer).

The owlet-nightjars Aegotheles are some of the least-known birds in the world, and among them the taxon recently described as Aegotheles bennettii terborghi Diamond, 1967 stands out as particularly mysterious. It has been considered a subspecies either of Aegotheles bennettii Salvadori and d’Albertis, 1875 or of Aegotheles affinis Salvadori, 1875, the former being a lowland species of northern and eastern New Guinea and the latter a montane Vogelkop endemic. In plumage terborghi strongly resembles Aegotheles bennettii (Diamond 1967) but is much larger; however, based on a small amount of toepad mtDNA it groups with Aegotheles affinis (Dumbacher et al. 2003). Beehler and Pratt (2016) highlighted these incongruences and retain terborghi in Aegotheles bennettii.

After decades with no records, terborghi was relocated and photographed, and putatively sound-recorded (Lagerqvist et al. 2017) near the type locality of Karimui, in the Eastern Highlands of Papua New Guinea. The sound-recording is of poor quality and not certainly of this taxon, but the photographs provide additional evidence on the plumage of terborghi as well as its continued survival in the montane forest of Karimui.

As terborghi, which is known only from this mountainous area, is much larger than bennettii of the lowlands and hills, to which it is not close in limited mtDNA comparisons, treatment of terborghi as specifically distinct seems preferable to continuing to treat it either as a subspecies of bennettii or uniting it with the dissimilarly plumaged, highly disjunct affinis of the Arfak Mountains in northwestern New Guinea. This AviList 1.0 treatment (adopted here; Clements et al. 2024) now aligns with IOC-WBL 14.2, but is otherwise novel. Further evidence in the form of sound recordings and genetic analyses are needed. In addition, the poorly known taxon plumifer Ramsay, 1883 (originally described as a species) of the D’Entrecasteaux Archipelago, off southeastern New Guinea, is currently treated as a subspecies of bennettii by all checklists but is clearly distinctive, with its buffy overall tone and streaked rather than barred underparts, and its taxonomic status requires study.

English names: The familiar and aptly descriptive name Barred Owlet-nightjar is retained for the much more widespread Aegotheles bennettii sensu stricto, while the name Karimui Owlet-nightjar has gained traction for Aegotheles terborghi, and highlights its limited known range.

Ecuadorian Rail Rallus aequatorialis is split from Virginia Rail Rallus limicola

Summary: (1→2 species) The Virginia Rail is now restricted to North America south to northern Central America, while the Ecuadorian Rail occurs in the Andes mostly of Ecuador and in coastal Peru.

Details: v2024 taxa 5240–5245, text: Polytypic Virginia Rail Rallus limicola is split into polytypic Virginia Rail Rallus limicola (with subspecies limicola and friedmanni) and polytypic Ecuadorian Rail Rallus aequatorialis (with subspecies aequatorialis and meyerdeschauenseei).

Based on their noticeably different vocalizations, and despite limited morphological divergence, Ridgely and Greenfield (2001) considered Ecuadorian Rail Rallus aequatorialis Sharpe, 1894 to be a separate species (as it was originally described) from the very widely disjunct Virginia Rail Rallus limicola Vieillot, 1819. This treatment was followed by e.g., IOC-WBL since v.1, but most sources have considered them conspecific (Peters 1934, Wolters 1975, Blake 1977, HM5, SACC, BLI v8.1), while Sibley and Monroe (1990) implicitly united the aequatorialis group with Austral Rail Rallus antarcticus King, 1828. No formal bioacoustic analysis has been published, nor to our knowledge are relevant genetic data available. However, the vocal differences are pronounced and seem relatively consistent, and the two-species AviList 1.0 treatment deemed most appropriate on present evidence is followed here by Clements et al. (2024).

English names: The name Virginia Rail for Rallus limicola sensu stricto is extremely entrenched (though it does not represent the broader geographical region of occurrence) and it has a vastly larger range than the isolated daughter species Rallus aequatorialis, which has long been known as Ecuadorian Rail. In Ecuador and far southern Colombia this species occurs in the Andes, while in Peru (where it is now extremely rare) it is primarily coastal, and a better alternative name that more accurately reflects habitat or range does not appear to be available. Hence no change is made to these now-familiar English names.

Herring Gull Larus argentatus is split into four species

Summary: (1→4 species) With the four-way split of the Herring Gull, observers will need to pay more attention to large white-headed gull identification in much of Eurasia, but doing so may be rewarding for life lists, especially in coastal areas. While in Europe, only the European Herring Gull is expected and American is a vagrant, whereas the opposite is true for eastern North America. In eastern Asia both Vega and Mongolian winter widely, but Vega is more coastal and Mongolian more inland, especially in the breeding season.

Details: v2024 taxa 6472–6480, text: Polytypic Herring Gull Larus argentatus is split into polytypic European Herring Gull Larus argentatus (with subspecies argenteus and argentatus), monotypic American Herring Gull Larus smithsonianus, monotypic Vega Gull Larus vegae, and monotypic Mongolian Gull Larus mongolicus.

The species limits of large white-headed gulls of the Holarctic are some of the most contentious among birds, with numerous studies attempting to elucidate these issues and varied treatments resulting from interpretation of these studies. Complicating factors in these decisions include the complexity of plumage sequences of four-year gulls, a strong propensity for interspecific hybridization, and the close similarity in plumage of adults in North America and Europe. For many years, the Herring Gull Larus argentatus has been treated by NACC and Clements et al. (through 2023) as polytypic and widespread in Europe, North America, and central to eastern Asia.

However, there has been growing evidence that the European Herring Gull Larus argentatus Pontoppidan, 1763 and American Herring Gull Larus smithsonianus Coues, 1862 (originally described as a full species) are not each other’s closest relatives, demonstrated by multiple genetic studies (Liebers et al. 2004; Černý and Natale 2010; Sternkopf et al. 2010; Sonsthagen et al. 2016), following a much earlier analysis that found evidence for a lack of response by European birds to playback of calls of American birds (Frings et al. 1958). Vocal evidence from online recordings now confirms vocal differences between European and North American herring gulls, and it has long been known that their juvenile and first-winter plumages differ noticeably (e.g., Lonergan and Mullarney 2004). This, coupled with the genetic findings, has led AviList 1.0 and thus Clements (2024) to treat the two as separate species, Larus smithsonianus and Larus argentatus, aligning with IOC-WBL 14.2 and numerous other sources (e.g., Dyer and Howell 2023), but not with many other sources (e.g., Sibley and Monroe 1990, Beaman 1994, Inskipp et al. 1996, King et al. 1997). NACC will reconsider the issue in the near future.

The Asian taxa mongolicus Sushkin, 1925 and vegae Palmén, 1887 (neither originally described as full species) have variously been considered part of the Herring Gull complex (Peters 1934), as conspecific with the American Herring Gull (Wolters 1975), Dickinson and Remsen (2013), or with each other (e.g., IOC-WBL since at least v3.1), among other treatments including conspecificity with Caspian Gull Larus cachinnans. However, they differ phenotypically in several ways both as adults and immatures, they occupy essentially different habitats throughout the year, and they likely do not overlap in the breeding season. Genetic analyses do not uphold a particularly close relationship between these two. Vocally they are quite different, with vegae being most similar to both European and American Herring Gulls, while the voice of mongolicus differs strongly from all these, being more similar to but still different from, Larus cachinnans (Weseloh et al. 2024). Thus, it is concluded that each is best treated as a full species, Larus vegae and Larus mongolicus (Clements et al. 2024, AviList 1.0).

English names: The English name Vega Gull has been used both for Larus vegae when it includes mongolicus and when it is considered monotypic, but it is strongly entrenched as such and thus, in the absence of a preferred alternative, is retained. The name Mongolian Gull for Larus mongolicus is unambiguous and appropriate, though the species vacates Mongolia for the non-breeding season. Because the name “Herring” is so entrenched for both North American and European species, the names European Herring Gull for Larus argentatus sensu stricto and American Herring Gull Larus smithsonianus are adopted in preference to e.g., Herring Gull for Larus argentatus sensu stricto and Smithsonian Gull Larus smithsonianus, adopted in some sources.

Cory’s Shearwater Calonectris borealis and Scopoli’s Shearwater Calonectris diomedea are split from Cory’s Shearwater Calonectris diomedea

Summary: (1→2 species) With the split of Cory’s Shearwater, observers on pelagic trips in the Atlantic will need to carefully photo-document their sightings to distinguish the Mediterranean-breeding Scopoli’s from the northeastern Atlantic-breeding Cory’s.

Details: v2024 taxa 7119–7120, text: Polytypic Cory’s Shearwater Calonectris diomedea is split into monotypic Cory’s Shearwater Calonectris borealis and monotypic Scopoli’s Shearwater Calonectris diomedea.

While being very similar in appearance, the two subspecies long united under Calonectris diomedea—borealis (Cory, 1881) which breeds on islands in the northeastern Atlantic, and diomedea (Scopoli, 1769) which breeds on islands in the Mediterranean, with a third closely related taxon Calonectris edwardsii (Oustalet, 1883) breeding in Cape Verde Islands—have been extensively studied for many aspects of their biology (del Hoyo et al. 2024). Study after study has shown that the slight morphological differences are not indicative of close relationship between borealis and diomedea, with edwardsii being closer to diomedea than either is to borealis (Gomez -Diaz et al. 2006, 2009; Zidat et al. 2017). It has also been shown that their vocalizations differ, as do their uropygial gland secretions, and thus not surprisingly that they breed sympatrically in a few places, with very limited reported hybridization (Bretagnolle and Lequette 1990, Thibault and Bretagnolle 1998, Robb et al. 2008).

Thus, treatment of borealis and diomedea as separate species is clearly justified (Clements et al. 2024, AviList 1.0), as is the previously conferred species status for edwardsii, and this treatment now aligns with Dickinson and Remsen (2013), NACC (Dunn and Chesser 2023, Chesser et al. 2024), and IOC-WBL, but differs from that of Peters (1931), Wolters (1975), Sibley and Monroe (1990), and SACC. All three were originally described at the species level.

English names: Confusingly, with the split the English names take a different meaning: Cory’s Shearwater is now applied to Calonectris borealis while Scopoli’s Shearwater now refers to Calonectris diomedea. However, given the large body of Old World literature that uses these names and has done so for many years, they are retained here for the present.

Cocos Booby Sula brewsteri is split from Brown Booby Sula leucogaster

Summary: (1→2 species) The whitish-headed adult males of the newly split Cocos Booby of the eastern tropical Pacific are readily identifiable, and head color is important in mate selection in these birds.

Details: v2024 taxa 7258–7263, text: Polytypic Brown Booby Sula leucogaster is split into polytypic Brown Booby Sula leucogaster (with subspecies leucogaster and plotus) and polytypic Cocos Booby Sula brewsteri (with subspecies brewsteri and etesiaca).

The Brown Booby Sula leucogaster (Boddaert, 1783) comprises three main taxon groups, the brewsteri group Goss, 1888 of the eastern tropical Pacific, the nominate of the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean through the tropical Atlantic, and plotus (Forster, 1844) of the Red Sea, Indian Ocean, and western and central tropical Pacific. Adults, especially males, of each can be readily identified on the basis of soft part colors, head coloration, and underwing coloration, among other characteristics.

Although long treated as a single species, recent evidence shows a high degree of reproductive isolation between the brewsteri group and plotus in various areas of the central Pacific; birds discriminate against head-painted mates and avoid mating with members of the other group even when unable to secure a mate of their own taxon (Kohno and Mizutani 2015, López-Rull et al. 2016, VanderWerf et al. 2023). In addition, the brewsteri group is most divergent mitochondrially from the others (Morris-Pocock et al. 2011), commensurate with species-level in some other taxa (Mlodinow et al. 2024). It should be noted that subspecies etesiaca Thayer and Bangs, 1905 of the brewsteri group does not typically have such prominently white-headed males as in brewsteri. All these taxa were originally described at the species level.

On the basis of this evidence, the AviList 1.0 treatment of Sula brewsteri as specifically distinct (Clements et al. 2024, VanderWerf 2024) aligns with NACC (proposal 2024-B-2, https://americanornithology.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/2024-B.pdf), IOC-WBL, and AviList 1.0, and a few other sources including Dyer and Howell (2023), but not with earlier checklists including Peters (1931), Wolters (1975), Sibley and Monroe (1990), and Dickinson and Remsen (2013).

English names: Given the much larger range of Sula leucogaster sensu stricto, it retains the very widely familiar name Brown Booby, while Sula brewsteri takes the English name Cocos Booby, named primarily for the Cocos Plate and thus providing a fitting contrast to the Nazca Booby Sula granti, named for the Nazca Plate. As advocated by the authors of the NACC proposal, the species’ range matches the Cocos Plate (especially the margins of the plate) quite well. Also, an important part of the population of Sula brewsteri breeds on Cocos Island (Costa Rica), the only island above sea level on the Cocos Plate. The name Brewster’s Booby has long been used for this taxon group, however, e.g. by Hellmayr and Conover (1948) and Howell and Zufelt (2019), among many others.

Western Barn Owl Tyto alba, Eastern Barn Owl Tyto javanica, and American Barn Owl Tyto furcata are split from Barn Owl Tyto alba

Summary: (1→3 species) The long-awaited split of the Barn Owl into three species (one in the Americas, one in Europe, Africa, and western Asia, and the third in most of Asia and Australasia) will create few identification problems, as they are allopatric and not very prone to vagrancy, but each species is variable, especially on remote islands.

Details: v2024 taxa 8516–8550, text: Polytypic Barn Owl Tyto alba is split into polytypic Western Barn Owl Tyto alba (with subspecies alba, guttata, ernesti, erlangeri, schmitzi, gracilirostris, poensis, detorta, and thomensis), polytypic Eastern Barn Owl Tyto javanica (with subspecies stertens, javanica, sumbaensis, delicatula, meeki, crassirostris, and interposita), and polytypic American Barn Owl Tyto furcata (with subspecies pratincola, guatemalae, bondi, contempta, hellmayri, tuidara, furcata, bargei, insularis, nigrescens, and punctatissima).

Species limits in the Barn Owl Tyto alba complex have long been contentious, with many different treatments having been adopted, but they have primarily been considered a single, cosmopolitan species. Several genetic studies (e.g., Aliabadian et al. 2016, Uva et al. 2018) have shown deep divergence between three major clades, a North American one and two Old World clades, each with several subspecies including morphologically distinct insular forms. Nevertheless, too many unsampled clades and other unanswered questions have remained to allow confident reassessment of species limits.

Recently, close attention has been paid to vocalizations, some of which are confusingly similar and variable, but one vocalization type is evidently limited to New World populations (Robb et al. 2015). This strongly supports the non-conspecificity of the American furcata clade with the Old World clades. However, the two major Old World clades, alba and javanica, are non-sister in multiple analyses, with the furcata and alba clades instead being sister. One of many additional aspects complicating the picture is the fact that the Ashy-faced Owl Tyto glaucops (Kaup, 1853) of Hispaniola is closely related to Tyto alba but cannot be conspecific, as the two coexist in sympatry. Furthermore, the subspecies of the southern Lesser Antilles, insularis (Pelzeln, 1872) and nigrescens (Lawrence, 1878) are strongly morphologically divergent, as is punctatissima (Gould and Gray, 1838) of the Galapagos, and the latter clusters as a close sister to Tyto glaucops, with this clade being sister to the furcata clade; all these except nigrescens were originally described at the species level.

Thus, it is evident that the single-species treatment cannot be maintained, and the most conservative alternative treatment based on present data is the three-species AviList 1.0 treatment adopted here (Clements et al. 2024)—Tyto alba (Scopoli, 1769), Tyto javanica (Gmelin, 1788), and Tyto furcata (Temminck, 1827), along with Tyto glaucops as a fourth species; each of these was originally described as a full species (as were subspecies guttata, ernesti, poensis, and thomensis, delicatula in Tyto alba, and pratincola, tuidara, and punctatissima) (Marti et al. 2024). This treatment aligns with IOC-WBL, Bevier et al. (2024), and Chesser et al. (2024), but not Peters (1940), Wolters (1975), Sibley and Monroe (1990), or Dickinson and Remsen (2013), among many others.

One unresolved question involves the placement of the Lesser Antillean taxa nigrescens and insularis, which are treated by some sources (including IOC-WBL and BLI v8.1) as conspecific with Tyto glaucops, while others (e.g., NACC) maintain them with Tyto furcata. Additionally, the taxa Taliabu Masked-Owl Tyto nigrobrunnea and Sulawesi Masked-Owl Tyto rosenbergii, which are normally considered distinct species, cluster within the Tyto javanica clade.

English names: The English names adopted (Western Barn Owl for Tyto alba sensu stricto, Eastern Barn Owl for Tyto javanica, and American Barn Owl for Tyto furcata) are those that have been in use in numerous sources over a period of many years. Although flawed in certain ways (such as the non-specificity of which landmass the terms Western and Eastern pertain to), better alternatives are not readily available and certainly there are none that are equally familiar.

Western Yellow-billed Barbet Trachylaemus goffinii and Eastern Yellow-billed Barbet Trachylaemus purpuratus are split from Yellow-billed Barbet Trachylaemuspurpuratus (formerly all in Trachyphonus)

Summary: (1→2 species) Western and Eastern Yellow-billed Barbets of the African forest are both colorful and noisy but often difficult to spot. Despite major differences in plumage and soft part colors, their voices seem very similar.

Details: v2024 taxa 10423–10428, text: Polytypic Yellow-billed Barbet Trachyphonus purpuratus is split into polytypic Western Yellow-billed Barbet Trachyphonus goffinii (with subspecies goffinii and togoensis) and polytypic Eastern Yellow-billed Barbet Trachyphonus purpuratus (with subspecies purpuratus and elgonensis). [See Generic Changes for move into Trachylaemus.]

Marked morphological differences between populations of Yellow-billed Barbet Trachylaemus purpuratus (formerly Trachyphonus) led to a three-species treatment by del Hoyo and Collar (2014), as opposed to the long-standing single polytypic species approach. However, vocalizations are not known to differ, but study is required. A deep genetic split between one of the western populations and the eastern population (Moyle 2004), in combination with striking plumage differences in terms of facial coloration and underparts markings that readily distinguish eastern and western groups has led to the recognition that at least two species are involved, Trachylaemus goffinii (Goffin, 1863) and Trachylaemus purpuratus (Verreaux and Verreaux, 1851) (Kirwan et al. 2024). This treatment (Clements et al. 2024, AviList 1.0) brings alignment with IOC-WBL 14.2 and partially with BLI v8.1, but differs from that of Peters (1948), Wolters (1976), Sibley and Monroe (1990), and Dickinson and Remsen (2013), among many others. Pronounced plumage differences between the two western subspecies goffinii and togoensis Reichenow, 1891 suggests they may represent two species as well (del Hoyo and Collar 2014, BLI v8.1), but their level of genetic divergence is unknown and the situation with respect to possible clinality or sympatry requires elucidation. All four taxa were originally described at the species level.

English names: The English names used align with those proposed by del Hoyo and Collar (2014) except that that source also split out form togoensis as a separate species, for which they proposed the name Togo Yellow-billed Barbet, here considered part of Western Yellow-billed Barbet Trachylaemus goffinii.

Northern Red-fronted Tinkerbird Pogoniulus uropygialis and Southern Red-fronted Tinkerbird Pogoniulus pusillus are split from Red-fronted Tinkerbird Pogoniulus pusillus

Summary: (1→2 species) The Northern Red-fronted Tinkerbird of woodland of eastern and northeastern Africa is more different from the Southern Red-fronted Tinkerbird of forest of southern Africa than previously realized.

Details: v2024 taxa 10503–10506, text: Polytypic Red-fronted Tinkerbird Pogoniulus pusillus is split into polytypic Northern Red-fronted Tinkerbird Pogoniulus uropygialis (including subspecies uropygialis, affinis, and eupterus) and monotypic Southern Red-fronted Tinkerbird Pogoniulus pusillus.

Despite their similar plumage (Short and Horne 2024), east African and southern African taxa formerly united in Red-fronted Tinkerbird Pogoniulus uropygialis are fairy deeply diverged genetically, and they differ in morphometrics and subtly in song as well (Kirschel et al. 2021). They also inhabit differing habitats, with the northern uropygialis group generally in open woodland while the southern pusillus inhabits forest (Short and Horne 2024). They are thus deemed to be better treated as separate species, Pogoniulus uropygialis (Heuglin, 1862) and Pogoniulus pusillus (Dumont, 1816), as they were originally described, though affinis (Reichenow, 1879), now a subspecies of Pogoniulus uropygialis, was originally described at the species level as well. The two-species AviList 1.0 treatment (Clements et al. 2024) now matches that in IOC-WBL 14.2, but differs from that of earlier works including Peters (1948), Wolters (1976), Sibley and Monroe (1990), and Dickinson and Remsen (2013).

English names: The English names Northern Red-fronted Tinkerbird Pogoniulus uropygialis and Southern Red-fronted Tinkerbird Pogoniulus pusillus are those suggested by Kirschel et al. (2021). Although somewhat long, these names are adopted as they serve well to describe the birds both in terms of plumage and geographic occurrence.

Guatemalan Flicker Colaptes mexicanoides is split from Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus

Summary: (1→2 species) The highlands from southeastern Mexico through northwestern Nicaragua now have their own endemic woodpecker, the Guatemalan Flicker, distinguished by plumage and vocalizations.

Details: v2024 taxa 11785–11798, text: Polytypic Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus is split into polytypic Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus (with subspecies chrysocaulosus, gundlachi, luteus, auratus, cafer, collaris, rufipileus, mexicanus, and nanus) and monotypic Guatemalan Flicker Colaptes mexicanoides.

Relationships among North American flicker Colaptes species have long been among the most challenging to assess, as two taxon groups that are highly distinct morphologically in several respects, the “Yellow-shafted Flicker” Colaptes auratus (Linnaeus, 1758) and “Red-shafted Flicker” Colaptes [auratus] cafer (Gmelin, 1788) groups, engage in rampant hybridization over a huge area of central North America (Short 1965, Juárez et al. 2024); nevertheless, they were treated as specifically distinct in del Hoyo and Collar (2014). Conversely, the more subtly different Gilded Flicker Colaptes chrysoides (Malherbe, 1852) of the desert southwestern US and western Mexico seems to hybridize only over a narrow zone and differs ecologically from the other two, and has hence been treated as a separate species, unlike the auratus and cafer groups (Sibley and Monroe 1990).

The southeasternmost isolate in the complex, mexicanoides Lafresnaye, 1844, was long ago noted to differ strikingly in vocalizations (Wetmore 1941), as it seems not to give the descending “kleer” call so commonly heard from the others, and its long calls have now been shown to differ from the other taxa in multiple respects (Lausch 2020, Tønnessen 2023, NACC 2024-B-5, https://americanornithology.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/2024-B-final.pdf). In addition, mexicanoides is sister to all the other taxa sampled in the complex (Manthey et al. 2017), although not especially deeply diverged. Therefore, mexicanoides is considered by AviList 1.0 to have speciated in isolation (Clements et al. 2024), and this treatment aligns with BLI v8.1 (which also splits cafer), IOC-WBL 14.2, NACC (Chesser et al. 2024), and Juárez et al. (2024), but not Peters (1948), Wolters (1977), Sibley and Monroe (1990), or Dickinson and Remsen (2013). All these taxa were originally described at the species level, as were chrysocaulosus, gundlachi, and mexicanus, now subspecies of Colaptes auratus.

English names: Given the vast range of the Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus sensu stricto, and its continued appropriateness, there is no need to change this hugely familiar name. The English name Guatemalan Flicker suggested by the author of the NACC proposal has a long history of use for Colaptes mexicanoides, including recently by del Hoyo and Collar (2014), it contrasts well with the name Northern Flicker, and it is geographically informative (though not entirely inclusive) of the range of the species, and hence adopted here.

Piping Woodcreeper Deconychura typica, Whistling Woodcreeper Deconychura longicauda, and Mournful Woodcreeper Deconychura pallida are split from Long-tailed Woodcreeper Deconychura longicauda

Summary: (1→3 species) The three-way split of the Long-tailed Woodcreeper provides yet more examples of the biological divergence typical of species of Middle America vs. South America, and of species north vs. west and south of the Amazon.

Details: v2024 taxa 14482–14490, text: Polytypic Long-tailed Woodcreeper Deconychura longicauda is split into polytypic Piping Woodcreeper Deconychura typica (with subspecies typica, darienensis, and minor), monotypic Whistling Woodcreeper Deconychura longicauda, and polytypic Mournful Woodcreeper Deconychura pallida (with subspecies connectens, pallida, and zimmeri).

Although widespread, the Long-tailed Woodcreeper Deconychura longicauda tends not to be common or conspicuous, and so is not as familiar as some other woodcreepers. The Middle American group was lumped with the South American taxa without published justification, but with the advent of sound recording archives it has become increasingly apparent that vocalizations differ strongly between these taxon groups. The vocal comparisons of Barbosa (2010) and Boesman (2016: #78) made clear that there is considerable vocal variation even within these groups, but some of that may be due to differing motivational states or non-homologous vocalizations. Informal playback trials have also strengthened the perception that Central American and South American populations are specifically distinct (see comments on https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCprop997.htm). Populations north of the Amazon vs. those in western Amazonia and south of the Amazon are also vocally distinct, albeit to a lesser degree. There is also a disjunct, undescribed population in the eastern Andes of Ecuador and Peru (Schulenberg et al. 2010).

As mtDNA divergence (Barbosa 2010) aligns with the three-species approach—Deconychura typica Cherrie, 1891, Deconychura longicauda (Pelzeln, 1868), and Deconychura pallida Zimmer, 1929 for the described taxa, that is much the best-supported treatment on present data, and is therefore adopted here (Clements et al. 2024, AviList 1.0, Greeney et al. 2024). This now aligns with del Hoyo and Collar (2016), IOC-WBL, BLIv8.1, Dyer and Howell (2024), and the recent SACC decision. Of these, only typica and longicauda (and none of the taxa now treated as subspecies) were originally described at the species level. Older checklists with which the three-species treatment does not align include Peters (1951), Wolters (1977), Sibley and Monroe (1990), and Dickinson and Christidis (2014). However, morphological differences appear to be poorly documented, no genomic analysis has been published, and the vocally distinct eastern Andean population remains undescribed.

English names: The most conspicuous way in which the three described species of Deconychura differ is in their vocalizations. Few if any obvious phenotypic characters are known for these woodcreeper splits, and the term “Long-tailed” is not particularly helpful except perhaps as a group name. The names adopted by del Hoyo and Collar (2016) and subsequently IOC-WBL, Little Long-tailed Woodcreeper for Middle American Deconychura typica, Northern Long-tailed Woodcreeper for the northern Amazonian species Deconychura longicauda, and Southern Long-tailed Woodcreeper for the western and southern Amazonian species Deconychura pallida are somewhat confusing in that Deconychura typica is the northernmost of the group. Thus eBird/Clements tentatively adopts the names describing their diagnostic vocalizations:Piping Woodcreeper Deconychura typica, Whistling Woodcreeper Deconychura longicauda, and Mournful Woodcreeper Deconychura pallida.

Northern Plain-Xenops Xenops mexicanus, Amazonian Plain-Xenops Xenops genibarbis, and Atlantic Plain-Xenops Xenops minutus are split from Plain Xenops Xenops minutus

Summary: (1→3 species) The three-way split of the Plain Xenops showcases yet another common biogeographical pattern in the Neotropics, with Middle America and the trans-Andean region of northern South America being distinct from Amazonia, and again from the Atlantic Forest of eastern Brazil.

Details: v2024 taxa 14819–14831, text: Polytypic Plain Xenops Xenops minutus is split into polytypic Northern Plain-Xenops Xenops mexicanus (with subspecies mexicanus, ridgwayi, littoralis, neglectus, and olivaceus), polytypic Amazonian Plain-Xenops Xenops genibarbis (with subspecies remoratus, ruficaudus, obsoletus, genibarbis, and alagoanus), and monotypic Atlantic Plain-Xenops Xenops minutus.

Occupying a vast distributional area, the Plain Xenops Xenops minutus is highly polytypic in plumage (Remsen 2003) and is now known to give a bewildering variety of vocalizations, seemingly surpassing the differences between other universally agreed species in the group. These were shown however to cluster into three main groups (Boesman 2016: #85), and when two groups, mexicanus Sclater, 1857 and genibarbis Illiger, 1811 were subjected to playback experiments, they showed strong differential response (Freeman and Montgomery 2017). In addition, the phylogenomic study of Harvey and Brumfield (2015) found that they form three deeply divergent clades, with minutus sister to the others (Lima 2024, https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCprop996.htm). del Hoyo and Collar (2016) adopted a two-species treatment, with the isolated minutus (Sparrman, 1788) of the Atlantic Forest of Brazil a separate species from the remainder (the genibarbis group) (Decker and Boesman 2024).

Although no in-depth study of morphology and vocalizations has yet been published, the above data have led to a consensus now strongly favoring a three-species treatment: Xenops mexicanus of Mexico through trans-Andean northern South America; Xenops genibarbis of the Amazonian Basin and northeastern Brazil (north of the São Francisco River); and Xenops minutus of the Atlantic Forest of eastern Brazil (south of the São Francisco River). This treatment (Clements et al. 2024, AviList 1.0) aligns with SACC (https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCprop996.htm), IOC-WBL 14.2, and Dyer and Howell (2023), but not older sources including Peters (1951), Wolters (1977), Sibley and Monroe (1990), Dickinson and Christidis (2014), or BLI v8.1. All three taxa now treated as species were originally described as full species, as were littoralis (now in Xenops mexicanus) and ruficaudus (now in Xenops genibarbis).

English names: The English names tentatively used here are regional/biome descriptors followed by the group name: Northern Plain-Xenops Xenops mexicanus, Amazonian Plain-Xenops Xenops genibarbis, and Atlantic Plain-Xenops Xenops minutus. Usage of the hyphen in “Plain-Xenops” reflects the monophyly of the group.

Pilbara Grasswren Amytornis whitei and Sandhill Grasswren Amytornis oweni are split from Rufous Grasswren Amytornis whitei

Summary: (1→2 species) The two-way split of Rufous Grasswren means observers will have an even more difficult time seeing all of Australia’s endemics, but also a chance to contribute useful knowledge of their ecology and vocalizations.

Details: v2024 taxa 17426–17427.2, text: Polytypic Rufous Grasswren Amytornis whitei is split into monotypic Pilbara Grasswren Amytornis whitei and monotypic Sandhill Grasswren Amytornis oweni.

The Amytornis grasswrens of Australia’s drier regions are among the most cryptic and challenging groups to study, and much remains to be learned of their basic biology, including species limits (Kirwan et al. 2024). Four taxa united in a broad “Striated Grasswren Amytornis striatus” by del Hoyo and Collar (2016) have been proposed as three or four species by different authors (Christidis et al. 2010, 2013; Black et al. 2020a, b). The four species approach followed here, of which two—Amytornis whitei Mathews, 1910 and Amytornis oweni Mathews, 1911—are newly recognized in Clements et al. (2024) as specifically distinct from each other, is supported by genetic, plumage, and ecological differences, but further study is needed especially with larger samples, for genomics, and of vocalizations. The four-species AviList 1.0 treatment adopted here (Clements et al. 2024) aligns with Dickinson and Christidis (2014), and IOC-WBL 14.2, but differs from older sources including Mayr and Cottrell (1986), Wolters (1980), and Sibley and Monroe (1990). Of the two taxa, only Amytornis whitei was originally described at the species level.

English names: The English names adopted, Pilbara Grasswren for Amytornis whitei and Sandhill Grasswren for Amytornis oweni,are those recommended by Christidis et al. (2013), who advocated the four-species treatment, and these names aptly summarize their geographical and ecological characteristics, respectively.

Dusky Myzomela Myzomela obscura is split into four species

Summary: (1→4 species) With the four-way split of Dusky Myzomela, Biak Island, off northwestern New Guinea, gains yet another endemic, as does remote Obi in the Moluccas, and the rest of the Moluccas gains yet another.

Details: v2024 taxa 17770–17779, text: Polytypic Dusky Myzomela Myzomela obscura is split into polytypic Moluccan Myzomela Myzomela simplex, monotypic Red-tinged Myzomela Myzomela rubrotincta, monotypic Biak Myzomela Myzomela rubrobrunnea, and polytypic Dusky Myzomela Myzomela obscura (with subspecies aruensis, fumata, harterti, and obscura).

The highly polytypic (in shades of brown to reddish-brown) Dusky Myzomela Myzomela obscura Gould, 1843 has been shown to comprise at least two genetically distinct lineages, Australian obscura and Obi rubrotincta Salvadori, 1878, that are not sister taxa (Marki et al. 2017). However, only two of the four taxon groups have been genetically sampled thus far to our knowledge; the unsampled taxa being Myzomela simplex Gray, 1861 of the Moluccas (except Obi) and Myzomela rubrobrunnea Meyer, 1874 of Biak. Plumage and structural differences, coupled with biogeography, had previously led several authors to suggest multiple species were involved (e.g., Thibault et al. 2013, Joseph et al. 2014); Eaton et al. (2016) and del Hoyo and Collar (2016) to adopt a four-way split.

Very few sound recordings are available for most taxa but when better sample coverage becomes available these seem likely to be informative of species limits, as in other Myzomela. Given that the single-species approach is clearly untenable based on the relative positions of obscura and rubrotincta in the phylogeny of Marki et al. (2017), and that plumage and other variation strongly suggests species status for the two genetically unsampled taxon groups simplex of the Moluccas and rubrobrunnea of Biak, which would be consistent with typical biogeographical patterns, the four-species AviList 1.0 approach is adopted (Clements et al. 2024), which aligns with del Hoyo and Collar (2016), BLI v8.1, IOC-WBL, and Higgins et al. (2024), though not with older checklists including Paynter (1967), Wolters (1979), Sibley and Monroe (1990), Inskipp et al. (1996), and Dickinson and Christidis (2014). All four now-accepted species in the complex were originally described as specifically distinct, as was fumata (now a subspecies of Myzomela obscura sensu stricto). Of these, the only taxon that was treated as its own group within Myzomela obscura is rubrobrunnea of Biak (Sibley and Monroe 1990). It seems likely that the red-tinged plumage of both Biak rubrobrunnea and Obi rubrotincta is an example of convergence, given their biogeographical situations, but this remains to be demonstrated through genetic analyses.

English names: The English names adopted included the continued usage of Dusky Myzomela for Myzomela obscura, which is by far the most familiar and widespread of the complex; Moluccan Myzomela for Myzomela simplex (named Sultan’s Myzomela in Eaton et al. 2016); Red-tinged Myzomela for Myzomela rubrotincta of the Obi group, which also has an undescribed myzomela taxon similar to Bacan Myzomela (Myzomela batjanensis) informally known as Obi Myzomela (Eaton et al. 2016), and Biak Myzomela for Myzomela rubrobrunnea; the name Red-brown Myzomela was used for Myzomela rubrobrunnea in BLI v8.1, but Biak Myzomela in Gregory (2017), and this latter name seems more useful since this is the only myzomela species on Biak.

Reddish Myzomela Myzomela erythrina is split from Red Myzomela Myzomela cruentata

Summary: (1→2 species) The New Ireland group of islands of the northeastern Bismarck Archipelago, north of Papua New Guinea, now boasts a second endemic species of myzomela, the Reddish Myzomela of the lowlands.

Details: v2024 taxa 17780–17787, text: Polytypic Red Myzomela Myzomela cruentata is split into polytypic Red Myzomela Myzomela cruentata (with subspecies cruentata and coccinea) and polytypic Reddish Myzomela Myzomela erythrina (with subspecies lavongai, cantans, vinacea, and erythrina).

On New Guinea and New Britain, Myzomela cruentata Meyer, 1874 is a montane bird that appears sporadically in the lowlands depending on floral availability, while on New Ireland and associated islands of the northeastern Bismarck Archipelago, the erythrina group Ramsay, 1877is found in the lowlands and lower hills (Woxvold et al. 2024). Males are much brighter in the cruentata group but females much duller, while both sexes are largely dull, dark reddish in the erythrina group, the females being somewhat duller. del Hoyo and Collar (2016) considered these groups separate species, followed by Gregory (2017). No genetic or vocal evidence is yet available to inform this species-limits issue, but the plumage and ecological differences are considered to be better represented by a two-species treatment (Clements et al. 2024, AviList 1.0), aligning with BLI v8.1 and IOC-WBL, but not with older checklists including Paynter (1967), Wolters (1979), Sibley and Monroe (1990), or Dickinson and Christidis (2014). Both these species, and coccinea Ramsay, EP 1877 of New Britain (now a subspecies of Myzomela cruentata sensu stricto) were originally described as full species.

English names: The name Red Myzomela is maintained for Myzomela cruentata sensu stricto, given that species’ much greater range size, long usage in numerous sources including current ones adopting the split, and its descriptive appropriateness. The name Reddish Myzomela for Myzomela erythrina is adopted for the New Ireland group taxon, which has another species named New Ireland Myzomela Myzomela pulchella, mirroring the coloration of both sexes and aligning with other recent sources.

Indian Cuckooshrike Coracina macei and Malayan Cuckooshrike Coracina larutensis are split from Large Cuckooshrike Coracina macei*

Summary: (2→3 species) A major reorganization of the cuckooshrikes of continental Asia and associated islands means yet another endemic for South Asia, and another for Peninsular Malaysia, but one fewer for Java and Bali.

Details: v2024 taxa 18520–18532, text: Large Cuckooshrike Coracina macei is split into Indian Cuckooshrike Coracina macei (with subspecies macei and layardi), Malayan Cuckooshrike Coracina larutensis, and, *with lump of Javan Cuckooshrike Coracina javensis, Oriental Cuckooshrike Coracina javensis (with subspecies javensis, nipalensis, andamana, siamensis, larvivora, and rexpineti).

The long-standing predominant treatment of larger cuckooshrikes of the Asian continent and associated islands is that of Mayr and Greenway (1960), stemming from Ripley (1941), who united several taxa within Coracina macei (Lesson, 1831): in addition to macei of the Indian peninsula, this broad species included layardi (Blyth, 1866) of Sri Lanka, larutensis (Sharpe, 1887) of the mountains of the Malayan Peninsula, nipalensis (Hodgson, 1836) of the Himalayas, andamana (Neumann, 1915), siamensis (Baker, 1918), larvivora (Hartert, 1910), and rexpineti (Swinhoe, 1863) of eastern China and Taiwan. Notably, it did not include javensis (Horsfield, 1821).

Recently, however, Dickinson and Christidis (2014) and del Hoyo and Collar (2016) included javensis in the eastern group, when the name javensis takes priority as Coracina javensis. While Dickinson and Christidis (2014) included the Indian subcontinent forms macei and layardi in this species, del Hoyo and Collar (2016) did not, considering Coracina macei (with layardi) a separate species, a treatment suggested by Rasmussen and Anderton (2005) on the basis of plumage and vocalizations, also documented by Boesman (2016: #176) (Limparungpatthanakij et al. 2024).

A reevaluation of vocalizations and plumage has led to the conclusion that a) the macei/layardi group of South Asia is vocally and morphologically distinct and better treated at the species level; b) the isolated, montane larutensis of Malaysia is also better treated as a species; and c) the remaining races should be united with javensis, as in Dickinson and Christidis (2014) and BLI v8.1. However, the Taiwanese and east China form rexpineti is distinct vocally and in plumage as well, and further study is likely to confirm it is better treated at the species level as well. This AviList 1.0 treatment (Clements et al. 2024), which also aligns with IOC-WBL 14.2, is novel in its elevation of Coracina larutensis as a full species, but otherwise matches that of del Hoyo and Collar (2016), and of course does not align with older checklists including Mayr and Greenway (1960), Wolters (1977), Sibley and Monroe (1990), and Inskipp et al. (1996). All three now-recognized species were originally described at the species level, as were layardi (now a subspecies of Coracina macei sensu stricto), and nipalensis and rexpineti (now subspecies of Coracina javensis).

English names: The English name Indian Cuckooshrike used by del Hoyo and Collar (2016) is adopted for Coracina macei sensu stricto, as that species’ range now is restricted to Peninsular India and Sri Lanka. The name Malayan Cuckooshrike is used for Coracina larutensis instead of Malaysian Cuckooshrike as espoused by Eaton et al. (2021), for consistency with other species restricted to Peninsular Malaysia (we tend to use Malaysian for species that occur on Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo). Given the drastic reorganization of the species’ composition, the huge potential for confusion, and the change in specific epithet for several taxa when subsumed in Coracina javensis, the English name Large Cuckooshrike is retired, and replaced with Oriental Cuckooshrike for Coracina javensis, which has the advantage of best capturing the region of occurrence.

Bar-bellied Cuckooshrike Coracina striata is split into five species

Summary: (1→5 species) Four more endemic species are added to the already endemic-rich Philippine avifauna with the five-way split of Bar-bellied Cuckooshrike.

Details: v2024 taxa 18533–18551, text: Bar-bellied Cuckooshrike Coracina striata is split into Mindoro Cuckooshrike Coracina mindorensis, Visayan Cuckooshrike Coracina panayensis, Mindanao Cuckooshrike Coracina kochii (with subspecies boholensis and kochii), Sulu Cuckooshrike Coracina guillemardi, and Bar-bellied Cuckooshrike Coracina striata (with subspecies sumatrensis, bungurensis, simalurensis, babiensis, kannegieteri, enganensis, vordermani, striata, cebuensis, and difficilis).

Within the highly polytypic Bar-bellied Cuckooshrike Coracina striata (Boddaert, 1783) as recognized in Clements through v. 2023 [e.g., not including Andaman Cuckooshrike Coracina dobsoni (Ball, 1872)], no fewer than 13 of the 15 recognized subspecies (all but boholensis of the East Visayas and difficilis of the Palawan group) were originally described as full species based on morphology. Thus, it is not surprising that genetic analyses (thus far only including a few of the taxa; Campbell et al. 2016, Boyce et al. 2019) and recordings now available support the partial dismantling of this assemblage, detailed below.

• The dark-eyed, unbarred (in both sexes) form guillemardi (Salvadori, 1886) of the Sulu Islands, in the southern Philippines, is highly divergent in mtDNA, and in vocalizations, and is clearly best considered a distinct species, Coracina guillemardi.
• Taxon mindorensis (Steere, 1890) of Mindoro, in the west-central Philippines, is highly divergent vocally, unbarred in both sexes, and yellow-eyed, and also clearly cannot be maintained within the complex.
• Taxon kochii (Kutter, 1882) of Mindanao is moderately deeply diverged genetically, as well as being morphologically and vocally distinctive, and it and the red-eyed boholensis (which is seemingly otherwise most similar to kochii) are tentatively united in a single species Coracina kochii.
• The red-eyed West Visayas taxon panayensis (Steere, 1890) was previously split by del Hoyo and Collar (2016) on the basis of morphological differences and voice, and that treatment seems justified, although genetic evidence is lacking.
• Taxa remaining in the still-broad Coracina striata complex include all those of southeast Asia and Indonesia (four of these from the various islands to the west of Sumatra), as well as the northern Philippines, the Palawan group, and the extinct form cebuensis (Ogilvie-Grant, 1896) of Cebu, central Philippines. This creates a rather unusual situation in terms of biogeography, and further study may well result in the recognition of additional species. Indeed, the Simeulue taxon simalurensis (Richmond, 1903) (from off northwestern Sumatra) seems to have strong vocal differences from other taxa in the group, but most taxa have not been adequately recorded, if at all, and comprehensive vocal analyses are needed for those that have good representation.

This novel AviList 1.0 treatment (Clements et al. 2024, Taylor et al. 2024) aligns with IOC-WBL 14.2, and differs in numerous ways from earlier checklists, including Mayr and Greenway (1960), Wolters (1977), Sibley and Monroe (1990), Inskipp et al. (1996), and Dickinson and Christidis (2014).

English names: The name Bar-bellied Cuckooshrike is retained for the complex of taxa remaining within Coracina striata, as it applies at least to females of most of the taxa, and is highly familiar over insular Asia, albeit formerly for a much larger set of taxa within the Philippines. The name “Roving Cuckooshrike” was adopted by Eaton et al. (2016) for the sumatrensis group which we treat within Coracina striata for the present at least, and their concept explicitly excluded any Philippine taxa. For the taxa that are split here, geographic names are adopted, in the case of Mindoro Cuckooshrike Coracina mindorensis, Visayan Cuckooshrike Coracina panayensis, and Sulu Cuckooshrike Coracina guillemardi, for a single island or island group, while Mindanao Cuckooshrike is used for Coracina kochii, which tentatively also includes the East Visayas subspecies boholensis.

Biak Triller Lalage leucoptera is split from Black-browed Triller Lalage atrovirens

Summary: (1→2 species) Biak’s only triller, the appropriately named Biak Triller, joins the already jam-packed ranks of Biak endemics.

Details: v2024 taxa 18612–18613, text: Polytypic Black-browed Triller Lalage atrovirens is split into monotypic Black-browed Triller Lalage atrovirens and monotypic Biak Triller Lalage leucoptera.

Although long-united with the Black-browed Triller Lalage atrovirens (Gray, 1862) widespread in western and northern New Guinea, taxon leucoptera (Schlegel, 1871) of Biak differs from it in several obvious morphological characters, especially the more extensively black crown and the large amount of white in the wing, as well as the greater similarity of female plumage to that of the male. Although both taxa give highly variable vocalizations, these differ noticeably in quality between the two taxa, being harder in atrovirens and more musical in leucoptera. The vocal differences, not surprising given that leucoptera is isolated in endemic-rich Biak, are deemed greater than between some other sympatric species pairs of Lalage and place the burden of proof on demonstrating conspecificity (Clements et al. 2024, AviList 1.0). These differences led del Hoyo and Collar (2016) and Beehler and Pratt (2016) to treat them as separate species, followed by IOC-WBL, and now Clements v2024 and AviList 1.0. Both atrovirens and leucoptera were originally described as full species. Older checklists that do not split leucoptera include Mayr and Greenway (1960), Wolters (1977), Sibley and Monroe (1990), and Dickinson and Christidis 2014).

English names: The established English name Black-browed Triller is retained for the widespread mainland Lalage atrovirens, while the name Biak Triller, has already been adopted by several other sources and is geographically helpful for the only Lalage species on Biak.

Common Cicadabird Edolisoma tenuirostre is split into 13 species

Summary: (1→13 species) While the thirteen-way split of Common Cicadabird may not have much immediate impact on most birders’ life lists, it will likely help spur some future study, so hopefully these birds will soon become much better known and appreciated.

Details: v2024 taxa 18676–18680, 18684, 18713–18747, text: Common Cicadabird Edolisoma tenuirostre (with 29 subspecies) is split into Timor Cicadabird Edolisoma timoriense (with subspecies emancipatum, kalaotuae, and timoriense), Pohnpei Cicadabird Edolisoma insperatum, Palau Cicadabird Edolisoma monacha, Yap Cicadabird Edolisoma nesiotis, Bismarck Cicadabird Edolisoma remotum (with subspecies matthiae, remotum, rooki, and heinrothi), Central Melanesian Cicadabird Edolisoma erythropygium (with subspecies ultimum, saturatius, nisorium, and erythropygium), Geelvink Cicadabird Edolisoma meyerii (with subspecies numforanum and meyerii), Banggai Cicadabird Edolisoma pelingi, Obi Cicadabird Edolisoma obiense, North Moluccan Cicadabird Edolisoma grayi (with subspecies pererratum and grayi), South Moluccan Cicadabird Edolisoma amboinense, Sahul Cicadabird Edolisoma tenuirostre (with subspecies muellerii, nehrkorni, aruense, tagulanum, melvillense, and tenuirostre), and Rossel Cicadabird Edolisoma rostratum, and subspecies edithae is transferred from Common Cicadabird Edolisoma tenuirostre to Sulawesi Cicadabird Edolisoma morio, as Edolisoma morio edithae.

For many years, the solution to the bewildering radiation of Edolisoma cicadabirds, with their generally similar males but wildly variable females, showing repeating motifs with little discernible geographical pattern, seemed to be to consider them all a single species. The level of variability becomes clear when one realizes that, of the 29 taxa recognized as part of Edolisoma tenuirostre (Jardine, 1831) by Clements et al. (2023), no fewer than 16 were originally described as full species.

When an mtDNA phylogeny (Pedersen et al. 2018) of many members of the radiation appeared, not surprisingly Edolisoma tenuirostre was shown to be non-monophyletic in several respects, and even given the limitations of mtDNA and the sampling regimen, numerous changes were required. Now, a genomic dataset (McCullough et al. 2022) has provided further evidence on relationships, but sampling is still far from complete. Furthermore, only limited vocal comparisons have been published (Boesman 2016: #180) and few if any recordings exist for many taxa, those that do exist amply demonstrate that the vocalizations of several forms differ dramatically, in at least one case within what is currently considered a single subspecies, Edolisoma tenuirostre saturatius Rothschild and Hartert, 1902, from several of the Solomon Islands (and this taxon also appears in two different clades in the mtDNA phylogeny).

Reconciliation of the mtDNA phylogeny with morphology and what can be gleaned from available vocalizations has resulted in the novel set of taxonomic changes detailed here (Clements et al. 2024, AviList 1.0, del Hoyo et al. 2024). Key AviList 1.0 results and decisions that differ from Clements et al. (2023) include:

• Edolisoma timoriense Sharpe, 1878 [with emancipatum (Hartert, 1896)] of the Timor region and islands south of Sulawesi is basal in the Pedersen et al. (2018) tree to other taxa not traditionally considered part of Edolisoma tenuirostre. The unsampled kalaotuae is tentatively included here based on geographical proximity to emancipatum and similarity of plumage. As in earlier versions of Clements and del Hoyo and Collar (2016), it does not include the geographically rather distant Edolisoma dispar (Salvadori, 1878), a very distinctively plumaged taxon in both sexes, of Kai, Tanimbar, and nearby islands, although that taxon is embedded within Edolisoma timoriense (based on mtDNA).
• Edolisoma insperatum (Finsch, 1876) of Pohnpei and Edolisoma monacha (Hartlaub and Finsch, 1872) of Palau are both highly isolated from other taxa in the complex, and well-diverged on mtDNA, and they and the unsampled Edolisoma nesiotis (Hartlaub and Finsch, 1872) of Yap all differ strongly in plumage and are afforded species status, as in del Hoyo and Collar (2016).
• Edolisoma erythropygium (Sharpe, 1888), mainly of the Solomon Islands, forms a distinct clade that rather surprisingly also includes ultimum of certain small islands in the far northeastern Bismarck Archipelago. The inclusion of nisorium of the Russell Islands of west-central Solomon Islands is tentative owing to the disparate position of this together with one sample of saturatius in the Pedersen et al. (2018) phylogeny, while another sample of saturatius clustered with erythropygium and ultimum. Clearly further work is required here.
• Edolisoma meyerii (Salvadori, 1878) (including numforanum) of the Geelvink Bay islands together form a clade on the Pedersen et al. (2018) tree, and they are distinctive vocally and in plumage, and are thus split, as in del Hoyo and Collar (2016) and followed by Gregory (2017).
• Edolisoma pelingi Hartert, 1918 and Edolisoma obiense (Salvadori, 1878), which together form a clade on the Pedersen et al. (2018) tree and are rather similar in female plumage, are nevertheless considered separate species from each other owing to the lack of a close biogeographical connection between the rather widely disjunct Banggai Islands and Obi.
• Edolisoma grayi (Salvadori, 1879) of the northern Moluccas forms a clade with pererratum of the Tukangbesi Islands off southeastern Sulawesi, and these two are very tentatively united as a species, though here again a biogeographic connection at the species level, to the exclusion of intervening taxa, would be unusual.
• Edolisoma remotum (Sharpe, 1878) of the Bismarck Archipelago forms a clade including heinrothi, remotum, and matthiae, with unsampled rooki tentatively included here.
• Edolisoma rostratum (Hartert, 1898) of Rossel, in the Louisiade Archipelago off southeastern New Guinea, is a close sister to the remaining sampled taxa in Pedersen et al. (2018). It is separated based on its distinctive morphology and vocalizations, as in del Hoyo and Collar (2016), and followed by Gregory (2017).
• Edolisoma amboinense (Hartlaub, 1865) of the southern Moluccas is embedded in the Pedersen et al. (2018) phylogeny within the remaining Australia-New Guinea complex that is still united within Edolisoma tenuirostre (see below), but it is considered unlikely to be best treated as conspecific with that group and that further confirmation of its genetic relationships are required, and thus is tentatively considered an independent species here.
• Edolisoma tenuirostre (Jardine, 1831) sensu stricto includes the two Australian and four remaining New Guinea region taxa.
• In addition to the above species-level changes, subspecies edithae is moved from Edolisoma tenuirostre to Edolisoma morio, as Edolisoma morio edithae.

It is virtually certain that this is not the final word on species limits in this group, but also virtually certain that it is much closer to that goal than was any previous treatment. Further work involving genomics, sound recording and vocal analyses, and morphology will be required to better understand the evolution and diversity of this remarkable radiation. As noted above, several aspects of this treatment follow del Hoyo and Collar (2016), while others differ to varying extents. This now aligns with IOC-WBL 14.2, but is otherwise highly divergent from older checklists such as Mayr and Greenway (1960), Wolters (1977), Sibley and Monroe (1990), Inskipp et al. (1996), and Dickinson and Christidis (2014). Of the taxa here considered full species, all but one (Edolisoma pelingi) was originally described as a species, while the same is true of only four taxa now considered subspecific (emancipatum, now in Edolisoma timoriense; and muellerii, nehrkorni, and aruensis retained in Edolisoma tenuirostre).

English names: With this massive dismantling of Edolisoma tenuirostre sensu lato, the name “Common Cicadabird” is retired and although Slender-billed Cicadabird had been used in the past for different assemblages under the name Edolisoma tenuirostre, we also retire that name as no longer helpful or relevant. We adopt geographic names in all cases for the primary region inhabited, as follows:

• Timor Cicadabird Edolisoma timoriense
• Pohnpei Cicadabird Edolisoma insperatum
• Palau Cicadabird Edolisoma monacha
• Yap Cicadabird Edolisoma nesiotis
• Central Melanesian Cicadabird Edolisoma erythropygium
• Geelvink Cicadabird Edolisoma meyerii
• Banggai Cicadabird Edolisoma pelingi
• Obi Cicadabird Edolisoma obiense
• North Moluccan Cicadabird Edolisoma grayi
• Bismarck Cicadabird Edolisoma remotum
• Rossel Cicadabird Edolisoma rostratum
• South Moluccan Cicadabird Edolisoma amboinense
• Sahul Cicadabird Edolisoma tenuirostre

Malaita Cicadabird Edolisoma tricolor and Solomons Cicadabird Edolisoma holopolium are split fromSolomons Cuckooshrike Edolisoma holopolium

Summary: (1→2 species) Malaita, a heavily populated island in the southeastern Solomon Islands, gains another endemic with the two-way split of the Solomons Cicadabird.

Details: v2024 taxa 18704–18707, text: Polytypic Solomons Cuckooshrike Edolisoma holopolium is split into polytypic Solomons Cicadabird Edolisoma holopolium (with subspecies holopolium and pygmaeum) and monotypic Malaita Cicadabird Edolisoma tricolor.

Three cicadabird taxa from the Solomons have been variously considered to comprise the single polytypic species Edolisoma holopolium (Sharpe, 1888), with subspecies pygmaeum Mayr, 1931 from the New Georgia group and tricolor Mayr, 1931 from Malaita, as they were originally described, or two species, Edolisoma holopolium and Edolisoma pygmaeum (del Hoyo and Collar 2016). Based on mtDNA, tricolor is deeply diverged from samples of nominate holopolium from multiple islands (Smith and Filardi 2007, Pedersen et al. 2018), but pygmaeum has not been genetically sampled to our knowledge. On plumage, tricolor is the most distinctive, but pygmaeum also differs from either in size and plumage. Recordings suggest that vocalizations of pygmaeum and tricolor differ from those of holopolium, though variability and small sample sizes preclude safe conclusions regarding vocal differences.

It seems clear that two species are involved, but the attribution of pygmaeum to one or the other, or conferral of independent species status (as done by del Hoyo and Collar 2016), requires further evidence for clarification. Tentatively AviList 1.0 includes pygmaeum as a subspecies of Edolisoma holopolium (Clements et al. 2024, Taylor et al. 2024), a novel treatment except as it now aligns with IOC-WBL 14.2, but not older checklists such as Mayr and Greenway (1960), Wolters (1977), Sibley and Monroe (1990), Dickinson and Christidis (2014), or BLI v8.1.

English names: Given that the holopolium clade (including tricolor) is now known to be part of the Edolisoma radiation (Jønsson et al. 2010, Pedersen et al. 2018), we follow Dickinson and Christidis (2014) and BLI v8.1 in calling them “cicadabirds”. The wide distribution of Edolisoma holopolium sensu stricto leads to the retention of the term Solomons Cicadabird, while Edolisoma tricolor becomes Malaita Cicadabird.

Sangihe Cicadabird Edolisoma salvadorii is split from Sulawesi Cicadabird Edolisoma morio

Summary: (1→2 species) The Sangihe and Talaud islands of the Celebes Sea north of Sulawesi, are already endemic-rich and now gain yet another avian endemic with the two-way split of Sulawesi Cicadabird.

Details: v2024 taxa 18721–18723, text: Polytypic Sulawesi Cicadabird Edolisoma morio (with subspecies talautense, salvadorii, and morio) is split into polytypic Sangihe Cicadabird Edolisoma salvadorii (with subspecies salvadorii and talautense) and polytypic Sulawesi Cicadabird Edolisoma morio (with subspecies morio and edithae; for inclusion of latter see Subspecies Changes).

Among other treatments such as conspecificity with Edolisoma tenuirostre (Wolters 1977), the Sulawesi Cicadabird Edolisoma morio (Müller, 1843) has recently been treated as being comprised of three subspecies, the nominate of mainland Sulawesi, salvadorii (Sharpe, 1878) of the Sangihe Islands and talautense (Meyer and Wiglesworth, 1895) of the Talaud Archipelago, the latter two in the Celebes Sea island groups north of Sulawesi. Conversely, subspecies edithae Stresemann, 1932, known from a single female specimen from southern Sulawesi, was long retained in Edolisoma tenuirostre.

Based on their positions in the mtDNA phylogeny of Pedersen et al. (2018), however, talautense and nominate morio are in different clades, while edithae is close to morio, as might be expected from biogeography. Vocal data for the Celebes Sea taxa are lacking, and morphological differences are not especially pronounced, but their specific status is considered better justified than continued treatment as subspecies of Edolisoma morio based on the mtDNA data. There also seems no compelling rationale for maintaining edithae within tenuirostre rather than morio. Further study is clearly necessary, as it is for the broader Edolisoma tenuirostre sensu lato radiation. This novel AviList 1.0 treatment (Clements et al. 2024, Taylor et al. 2024) also aligns with IOC-WBL 14.2 and AviList 1.0, but of course not with older taxonomies including Mayr and Greenway (1960), Wolters (1979), Sibley and Monroe (1990), Dickinson and Christidis (2014), or BLI v8.1. Of these taxa, morio, salvadorii, and talautense (but not edithae) were all originally described at the species level.

English names: The English name of Edolisoma morio, Sulawesi Cicadabird, remains unchanged with the modifications to its composition, as it is widely familiar and highly appropriate. The English name adopted for Edolisoma salvadorii (Salvadori’s Cicadabird in Eaton et al. 2021), is Sangihe Cicadabird, which does not of course capture the Talaud portion of its range but an inclusive and familiar term for the combined island groups is lacking.

White-throated Fiji Whistler Pachycephala vitiensis and Yellow-throated Fiji Whistler Pachycephala graeffii are split from Fiji Whistler Pachycephala vitiensis

Summary: (1→2 species) Some of the more remote islands of Fiji—Kadavu, Gau, and the scattered islets of the southern Lau Archipelago—now have an endemic whistler, but there may well be more than one species involved. Kadavu can be readily reached, but documentation of vocalizations is especially needed from the other islands.

Details: v2024 taxa 19202–19213, text: Polytypic Fiji Whistler Pachycephala vitiensis is split into polytypic White-throated Fiji Whistler Pachycephala vitiensis (with subspecies kandavensis, lauana, and vitiensis) and polytypic Yellow-throated Fiji Whistler Pachycephala graeffii (with subspecies koroana, torquata, ambigua, optata, graeffii, aurantiiventris, and bella).

One of several highly polytypic avian species complexes within Fiji, the whistlers (when not included within the huge Pachycephala pectoralis complex, as they long were) show extraordinary plumage variation from island to island, and even within the larger islands (e.g., Seebohm 1891). Some more recent sources, including up through Clements 6^th edition and IOC-WBL v.4.3, had treated them as two species, Pachycephala vitiensis Gray, 1860 for the white-throated forms and Pachycephala graeffii Hartlaub, 1866 for the yellow-throated forms, which vary greatly in other respects, with some evidence of intergradation (Mayr 1932 a, b).

When genetic data (Jønsson et al. 2014, Andersen et al. 2014, and now Brady et al. 2022) became available it was shown that the vitiensis complex (including the forms under graeffii) is monophyletic, and that the Temotu (Santa Cruz, far southeastern Solomon Islands) forms were closely related, which led to multiple iterations of change in the species limits of the complex, most recently to treatment of all Fiji forms as a single species. While this can be justified on the basis of genetic phylogenies, these also show that clearly there are other forms (e.g., torquata Layard, 1875 of Taveuni and kandavensis of Kadavu Ramsay, 1876) that are genetically somewhat distinct as well and that there is not a simple genetic dichotomy between white-throated birds of the vitiensis group and yellow-throated birds of the graeffii group; this has been considered part of the rationale between the single-species treatment for Fiji taxa.

Further evidence can be drawn from vocalizations, however. These differ to a moderate degree between the yellow-throated forms on the main islands of Viti Levu, Vanua Levu, and especially Taveuni, but are strikingly different, to the point of being unrecognizable, on the outlying island of Kadavu, where the whiplash (usually terminal) note type is lacking or minimal in song of kandavensis. While song is unavailable for nominate vitiensis from the relatively remote Gau (Ngau), kandavensis can hardly be conspecific with the graeffii group, and that a return to the prior two-species treatment for Fiji birds is justified, in the knowledge that further species-level splits (e.g., kandavensis from vitiensis and torquata of Taveuni from the graeffii group) are much more likely and better justified than a return to a single-species treatment for all Fiji subspecies. As mentioned, this AviList 1.0 treatment (Clements et al. 2024) is not novel, and its return now aligns with IOC-WBL 14.2, but not with older checklists including Paynter (1967), Wolters (1980), Sibley and Monroe (1990), Dickinson and Christidis (2014), or BLI v8.1. Not surprisingly, several forms in this complex were originally described as full species in the 19^th century: the two considered full species here, as well as kandavensis and torquata (which are likely split candidates), optata Hartlaub, 1866, and the vocally distinctive aurantiiventris Seebohm, 1891 of Vanua Levu. However, on the main islands of Viti Levu and Vanua Levu variation between extremes is complex, with numerous reported intergrades (Seebohm 1891, Mayr 1932a, b), so plumage is clearly not isolating these taxa.

English names: Given the complexity of the “Golden Whistler Pachycephala pectoralis sensu lato” complex, we consider that the situation is best served by the compound names White-throated Fiji Whistler for Pachycephala vitiensis and Yellow-throated Fiji Whistlerfor Pachycephala graeffii. Recognizing that further changes to the species limits are likely, these names are at the very least clear and utilitarian, and hence should minimize confusion in the meantime.

Nendo Whistler Pachycephala ornata, Utupua Whistler Pachycephala utupuae, and Vanikoro Whistler Pachycephala vanikorensis are split from Temotu Whistler Pachycephala vanikorensis

Summary: (1→3 species) So little is known of the three whistlers that are now recognized from Temotu (remote southeastern Solomon Islands) that observers can readily add to our knowledge about them.

Details: v2024 taxa 19229–19231, text: Polytypic Temotu Whistler Pachycephala vanikorensis is split into monotypic Nendo Whistler Pachycephala ornata, monotypic Utupua Whistler Pachycephala utupuae, and monotypic Vanikoro Whistler Pachycephala vanikorensis.

The ornithology of Temotu, also known as the Santa Cruz Islands, the southeasternmost island group of the Solomon Islands, remains relatively poorly known. That said, its avifauna is surprisingly diverse and differs from island to island, and this is certainly true of the whistlers formerly united with “Golden Whistler Pachycephala pectoralis” and then with the more limited Fiji Whistler Pachycephala vitiensis, among other treatments, before being recognized as a Temotu endemic, the three-taxon Pachycephala vanikorensis Oustalet, 1875, as in Clements v2023. Although only vanikorensis was originally described at the species level, that is because the other two taxa, utupuae Mayr, 1932 and ornata Mayr, 1932 were both described much more recently, and as subspecies of Pachycephala pectoralis sensu lato Nevertheless, even Mayr (1932a), the consummate species lumper, expressed astonishment at the levels of phenotypic divergence shown between these three taxa from nearby islands—ornata being from islands of northern Temotu, utupuae from Utupua and central Temotu, and vanikorensis from Vanikoro, southern Temotu.

The DNA phylogeny of Jønsson et al. (2014) included samples of vanikorensis and ornata, which shows them to be relatively deeply diverged from each other though in the same clade, in keeping with the strong plumage variation. The placement of utupuae remains unclear, however, but given the morphological differentiation a three-species treatment is adopted. This novel AviList 1.0 treatment (Clements et al. 2024, Boles et al. 2024) also aligns with IOC-WBL 14.2, but not with older checklists including Paynter (1967), Wolters (1980), Sibley and Monroe (1990), Dickinson and Christidis (2014), or BLI v8.1.

English names: The English names adopted refer to the main or sole island inhabited by each form: Nendo Whistler for Pachycephala ornata, Utupua Whistler for Pachycephala utupuae, and Vanikoro Whistler for Pachycephala vanikorensis. These names are unambiguous as they are the only whistlers on these islands.

Selayar Whistler Pachycephala teysmanni is split from Rusty-breasted Whistler Pachycephala fulvotincta

Summary: (1→2 species) The island of Selayar, just south of Sulawesi, has its first endemic species, the Selayar Whistler, but much remains unclear about its relationships.

Details: v2024 taxa 19242–19250, text: Monotypic Selayar Whistler Pachycephala teysmanni is split from polytypic Rusty-breasted Whistler Pachycephala fulvotincta*, now reconstituted as Tenggara Whistler Pachycephala calliope.

While most whistlers long united as “Golden Whistler Pachycephala pectoralis sensu lato” have primarily golden-and-black males, the taxon teysmanni Büttikofer, 1893 from Selayar (just south of Sulawesi, in the Flores Sea) is one of the few that are virtually non-dimorphic. This is despite the fact that the range of teysmanni is geographically closely adjacent to everetti Hartert, 1896, which has typical male-type plumage. The distinctive plumage of teysmanni led Eaton et al. (2021) to consider it a monotypic species, as it was originally described. The molecular phylogeny of Jønsson et al. (2014), however, suggests close relationship between everetti and teysmanni, in the same major clade as the fulvotincta Wallace, 1864 group. Given its geographical proximity to the golden male-plumaged everetti and its evidently somewhat differing, less variable vocalizations (Eaton et al. 2021), species status is afforded Pachycephala teysmanni by AviList 1.0 (Clements et al. 2024, del Hoyo et al. 2024). This now aligns with IOC-WBL 14.2, but not older checklists including Paynter (1967), Wolters (1980), Sibley and Monroe (1990), Dickinson and Christidis (2014), or BLI v8.1. Further genetic evidence is, however, needed to corroborate whether teysmanni is indeed closely related to everetti, and recordings, vocal analyses, and playback trials may help elucidate its species status.

English names: As the only whistler species found on Selayar Island (also spelled Salayar or Saleyar), the name Selayar Whistler used in Eaton et al. (2021) for Pachycephala teysmanni is useful and appropriate and is thus adopted here.

Babar Whistler Pachycephala sharpei is split from *Yellow-throated Whistler Pachycephala macrorhyncha

Summary: (1→2 species) One of the more remote major islands of eastern Indonesia, Babar now has an endemic species, the Babar Whistler, which is evidently not closely related to other similar-looking species.

Details: v2024 taxa 19251–19257, text: Monotypic Babar Whistler Pachycephala sharpei is split from polytypic Yellow-throated Whistler Pachycephala macrorhyncha, while Pachycephala macrorhyncha calliope is moved into the group formerly considered Rusty-breasted Whistler Pachycephala fulvotincta but which is now known as Tenggara Whistler Pachycephala calliope; move subspecies compar and par from Pachycephala macrorhyncha to Pachycephala orpheus and move subspecies dammeriana from Pachycephala macrorhyncha to Black-tailed Whistler Pachycephala melanura. Change English name of newly constituted Pachycephala macrorhyncha (with subspecies pelengensis, clio, buruensis, macrorhyncha, and fuscoflava) from Yellow-throated Whistler to *Moluccan Whistler.

The previously recognized “Yellow-throated Whistler Pachycephala macrorhyncha” Strickland, 1849 included ten taxa of the eastern Indonesian archipelago from islands east of Sulawesi through some of the easternmost Banda Sea islands. Of these, notably several lack yellow throats in any plumage, including sharpei Meyer, 1884 of Babar (a Banda Sea island group between Timor and Tanimbar Islands). In this taxon, which was originally described as a full species, males are white-throated, and females are relatively colorful, their plumage echoing that of males but duller. The position of sharpei in the molecular phylogeny of Jønsson et al. (2014) as rather deeply divergent but most closely related to species that are either all-drab or with strikingly marked males that however completely lack yellow pigment is unexpected, and in fact it co-occurs with one of the latter group, the Wallacean Whistler Pachycephala arctitorquis on Babar, in which males have a similar color pattern but yellow is replaced with white, and females are dramatically different, being rufescent above and white streaked brownish below. Considering its divergence level plus the fact that its apparent closest relatives differ so dramatically in plumage, Eaton et al. (2021) treated Pachycephala sharpei as a full species, and that treatment is adopted by AviList 1.0 (Clements et al. 2024, Boles et al. 2024), in alignment with IOC-WBL 14.2, but not with earlier checklists including Paynter (1967), Wolters (1980), Sibley and Monroe (1990), Inskipp et al. (1996), Dickinson and Christidis (2014), and BLI v8.1. While further study is required on all aspects of species limits within the former Golden Whistler complex, in the case of Pachycephala sharpei current data suggest that it is unlikely to be closely related with and thus conspecific with other taxa.

In addition, two other hen-plumaged forms earlier united in Pachycephala macrorhyncha are transferred to Fawn-breasted Whistler Pachycephala orpheus (see Subspecies Changes section for details).

English names: The English name referring to its island of sole occurrence used by Eaton et al. (2021), Babar Whistler for Pachycephala sharpei, is utilitarian and unambiguous, and is adopted here. It should be noted however that Wallacean Whistler also occurs in Babar, but is not endemic to this island.

Tenggara Paradise-Flycatcher Terpsiphone floris is split from Blyth’s Paradise-Flycatcher Terpsiphone affinis

Summary: (1→2 species) Nusa Tenggara of eastern Indonesia gains an endemic species, the Tenggara Paradise-Flycatcher.

Details: v2024 taxa 20500–20511, text: Polytypic Blyth’s Paradise-Flycatcher Terpsiphone affinis is split into polytypic Blyth’s Paradise-Flycatcher Terpsiphone affinis (with subspecies saturatior, burmae, indochinensis, affinis, nicobarica, borneensis, procera, and insularis) and polytypic Tenggara Paradise-Flycatcher Terpsiphone floris (with subspecies floris and sumbaensis).

For many years, Asian Paradise-Flycatcher Terpsiphone paradisi sensu lato was a highly polytypic species, including subspecies from Central Asia through eastern Asia and the Greater Sundas, and disjunctly in the east-central Indonesian archipelago. With a molecular analysis (Andersen et al. 2015) came the rationale for multiple splits, adopted by all major checklists, that left Terpsiphone affinis Blyth, 1846 as a polytypic species from the eastern Himalayas through southeast Asia and southern China, and in several island groups east to Borneo and Flores. del Hoyo and Collar (2016) and Eaton et al. (2016) additionally considered however that the taxa of the Lesser Sundas, floris Büttikofer, 1894 and sumbaensis Meyer, 1894 should be treated as the distinct species Terpsiphone floris, based on morphology, vocalizations (Boesman 2016: #200), and genetic divergence. While further study is required of all these aspects, it is considered by AviList 1.0 that the evidence available shifts the burden-of-proof to demonstration of conspecificity. This treatment (Clements et al. 2024, Rasmussen et al. 2024) now aligns with BLI v8.1, and IOC-WBL, but not with older checklists including Mayr and Cottrell (1986), Wolters (1979), Sibley and Monroe (1990), Inskipp et al. (1996), and Dickinson and Christidis (2014). Note that date of publication of both sumbaensis and floris is given as 1894, but floris is considered to have priority as Meyer had already received Büttikofer’s description by 5 January 1894 (Mees 2006). Both floris and sumbaensis were originally described as full species (as were nicobarica Oates, 1890, procera Richmond, 1903, and insularis Salvadori, 1887, now considered subspecies of Terpsiphone affinis). Further adjustments to species limits seem likely, especially as burmae of central and southern Myanmar shares some phenotypic characteristics with Terpsiphone paradisi of the Indian subcontinent, but remains to be studied in depth.

English names: Blyth’s Paradise-Flycatcher is retained for the present for Terpsiphone affinis sensu stricto, as the name has considerable familiarity and a satisfactory alternative has not been suggested. As used in Eaton et al. (2021), Tenggara (meaning southeastern in Indonesian) is adopted as a geographic name for Terpsiphone floris rather than “Nusa Tenggara” as in del Hoyo and Collar (2016), given that “nusa” means island and thus seems to add unnecessarily to name length.

Moluccan Spectacled Monarch Symposiachrus bimaculatus, Australian Spectacled Monarch Symposiachrus trivirgatus, and Louisiade Spectacled Monarch Symposiachrus melanopterus are split from Spectacled Monarch Symposiachrus trivirgatus

Summary: (1→3 species) The Moluccas and the far-flung Louisiade Archipelago (off southeastern New Guinea) each gain another endemic species. Observers can help document their vocalizations for a better understanding of species limits in this group.

Details: v2024 taxa 20664–20676, text: Polytypic Spectacled Monarch Symposiachrus trivirgatus is split into polytypic Moluccan Spectacled Monarch Symposiachrus bimaculatus (with subspecies bimaculatus, diadematus, and nigrimentum), polytypic Australian Spectacled Monarch Symposiachrus trivirgatus (with subspecies wellsi, trivirgatus, albiventris, melanorrhous, and gouldii), and monotypic Louisiade Spectacled Monarch Symposiachrus melanopterus.

The Spectacled Monarch Symposiachrus trivirgatus (Temminck, 1826) as long constituted occupies a highly disjunct distribution in northern Australia and southern New Guinea, the Lesser Sundas (except the western islands), the Moluccas, and the far distant Louisiade Archipelago off southeastern New Guinea. All members share a black mask of varying extent and gray upperparts, while throat to breast color varies from rich rufous to almost white (Clement et al. 2024). They lack wing spots but have white outer tail tips. The variation they exhibit led del Hoyo and Collar (2016) to place them in five different groups within the same species, and based partly on vocalizations, Eaton et al. (2016) enacted a two-way split between Australian and Wallacean taxa that however proved unsupported by genetics (as summarized in McCullough et al. 2021), and was modified in Eaton et al. (2021) to a two-way split between the Moluccan bimaculatus (Gray, 1861) group and Australia-Lesser Sundas taxa, the trivirgatus group, which were shown to be paraphyletic. In addition, the very widely disjunct Louisiade taxon melanopterus (Gray, 1858) was also shown to be deeply diverged, although differing rather subtly in plumage.

A three-way split of Symposiachrus bimaculatus, Symposiachrus trivirgatus, and Symposiachrus melanopterus is thus enacted by AviList 1.0 (Clements et al. 2024), now agreeing with IOC-WBL, but not earlier checklists including Mayr and Cottrell (1986), Wolters (1979), Sibley and Monroe (1990), Inskipp et al. (1996), Dickinson and Christidis (2014), or BLI v8.1. All of the three species now recognized at the species level were originally described as such, but in addition so were all the subspecies currently recognized by Clements except the more recently described melanorrhous (Schodde and Mason, 1999). Further splits are not unlikely, especially given the striking plumage differences of diadematus (Salvadori, 1878) of the Obi Islands of the central Moluccas.

English names: Although including the term “Spectacled” in the name of each daughter taxon adds length, it also provides clarity, especially important as Eaton et al. (2021) refer to all Indonesian archipelagic Monarchidae as “Monarch”, while some are known as “Flycatcher” in other works. Thus, the compound names Moluccan Spectacled Monarch Symposiachrus bimaculatus, Australian Spectacled Monarch Symposiachrus trivirgatus, and Louisiade Spectacled Monarch Symposiachrus melanopterus are adopted here.

Solomons Monarch Symposiachrus barbatus and Malaita Monarch Symposiachrus malaitae are split from Black-and-white Monarch Symposiachrus barbatus

Summary: (1→2 species) The island of Malaita, southeastern Solomon Islands, now hosts its own endemic monarch species, attractively patterned in black-and-white.

Details: v2024 taxa 20690–20691, text: Polytypic Black-and-white Monarch Symposiachrus barbatus is split into monotypic Solomons Monarch Symposiachrus barbatus and monotypic Malaita Monarch Symposiachrus malaitae.

The Symposiachrus monarchs of the Solomon Islands are all strikingly plumaged in black-and-white, but these vary in a bewildering variety of plumage characters, mainly the extent of white and scaling on the auriculars, breast, wing, and tail. The species limits of the group defy easy resolution, but the genetic data of Andersen et al. (2015) are somewhat contradictory to the treatment in Clements et al. (2023). Judging from plumage characters, del Hoyo and Collar (2016) considered Symposiachrus malaitae (Mayr, 1931) to be better treated as a species distinct from Symposiachrus barbatus (Ramsay, 1879), and as this treatment is more consistent with the available genetic data, it is followed here, though further study is needed (Clements et al. 2024). The two-species AviList 1.0 treatment of Symposiachrus barbatus sensu lato (Clements et al. 2024) now aligns with BLI v8.1 and IOC-WBL 14.2, but not with Mayr and Cottrell (1986), Wolters (1979), Sibley and Monroe (1990), or Dickinson and Christidis (2014). Only Symposiachrus barbatus was originally described at the species level, while the much later-described malaitae was described as a subspecies of Symposiachrus barbatus, then placed within a more expansive Symposiachrus browni by some (e.g., Dickinson and Christidis (2014).

English names: “Solomons Pied Monarch” was used by del Hoyo and Collar (2016) for Symposiachrus barbatus sensu stricto, although the modifier “Pied” seems unnecessary, as no other monarch bears the name “Solomons” (except barbatus sensu lato). The name previously used in Clements, “Black-and-white Monarch”, could equally apply to a large number of species in the group. Given the still-extensive distribution of Symposiachrus barbatus sensu stricto from Buka in the northwest to Guadalcanal in the south-central Solomons, and its use in Dutson (2011), Solomons Monarch is here considered the best choice for this now-monotypic species. The name Malaita Monarch, used by del Hoyo and Collar (2016), is adopted as it is helpful and clear, as this is the only endemic monarch species to Malaita (although there is an endemic monarch subspecies, Steel-blue Flycatcher Myiagra ferrocyanea malaitae).

Vella Lavella Monarch Symposiachrus nigrotectus is split from Kolombangara Monarch Symposiachrus browni

Summary: (1→2 species) The complicated New Georgia group of the Solomons Islands now has two species of endemic monarch. This may seem surprising but is not unparalleled, as three closely related Zosterops white-eye species also are recognized from this region.

Details: v2024 taxa 20692–20697, text: Polytypic Kolombangara Monarch Symposiachrus browni is split into polytypic Vella Lavella Monarch Symposiachrus nigrotectus (with subspecies ganongae and nigrotectus) and polytypic Kolombangara Monarch Symposiachrus browni (with subspecies browni and meeki).

As with the Symposiachrus barbatus sensu lato species complex, resolution of the species limits of Symposiachrus browni have been relatively intractable on the basis of plumage. However, as in the prior case, available genetic data (Andersen et al. 2015) provide clues, as Symposiachrus nigrotectus was found to be relatively deeply diverged from Symposiachrus browni. While this level of genetic divergence is somewhat surprising for a group of four taxa all confined to the New Georgia group of islands (in the southwestern Solomon Islands), it is considered by AviList 1.0 that the plumage and genetic data best support a two-species treatment (Clements et al. 2024). This now aligns with IOC-WBL 14.2, but not older lists including Mayr and Cottrell (1986), Wolters (1979), Sibley and Monroe (1990), Dickinson and Christidis (2014), or BLI v8.1. Symposiachrus browni (Ramsay, 1883) is the only taxon in the complex originally described as a full species; the other three were described after the turn of the century and at the subspecific level.

English names: Vella Lavella Monarch has already been used by HBW/BLI for the nigrotectus/ganongae group (which they did not split), but it occurs on three islands (also Ranongga and Baga), of which Vella Lavella is much the largest. Based on plumage, it is not completely certain that ganongae will remain as a subspecies of nigrotectus as opposed to being split, but future research will be needed. Vella Lavella Monarch is adopted for Symposiachrus nigrotectus (including ganongae) for stability and because of relative island size.

More problematic is the name Kolombangara Monarch, which has been used for the browni + meeki group (the latter of Rendova and Tetepare), and Kolombangara is not markedly larger than Rendova. Also, HBW/BLI and Dutson (2011) before them also used Kolombangara Monarch for the combined nigrotectus and browni groups, so some confusion may occur with the continued usage of Kolombangara Monarch for Symposiachrus browni sensu stricto, but it is adopted in any case,asno more appropriate name has been suggested.

Mussau Flycatcher Myiagra hebetior and Velvet Flycatcher Myiagra eichhorni are split from Dull Flycatcher Myiagra hebetior

Summary: (1→2 species) The outlying island of Mussau, in the north-central Bismarck Archipelago, gains yet another endemic species with the two-way split of Dull Flycatcher.

Details: v2024 taxa 20777–20780, text: Polytypic Dull Flycatcher Myiagra hebetior is split into monotypic Mussau Flycatcher Myiagra hebetior and polytypic Velvet Flycatcher Myiagra eichhorni (with subspecies eichhorni and cervinicolor).

The three Myiagra taxa endemic to the Bismarck Archipelago have been united as Dull Flycatcher Myiagra hebetior (Hartert, 1924), but there are marked morphological differences among them. Of the two that have been included in a genetic analysis, eichhorni (Hartert, 1924) of the New Britain-New Ireland-New Hanover group and cervinicolor (Salomonsen, 1964) of Djaul, an island just off New Hanover, are genetically very close (Andersen et al. 2015), despite obvious differences in size and female plumage. Possible differences in voice (Gregory 2017) remain to be studied. Nominate hebetior (Hartert, 1924) of more remote Mussau differs even more in female plumage, and Gregory (2017) mentions vocal differences; although unsequenced to our knowledge, hebetior is considered specifically distinct from the other two. This AviList 1.0 treatment (Clements et al. 2024) now aligns with IOC-WBL 14.2, and partly with BLI v8.1, but not with older checklists including Mayr and Cottrell (1986), Wolters (1979), Sibley and Monroe (1990), or Dickinson and Christidis (2014). Of these, hebetior was originally described at the species level, while simultaneously eichhorni and, much later, cervinicolor were described as subspecies of hebetior.

English names: The name “Dull Flycatcher” long used for Myiagra hebetior is not particularly apt and is retired. Instead, for Myiagra hebetior sensu stricto the helpful name Mussau Flycatcher used by del Hoyo and Collar (2016) and Gregory (2017) is adopted. For a monotypic Myiagra eichhorni, these sources used “Velvet Flycatcher”, which here is adopted for the polytypic Myiagra eichhorni (including cervinicolor), as it is appropriate and deemed unlikely to cause much confusion.

Bornean Black Magpie Platysmurus aterrimus and Malayan Black Magpie Platysmurus leucopterus are split from Black Magpie Platysmurus leucopterus

Summary: (1→2 species) The island of Borneo, already bursting with avian endemics, gains yet another lowland forest species with the two-way split of Black Magpie.

Details: v2024 taxa 20940–20941, text: Polytypic Black Magpie Platysmurus leucopterus is split into monotypic Malayan Black Magpie Platysmurus leucopterus and Bornean Black Magpie Platysmurus aterrimus.

The two taxa of black magpies Platysmurus differ obviously in the presence of a large white wing patch in leucopterus (Temminck, 1824) of the Malayan Peninsula and Sumatra versus none in Bornean aterrimus (Temminck, 1825). In addition, photographs show consistent differences in crest shape, with both having a low frontal crest but only aterrimus having a longer central crown tuft. While no vocal analysis appears to have been published, their vocalizations show pronounced differences (del Hoyo and Collar 2016, Eaton et al. 2016). They are thus deemed by AviList 1.0 to be best considered separate species (Clements et al. 2024), aligning with the aforementioned sources as well as IOC-WBL 11.2, but not older sources including Paynter (1962), Wolters (1977), Sibley and Monroe (1990), Inskipp et al. (1996), or Dickinson and Christidis (2014). Both taxa were described originally as full species, just a year apart and by the same author.

English names: The English names adopted, Bornean Black Magpie for Platysmurus aterrimus and Malayan Black Magpie for Platysmurus leucopterus are those already made familiar by del Hoyo and Collar (2016) and Eaton et al. (2016), except that “Malayan” is used instead of “Malay” of the former source.

Northern Nutcracker Nucifraga caryocatactes and Southern Nutcracker Nucifraga hemispila are split from Eurasian Nutcracker Nucifraga caryocatactes

Summary: (1→2 species) A fourth species of Nucifraga, and third for Eurasia, is now recognized with a split within Eurasian Nutcracker. Southern Nutcracker occurs in the Himalayas and mountains of China through Taiwan and is now recognized as distinct from Northern Nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) based on vocalizations, plumage and structure, and genetics.

Details: v2024 taxa 21261–21271, text: Polytypic Eurasian Nutcracker Nucifraga caryocatactes is split into polytypic Northern Nutcracker Nucifraga caryocatactes (with subspecies caryocatactes, macrorhynchos, rothschildi, and japonica) and polytypic Southern Nutcracker Nucifraga hemispila (with subspecies owstoni, interdicta, macella, yunnanensis, and hemispila).

The long-standing treatment of all Palearctic taxa of nutcrackers Nucifraga as constituting a single species, Nucifraga caryocatactes (Linnaeus, 1758), was modified in 2005 based on parapatry of the strikingly distinct Kashmir Nutcracker Nucifraga multipunctata Gould, 1849 (Rasmussen and Anderton 2005), sometimes also known as Large-spotted Nutcracker. However, on the basis of differences in morphology and vocalizations (Boesman 2016 #208), del Hoyo and Collar (2016) considered the complex to involve three species, including Nucifraga hemispila Vigors, 1831. This treatment is now strongly supported by a recent integrative study (de Raad et al. 2022), in which hemispila and multipunctata are well-diverged sisters, with caryocatactes as sister to that clade. Earlier studies that included some taxa of the complex (e.g., McCullough et al. 2020) also support this AviList 1.0 treatment (Clements et al. 2024), though less definitively, and it now aligns with BLI v8.1 and IOC-WBL 14.2, but not with earlier treatments including Paynter (1962), Wolters (1977), Sibley and Monroe (1990), Inskipp et al. (1996), and Dickinson and Christidis (2014). Each of the three taxa now recognized as species was originally described as such, while most of the subspecies were described at the subspecies level (except macrorhynchos Brehm, 1832 and yunnanensis Ingram, 1910, which were also described as species).

English names: The English names used by del Hoyo and Collar (2016), Northern Nutcracker for Nucifraga caryocatactes and Southern Nutcracker for Nucifraga hemispila, are adopted here, as they are adequately descriptive, seem unlikely to lead to much confusion (whereas use of Spotted Nutcracker for caryocatactes surely would do so, and in any case all have spots to some extent), and no improved alternatives are available.

Slender-billed Crow Corvus enca is split into four species

Summary: (1→4 species) The newly split Sulawesi Crow is easy enough to see where it occurs, as is the Sunda Crow, but that cannot be said for the two newly split species of the Philippines, which are restricted to remote forested areas.

Details: v2024 taxa 21305–21312, text: Polytypic Slender-billed Crow Corvus enca is split into polytypic Sunda Crow Corvus enca (with subspecies compilator and enca), monotypic Sierra Madre Crow Corvus sierramadrensis, monotypic Samar Crow Corvus samarensis, and polytypic Sulawesi Crow Corvus celebensis (with subspecies celebensis and mangoli).

It has long been generally recognized that the broad Slender-billed Crow Corvus enca assemblage of earlier authors includes multiple species (summarized in Dickinson et al. 2004), and this is supported by a genetic study including a few of the taxa (Jønsson et al. 2012). However, in the absence of a comprehensive analysis of all taxa, little has changed regarding the treatment of the complex with the exception of the earlier split of the distantly related Violet Crow Corvus violaceus of the southern Moluccas, and recognition of the vocally highly distinct Palawan Crow Corvus pusillus as specifically distinct (e.g., Clements v2023, IOC-WBL 11.2).

While various other treatments have been adopted, that best supported by present data on genetics and vocalizations (e.g., Boesman 2016: #428) leads to the recognition of four species compared to the species limits of Clements v2023: Sunda Crow Corvus enca (Horsfield, 1821) of the Malay Peninsula and Greater Sundas, Sierra Madre Crow Corvus sierramadrensis Rand and Rabor, 1961 of northern Luzon (northern Philippines), Samar Crow Corvus samarensis Steere, 1890 of Samar (east-central Philippines) and evidently formerly in Mindanao, and Sulawesi Crow Corvus celebensis Stresemann, 1936 of the Sulawesi subregion. This AviList 1.0 treatment (Clements et al. 2024) now aligns with IOC-WBL 14.2, but not with older treatments including Paynter (1962), Wolters (1977), Sibley and Monroe (1990), Inskipp et al. (1996), Dickinson and Christidis (2014), or BLI v8.1. Of the taxa in this complex now treated as full species, only samarensis and enca (and subspecies compilator Richmond, 1903, now a subspecies of Corvus enca) were originally described as such. As is usual, further evidence is needed to better corroborate some of these decisions, including comprehensive genetic and vocal analyses.

English names: To avoid future confusion, the English name Slender-billed Crow is retired, and region-specific names are adopted: Sunda Crow for Corvus enca, Sierra Madre Crow for Corvus sierramadrensis, Samar Crow for Corvus samarensis, and Sulawesi Crow for Corvus celebensis. These names have been used in prior works including Allen (2020) and Eaton et al. (2021).

Philippine Jungle Crow Corvus philippinus is split from Large-billed Crow Corvus macrorhynchos

Summary: (1→2 species) The Philippines gains another endemic crow species, the Philippine Jungle Crow, which is widespread throughout the archipelago and generally common, unlike the newly split forest-dwelling Sierra Madre Crow and Samar Crow.

Details: v2024 taxa 21362–21375, text: Polytypic Large-billed Crow Corvus macrorhynchos is split into monotypic Philippine Jungle Crow Corvus philippinus and polytypic Corvus macrorhynchos (with subspecies japonensis, connectens, osai, mandshuricus, colonorum, hainanus, mengtszensis, tibetosinensis, intermedius, macrorhynchos, culminatus, and levaillantii).

As with the “Slender-billed Crow Corvus enca” species complex, it is equally clear that multiple species are involved in the “Large-billed Crow Corvus macrorhynchos” Wagler, 1827 species complex (summarized in Dickinson et al. 2004), given major differences in size, shape, and vocalizations between certain taxa. However, unlike the former complex, which is largely insular, it remains unclear where species borders may lie, and intergradation has generally not been ruled out. Based on the Jønsson et al. (2012) mitochondrial analysis, two populations are most distinct genetically: philippinus (Bonaparte, 1853) of the main Philippine Islands and culminatus Sykes, 1832 of peninsular India and Sri Lanka. The genetic data, in combination with voice, support the AviList 1.0 treatment adopted here of philippinus as a separate species (Clements et al. 2024), as it was by Dickinson and Christidis (2014) but not earlier checklists including Paynter (1962), Wolters (1977), Sibley and Monroe (1990), Inskipp et al. (1996), or BLI v8.1; this now partially aligns with IOC-WBL 14.2.

The second taxon that is approximately equally genetically distinct (Jønsson et al. 2012), culminatus, unfortunately has been the subject of considerable nomenclatural confusion, especially with levaillantii Lesson, 1831 (see Dickinson et al. 2004). It is widely agreed that culminatus differs strikingly in size, shape, and voice from the evidently parapatric intermedius Adams, 1859 of the western Himalayas, and the three were treated as separate species by Rasmussen and Anderton (2005), followed by IOC-WBL since at least v.1.6. Yet, while the western Himalayas vs. Peninsula dichotomy seems clearly to support separate species status for culminatus, the eastern limits of culminatus and its potential interactions there with levaillantii remain to be adequately studied, as do other issues within the complex. Of the taxa considered to belong to this species in Clements v2023, colonorum Swinhoe, 1864, intermedius, macrorhynchos, culminatus, levaillantii, and philippinus were all described at the species level, with the remaining taxa having been described as subspecies, most of them in fact as subspecies of Corvus coronoides Vigors and Horsfield, 1827, the Australian Raven, now known to be only distantly related to the Corvus macrorhynchos complex and restricted to eastern Australia.

English names: The very widely familiar English name Large-billed Crow is retained for Corvus macrorhynchos, given that only one taxon is here split from it at this time. The name Philippine Jungle Crow is adopted for Corvus philippinus, as this name has previously been used (e.g., in Allen 2020) and the other crows occurring on the Philippines (see Corvus enca account above) have much more limited ranges, with apt geographic names.

Solomons Robin Petroica polymorpha is split from Pacific Robin Petroica pusilla

Summary: (1→2 species) The Solomons gains another endemic, the Solomons Robin, which is widely distributed in various subspecies in montane forest.

Details: v2024 taxa 21524–21540, text: Polytypic Pacific Robin Petroica pusilla is split into polytypic Solomons Robin Petroica polymorpha (with subspecies septentrionalis, kulambangrae, dennisi, and polymorpha) and polytypic Pacific Robin Petroica pusilla (with subspecies soror, ambrynensis, feminina, cognata, tannensis, similis, kleinschmidti, taveunensis, becki, and pusilla).

The highly polytypic and to some extent polymorphic Pacific Robin Petroica pusilla Peale, 1849 assemblage distributed through the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji, and Samoa has recently been studied extensively (e.g., Kearns et al. 2015, 2019, 2020). Although the patterns are complex, with morphological variation that defies easy categorization, the overriding pattern is that the Solomons taxa of the polymorpha Mayr, 1934 group are sister to the remaining taxa of the complex (Vanuatu, Fiji, and Samoa), and the adoption of a two-species treatment of Petroica pusilla and Petroica polymorpha by AviList 1.0 (Clements et al. 2024) aligns with IOC-WBL v10.2, but not earlier checklists including Mayr and Cottrell (1986), Wolters (1980), Sibley and Monroe (1990), Dickinson and Christidis (2014), or BLI v8.1. Of the two taxa now considered specifically distinct, only pusilla was originally described as such, as were three of the taxa now considered subspecies (ambrynensis Sharpe, 1900, similis Gray, 1860, and kleinschmidti Finsch, 1876); the remaining taxa, which were all described as subspecies, were described in the 1930s or later.

English names: The name Pacific Robin is retained for the still-widely distributed Petroica pusilla complex, while Solomons Robin is adopted for Petroica polymorpha, endemic to and the only “robin” in the Solomons.

Beesley’s Lark Chersomanes beesleyi is split from Spike-heeled Lark Chersomanes albofasciata

Summary: (1→2 species) The highly endangered, genetically deeply diverged Beesley’s Lark, found only on one small area in the plains of north-central Tanzania, reclaims its species status.

Details: v2024 taxa 22099–22110, text: Polytypic Spike-heeled Lark Chersomanes albofasciata is split into monotypic Beesley’s Lark Chersomanes beesleyi and polytypic Spike-heeled Lark Chersomanes albofasciata (with subspecies obscurata, boweni, erikssoni, arenaria, kalahariae, barlowi, albofasciata, garrula, and macdonaldi).

The highly geographically isolated form of Spike-heeled Lark (Beesley’s) Chersomanes albofasciata beesleyi Benson, 1966, with its tiny range in the plains of Tanzania north of Mt. Meru, was originally described as a subspecies of albofasciata (de Lafresnaye, 1836), then considered a species on the basis of putative morphological and behavioral differences, reinforced by deep genetic divergence (Alström et al. 2013). However, this treatment and its rationale was contested by Donald and Collar (2011), and the geographically nearest (but still distant) population obscurata (Hartert, 1907) remains unsampled genetically. Further data on the complex (Miller et al. 2021, Alström et al. 2023) provide some support for the treatment as specifically distinct, though much remains unclear about this complex and further changes may be expected. The two-species AviList 1.0 treatment (Clements et al. 2024) aligns with IOC-WBL from at least 2.0, Clements 5^th (2004 until 2022), and Dickinson and Christidis (2014) (but not earlier editions); this late-described taxon does not appear in Mayr and Greenway (1960) and was treated as a subspecies in Wolters (1979) and implicitly so by Sibley and Monroe (1990). Of the 10 taxa in the Chersomanes albofasciata sensu lato complex, only the nominate, kalahariae (Ogilvie-Grant, 1912), and garrula (Smith, 1846) were originally described as full species; all others were first described as subspecies, in the 20^th century.

English names: With the reversion to a two-species treatment, the English names long used for both taxa are maintained: Spike-heeled Lark for Chersomanes albofasciata and Beesley’s Lark for Chersomanes beesleyi.

Rufous-naped Lark Corypha africana is split into five species (all formerly in Mirafra)

Summary: (1→5 species) Widespread and common, the Rufous-naped Lark is often one of the first birds seen by visitors to Africa, and the one from which other larks need to be distinguished with care. That is changing, though, with its five-way split. Each species seems to be allopatric, although several approach each other quite closely and could even be parapatric or narrowly sympatric in some cases.

Details: v2024 taxa 22309–22316, 22326–22349, text: Polytypic Rufous-naped Lark Corypha africana is split into polytypic Sentinel Lark Corypha athi (with subspecies athi and harterti), polytypic Plains Lark Corypha kabalii (with subspecies kabalii and malbranti), polytypic Plateau Lark Corypha nigrescens (with subspecies nigrescens and nyikae), polytypic Highland Lark Corypha kurrae (with subspecies kurrae, batesi, stresemanni, bamendae, and henrici), and polytypic Rufous-naped Lark Corypha africana (with subspecies chapini, occidentalis, gomesi, grisescens, pallida, ghansiensis, transvaalensis, africana, isolata, tropicalis, and ruwenzoria).

The highly polytypic Rufous-naped Lark Corypha africana, familiar over much of Africa, cannot be upheld as a single species. The comprehensive, integrative study of morphology, vocalizations, and genetics (Alström et al. 2023) shows deep divergences and major vocal differences, behavior, and parapatry, possibly even sympatry, of some. They are now split into five species, as follows:

• Corypha athi (Hartert, 1900) of Kenya (except southwest, where C. africana tropicalis occurs) and northeastern Tanzania
• Corypha kabalii (White, 1943) of Gabon to southern Democratic Republic of the Congo, east-central Angola, and northwestern Zambia
• Corypha nigrescens (Reichenow, 1900) of southern Tanzania, eastern Zambia, and northern Malawi
• Corypha kurrae (Lynes, 1923), with several widely separated taxa, mostly in the Sahel zone from Guinea to Sudan
• Corypha africana (Smith, 1836), with numerous subspecies in eastern and southern Africa

This five-species AviList 1.0 treatment (Clements et al. 2024) now aligns with IOC-WBL 14.2, but not with earlier checklists including Mayr and Greenway (1960), Wolters (1979), Sibley and Monroe (1990), or Dickinson and Christidis (2014). Of the taxa now treated as specifically distinct, only nigrescens and of course africana were originally described as full species, the others being relegated to subspecific status, a marked departure in this complex from the more typical situation in which new splits were often originally treated as full species. Conversely, several of the taxa now considered subspecies were described as full species.

English names: The rationales and recommendations for English names in Alström et al. (2023) were adopted, as follows:

• Sentinel Lark for Corypha athi
• Plains Lark for Corypha kabalii
• Plateau Lark for Corypha nigrescens
• Highland Lark for Corypha kurrae
• Rufous-naped Lark for Corypha africana

Kidepo Lark Corypha kidepoensis is split from Red-winged Lark Corypha hypermetra (both formerly in Mirafra)

Summary: (1→2 species) Kidepo National Park in far northern Uganda may be off the beaten path but it may be the best area in which to find the newly split Kidepo Lark, among other avian specialties.

Details: v2024 taxa 22356–22358, 22360–22362, text: Polytypic Red-winged Lark Corypha hypermetra is split into polytypic Red-winged Lark Corypha hypermetra (with subspecies gallarum and hypermetra) and Kidepo Lark Corypha kidepoensis (with subspecies kidepoensis and kathangorensis). (See Generic Changes section for move to Corypha.)

Long considered a single polytypic species with four subspecies, only nominate hypermetra (Reichenow, 1879) was originally described as a full species, while the others, described in the 20^th century, were considered subspecies at description. However, Alström et al. (2023) found unexpectedly that kidepoensis (Macdonald, 1940), mainly found in northern Uganda, is sister to Corypha sharpii (Elliot, 1897), to which it is not very similar in plumage. In addition, kidepoensis appears to differ markedly from hypermetra in song, though only a single individual was available to Alström et al. (2023). Subspecies kathangorensis (Cave, 1940) has not been sequenced, but it occurs just north of the range of kidepoensis and more geographically isolated from subspecies of hypermetra, and is similar to kidepoensis in plumage, and is included therein. The two-species AviList 1.0 treatment adopted here (Clements et al. 2024) now aligns with IOC-WBL 14.2, but not with earlier sources including Mayr and Greenway (1960), Wolters (1979), Sibley and Monroe (1990), or Dickinson and Christidis (2014).

English names: Alström et al. (2023) suggested retaining the English name Red-winged Lark for Corypha hypermetra due to its familiarity over a relatively large area, and proposed Kidepo Lark for Corypha kidepoensis, an apt name as it captures not only the specific epithet but the principal area of occurrence, including Kidepo National Park in northern Uganda, where it is most often observed.

Maasai Apalis Apalis stronachi is split from Karamoja Apalis Apalis karamojae

Summary: (1→2 species) Both the Karamoja Apalis of northern Uganda and newly-split Maasai Apalis of southwestern Kenya and northern Tanzania require special effort to encounter, and both are threatened by clearing of their whistling-thorn habitat within their limited ranges.

Details: v2024 taxa 22918–22919, text: Polytypic Karamoja Apalis Apalis karamojae is split into monotypic Karamoja Apalis Apalis karamojae and monotypic Maasai Apalis Apalis stronachi.

One of the rarer and less well-known apalis species, Karamoja Apalis Apalis karamojae (Van Someren, 1921), has two populations, nominate karamojae of northern Uganda and stronachi Stuart and Collar, 1985 of northern Tanzania and southwestern Kenya. These were recently found to differ dramatically in vocalizations and response to playback (Nalwanga et al. 2016, Boesman and Collar 2023). They differ less obviously in plumage, mainly in that stronachi is grayer below, and are similar in their whistling-thorn habitat, but the song differences in both sexes of these duetting taxa and lack of response to playback indicates that separate species status is warranted. This AviList 1.0 treatment, adopted by Clements et al. (2024), now aligns with BLI v8.1 and IOC-WBL 14.2, but not with older checklists that predate the description of stronachi, Sibley and Monroe (1990), or Dickinson and Christidis (2014). Of the two taxa now recognized as species, only karamojae was originally described as such.

English names: Although the two species have roughly similar range sizes, both of which are very small, the name Karamoja Apalis is retained for Apalis karamojae sensu stricto, as it mirrors the specific epithet and now more aptly describes the range. For both species, whistling-thorn is essential habitat. The name Maasai Apalis suggested for Apalis stronachi by Boesman and Collar (2023) is apt, given the distributional range of the species.

Huambo Cisticola Cisticola bailunduensis is split from Rock-loving Cisticola Cisticola aberrans

Summary: (1→2 species) Angola has long been replete with avian endemics, and now there’s another one, the Huambo Cisticola, which has a different song and habitat from Rock-loving Cisticola.

Details: v2024 taxa 23163–23173, text: Polytypic Rock-loving Cisticola Cisticola aberrans is split into polytypic Rock-loving Cisticola Cisticola aberrans (with subspecies admiralis, petrophilus, emini, nyika, Emini lurio, aberrans, and minor) and monotypic Huambo Cisticola Cisticola bailunduensis.

The Rock-loving Cisticola Cisticola aberrans (Smith, 1843), one of many polytypic cisticolas with varying treatments over the years, was treated as two species by Sibley and Monroe (1990) and the IOC-WBL checklist (from v.1.0), and with a different composition by del Hoyo and Collar (2016). Evidence for the split of the emini Reichenow, 1892 group, as adopted by the first two checklists, is equivocal, as no vocal or genetic analyses have been carried out. However, the song of the central Angolan taxon bailunduensis Neumann, 1931 has recently been found to be strikingly different from those of the other taxa for which this is known (Boesman 2016: #420), and bailunduensis also shows differences in morphology and in its canopy (vs. rocky) habitat; this combined evidence led del Hoyo and Collar (2016) to consider it a separate species. This AviList 1.0 treatment is now followed here (Clements et al. 2024), aligning with BLI v8.1 and IOC-WBL 14.2, though not with earlier checklists including Mayr and Cottrell (1986), Wolters (1980), Sibley and Monroe (1990), or Dickinson and Christidis (2014). Of the two taxa now considered species, only aberrans was originally described thus, as were petrophilus Alexander, 1907 and emini (now subspecies of aberrans).

English names: The English name Lazy Cisticola has often been applied to the Cisticola aberrans group, while Rock-loving Cisticola has been used for the Cisticola emini group (e.g., in IOC-WBL). As the term “Rock-loving” has long been used for both by earlier versions of Clements, and it aptly summarizes the usual habitat of taxa retained here in Cisticola aberrans vs. that of the newly split Cisticola bailunduensis, which occurs in tree canopies and shows no particular affinity for rocks. Huambo Cisticola as used by del Hoyo and Collar (2016) is here adopted for Cisticola bailunduensis, as this province is part of the species’ range.

Lynes’s Cisticola Cisticola distinctus is split from Wailing Cisticola Cisticola lais

Summary: (1→2 species) The East African Lynes’s Cisticola is treated as a full species from the mostly southern African Wailing Cisticola, although further corroboration of this stance is needed.

Details: v2024 taxa 23215–23223, text: Polytypic Wailing Cisticola Cisticola lais is split into monotypic Lynes’s Cisticola Cisticola distinctus and polytypic Wailing Cisticola Cisticola lais (with subspecies namba, semifasciatus, mashona, oreobates, monticola, lais, and maculatus).

Long considered an isolated East African subspecies of the widespread but mostly southern African Cisticola lais (Hartlaub and Finsch, 1870), Cisticola distinctus Lynes, 1930 was nevertheless described as a full species (and that in 1930). Despite its name, its distinctiveness from the geographically closest subspecies Cisticola lais semifasciatus Reichenow, 1905 may be questioned, but multiple authors have considered it a species (e.g., Sibley and Monroe 1990, Zimmerman et al. 1996, Sinclair and Ryan 2004, Stevenson and Fanshawe 2020), and in an mtDNA-based phylogeny (Davies 2014), distinctus was recovered as sister to multiple unquestioned species rather than especially closely related to Cisticola lais. Song has been considered to be essentially identical between the two (Dowsett 1993), or to differ somewhat (Stevenson and Fanshawe 2002), but despite the variability in lais and the low sample size of distinctus, there may well be some vocal differences, and there is at least preliminary indication of differential response to playback (Zimmerman et al. 1996).

Thus, Cisticola distinctus is treated by AviList 1.0 and here as a full species (Clements et al. 2024, AviList 1.0), aligning with Wolters (1980) and IOC-WBL since v.1.0, but not Mayr and Cottrell (1986), Dickinson and Christidis (2014), or BLIv8.1. In addition to the two taxa now treated at the species level, both semifasciatus and monticola Roberts, 1913 were originally described at the species level, with the remainder having been described as subspecies of Cisticola lais. Clearly, however, further study of vocalizations and response to playback, as well as more comprehensive genetic analysis, are required.

English names: The long-established English name Wailing Cisticola is maintained for the still-widespread and familiar Cisticola lais sensu stricto. The name Lynes’s Cisticola is well-entrenched for Cisticola distinctus, in a genus for which coining new names for similar taxa whose songs are not particularly distinctive is especially challenging.

Pale Crag-Martin Ptyonoprogne obsoleta, Red-throated Crag-Martin Ptyonoprogne rufigula, and Southern Crag-Martin Ptyonoprogne fuligula are split from Rock Martin Ptyonoprogne fuligula

Summary: (1→3 species) Rock Martin is split into three species: the large, light-colored Pale Crag-Martin of deserts from northwest Africa through Pakistan; the small dark Red-throated Crag-Martin of tropical Africa; and the large, mid-toned Southern Crag-Martin of southern Africa.

Details: v2024 taxa 23913–23930, text: Polytypic Rock Martin Ptyonoprogne fuligula is split into polytypic Pale Crag-Martin Ptyonoprogne obsoleta (with subspecies presaharica, spatzi, buchanani, obsoleta, perpallida, pallida, and arabica), polytypic Red-throated Crag-Martin Ptyonoprogne rufigula (with subspecies pusilla, bansoensis, and rufigula), and polytypic Southern Crag-Martin Ptyonoprogne fuligula (with subspecies anderssoni, fuligula, and pretoriae).

Three subspecies groups have long been known in the Rock Martin Ptyonoprogne fuligula (Lichtenstein, 1842): the very pale, large obsoleta (Cabanis, 1851) group of deserts of northern Africa and the Middle East; the dark, small rufigula (Fischer and Reichenow, 1884) group of tropical Africa; and the large, medium-toned fuligula group of southern Africa. While Ptyonoprogne obsoleta has been recognized as a distinct species by many authorities for many years (Mayr and Greenway 1960, Sibley and Monroe (1990), IOC-WBL from v.1.0, Clements et al. through the 5^th edition, 2002 revisions, Dickinson and Christidis (2014) and preceding editions, BLI all versions), all three have been combined in the single species Ptyonoprogne fuligula by others (including Wolters (1980), Clements et al. 5^th edition, 2004 revisions).

Boesman (2016: #238) found that, based on a small sample, the flight calls of fuligula are lower-pitched than those of either the obsoleta or rufigula groups, the latter two of which do not differ obviously. This, along with the abrupt turnover in plumage and size between the rufigula and fuligula groups, led del Hoyo and Collar (2016) to consider these two species. This treatment was further supported by the UCE phylogeny of Brown (2019), in which rufigula and fuligula are successive sisters to the clade including concolor and rupestris, both universally treated as specifically distinct. Although further study is needed, and Irwin (1977) suggests a narrow hybrid zone between fuligula and rufigula in Zimbabwe, the three-species treatment is considered best supported by AviList 1.0 on present data (Clements et al. 2024). It now aligns with BLI v8.1 and IOC-WBL 14.2, but (in splitting rufigula from fuligula) not Mayr and Greenway (1960), Wolters (1980), Sibley and Monroe (1990), Inskipp et al. (1996), or Dickinson and Christidis (2014). All three taxa now considered specifically distinct were originally described thus, as were pallida (Hume, 1872) and arabica (Reichenow, 1905), now placed within Ptyonoprogne obsoleta, and anderssoni (Sharpe and Wyatt, 1887), a subspecies of Ptyonoprogne fuligula sensu stricto

English names: The apt and so well-entrenched English name “Pale Crag Martin” for Ptyonoprogne obsoleta is retained, though with the addition of a hyphen in the group name denoting group membership. The English name “Red-throated Rock Martin” adopted by del Hoyo and Collar (2016) is modified to Red-throated Crag-Martin for Ptyonoprogne rufigula, again to denote group membership. Rather than Large Rock Martin of del Hoyo and Collar (2016), however, the name Southern Crag-Martin is used for Ptyonoprogne fuligula sensu stricto, as it is deemed more apt in highlighting its distributional range. All Ptyonoprogne, a distinctive genus within swallows, are now referred to as Crag-Martins.

Pacific Swallow Hirundo javanica and Tahiti Swallow Hirundo tahitica are split from Pacific Swallow Hirundo tahitica

Summary: (1→2 species) Tahiti gains an endemic species, the Tahiti Swallow, with its split from the widespread Pacific Swallow.

Details: v2024 taxa 23944–23951, text: Polytypic Pacific Swallow Hirundo tahitica is split into polytypic Pacific Swallow Hirundo javanica (with subspecies javanica, namiyei, frontalis, albescens, ambiens, and subfusca) and monotypic Tahiti Swallow Hirundo tahitica.

The very widespread Pacific Swallow Hirundo tahitica Gmelin, 1789 complex contains numerous taxa from the Andaman Islands in the west (and southwestern India and Sri Lanka farther west, if the Hill Swallow Hirundo domicola Jerdon, 1841, generally considered a full species, is included) through Tahiti, some 13,000 km to the east. While most forms are primarily found in the lowlands including the coastal plain and small islands, and to some extent well into the hills, the isolated domicola of southern South Asia and the equally isolated nominate tahitica of Tahiti differ in occurring mainly away from the coast, especially true in the case of domicola, an obligate hill inhabitant. These two extremely isolated populations are also similar and different from all other taxa in their small size and very small bills, but while domicola is similar in plumage to the javanica Sparrman, 1789 group except for its generally greener-glossed upperparts, tahitica differs markedly from all others in its very dark, almost blackish underparts and very small size.

What seems clear is that if Hirundo domicola is considered a separate species, based mainly on its small bill and distinct habitat (as in most checklists), then tahitica must surely be a separate species as well. While del Hoyo and Collar (2016) split the latter but lumped the former, the AviList 1.0 position, adopted here, is that both are best treated at the species level, for a three-species treatment (Clements et al. 2024). This now aligns with IOC-WBL 14.2, but not earlier checklists including Mayr and Greenway (1960), Wolters (1980), Sibley and Monroe (1990), Inskipp et al. (1996), Dickinson and Christidis (2014), or BLI v8.1. All three taxa considered species here were originally described as such, as were namiyei (Stejneger, 1887), frontalis Quoy and Gaimard, 1832, and subfusca Gould, 1856.

English names: With its continued recognition, the long-established and apt name Hill Swallow is maintained for Hirundo domicola, as is the very familiar name Pacific Swallow for Hirundo javanica. The name used by del Hoyo and Collar (2016) for Hirundo tahitica sensu stricto, Tahiti Swallow, is both helpful and unique, and is adopted here.

European Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis rufula, African Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis melanocrissus, and Eastern Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica are split from Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica*

Summary: (2→3 species) Africa gains an endemic swallow species with the newly split African Red-rumped Swallow, while the western Palearctic gains the European Red-rumped Swallow, which also winters in Africa, while South Asia and Southeast Asia lose as species with the lump of Striated Swallow into a newly reconstituted Cecropis daurica.

Details: v2024 taxa 24000–24019, text: Polytypic Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica is split into monotypic European Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis rufula, polytypic African Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis melanocrissus (with subspecies domicella, kumboensis, melanocrissus, and emini), and polytypic Eastern Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica (with subspecies nipalensis, erythropygia, daurica, japonica, mayri, stanfordi, vernayi, and striolata, the latter four subspecies formerly in *Striated Swallow Cecropis striolata, now lumped into Cecropis daurica).

Two widely disjunct taxa stand out due to their rich rufous, unstreaked underparts: hyperythra (Blyth, 1849) of Sri Lanka and badia Cassin, 1853 of the Malayan Peninsula. Cecropis hyperythra was split by Rasmussen and Anderton (2005) on the basis of plumage and vocalizations, known to be distinctive since at least Henry (1955) and now corroborated by available recordings, and hence treatment as a single species is maintained here. Cecropis badia was split by Dickinson and Christidis (2014) on the basis of Dickinson and Dekker (2001), at least partly on the basis of its relatively large size, in violation of Bergmann’s Rule. Cecropis badia is parapatric with subspecies vernayi (Kinnear, 1924) in southern Thailand, with apparently different vocalizations, and thus seems best treated as specifically distinct. Both hyperythra and badia were treated as species in earlier versions of Clements (for badia, from the 5^th, and since 6.6 for hyperythra).

In genetic analysis, the rufula group of the Mediterranean region through western Asia and the daurica group of the western Himalayas through eastern Asia form separate clades (Brown 2019) that are parapatric, with rufula (Temminck, 1835) in Afghanistan, much of Kazakhstan, Ladakh, and Kashmir, while erythropygia (Sykes, 1832) occurs from the Murree Hills of sub-Himalayan northern Pakistan just to the south of the range of rufula, and then eastward. These two lineages thus are better treated as separate species.

An African sample (from Uganda) in Brown (2019) is sister to these two clades, while one from Cote d’Ivoire is sister to striolata (Sheldon et al. 2005). This differing result may be related to issues with mtDNA, and requires substantiation. While Cecropis domicella (Heuglin, 1869) of western Africa east through western Ethiopia was considered a separate species by Sibley and Monroe (1990), Monroe and Sibley (1993) and thus by Gill et al. (through v14.1), the rationale for splitting domicella from the melanocrissus Rüppell, 1845 group is unclear and here they are considered conspecific, as polytypic Cecropis melanocrissus. Given the distinctive plumage of domicella, however, this question deserves deeper investigation.

The above summarizes the novel AviList 1.0 treatment (Clements et al. 2024), which now aligns with Eaton et al. (2016) and IOC-WBL 14.2, but not with Mayr and Greenway (1960), Wolters (1980), Inskipp et al. (1996), or Dickinson and Christidis (2014). Of the two species newly split from Cecropis daurica (sensu Clements v.2023), both rufula and melanocrissus were originally described as species, as were emini (Reichenow, 1892), now a subspecies of Cecropis melanocrissus, and nipalensis (Hodgson, 1837) and erythropygia, both now subspecies of Cecropis daurica sensu stricto

English names: Rather than invent new names, regional modifiers are added to each, as: European Red-rumped Swallow for Cecropis rufula; African Red-rumped Swallow for Cecropis melanocrissus; and Eastern Red-rumped Swallow for Cecropis daurica. This has the benefit of retaining the connection to the familiar pre-split Cecropis species across much of Eurasia and Africa.

Yellow-lored Bristlebill Bleda notatus and Yellow-eyed Bristlebill Bleda ugandae are split from Lesser Bristlebill Bleda notatus

Summary: (1→2 species) Two of the more distinctive-looking African bulbuls, Yellow-lored and Yellow-eyed bristlebills, are now considered distinct species, endemic to west-central and central Africa respectively.

Details: v2024 taxa 24092–24093, text: Polytypic Lesser Bristlebill Bleda notatus is split into monotypic Yellow-lored Bristlebill Bleda notatus and monotypic Yellow-eyed Bristlebill Bleda ugandae.

The Lesser Bristlebill Bleda notatus (Cassin, 1856) is comprised of two phenotypically distinct taxa, notatus of west-central Africa and ugandae Van Someren, 1915 of central Africa, especially notable for the yellow eyes and weakly marked loral spot of ugandae versus the dark eyes and strong yellow loral spot of notatus. These are now known to differ distinctly in some of their vocalizations (Boesman 2016: #240), and to be rather deeply divergent genetically, though sister (Huntley and Voelker 2016). These differences led del Hoyo and Collar (2016) to treat them as separate species, followed by IOC-WBL 10.2 and AviList 1.0 (Clements et al. 2024), but differ from the species limits of Mayr and Greenway (1960), Sibley and Monroe (1990), and Dickinson and Christidis (2014). Of the two species, only notatus was described at the specific level. Further study is needed, as eye color may be variable within a taxon (S. Peters, in litt.), however.

English names: BLI followed by IOC-WBL both used “Yellow-eyed Bristlebill” for B. ugandae and “Yellow-lored Bristlebill” for B. notatus sensu stricto, and these names are both appropriate, highlighting as they do the most obvious characters separating the two species; in addition, the range sizes of the two are not markedly different, rendering the continued usage of “Lesser Bristlebill” less than ideal for either as it would likely lead to confusion.

Yellow-gorgeted Greenbul Atimastillas flavicollis and Pale-throated Greenbul Atimastillas flavigula are split from Yellow-throated Greenbul Atimastillas flavicollis

Summary: (1→2 species) One of the more strikingly plumaged greenbuls, the Yellow-gorgeted Greenbul becomes an endemic to West Africa with the split from Pale-throated Greenbul.

Details: v2024 taxa 24096–24099, text: Polytypic Yellow-throated Greenbul Atimastillas flavicollis is split into monotypic Yellow-gorgeted Greenbul Atimastillas flavicollis and polytypic Pale-throated Greenbul Atimastillas flavigula (with subspecies flavigula and soror).

Atimastillas flavicollis has long been treated as a single polytypic widespread bulbul species of various wooded habitats in tropical Africa. All populations have a pale throat made especially conspicuous by the strong contrast with the dark cheek, but the color of the throat varies dramatically, from bright yellow in nominate flavicollis (Swainson, 1837) of West Africa east to northern Cameroon, then seemingly abruptly to whitish in soror (Neumann, 1914) from central Cameroon eastward, more gradually becoming more yellowish in flavigula (Cabanis, 1880) of East Africa, but not attaining the intense yellow of nominate flavicollis. In addition, the underparts of flavicollis are uniformly dark, while those of soror and flavigula are paler centrally. Fjeldså et al. (2007) considered flavicollis to be a separate species from soror on the basis of a lack of intergradation in Cameroon (Fishpool and Tobias 2005), but did not mention flavigula. There is evidence of a lack of response to playback of soror by flavicollis in Mali (del Hoyo and Collar 2016). The calls of nominate flavicollis are stated to be generally more nasal than those of both soror and flavigula (Kirwan et al. 2021), but further study is needed.

The seemingly rapid turnover in plumage without evidence of intergradation in Cameroon, coupled with putative vocal differences, is supportive of the two-species treatment adopted by del Hoyo and Collar (2016), and adopted by AviList 1.0 and here (Clements et al. 2024). This now aligns with BLI v8.1 and IOC-WBL 14.2, but not with older checklists including Mayr and Greenway (1960), Wolters (1979), Sibley and Monroe (1990), or Dickinson and Christidis (2014). The two taxa now treated as independent species, Atimastillas flavicollis and Atimastillas flavigula, were originally described at that level, while soror was described as a subspecies of Atimastillas flavicollis.

English names: The name “Yellow-throated Greenbul” adopted by del Hoyo and Collar (2016) is problematic, because it is the same name as that use by earlier versions of IOC-WBL for Arizelocichla chlorigula. In addition, Atimastillas flavicollis has a considerably smaller range extent than that of Atimastillas flavigula. The name “Yellow-throated Leaflove” was used by IOC-WBL through v.14.1 for Atimastillas flavicollis sensu lato and has long familiarity, but this erroneously implies a close relationship with “(Red-tailed) Leaf-love” Phyllastrephus scandens. To avoid these problems, and to highlight the most obvious distinguishing characteristic of Atimastillas flavicollis sensu stricto, the name Yellow-gorgeted Greenbul is coined here, now aligning with IOC-WBL 14.2. Pale-throated Greenbul, the English name used by del Hoyo and Collar (2016) for Atimastillas flavigula, is apt and helpful, has already been adopted by e.g., Stevenson and Fanshawe (2020), and is adopted here as well.

Kikuyu Mountain Greenbul Arizelocichla kikuyuensis and Black-headed Mountain Greenbul Arizelocichla nigriceps are split from Eastern Mountain Greenbul Arizelocichla nigriceps

Summary: (1→2 species) The Kikuyu Mountain Greenbul of eastern DRC through central Kenya, with its yellow-olive underparts, is newly split from the Black-headed Mountain Greenbul of southern Kenya and northern Tanzania, mainly gray below.

Details: v2024 taxa 24129–24132, text: Polytypic Eastern Mountain Greenbul Arizelocichla nigriceps is split into monotypic Kikuyu Mountain Greenbul Arizelocichla kikuyuensis and polytypic Black-headed Mountain Greenbul Arizelocichla nigriceps (with subspecies nigriceps and usambarae).

The markedly polytypic Arizelocichla bulbuls of the tephrolaema superspecies (which was formerly much more inclusive, e.g., 9 subspecies in Mayr and Greenway 1960) have in more recent years been split in various arrangements due to genetic data and vocal comparisons. However, only the IOC-WBL checklist from v.1.0 onward has recognized kikuyuensis (Sharpe, 1891) of the Albertine Rift and eastern Uganda-western Kenya as specifically distinct from nigriceps (Shelley, 1889) of southern Kenya through northeastern Tanzania. This is despite major, obvious plumage differences: kikuyuensis has yellow-olive underparts contrasting with the pale gray upper breast, and a medium-gray head lacking a darker supercilium; nigriceps has gray underparts and a blacker head, and usambarae (Grote, 1919) of the Taita Hills (southeastern Kenya) to the Usambara Mountains (northeastern Tanzania) has a blackish supercilium and gray crown. Based on mtDNA, kikuyuensis and nigriceps appear to be moderately divergent sister taxa (Shakya and Sheldon 2017). Calls of nigriceps include nasal, wiry calls, while those of nigriceps seem gruffer, although further sampling and study is needed.

On balance, the evidence favors species status for the strikingly distinct-looking Arizelocichla kikuyuensis, and this AviList 1.0 treatment (Clements et al. 2024) aligns with the long-standing one of IOC-WBL, though is at odds with that of Mayr and Greenway (1960), Wolters (1979), Sibley and Monroe (1990), Dickinson and Christidis (2014), and BLI v8.1. Both of the taxa now considered species were originally as species, while usambarae was described as a subspecies of tephrolaemus.

English names: The IOC-WBL through v14.1 is the only list that has previously split Arizelocichla kikuyuensis, for which it has used “Olive-breasted Greenbul”, and simply “Mountain Greenbul” for A. nigriceps sensu stricto. Since many greenbuls have olive breasts, and since the upper breast of kikuyuensis is gray while the lower breast is bright olive-yellow, this is not an especially helpful name. Keeping the modifier “Mountain” as in BLI and Clements “Eastern Mountain Greenbul” has merit by placing it within a group that includes its closest relatives. Thus for A. kikuyuensis the name would be “Olive-breasted Mountain Greenbul”, and that name appears in recent field guides and is familiar. However, the HBW/BLI checklist used the group name “Kikuyu Mountain Greenbul”, which fits well with the specific epithet and part of the range of the species, although the species also occurs in the Albertine Rift. Kikuyu Mountain Greenbul is more distinctive and apt and is thus adopted here for Arizelocichla kikuyuensis.

“Eastern Mountain Greenbul” has been used for the sensu lato inclusive species, and it has a smaller range than kikuyuensis, so it should not be used for nigriceps sensu stricto. The IOC-WBL (through v.14.1) name “Mountain Greenbul” is problematic too because it has been extensively used for the group name. The HBW/BLI checklist uses “Kilimanjaro Mountain Greenbul” for the nigriceps group and “Usambara Mountain Greenbul” for the usambarae group. However, each of these occurs in multiple mountain groups besides those indicated by the name when combined as here. No regional name specifically for the mountains around the Kenya-Tanzania border is evident. However, the name “Black-headed Mountain Greenbul” has been used for A. nigriceps sensu stricto (e.g., Sinclair and Ryan 2003 and Tanzanian Bird Atlas), and is a reasonably good name, as they do have the crown or supercilium blackish, more so than nearly all other greenbuls.

Olive-headed Greenbul Arizelocichla striifacies is split from Stripe-cheeked Greenbul Arizelocichla milanjensis

Summary: (1→2 species) The split of the Olive-headed Greenbulfrom the Stripe-cheeked Greenbul should not lead to future identification problems, as these are both distinctively plumaged and allopatric.

Details: v2024 taxa 24135–24138, text: Polytypic Stripe-cheeked Greenbul Arizelocichla milanjensis is split into polytypic Olive-headed Greenbul Arizelocichla striifacies (with subspecies striifacies and olivaceiceps) and monotypic Stripe-cheeked Greenbul Arizelocichla milanjensis.

The long-standing treatment of Arizelocichla milanjensis (Shelley, 1894) as comprising three subspecies (Mayr and Greenway 1960) was challenged by Sibley and Monroe (1990), who considered olivaceiceps a distinct species, then later by del Hoyo and Collar (2016), who instead considered milanjensis of southern Malawi, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe a separate monotypic species from a polytypic species comprising both striifacies (Reichenow and Neumann, 1895) of southern Kenya and northern Tanzania and olivaceiceps of southern Tanzania through northern Malawi and Mozambique. IOC-WBL v1.0 followed Sibley and Monroe (1990) and then del Hoyo and Collar (1994) in splitting both olivaceiceps and striifacies, for a three-species treatment.

As noted by del Hoyo and Collar (2016), plumages differ strikingly between milanjensis and the other two, while striifacies and olivaceiceps are quite similar. There is considerable, apparently clinal, variation in iris color within olivaceiceps (Dowsett 1974). In addition, in the limited sample of online recordings available by 2016, Boesman (2016: #241) considered milanjensis to be the most distinctive, but noted that the Taita Hills (southern Kenya) population of olivaceiceps also differed, being somewhat similar to that of nominate milanjensis, with more samples and study being needed. The limited genetic work thus far done enabled Shakya and Sheldon (2017) to assemble a supertree that showed olivaceiceps to be sister to a clade with striifacies and nominate milanjensis. Nevertheless, this mtDNA evidence is considered inadequate for species limits decisions in the face of great similarity of plumage between striifacies and olivaceiceps, but vocal evidence especially from the Taita Hills and the variation in iris color in olivaceiceps indicates that further study is needed. On the other hand, the evidence for the specific separation of the isolated milanjensis appears strong, and thus a two-species treatment is adopted by AviList 1.0 (Clements et al. 2024, AviList 1.0), now aligning with BLI v8.1 and IOC-WBL 14.2, but not the earlier cited sources, Wolters (1979), Sibley and Monroe (1990), or Dickinson and Christidis (2014). All three taxa considered here were originally described as full species within a 3-year period, although the description of olivaceiceps did not explicitly compare it to striifacies.

English names: Although the name Olive-headed Greenbul was long used by IOC-WBL for Arizelocichla olivaceiceps, and a more descriptive name such as Silver-cheeked Greenbul for Arizelocichla striifacies might seem more appropriate, the more entrenched and still apt name Olive-headed Greenbul is retained for Arizelocichla striifacies (including olivaceiceps).

For Arizelocichla milanjensis, the name Stripe-cheeked Greenbul is ambiguous, but the long usage of Stripe-cheeked Greenbul by IOC-WBL and various other sources for Arizelocichla milanjensis sensu stricto leads to its retention here.

Angola Greenbul Phyllastrephus viridiceps is split from White-throated Greenbul Phyllastrephus albigularis

Summary: (1→2 species) Yet another endemic species for Angola—this one the rather drably plumaged and highly range-restricted Angola Greenbul.

Details: v2024 taxa 24176–24177, text: Polytypic White-throated Greenbul Phyllastrephus albigularis is split into monotypic White-throated Greenbul Phyllastrephus albigularis and monotypic Angola Greenbul Phyllastrephus viridiceps.

The Angolan endemic greenbul taxon viridiceps Rand, 1955 was split from Phyllastrephus albigularis Sharpe, 1882 by del Hoyo and Collar (2016) on the basis of its distinctive, though even drabber, plumage and its markedly different vocalizations (Boesman 2016: #407, Mills 2018). This treatment, adopted by AviList 1.0 and here (Clements et al. 2024), now aligns with BLI v8.1 and IOC-WBL 14.2, but not Mayr and Greenway (1960), Sibley and Monroe (1990), or Dickinson and Christidis (2014); viridiceps is not mentioned in Wolters (1979). Of these two, only albogularis was originally described as a full species, of which the much later-described viridiceps was originally placed as a subspecies.

English names: There seems no need to change the long-standing name “White-throated Greenbul” for Phyllastrephus albigularis sensu stricto, as it has a much larger range than that of viridiceps, the English name is a direct translation of the Latin specific epithet, and it does indeed have a whiter throat that helps to distinguish it from most other greenbuls, including viridiceps. Angola Greenbul, adopted by del Hoyo and Collar (2016) for Phyllastrephus viridiceps, is apt for this highly range-restricted peripheral isolate with a less-white throat than its parent species Phyllastrephus albigularis.

Kafa White-eye Zosterops kaffensis is split from Ethiopian (formerly Heuglin’s) White-eye Zosterops poliogastrus

Summary: (1→2 species) Heuglin’s White-eye is split into the gray-bellied Ethiopian White-eye in most of Ethiopia, and the polymorphic species Kafa White-eye which is yellow-bellied in western Ethiopia and gray-bellied in northern Kenya.

Details: v2024 taxa 25438–25441, text: Polytypic Heuglin’s White-eye Zosterops poliogastrus is split into monotypic Ethiopian White-eye Zosterops poliogastrus and polytypic Kafa White-eye Zosterops kaffensis (with subspecies kaffensis and kulalensis).

The African white-eyes Zosterops have very convoluted taxonomic histories, as for example Heuglin’s White-eye Zosterops poliogastrus Heuglin, 1861 sensu Clements v2023 (in which three subspecies were recognized) was included by Paynter (1967) in a very broad Zosterops senegalensis, as three of the 21 subspecies recognized therein. del Hoyo and Collar (2016), conversely, treated each of the three taxa in the poliogastrus complex as full species based on morphological differences. There is parapatry in west-central Ethiopia between the gray-bellied poliogastrus and the yellow-bellied kaffensis Neumann, 1902, and this, coupled with the phylogenetic results of Martins et al. (2020) essentially mandates treatment of kaffensis as a separate species from poliogastrus. However, this is complicated by the somewhat intermediate appearance and larger size of kulalensis Williams, 1948 from northern Kenya, and ‘aff. poliogastrus’ samples in the Martins et al. (2020) phylogeny, which are from west-central Ethiopia but of uncertain phenotype.

Thus, the AviList 1.0 treatment adopted (Clements et al. 2024) is a two-way split between poliogastrus and kaffensis (tentatively including kulalensis), with further research being needed to elucidate the status of the latter. This aligns with IOC 14.2, but only partially with BLI v8.1, which further split kulalensis as a monotypic species, and not with earlier checklists including Paynter (1967), Wolters (1979), Sibley and Monroe (1990), or Dickinson and Christidis (2014). Both poliogastrus and kaffensis, but not the later-described kulalensis, were originally described as full species.

English names: The name Ethiopian White-eye is adopted, aligning with BLI v8.1 on the English name for Zosterops poliogastrus sensu stricto, because it is apt and informative and avoids the potential confusion of continuing to use Heuglin’s for the split species. The name Kafa White-eye for Zosterops kaffensis mirrors the specific epithet in invoking the region of origination of coffee (kava), but has the disadvantage that it was used by del Hoyo and Collar (2016) for their narrower construct of Zosterops kaffensis as monotypic rather than including kulalensis (as here).

Angola White-eye Zosterops kasaicus is split from Northern Yellow White-eye Zosterops senegalensis

Summary: (1→2 species) Angola can now claim yet another near-endemic species, the Angola White-eye, but this one also occurs in neighboring DRC.

Details: v2024 taxa 25449–25460, text: Polytypic Northern Yellow White-eye Zosterops senegalensis is split into polytypic Northern Yellow White-eye Zosterops senegalensis (with subspecies senegalensis, demeryi, gerhardi, and jacksoni) and polytypic Angola White-eye Zosterops kasaicus (with subspecies kasaicus, heinrichi, and quanzae). The name kasaicus has priority over quanzae, published in 1933 (R. Dowsett, in litt.).

Much has changed in the taxonomy of Zosterops senegalensis Bonaparte, 1850 since Paynter (1967) assigned 21 subspecies in a very broad interpretation of species limits. Clements v.2023 had just seven subspecies in Zosterops senegalensis, in three groups. Now, an mtDNA-dominated phylogeny (Martins et al. 2020) shows that three subspecies in Angola and central DRC are not closely related to core Zosterops senegalensis, and must be treated as separate species unless a very broad, phenotypically diverse species treatment were adopted. The two-species AviList 1.0 treatment adopted (Clements et al. 2024), of Zosterops senegalensis with four subspecies andZosterops kasaicus Chapin, 1932 with three subspecies now aligns with IOC-WBL 14.2, though not with earlier treatments including Paynter (1967), Wolters (1979), Sibley and Monroe (1990), Dickinson and Christidis (2014), or BLI v8.1. While senegalensis and two of its subspecies demeryi and jacksoni were originally described as species (all in the 19th century), the other taxa, including kasaicus, were all described in the 20^th century and as subspecies. The name kasaicus appeared in September 1932, thus having priority over quanzae Meyer de Schaunsee, 1932, which actually appeared in 1933 (R. Dowsett, in litt.).

English names: The name Northern Yellow White-eye is retained for Zosterops senegalensis sensu stricto, as it must be distinguished from the Southern Yellow White-eye Zosterops anderssoni, and it still has a much larger range than the newly split Zosterops kasaicus. For the latter, which is almost restricted to Angola, the name Angola White-eye is adopted.

Red-eyed Scimitar-Babbler Erythrogenys imberbis is split from Rusty-cheeked Scimitar-Babbler Erythrogenys erythrogenys

Summary: (1→2 species) The previously widespread Rusty-cheeked Scimitar-Babbler is now split into two, the yellow-eyed Himalayan species and the Red-eyed Scimitar-Babbler of Myanmar and Thailand.

Details: v2024 taxa 25831–25837, text: Polytypic Rusty-cheeked Scimitar-Babbler Erythrogenys erythrogenys is split into polytypic Rusty-cheeked Scimitar-Babbler Erythrogenys erythrogenys (with subspecies erythrogenys, ferrugilatus, and haringtoni) and polytypic Red-eyed Scimitar-Babbler Erythrogenys imberbis (with subspecies imberbis and celata).

Earlier breakups of the “Pomatorhinus erythrogenys” (Vigors, 1831) complex of Mayr and Paynter (1964) were the split of erythrocnemis (Gould, 1863) by Sibley and Monroe (1990), then of mcclellandi (Godwin-Austen, 1870) Rasmussen and Anderton (2005), and then into five in the overall complex (Collar 2006, del Hoyo and Collar 2016). However, even after that, within the restricted erythrogenys, a difference in female vocalizations with an apparently geographical basis was noted in Rasmussen and Anderton (2005), and the distribution of this species seemed unusual in being disrupted by that of Spot-breasted Scimitar-Babbler Erythrogenys mcclellandi—the erythrogenys group being restricted to the Himalayas while the imberbis group occurs in eastern Myanmar and northern Thailand, and mcclellandi in northeastern India and western Myanmar.

Now that extensive media libraries are readily available, an integrative taxonomic paper (Berryman et al. 2023) has shown that the two disjunct taxon groups differ in iris and bill color, some other plumage and size differences, and in vocalizations as well, leading to agreement by AviList 1.0 that they are better treated as distinct species (Clements et al. 2024). This now aligns with IOC-WBL 14.2, but not Mayr and Paynter (1964), Wolters (1980), Sibley and Monroe (1990), Inskipp et al. (1996), or Dickinson and Christidis (2014). Both erythrogenys and imberbis were originally described as species, but so were the two taxa currently treated as subspecies of erythrogenys sensu stricto, ferrugilatus (Hodgson, 1836) and haringtoni (Baker, 1914).

English names: The English name Rusty-cheeked Scimitar-Babbler is maintained for Erythrogenys erythrogenys, given its wide familiarity and appropriateness, and a lack of preferred alternatives, however it does have the disadvantage of possibly leading to confusion with Erythrogenys imberbis, especially as both have rusty cheeks. The name Red-eyed Scimitar-Babbler suggested by Berryman et al. (2023) for Erythrogenys imberbis is highly appropriate, although reddish eyes also occur in some taxa of Streak-breasted Scimitar-Babbler Pomatorhinus ruficollis.

Marañon Gnatcatcher Polioptila maior is split from Tropical Gnatcatcher Polioptila plumbea

Summary: (1→2 species) The Marañón Valley of north-central Peru gains yet another avian near-endemic, this one the strikingly large (for a gnatcatcher!) and vocally distinctive Marañon Gnatcatcher (but its range has recently been shown to extend south along the Pacific slope to Lima).

Details: v2024 taxa 25858–25866, text: Polytypic Tropical Gnatcatcher Polioptila plumbea is split into monotypic Marañon Gnatcatcher Polioptila maior and polytypic Tropical Gnatcatcher Polioptila plumbea (with subspecies anteocularis, plumbiceps, innotata, plumbea, parvirostris, and atricapilla).

As with several other traditionally recognized species of gnatcatcher Polioptila, recent analyses have shown that species limits are incorrect, leading to multiple revisions. The conserved plumage characteristics of most taxa, coupled with sexual and seasonal variation in many, complicates resolution of these issues. This is certainly true of the traditional “Tropical Gnatcatcher Polioptila plumbea” (Gmelin, 1788) complex, treated by Mayr and Paynter (1964) as comprising 11 subspecies, which was then split into two species, Polioptila bilineata of Middle America and trans-Andean South America (Smith et al. 2018, Chesser et al. 2021, Clements et al. 2021) and Polioptila plumbea of cis-Andean South America. Within the Polioptila plumbea complex as treated in Clements v.2023, the taxon maior Hellmayr, 1900 of the Marañón Valley south to Lima (Koperdraad 2024) stands out, as pointed out by Hellmayr (1934). This taxon was one of three groups recognized by Sibley and Monroe (1990; the other being the bilineata group), and was treated by del Hoyo and Collar (2016) as specifically distinct on the basis of plumage, size, and vocalizations (Boesman 2016: #280). In addition, it shows a deep divergence in the most comprehensive phylogenetic analysis (Smith et al. 2018).

While there are several further potential species splits within the current Polioptila plumbea, that of Polioptila maior is the strongest case and is adopted by AviList 1.0 and here (Clements et al. 2024), now agreeing with the treatment of this taxon with BLI v8.1 and IOC-WBL 14.2, but not earlier checklists including Mayr and Paynter (1964), Sibley and Monroe (1990), or Dickinson and Christidis (2014) (not mentioned in Wolters 1980). Polioptila maior was originally described as a subspecies of Polioptila nigriceps, a species now restricted to Mexico and the southwestern USA, but then with a very different circumscription (Hellmayr 1900). Two other subspecies currently within Polioptila plumbea were originally described as species: parvirostris Sharpe, 1885 and atricapilla (Swainson, 1831), both described in the 19^th century.

English names: The long-entrenched name Tropical Gnatcatcher is retained for the familiar and still widely distributed Polioptila plumbea, while the apt and helpful name Marañon Gnatcatcheradopted by del Hoyo and Collar (2016) for Polioptila maior is adapted here.

House Wren Troglodytes aedon is split into seven species

Summary: (1→7 species) Cozumel (off the Yucatan Peninsula coast) and four islands of the Lesser Antilles now each have endemic species of wren that differ in plumage, bill length, song, and ecology, while Northern House Wren and Southern House Wren occupy much of the rest of the Americas.

Details: v2024 taxa 26942–26981, text: Polytypic House Wren Troglodytes aedon is split into polytypic Northern House Wren Troglodytes aedon (with subspecies parkmanii, aedon, baldwini, cahooni, brunneicollis, compositus, and nitidus), monotypic Cozumel Wren Troglodytes beani, polytypic Kalinago Wren Troglodytes martinicensis (with subspecies guadeloupensis, rufescens, and martinicensis), monotypic St. Lucia Wren Troglodytes mesoleucus, monotypic St. Vincent Wren Troglodytes musicus, monotypic Grenada Wren Troglodytes grenadensis, and polytypic Southern House Wren Troglodytes musculus (with subspecies intermedius, inquietus, carychrous, clarus, atopus, striatulus, columbae, albicans, tobagensis, audax, puna, rex, carabayae, tecellatus, atacamensis, musculus, bonariae, and chilensis).

The House Wren Troglodytes aedon Vieillot, 1809 sensu Mayr and Greenway (1960), with 30 subspecies, has long been noted especially for the several strikingly divergent insular Caribbean forms included in the species. However, resolution of species limits has been slow, with Clarion Wren Troglodytes tanneri Townsend, 1890 having long since been split from the Troglodytes aedon complex, and Cobb’s Wren Troglodytes cobbi Chubb, 1909 much more recently, in 2012 (https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCprop526.htm). Within the remaining complex, four species were recognized by Brewer (2001) and Kroodsma and Brewer (2005): Northern House Wren Troglodytes aedon, Brown-throated Wren Troglodytes brunneicollis Sclater, 1858, Cozumel Wren Troglodytes beani Ridgway, 1885, and Southern House Wren Troglodytes musculus Naumann, 1823, while del Hoyo and Collar (2016) recognized just two: House Wren Troglodytes aedon and Cozumel Wren Troglodytes beani, the latter explicitly split based on vocal differences (Boesman 2016: #284). del Hoyo and Collar (2016) furthermore recognized four groups within Troglodytes aedon: the “Northern House Wren” aedon group; “Brown-throated Wren” brunneicollis group; “Antillean House Wren” martinicensis group; and “Southern House Wren” musculus group. This treatment was followed in Kirwan et al. (2019).

A recent proposal to NACC (Remsen et al. 2022, https://americanornithology.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/2022-B.pdf) made the case for splitting the complex into as many as seven species, most of these in the Caribbean. Among many other aspects of the case built in this proposal was the radically different songs of several of the taxa, especially the St. Vincent form musicus (Lawrence, 1878), as well as ecological differences including the dry forest habitat of St. Lucia’s mesoleucus (Sclater, 1876) (Kirwan et al. 2019). Nevertheless, the proposal did not pass largely due to uncertainty about species limits within Caribbean taxa rather than recognition that change was needed. Subsequently, a comprehensive genetic analysis (Klicka et al. 2023) better elucidated the relationships between taxa, and was used as the partial basis for a revised proposal (Rasmussen et al. 2022, https://americanornithology.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/2024-C-1-26-final.pdf) that proposed a somewhat different seven-way split. Klicka et al. (2023) showed a deep divergence between northern and southern clades, and that the Caribbean taxa are embedded in various positions within the southern clade, despite their divergent morphology, vocalizations, and ecology (Johnson and Juárez 2024).

Some of the species proposed are thus paraphyletic, but given the degree of morphological, vocal, and ecological divergence, they are best treated at the species level, and this proposal was accepted by NACC and WGAC. This treatment (Clements et al. 2024, AviList 1.0) thus aligns with Chesser et al. (2024) and IOC-WBL 14.2, but not with earlier checklists including Mayr and Greenway (1960), Wolters (1980), Sibley and Monroe (1990), or Dickinson and Christidis (2014). Not all taxa were included in Klicka et al. (2023) and much further work remains to be done, although two key taxa—guadeloupensis (Cory, 1886) and martinicensis (Sclater, 1866)—are believed extinct, and are tentatively considered to comprise a single species with the extant rufescens (Lawrence, 1877). It is also likely that Troglodytes musculus sensu stricto comprises more than a single species, but further study is needed.

All of the taxa now considered full species—aedon, beani, martinicensis, mesoleucus, musicus, grenadensis (Lawrence, 1878), and musculus—were originally described as species, but the same is true of other taxa described in the 19^th century: parkmanii Audubon, 1839, cahooni Brewster, 1888, brunneicollis Sclater, 1858, guadeloupensis, rufescens, intermedius Cabanis, 1861, inquietus Baird, 1864, striatulus (de Lafresnaye, 1845), columbae Stone, 1899, tobagensis Lawrence, 1888, audax Tschudi, 1844, tecellatus d’Orbigny and de Lafresnaye, 1837, and chilensis Lesson, 1830.

English names: The English names adopted are those recommended in the 2024 NACC proposal, with the exception of that for Troglodytes martinicensis. The component taxa of this species formerly occurred on three islands but are now known to be extant only on Dominica (Troglodytes martinicensis rufescens). The Kalinago people are the descendants of the indigenous people of the Caribbean, many of whom now live on Dominica alongside this wren; NACC received permission from the Kalinago Council to use the name Kalinago Wren for the species (Chesser et al. 2024).

Russet-naped Wren Campylorhynchus humilis, Veracruz Wren Campylorhynchus rufinucha, and Rufous-backed Wren Campylorhynchus capistratus are split from Rufous-naped Wren Campylorhynchus rufinucha

Summary: (1→3 species) Southwestern Mexico and east-central Mexico each gain an endemic species of wren with the three-way split of Rufous-naped Wren.

Details: v2024 taxa 27158–27166, text: Polytypic Rufous-naped Wren Campylorhynchus rufinucha is split into monotypic Russet-naped Wren Campylorhynchus humilis, monotypic Veracruz Wren Campylorhynchus rufinucha, and polytypic Rufous-backed Wren Campylorhynchus capistratus (with subspecies nigricaudatus, xerophilus, nicaraguae, castaneus, and capistratus).

The component taxa long treated as the highly polytypic Rufous-naped Wren Campylorhynchus rufinucha (Lesson, 1838) have a varied taxonomic history, but their conspecificity was bolstered by the studies of Selander (1964, 1965), who carefully documented a narrow hybrid zone between humilis Sclater, 1857 and the capistratus (Lesson, 1842) group in Chiapas. Sibley and Monroe (1990) and NACC (AOU 1998) treated them as three separate groups, and the IOC-WBL has treated them as separate species since v.3.1. Sosa-López et al. (2012) and Boesman (2016: #289) found significant differences in song and duet between the three major taxon groups, and this, in addition to morphological grounds, was used as evidence by del Hoyo and Collar (2016) in favor of a three-way split.

There has been considerable recent research on the complex, including the study of vocalizations by Ku-Peralta et al. (2020), and genomic work by Vázquez-Miranda et al. 2009 and Vázquez-Miranda and Barker (2021). The latter authors found that the hybrid zone documented by Selander has either disappeared or is greatly diminished, and thus that the available evidence strongly favors species status for humilis and the capistratus group. A similar level of divergence between the allopatric rufinucha sensu stricto to the others leads to the conclusion that it is also best treated at the species level. Proposal 2024-C-4 to NACC by Kirsch et al. (2024, https://americanornithology.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/2024-C-1-26-final.pdf) was approved, and this three-species treatment (Clements et al. 2024, AviList 1.0) now aligns with BLI v8.1, Chesser et al. (2024), IOC-WBL 14.2, and Dyer and Howell (2023), though not older sources including Mayr and Greenway (1960), Wolters (1980), Sibley and Monroe (1990), and Dickinson and Christidis (2014). All three taxa now considered species were originally described as such, as was castaneus Ridgway, 1888, now considered a subspecies of Campylorhynchus capistratus.

English names: The English name Rufous-backed Wren Campylorhynchus capistratus adopted by del Hoyo and Collar (2016) and Dyer and Howell (2023) is apt and helpful and is retained here. However, the name they used for the nominate, which is a narrow endemic to Veracruz and far northern Oaxaca, was the prior name for the widespread Campylorhynchus rufinucha sensu lato, and though it translates directly from the specific epithet, is deemed liable to lead to confusion, thus leading to adoption of Veracruz Wren for Campylorhynchus rufinucha sensu stricto Finally, for Campylorhynchus humilis, the descriptive name Russet-naped Wren is used rather than Sclater’s Wren of del Hoyo and Collar (2016).

Gray-browed Wren Pheugopedius schulenbergi is split from Plain-tailed Wren Pheugopedius euophrys

Summary: (1→2 species) The Río Marañón is a well-known barrier between species, and the newly split Gray-browed Wren is the latest to be added to the list of endemics.

Details: v2024 taxa 27207–27212, text: Polytypic Plain-tailed Wren Pheugopedius euophrys is split into polytypic Plain-tailed Wren Pheugopedius euophrys (with subspecies euophrys, longipes, and atriceps) and monotypic Gray-browed Wren Pheugopedius schulenbergi.

The recently described Pheugopedius wrentaxon schulenbergi (Parker and O’Neill, 1985) of the eastern Andes of Peru south of the Río Marañón was at that time known only on the basis of morphology and was described as a subspecies of euophrys (Sclater, 1860). Now that its vocalizations are known (e.g., Boesman 2016: #290), and they have been found not to respond to playback of populations of euophrys to the north of the Marañón, it is clear that schulenbergi should be treated at the species level, as done by del Hoyo and Collar (2016). This AviList 1.0 treatment (adopted by Clements et al. 2024) now aligns with IOC-WBL 14.2, but not with SACC or Dickinson and Christidis (2014); its late description precluded inclusion in earlier checklists such as Peters and Wolters and it is not mentioned in Sibley and Monroe (1990). SACC has yet to consider this split.

English names: As in del Hoyo and Collar (2016), the familiar name Plain-tailed Wren is retained for the more widespread Pheugopedius euophrys, as is the name they proposed for Pheugopedius schulenbergi, Gray-browed Wren.

Northern Chestnut-breasted Wren Cyphorhinus dichrous and monotypic Southern Chestnut-breasted Wren Cyphorhinus thoracicus are split from Chestnut-breasted Wren Cyphorhinus thoracicus

Summary: (1→2 species) The Chestnut-breasted Wren is well-known to differ greatly in song in the northern Andes versus south of the Río Marañón, leading to yet another species split across this major barrier.

Details: v2024 taxa 27390–27391, text: Polytypic Chestnut-breasted Wren Cyphorhinus thoracicus is split into monotypic Northern Chestnut-breasted Wren Cyphorhinus dichrous and monotypic Southern Chestnut-breasted Wren Cyphorhinus thoracicus. Although very similar in appearance, the two taxa long treated as the single species Chestnut-breasted Wren Cyphorhinus thoracicus show only multiple minor plumage differences. They however exhibit major differences in song across the Río Marañón that have been known for years (Schulenberg et al. 2007, Boesman 2016: #295) and that led to their treatment as two separate species by del Hoyo and Collar (2016). The range-wide consistency of these differences, with no evidence of intergradation, dictates this change by AviList 1.0 (adopted by Clements et al. 2024), which now aligns with BLI v8.1 and IOC-WBL 14.2, but not Mayr and Greenway (1960), Wolters (1980), Sibley and Monroe (1990), or Dickinson and Christidis (2014). The issue has not been addressed recently by SACC.

English names: Given their respective ranges, and the existing plethora of wrens with confusing descriptive names, the combined regional and descriptive English names adopted by del Hoyo and Collar (2016) are tentatively used here. These are Northern Chestnut-breasted Wren for Cyphorhinus dichrous, which occurs in the Andes from Colombia through northern Peru, and Southern Chestnut-breasted Wren for Cyphorhinus thoracicus, restricted to Peru south of the Marañón, and just into western Bolivia.

Martinique Thrasher Ramphocinclus brachyurus and St. Lucia Thrasher Ramphocinclus sanctaeluciae are split from White-breasted Thrasher Ramphocinclus brachyurus

Summary: (1→2 species) Martinique gains its second endemic species, while St. Lucia adds to its already impressive total of endemics, with the two-way split of the White-breasted Thrasher.

Details: v2024 taxa 27759–27760, text: Polytypic White-breasted Thrasher Ramphocinclus brachyurus is split into monotypic Martinique Thrasher Ramphocinclus brachyurus and monotypic St. Lucia Thrasher Ramphocinclus sanctaeluciae.

The two White-breasted Thrasher Ramphocinclus brachyurus (Vieillot, 1818)taxa of the central Lesser Antilles were initially placed within the same species, until the St. Lucia form was recognized as distinct from brachyurus with the type locality of Martinique, and was then described as Ramphocinclus sanctae-luciae, Cory, 1887 (now sanctaeluciae). While obviously closely related to each other, and occupying islands only a short distance apart, they differ subtly in several morphological characteristics, though not quite to the extent that would have led to a split by del Hoyo and Collar (2016) using their 7-point system that triggers species status. Kirwan et al. (2019) likewise treated these as “limbo splits”, as signified by [brachyurus].

More recently, DaCosta et al. (2019) found surprisingly deep divergence between the two taxa that is difficult to reconcile with single-species status, especially given their geographic proximity. And, with the advent of more sound recordings online, it is evident that Martinique birds give much shorter gruff calls (the usual call type; song is rare), while St. Lucia birds give noticeably long gruff calls, though quantitative analyses are lacking. These data led to Proposal 2024-C-1 to NACC by Jiménez (2024, https://americanornithology.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/2024-C-1-26-final.pdf), which passed. This AviList 1.0 treatment (Clements et al. 2024) now aligns with Chesser et al. (2024) and IOC-WBL 14.2, but not older checklists including Mayrnd Greenway (1960), Wolters (1980), Sibley and Monroe (1990), or Dickinson and Christidis (2014). While both taxa were originally described as full species, as mentioned above sanctaeluciae was originally not distinguished from brachyurus.

English names: The English names used for the two groups by del Hoyo and Collar (2016), Martinique Thrasher for Ramphocinclus brachyurus and St. Lucia Thrasher for Ramphocinclus sanctaeluciae, were adopted as they are apt, useful, and concise.

Island Thrush Turdus poliocephalus is split into 17 species

Summary: (1→17 species) The world’s most polytypic bird is split 17 ways, leading to (conservatively) three more endemic species in the Philippines, four in the Indonesian archipelago, one in New Guinea, six in Melanesia (one perhaps extinct), an extinct species on islands of the Tasman Sea, one in Samoa, and one in Fiji. Most are restricted to mountains and are shy and uncommon.

Details: v2024 taxa 28432–28498, text: Polytypic Island Thrush Turdus poliocephalus is split into 17 species, including monotypic Mindoro Island-Thrush Turdus mindorensis, polytypic Luzon Island-Thrush Turdus thomassoni (with subspecies thomassoni and mayonensis), polytypic Mindanao Island-Thrush Turdus nigrorum (with subspecies nigrorum, malindangensis, katanglad, and kelleri), monotypic Christmas Island-Thrush Turdus erythropleurus, polytypic Wallacean Island-Thrush Turdus schlegelii (with subspecies hygroscopus, celebensis, and sterlingi), polytypic Sundaic Island-Thrush Turdus javanicus (with subspecies loeseri, indrapurae, biesenbachi, javanicus, fumidus, stresemanni, whiteheadi, and seebohmi), polytypic Moluccan Island-Thrush Turdus deningeri (with subspecies sukahujan and deningeri), polytypic Papuan Island-Thrush Turdus papuensis (with subspecies versteegi, erebus, papuensis, keysseri, and canescens), polytypic Bismarck Island-Thrush Turdus heinrothi (with subspecies heinrothi, beehleri, and tolokiwae), monotypic Bougainville Island-Thrush Turdus bougainvillea, polytypic Solomons Island-Thrush Turdus kulambangrae (with subspecies kulambangrae and sladeni), polytypic Vanikoro Island-Thrush Turdus vanikorensis (with subspecies rennellianus, mareensis, vanikorensis, whitneyi, malekulae, becki, placens, and efatensis), polytypic White-headed Island-Thrush Turdus pritzbueri (with subspecies pritzbueri and albifrons), monotypic New Caledonian Island-Thrush Turdus xanthopus, polytypic Tasman Sea Island-Thrush Turdus poliocephalus (with subspecies poliocephalus and vinitinctus), monotypic Samoan Island-Thrush Turdus samoensis, and polytypic Fiji Island-Thrush Turdus ruficeps (with subspecies layardi, vitiensis, hades, ruficeps, and tempesti).

The world’s most polytypic species, as assembled by Mayr (1931) and maintained by Ripley (1952) and subsequent authors, with 52 subspecies in Clements v2023 (Clement 2000), the Island Thrush Turdus poliocephalus exhibits a wide array of plumage types on islands from Sumatra east through Samoa. Several of the plumage types are repeated on widely separated islands, as well as being closely similar to those of different species on continents and even different hemispheres. Not only that, but neighboring taxa may differ greatly in plumage, as on mountain ranges in Mindanao. And, one plumage type—the bright rufous-headed ruficeps (Ramsay, 1875)—is unique within the genus Turdus and occurs only in mountains of a single small island, Kadavu, in Fiji, while that archipelago has no fewer than five very distinct plumage types. Efforts to redefine species limits in a manner that would lead to a set of species more in keeping with those of continental species of Turdus on the basis of plumage and size (Peterson 2007) met with limited success and a lack of uptake by global checklists. Sibley and Monroe (1990) divided the complex into just three groups: the widespread poliocephalus Latham, 1801, New Guinea papuensis (de Vis, 1890), and New Caledonia xanthopus Forster, 1844 groups. Even in the large-scale revision of global avian species limits conducted by del Hoyo and Collar (2016), no changes were made to this complex, and they stated that “there continues to be no better solution to this long-standing source of taxonomic discomfort than to leave the species as the most diverse assemblage of subspecies of bird known on earth.”

Phylogenetic analyses with limited sampling of taxa in the Turdus poliocephalus complex resulted in the finding that the Taiwan form niveiceps was not part of the assemblage, while the other forms sampled form a closely related, monophyletic group (Jones and Kennedy 2008; Nylander et al. 2008). With nearly comprehensive sampling and genomic data, Reeve et al. (2023) presented a phylogenetic analysis that finally enabled the long-needed revision to species limits of the Turdus poliocephalus complex. While it is now clear that this is a monophyletic and young assemblage of taxa, the diversity of vocal types, although not yet comprehensive nor formally analyzed, belie any notion that they should all be treated as conspecific. For example, although it is relatively well-studied, the Samoan form samoensis Tristram, 1879 is not known to sing, very unlike its nearest relatives (both geographically and phylogenetically) in Fiji. In addition, the Christmas Island form erythropleurus Sharpe, 1887 (for example) is tame, approachable, and catholic in lowland habitat (Menkhorst et al. 2017), while several other forms are skulking, shy, and restricted to montane forest (Dutson 2011).

With Reeve et al. (2023) giving the needed backbone to the major clades, a conservative first pass revision was made for AviList 1.0 in defining 17 species in the complex, as follows (Clements et al. 2024):

• Turdus mindorensis Ogilvie-Grant, 1896 of Mindoro, west-central Philippines. This species is basal to all others in the complex, and is the most divergent, with its chestnut flanks, is superficially similar among Philippine taxa to Turdus nigrorum katanglad. Montane.
• Turdus thomassoni (Seebohm, 1894) of northern Luzon; species includes subspecies mayonensis (Mearns, 1907) of southern Luzon. Black with browner hood; montane. An unnamed taxon from Sibuyan belongs to this clade (Reeve et al. 2023).
• Turdus nigrorum Ogilvie-Grant, 1896 of Negros, in the West Visayas; species includes Mindanao forms malindangensis (Mearns, 1907) from the northern Zamboanga Peninsula of western Mindanao; katanglad Salomonsen, 1953 from central Mindanao; and kelleri (Mearns, 1905) from the Mt. Apo area, southeastern Mindanao. Negros nigrorum is all-brown; Mindanao forms are mainly blackish with grayer hoods except the chestnut-bellied katanglad; all are montane. Unnamed taxa from Panay and Busa belong to this clade (Reeve et al. 2023).
• Turdus erythropleurus of Christmas Island (south of west Java). Brown above with rufous lower underparts; tame, conspicuous, and ubiquitous in lowland habitats. Closely related to Turdus javanicus.
• Turdus schlegelii Sclater, 1861 of western Timor; species includes sterlingi Mayr, 1944 of Timor Leste; hygroscopus Stresemann, 1931 of southern Sulawesi; and celebensis (Büttikofer, 1893) of southwestern Sulawesi. All are brownish above with rufous lower underparts, and at least some of the taxa are not as restricted to high elevations as most others in the Turdus poliocephalus complex.
• Turdus javanicus Horsfield, 1821 of central Java; species includes fumidus Müller, 1844 of western Java; biesenbachi Stresemann, 1930 of southwestern Java; stresemanni Bartels, 1938 from the Mount Lawu area of central Java; whiteheadi (Seebohm, 1893) of eastern Java; loeseri Meyer de Schauensee, 1939 of northern Sumatra; indrapurae Robinson and Kloss, 1916 of southwestern Sumatra; and seebohmi (Sharpe, 1888) of northern Borneo. Most of these forms are brown or gray above with rufous lower underparts, although loeseri of northern Sumatra is blackish overall, resembling samoensis of far distant Samoa on the opposite end of the range of the entire complex. Nominate javanicus, too, of central Java is quite drab dark gray-brown overall. All are montane.
• Turdus deningeri Stresemann, 1912 of Mount Binaia (Seram, southern Moluccas); species tentatively includes sukahujan Rheindt, Prawiradilaga, Ashari, and Suparno, 2020 of Taliabu, in the Sula Islands. The Seram form is black-bodied with an indistinct white hood, while the newly described sukahujan of Taliabu is plain dark brownish, but was not included in Reeve et al. (2023). Both are montane.
• Turdus papuensis (De Vis, 1890) from southeastern New Guinea; species includes versteegi Junge, 1939 of western New Guinea; erebus Mayr and Gilliard, 1952 of the Bismarck Mountains, north-central New Guinea; keysseri Mayr, 1931 from the Saruwaged Mountains of Huon Peninsula, northeastern New Guinea; and canescens (De Vis, 1894) from Goodenough Island, in D’Entrecasteaux Archipelago off southeastern New Guinea. All are blackish overall, though canescens of Goodenough has a grayer throat and upper breast, and montane.
• Turdus heinrothi Rothschild and Hartert, 1924 of Mussau, in the north-central Bismarck Archipelago; species includes beehleri Ripley, 1977 of New Ireland (northeastern Bismarck Archipelago); and tolokiwae Diamond, 1989 of Tolokiwa Island (southeastern Bismarck Archipelago). Nominate heinrothi occurs down to sea level, while the others are montane. An undescribed taxon in the mountains of New Britain is likely to belong to this species.
• Turdus bougainvillei Mayr, 1941 of Bougainville, in the northwestern Solomon Islands. Uniformly blackish-brown and montane.
• Turdus kulambangrae Mayr, 1941 of Kolombangara in the west-central Solomon Islands; species includes sladeni Cain and Galbraith, 1955 of Guadalcanal, in the southeastern Solomon Islands. Both are brownish-black and montane.
• Turdus vanikorensis Quoy and Gaimard, 1832 of Utupua and Vanikoro (central and southern Temotu, southeastern Solomon Islands) and Espiritu Santo and Malo (northern Vanuatu); species includes rennellianus Mayr, 1931 of Rennell (southeastern Solomon Islands), mareensis Layard and Tristram, 1879 formerly of Maré (Loyalty Islands) but now extinct; whitneyi Mayr, 1941 of Gaua Island, in southern Banks Islands (northern Vanuatu); placens Mayr, 1941 from Ureparapara and Vanua Lava, in southern Banks Islands (northern Vanuatu); malekulae Mayr, 1941 from Pentecost, Malekula, and Ambrym (central and eastern Vanuatu); becki Mayr, 1941 from Paama, Lopevi, Epi, and Mai (central Vanuatu); and efatensis Mayr, 1941 of Efate and Nguna (central Vanuatu). Form placens was recovered as non-monophyletic and further study is needed on this matter. All are essentially brownish to blackish overall. All extant taxa (that is, all except mareensis) have been reported at a variety of elevations, including lowland forest in some, and none are restricted to montane forest (Dutson 2011).
• Turdus pritzbueri Layard, 1878 from Tanna (southern Vanuatu) and Loyalty Islands (Lifou, where probably extirpated); species includes albifrons (Ramsay, 1879) of Erromango (southern Vanuatu). Both have body blackish and head whitish to creamy or pale grayish, and they occur in hill forest.
• Turdus xanthopus Forster, 1844, formerly of New Caledonia but possibly survives Yandé, northwest of Grande Terre. Dark brown above and paler, more pinkish-brown below, much as for Turdus poliocephalus vinitinctus.
• Turdus poliocephalus Latham, 1801 formerly of Norfolk Island but now extinct; species tentatively includes vinitinctus (Gould, 1855) formerly of Lord Howe Island, also extinct. Quite different in plumage (poliocephalus had blackish body grading into a pale gray head, while vinitinctus was overall dark brown, warmer-toned below) but together form a closely related clade that is biogeographically coherent.
• Turdus samoensis of Savai’i and Upolu, Samoa. All blackish, montane; closely related to Fijian Turdus ruficeps, and similar in plumage (though not as black overall) to subspecies hades of Gau in Fiji. Not rare, and despite being relatively well-studied (compared to most other island-thrushes), samoensis is not known to sing.
• Turdus ruficeps of Kadavu, southwestern Fiji; species includes layardi (Seebohm, 1891) of Viti Levu and associated islands, western Fiji; hades Mayr, 1941 of Gau (Ngau), in central Fiji; vitiensis Layard, 1876 of Vanua Levu in eastern Fiji; and tempesti Layard, 1876 of Taveuni, just off Vanua Levu in eastern Fiji. This is the most polytypic species in terms of plumage pattern and coloration, although they form a single closely related clade in Reeve et al. (2023). Three forms—layardi, vitiensis, and tempesti—are prolific songsters, though their songs appear to differ in form and quality; the other two forms—ruficeps and hades—are very poorly known and recordings are not yet available.

This new treatment of 17 species now aligns with IOC-WBL 14.2, but not older treatments including Mayr and Paynter (1964), Wolters (1980), Inskipp et al. (1996), King (1997), Dickinson and Christidis (2014), or BLI v8.1. All taxa currently recognized as species except three from Melanesia described in the 20^th century—heinrothi, bougainvillei Mayr, 1941 andkulambangrae Mayr, 1941—were originally designated as species. Of those treated here as subspecies, no fewer than 15 were originally described as species, and all but one of those was described in the 19^th century. Between 1931 and 1952, Mayr described 12 taxa, all as subspecies of Turdus poliocephalus. There is no question but that further research is needed, and that this revision is conservative, meaning that further splits are likely. Taxa that seem especially likely (but by no means guaranteed) to be split in future include seebohmi of Borneo, sukahujan of Taliabu, vinitinctus formerly of Lord Howe Island, and multiple taxa in the Fiji archipelago.

English names: For several of the 17 species recognized here, the name of a single island, island group, or region of occurrence was adopted, and for all the qualifier Island- is used, since they form a monophyletic group. For some others, name choice was more challenging. The following English names were adopted:

• Mindoro Island-Thrush for Turdus mindorensis; single-island endemic.
• Luzon Island-Thrush for Turdus thomassoni; single-island endemic.
• Mindanao Island-Thrush for Turdus nigrorum; a suitable English name is not a straightforward matter, as the species as presently defined occurs in the West Visayas, but by far the majority of its range is in Mindanao.
• Christmas Island-Thrush for Turdus erythropleurus; single-island endemic.
• Wallacean Island-Thrush for Turdus schlegelii: occurs in Sulawesi and Timor, in Wallacea.
• Sundaic Island-Thrush for Turdus javanicus: occurs in the Greater Sundas from Sumatra through Borneo.
• Moluccan Island-Thrush for Turdus deningeri: the only member of the complex in the Moluccas, albeit two widely disjunct islands therein.
• Papuan Island-Thrush for Turdus papuensis: restricted to the New Guinea mainland and the associated island of Goodenough.
• Bismarck Island-Thrush for Turdus heinrothi: the only member of the complex in the Bismarck Archipelago.
• Bougainville Island-Thrush for Turdus bougainvillei: the only member of the complex on Bougainville (biogeographically part of the Solomon Islands but politically part of Papua New Guinea).
• Solomons Island-Thrush for Turdus kulambangrae: the only member of the complex on the main islands of the political Solomon Islands (except Rennell in the far southwest and Temotu in the far southeast).
• Vanikoro Island-Thrushfor Turdus vanikorensis: occurs or occurred in the far southern islands of the Solomon Islands, as well as Vanuatu, and formerly the Loyalty Islands, and thus a suitable English name is problematic. The name chosen reflects the specific epithet, and its use for a species with disparate populations is not unprecedented (see Vanikoro Flycatcher Myiagra vanikorensis, which as presently recognized, occurs on Vanikoro and, very widely disjunctly, on Fiji).
• White-headed Island-Thrush for Turdus pritzbueri: the only descriptive name adopted here for the complex but apt and preferred to a geographic one for this south Vanuatu and formerly Loyalty Islands endemic.
• New Caledonian Island-Thrush for Turdus xanthopus: formerly on the mainland of New Caledonia, possibly still exists on Yandé, northwest of Grande Terre.
• Tasman Sea Island-Thrush for Turdus poliocephalus: This extinct species formerly occurred on Norfolk and Lord Howe Island, widely separated in the Tasman Sea.
• Samoan Island-Thrush for Turdus samoensis: the only member of the complex in Samoa.
• Fiji Island-Thrush for Turdus ruficeps: the only species (as presently defined) of the complex in Fiji.

White-rumped Shama Copsychus malabaricus is split into four species

Summary: (1→4 species) Sadly, the four-way split of White-rumped Shama Copsychus malabaricus only leads to one additional endemic species that can still be seen in the wild, the Sri Lankan Shama, as the Larwo Shama of east Java may be extinct in the wild and the Kangean Shama already is.

Details: v2024 taxa 28749–28761, 28764, 28766–28768, text: Polytypic White-rumped Shama Copsychus malabaricus is split into polytypic White-rumped Shama Copsychus malabaricus (with subspecies malabaricus, macrourus, tricolor, suavis, ngae, hypolizus, opisthochrus, melanurus, and mirabilis), polytypic Larwo Shama Copsychus omissus (with subspecies javanus and omissus), monotypic Kangean Shama Copsychus nigricauda, and monotypic Sri Lankan Shama Copsychus leggei.

The White-rumped Shama Copsychus malabaricus (Scopoli, 1786) complex was long considered to comprise 17 species (sensu Mayr and Paynter 1964), until the only whitish-bellied taxon, the Andaman Shama Copsychus albiventris (Blyth, 1858), was treated as a separate species based on plumage and song (Rasmussen and Anderton 2005, Boesman 2016: #314). Trapping for the cagebird trade in parts of Asia has been a particularly great threat for taxa of these complex, especially several of those on small Indonesian islands.

A genomic study (Wu et al. 2022b) found that the current division into Copsychus stricklandii Motley and Dillwyn, 1855 and Copsychus malabaricus (the treatment which has largely stood since Mayr and Paynter 1964) is unsupported, and recommended elevation of three additional taxa to species status: Larwo Shama Copsychus omissus (Hartert, 1902) of central and eastern Java (perhaps extinct in the wild), Kangean Shama Copsychus nigricauda (Vorderman, 1893) (extinct in the wild), and Sri Lankan Shama Copsychus leggei (Whistler, 1941). Rather than the alternative of a broad relumping of all members of this complex, which is not supported by evidence for limited introgression between stricklandii and malabaricus on Borneo (Lim et al. 2017), the four-species AviList 1.0 treatment (including Copsychus malabaricus sensu stricto) is adopted here (Clements et al. 2024), now aligning with IOC-WBL 14.2, though not with older checklists including Mayr and Paynter (1964), Wolters (1980), Sibley and Monroe (1990), Inskipp et al. (1996), King (1997), Dickinson and Christidis (2014), or BLI v8.1. Of the four taxa now considered full species, only malabaricus and nigricauda (and the universally recognized albiventris) were originally described at that level, but four other taxa now considered subspecies of malabaricus were also described as species: tricolor (Vieillot, 1818); suavis Sclater, 1861; macrourus (Gmelin, 1789); and melanura (Salvadori, 1887).

English names: As recommended by Wu et al. (2022b), we retain the name White-rumped Shama for the still-widespread Copsychus malabaricus sensu stricto, and adopt the names Larwo Shama for Copsychus omissus, Kangean Shama Copsychus nigricauda, and Sri Lankan Shama Copsychus leggei.

Maratua Shama Copsychus barbouri is split from White-crowned Shama Copsychus stricklandii

Summary: (1→2 species) The two-way split of White-crowned Shama results in the specific recognition of yet-another species recently extinct in the wild due to the cagebird trade, the Maratua Shama.

Details: v2024 taxa 28762–28763, text: Polytypic White-crowned Shama Copsychus stricklandii is split into monotypic White-crowned Shama Copsychus stricklandii and monotypic Maratua Shama Copsychus barbouri.

Long treated as specifically distinct (even by Mayr and Paynter 1964), the White-crowned Shama Copsychus stricklandii Motley and Dillwyn, 1855 of north Borneo, was nevertheless lumped into the White-rumped Shama Copsychus malabaricus complex by del Hoyo and Collar (2016), from which it does not differ markedly except in crown color. Chua et al. (2015), Lim et al. (2017), and Wu et al. (2022b) made the genomic case for the specific separation of the Maratua Shama Copsychus barbouri (Bangs and Peters, 1927) of the small Indonesian island of Maratua, east of northern Kalimantan, which is now believed to be extinct in the wild, as well as continued recognition of Copsychus stricklandii as a species. This AviList 1.0 treatment (Clements et al. 2024) now aligns with IOC-WBL 14.2, though not the earlier works of Mayr and Paynter (1964), Wolters (1980), Sibley and Monroe (1990), Inskipp et al. (1996), King (1997), Dickinson and Christidis (2014), or BLI v8.1. Both stricklandii and barbouri were originally described at the species level.

English names: The well-entrenched and apt English name White-crowned Shama is retained for the still-common Copsychus stricklandii, and the name Maratua Shama used by Eaton et al. (2021) is likewise adopted for Copsychus barbouri.

Crocker Jungle Flycatcher Cyornis ruficrissa, Philippine Jungle Flycatcher Cyornis ruficauda, and Sulu Jungle Flycatcher Cyornis ocularis are split from Chestnut-tailed Jungle Flycatcher Cyornis ruficauda

Summary: (1→3 species) The Philippines, the Sulu Archipelago, and Borneo each gain an endemic species with the three-way split of Chestnut-tailed Jungle Flycatcher.

Details: v2024 taxa 28918–28926, text: Polytypic Chestnut-tailed Jungle Flycatcher Cyornis ruficauda is split into polytypic Crocker Jungle Flycatcher Cyornis ruficrissa (with subspecies isola and ruficrissa), polytypic Philippine Jungle Flycatcher Cyornis ruficauda (with subspecies samarensis, boholensis, zamboanga, and ruficauda), and monotypic Sulu Jungle Flycatcher Cyornis ocularis.

The Chestnut-tailed (or Rufous-tailed) Jungle Flycatcher Cyornis ruficauda (Sharpe, 1877) as it has long been treated comprises several subspecies in the Philippines, plus two in montane Borneo. These rather similar-looking taxon groups, the ruficauda group of the Philippines (except Sulu Islands) and the ruficrissa (Sharpe, 1887) group of Borneo, are separated geographically by the distinctive Sulu Islands taxon ocularis (Bourns and Worcester, 1894), with its rufous spectacles and drabber brown body plumage. Although sample sizes for recordings of isola (Hachisuka, 1932) and ocularis were very low, a vocal analysis suggests that the groups differ vocally to the extent that they were recommended for treatment as three separate species (Gwee et al. 2019). Clearly analysis of a more comprehensive set of recordings is needed, but the evidence for the three-species treatment is considered to shift the burden of proof (Clements et al. 2024, AviList 1.0). This now aligns with IOC-WBL since v.11.2, but not with earlier works including Mayr and Cottrell (1986), Wolters (1980), Sibley and Monroe (1990), Inskipp et al. (1996), King (1997), Dickinson and Christidis (2014), or BLI v8.1. All three taxa now treated as species were originally designated as such, as was samarensis (Steere, 1890) of the ruficauda group.

English names: The English names suggested in Gwee et al. (2019)—Crocker Jungle Flycatcher for Cyornis ruficrissa, Philippine Jungle Flycatcher for Cyornis ruficauda, and Sulu Jungle Flycatcher for Cyornis ocularis—are adopted here, except that no hyphen is used since there are several species in the genus Cyornis that are either referred to as blue flycatchers, jungle flycatchers, or that lack a qualifier to the group name and there is no suggestion that these are monophyletic groupings within Cyornis.

Sumatran Robin Myiomela sumatrana and Javan Robin Myiomela diana are split from Sunda Robin Myiomela diana

Summary: (1→2 species) A two-way split of Sunda Robin leads to another furtive montane endemic species each for Sumatra and Java.

Details: v2024 taxa 29209–29210, text: Polytypic Sunda Robin Myiomela diana is split into monotypic Sumatran Robin Myiomela sumatrana and monotypic Javan Robin Myiomela diana.

The two similar taxa of Sunda Robin Myiomela diana (Lesson, 1832), treated as conspecific ever since the description of sumatrana (Robinson and Kloss, 1918), were recently proposed as two separate species based mainly on differences in song and tail length (Ng et al. 2020), a treatment followed by IOC-WBL since v.11.1, and now by AviList (1.0) and Clements et al. (2024). This does not however align with older treatments including Mayr and Paynter (1964), Wolters (1980), Sibley and Monroe (1990), Inskipp et al. (1996), King (1997), Dickinson and Christidis (2014), or BLI v8.1. Further vocal sampling, playback experiments, and genetic analyses are needed in this case. Of the two taxa, only diana was originally described as a full species.

English names: The English name Sumatran Robin is adopted for Myiomela sumatrana and Javan Robin for Myiomela diana sensu stricto. Eaton et al. (2021) and IOC-WBL used Sumatran Blue Robin and Javan Blue Robin.

Qilian Bluetail Tarsiger albocoeruleus is split from Red-flanked Bluetail Tarsiger cyanurus

Summary: (1→2 species) A two-way split of Red-flanked Bluetail leads to another endemic species, the Qilian Bluetail in north-central China, though its non-breeding range remains mysterious.

Details: v2024 taxa 29214–29215, text: Polytypic Red-flanked Bluetail Tarsiger cyanurus is split into monotypic Qilian Bluetail Tarsiger albocoeruleus and monotypic Red-flanked Bluetail Tarsiger cyanurus.

Within the widespread Red-flanked Bluetail Tarsiger cyanurus (Pallas, 1773), which breeds from Finland eastward through Japan, an isolated population in north-central China, albocoeruleus Meise, 1937, was recently found to be distinct primarily in song but also to form a monophyletic group with modest genetic distance (Shirihai and Svensson 2018, Wei et al. 2022). Although often synonymized with cyanurus, the case for elevating albocoeruleus to species status rests largely on its radically different song to that of cyanurus, which is relatively consistent throughout its huge range (Wei et al. 2022). This AviList 1.0 treatment (Clements et al. 2024) now aligns with IOC-WBL 14.2, but not with earlier works including Mayr and Paynter (1964), Wolters (1980), Sibley and Monroe (1990), Beaman (1994), Inskipp et al. (1996), King (1997), or Dickinson and Christidis (2014). Of the two species now recognized, only cyanurus was originally described as a species. Further study is needed, especially to elucidate the wintering range of Tarsiger albocoeruleus.

English names: The English name Qilian Bluetail for Tarsiger albocoeruleus, as suggested by Wei et al. (2022), is adopted as it reflects the name of the mountain range that forms the core breeding range. The very familiar and entrenched name Red-flanked Bluetail is retained for Tarsiger cyanurus sensu stricto.

Taiwan Bush-Robin Tarsiger formosanus is split from White-browed Bush-Robin Tarsiger indicus

Summary: (1→2 species) Taiwan, already one of the most endemic-rich islands on earth, gains yet another (the Taiwan Bush-Robin) with the two-way split of White-browed Bush-Robin.

Details: v2024 taxa 29222–29224, text: Polytypic White-browed Bush-Robin Tarsiger indicus is split into polytypic White-browed Bush-Robin Tarsiger indicus (with subspecies indicus and yunnanensis) and monotypic Taiwan Bush-Robin Tarsiger formosanus.

The White-browed Bush-Robin Tarsiger indicus (Vieillot, 1817) has generally been considered to comprise three subspecies (e.g., Mayr and Paynter 1964), two of them very similar and the third, formosanus Hartert, 1910, which is rather widely disjunct, to be fairly distinct in plumage. However, the recent analysis of Wei et al. (2022) shows that formosanus differs congruently from the other two subspecies not only in plumage but also in vocalizations (contra Boesman 216: #327) and mitochondrial DNA, and is better considered a full species. This AviList 1.0 treatment (Clements et al. 2024) is now congruent with that of IOC-WBL 14.2, but not earlier works including Mayr and Paynter (1964), Wolters (1980), Sibley and Monroe (1990), Inskipp et al. (1996), Dickinson and Christidis (2014), or BLI v8.1.

English names: The familiar name White-browed Bush-Robin is retained for the widespread Tarsiger indicus sensu stricto, while the English name suggested by Wei et al. (2022) of Taiwan Bush-Robin for Tarsiger formosanus is here adopted.

Blood-breasted Flowerpecker Dicaeum sanguinolentum is split into four species

Summary: (1→4 species) Indonesian islands are already famous for their high levels of endemism, and with the four-way split of Blood-breasted Flowerpecker, Java and Bali, Flores, Sumba, and Timor each have yet another endemic.

Details: v2024 taxa 29837–29840, text: Polytypic Blood-breasted Flowerpecker Dicaeum sanguinolentum is split into monotypic Javan Flowerpecker Dicaeum sanguinolentum, monotypic Flores Flowerpecker Dicaeum rhodopygiale, monotypic Sumba Flowerpecker Dicaeum wilhelminae, and monotypic Timor Flowerpecker Dicaeum hanieli.

While several of the Dicaeum flowerpeckers in which males have glossy black upperparts and (usually) red breasts have recently been split more finely than in the Peters era, a notable exception is the Blood-breasted Flowerpecker Dicaeum sanguinolentum Temminck, 1829 complex, with its four subspecies distributed from Java east through Timor. Mees (2006) argued that the Sumba form wilhelminae Büttikofer, 1892 should not be united with this group. Later, based on plumage and a small sample of recordings then available (which did not include any for Flores rhodopygiale Rensch, 1928 or Timor hanieli Hellmayr, 1912, Boesman (2016: #335) considered that sanguinolentum and wilhelminae seem to be quite different vocally. This, along with morphological differences, was used by del Hoyo and Collar (2016) as evidence for a three-way split of the complex, with Dicaeum sanguinolentum including subspecies rhodopygiale of Flores, and the other two taxa as monotypic species. That same year, Eaton et al. (2016) adopted a four-way split, with each taxon a monotypic species. A follow-up paper (Rheindt and Eaton 2019) provided further morphological and vocal evidence for this AviList 1.0 treatment, which is followed here (Clements et al. 2024), now aligning with IOC-WBL 14.2, but not earlier checklists including Paynter (1967), Wolters (1979), Sibley and Monroe (1990), Inskipp et al. (1996), or Dickinson and Christidis (2014). All four taxa were originally described as full species, even as late as 1928.

English names: The island-based English names used by Eaton et al. (2016)—Javan Flowerpecker for Dicaeum sanguinolentum, Flores Flowerpecker for Dicaeum rhodopygiale, Sumba Flowerpecker for Dicaeum wilhelminae, and Timor Flowerpecker for Dicaeum hanieli—are apt, helpful, and unambiguous, and are adopted here.

Gray-chinned Sunbird Anthreptes tephrolaemus and Yellow-chinned Sunbird Anthreptes rectirostris are split from Green Sunbird Anthreptes rectirostris

Summary: (1→2 species) The forests of West Africa gain yet another endemic, the Yellow-chinned Sunbird, with its split from the Gray-chinned Sunbird which occurs east of the Dahomey Gap and east to western Kenya.

Details: v2024 taxa 29919–29920, text: Polytypic Green Sunbird Anthreptes rectirostris is split into monotypic Gray-chinned Sunbird Anthreptes tephrolaemus and monotypic Yellow-chinned Sunbird Anthreptes rectirostris.

A three-taxon concept of Anthreptes rectirostris was followed by Paynter (1967), including Banded Sunbird Anthreptes rubritorques Reichenow, 1905 which has however since been generally treated as a full species (Hall and Moreau 1970, Sibley and Monroe 1990, Dickinson and Christidis (2014). The two remaining taxa, tephrolaemus (Jardine and Fraser, 1852) and rectirostris (Shaw, 1812), differ strikingly in male throat color, and do not meet across the Dahomey Gap; they were listed as groups of rectirostris by Sibley and Monroe (1990), and were split by del Hoyo and Collar (2016). They also clearly differ in vocalizations (Dowsett-Lemaire and Dowsett 2014). Further study including genetic analyses are needed but the above differences shift the burden of proof and they are now treated as separate species by AviList 1.0 (Clements et al. 2024), in alignment with BLI v8.1 and IOC-WBL since v.14.2, but not Paynter (1967), Wolters (1979), Sibley and Monroe (1990), or Dickinson and Christidis (2014). Both tephrolaemus and rectirostris were originally described at the species level.

English names: We follow del Hoyo and Collar (2016) in using Gray-chinned Sunbird for Anthreptes tephrolaemus and Yellow-chinned Sunbird for Anthreptes rectirostris. Although their ranges are asymmetrical in size, that of tephrolaemus being of significantly larger extent, confusion would likely ensue with continued use of “Green Sunbird” for tephrolaemus sensu stricto, and the name “Green Sunbird” is not especially helpful in any case, while the names adopted highlight the most obvious plumage difference between males of the two species.

Gorgeous Sunbird Cinnyris melanogastrus is split from Beautiful Sunbird Cinnyris pulchellus

Summary: (1→2 species) The two-way split of Beautiful Sunbird results in a new endemic to East Africa, the Gorgeous Sunbird, while Beautiful Sunbird is now primarily a Sahel zone species.

Details: v2024 taxa 30116–30117, text: Polytypic Beautiful Sunbird Cinnyris pulchellus is split into monotypic Beautiful Sunbird Cinnyris pulchellus and monotypic Gorgeous Sunbird Cinnyris melanogastrus.

The taxa long united as Beautiful Sunbird Cinnyris pulchellus differ in numerous aspects— melanogastrus (Fischer and Reichenow, 1884) and pulchellus (Linnaeus, 1766), especially in belly color, and were split by del Hoyo and Collar (2016), although comparisons of their songs failed to find obvious differences (Boesman 2016: #339). However, recordings of rattled call notes now available do suggest differences. In any case, these taxa seem to be parapatric without evidence of intergradation in central Kenya, and thus the two-species AviList 1.0 treatment is followed here (Clements et al. 2024), congruently with BLI v8.1 and IOC-WBL 14.2, but not Paynter (1967), Wolters (1979), Sibley and Monroe (1990), or Dickinson and Christidis (2014). Both were originally described as full species.

English names: del Hoyo and Collar (2016) used Gorgeous Sunbird for Cinnyris melanogastrus and Beautiful Sunbird for Cinnyris pulchellus, while this is a new split for both IOC-WBL and Clements et al. (2024), both of which have long used Beautiful Sunbird for Cinnyris pulchellus sensu lato. Given the major range size asymmetry between the two, the familiarity of the name Beautiful Sunbird, the fact that it is a direct translation of the Latin pulchellus, and the large number of rather typical-looking sunbirds in Africa, the BLI names are adopted.

Abyssinian Sunbird Cinnyris habessinicus and Arabian Sunbird Cinnyris hellmayri are split from Shining Sunbird Cinnyris habessinicus

Summary: (1→2 species) The Arabian Peninsula now has its own endemic sunbird, the Arabian Sunbird, with the split of Shining Sunbird.

Details: v2024 taxa 30140–30146, text: Polytypic Shining Sunbird Cinnyris habessinicus is split into polytypic Abyssinian Sunbird Cinnyris habessinicus (with subspecies habessinicus, alter, and turkanae) and polytypic Arabian Sunbird Cinnyris hellmayri (with subspecies kinneari and hellmayri).

The Arabian and northeast African subspecies long united as Shining Sunbird Cinnyris habessinicus (Hemprich and Ehrenberg, 1828) were split into Cinnyris habessinicus and Cinnyris hellmayri Neumann, 1904 by del Hoyo and Collar (2016) on the basis of plumage (especially of females) and size (as noted by Shirihai and Svensson 2018), as well as apparent vocal differences (Boesman 2016: #340). Further inspection of recordings now available seems to confirm the vocal differences. The two-species AviList 1.0 treatment adopted here (Clements et al. 2024) is shared with BLI v8.1 and IOC-WBL since v.12.1, but does not align with the older works of Paynter (1967), Wolters (1979), Sibley and Monroe (1990), or Dickinson and Christidis (2014). Of all five taxa recognized by Clements et al. (2023) in the complex, only habessinicus was originally described as a species, hellmayri having been described as a subspecies within habessinicus.

English names: The nameArabian Sunbird for C. hellmayri is adopted as it seems non-controversial, helpful, and distinctive, and has already become widely familiar. However, del Hoyo and Collar (2016) continued to use Shining Sunbird for C. habessinicus sensu stricto, although the range size of Cinnyris hellmayri is not much smaller than that of Cinnyris habessinicus sensu stricto, and adult males of many sunbirds have equally shiny plumage. The English name Abyssinian Sunbird is therefore adopted for Cinnyris habessinicus sensu stricto, as it is apt, geographically informative, and mirrors the specific epithet.

Siberian Pipit Anthus japonicus is split from American Pipit Anthus rubescens

Summary: (1→2 species) With the two-way split of American Pipit, vagrant pipit species possibilities increase dramatically. For example Siberian Pipits, which can be confidently identified in non-breeding plumage, do turn up on the Pacific coast of North America and have several records from western Europe, where American Pipit also occurs semi-regularly as a vagrant. American Pipit is to be watched for in East Asia.

Details: v2024 taxa 31604–31608, text: Polytypic American Pipit Anthus rubescens is split into monotypic Siberian Pipit Anthus japonicus and polytypic American Pipit Anthus rubescens (with subspecies pacificus, rubescens, and alticola).

The taxonomy of the Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta complex has undergone dramatic changes over the years since Mayr and Greenway (1960) recognized nine subspecies, and there have been suggestions for years that further splitting is needed (e.g., Boonsong and Round 1991, Zink et al. 1995, Hendricks and Verbeek 2020). Although very similar in breeding plumage, japonicus Temminck and Schlegel, 1847 and the rubescens Todd, 1935 complex (including alticola Todd, 1935) differ markedly in non-breeding plumage and usually in soft part colors; there are differences in some call notes that are on par with species-level status among this group of pipits, and the genetic distance between japonicus and rubescens, though modest, is greater than in some other species pairs in this group (Lee and Birch 2002, Doniol-Valcroze et al. 2023). A proposal to NACC (Rasmussen et al. 2024) passed, as it did when voted on by WGAC. This AviList 1.0 treatment (Clements et al. 2024) now matches the taxonomy in Chesser et al. 2024 and IOC-WBL 14.2, but not most earlier treatments including Mayr and Greenway (1960), Wolters (1979), Sibley and Monroe (1990), Beaman (1994), Inskipp et al. (1996), King (1997), BLI v8.1, and Dickinson and Christidis (2014). Of the four taxa recognized as subspecies in Clements v2023, only rubescens was originally described as specifically distinct. The potential contact zone between the rubescens group and japonicus remains unstudied, however, and further study is needed.

English names: The highly familiar name American Pipit, which was never widely adopted in the Old World (e.g., Beaman 1994, Inskipp et al. 1996, King 1997, Shirihai and Svensson 2018), is retained for Anthus rubescens sensu stricto, while the name Siberian Pipit (used in several sources, including Lee and Birch 2002) is adopted for Anthus japonicus in preference to the name Japanese Pipit, given that it has a broad breeding range in eastern Russia. This aligns with NACC (Chesser et al. 2024). Since Buff-bellied Pipit has been used in western Europe (for primarily rubescens) and in South Asia (for primarily japonicus), it seems best to retire that name as it clearly has been used for the sensu lato concept, not for either taxon sensu stricto.

Stripe-breasted Seedeater Crithagra striatipectus is split from Reichard’s Seedeater Crithagra reichardi

Summary: (1→2 species) The split of Stripe-breasted Seedeater of northeast Africa from Reichard’s Seedeater of southeast Africa should cause little confusion, as these species occur in very different habitats and are already known by these names in some field guides.

Details: v2024 taxa 32177–32178, text: Polytypic Reichard’s Seedeater Crithagra reichardi is split into monotypic Stripe-breasted Seedeater Crithagra striatipectus and monotypic Reichard’s Seedeater Crithagra reichardi.

Several taxa of mostly brown, streaky seedeaters in Africa have been the subject of greatly differing treatments, for example Paynter (1968) recognized 10 subspecies in Serinus gularis, including striatipectus (Sharpe, 1891) of northeast African and reichardi (Reichenow, 1882) of southeast Africa. This assemblage has long since been reduced, but striatipectus has still been retained by most authors within Reichard’s Seedeater Crithagra reichardi. Some, however, have treated them as separate species, as did del Hoyo and Collar (2016) and Stevenson and Fanshawe (2020), on the basis of differences in plumage (several minor differences), habitat (rocky bush vs. miombo woodland), and apparent differences in behavior and song (Stevenson and Fanshawe 2002, Turner 2014). Given a similar level of divergence between several other taxa in this group, the two-species AviList 1.0 approach is adopted (Clements et al. 2024), and now aligns with Dickinson and Christidis (2014), BLI v8.1, and IOC-WBL since v11.2, but not earlier treatments including Paynter (1968), Wolters (1979), and Sibley and Monroe (1990). Both taxa were originally described at the species level.

English names: The names used by del Hoyo and Collar (2016) and Stevenson and Fanshawe (2020), Stripe-breasted Seedeater for Crithagra striatipectus and Reichard’s Seedeater for Crithagra reichardi, are adopted here.

Indonesian Serin Chrysocorythus estherae and Mindanao Serin Chrysocorythus mindanensis are split from Mountain Serin Chrysocorythus estherae

Summary: (1→2 species) With the two-way split of Mountain Serin Chrysocorythus estherae, the high mountains of Mindanao gain another endemic, as do those of Indonesia, although the Mindanao Serinseems rare and especially challenging to locate.

Details: v2024 taxa 32267–32272, text: Polytypic Mountain Serin Chrysocorythus estherae is split into polytypic Indonesian Serin Chrysocorythus estherae (with subspecies vanderbilti, estherae, orientalis, and renatae) and monotypic Mindanao Serin Chrysocorythus mindanensis.

The Mountain Serin Chrysocorythus estherae (Finsch, 1902) complex is unusual in that all members were described in the 20^th Century, despite being isolated high on several mountains including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and Mindanao. The Indonesian taxa are all rather similar in plumage, while the highly disjunct mindanensis (Ripley and Rabor, 1961) differs strongly in several aspects of plumage. All are relatively little-known and mindanensis is especially poorly represented in museum collections, but the known plumage differences between mindanensis and the other taxa far exceed those typical of species of serin and other cardueline finch species, and mindanensis was treated as a separate group by Sibley and Monroe (1990). The split of mindanensis from the othersimposed by del Hoyo and Collar (2016) is adopted by AviList 1.0 (Clements et al. 2024), in alignment with Wolters (1979), which however was published before description of the Sulawesi form renatae (Schuchmann and Wolters, 1982). Other sources adopting the split include BLI v8.1, Allen (2020), IOC-WBL since v. 11.2, and Eaton et al. (2021), but not Paynter (1968), Inskipp et al. (1996), or King (1997). Further study including vocal sampling and genetic analyses would likely be useful in better understanding species limits in the complex. Both taxa now considered species were originally named as such, while the others were named at the subspecific level.

English names: The English names used by Eaton et al. (2021)—Indonesian Serin for Chrysocorythus estherae sensu stricto and Mindanao Serin for Chrysocorythus mindanensis—are adopted here, as the continued use of Mountain Serin for Chrysocorythus estherae sensu stricto might cause confusion and is much less informative than Indonesian Serin.

Gray-crowned Goldfinch Carduelis caniceps is split from European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis

Summary: (1→2 species) Central Asia now has its own species of goldfinch, the Gray-crowned Goldfinch, which has a less contrasting head pattern but still has a red face.

Details: v2024 taxa 32273–32288, text: Polytypic European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis is split into polytypic European Goldfinch (with subspecies britannica, carduelis, parva, tschusii, balcanica, niediecki, brevirostris, colchica, volgensis, and frigoris) and polytypic Gray-crowned Goldfinch Carduelis caniceps (with subspecies paropanisi, subulata, caniceps, and ultima).

Two groups of taxa (as in Sibley and Monroe 1990) with very different head patterns have long been recognized in the European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis (Linnaeus, 1758) and caniceps Vigors, 1831 groups. However, taxa of these groups are known to hybridize in central Siberia through Gorgan, northeastern Iran (Johansen 1944, Vaurie 1949). This contact zone requires further elucidation, but it may be narrow and certainly is so relative to the extensive distributions of pure forms of both groups. Molecular divergence between them appears to be shallow (Zamora et al. 2006), but the songs of the nominate and caniceps groups are quite different (Boesman 2016: #356). The two groups also differ in wing pattern and bill size. Based on the above considerations, del Hoyo and Collar (2016) adopted a two-species treatment. This is considered to be more consistent with species than subspecies status by AviList 1.0 (Clements et al. 2024), and now aligns with BLI v8.1 and IOC-WBL 14.2, but not most sources including Paynter (1968), Wolters (1979), Sibley and Monroe (1990), Inskipp et al. (1996), or Dickinson and Christidis (2014). Both of the taxa now considered species were originally described at that level, as was subulata (Gloger, 1833), now a subspecies of Carduelis caniceps.

English names: The extremely entrenched English name European Goldfinch is retailed for Carduelis carduelis sensu stricto, and while del Hoyo and Collar (2016) used Eastern Goldfinch for Carduelis caniceps, the widely used and descriptive Gray-crowned Goldfinch is adopted here for Carduelis caniceps.

Marañon Sparrow Arremon nigriceps is split from Black-capped Sparrow Arremon abeillei

Summary: (1→2 species) Already one of the world’s top endemic hotspots, the Marañón Valley region of southeastern Ecuador and northern Peru now has yet another avian endemic, the Marañon Sparrow.

Details: v2024 taxa 32279–32280, text: Polytypic Black-capped Sparrow Arremon abeillei is split into monotypic Black-capped Sparrow Arremon abeillei and monotypic Marañon Sparrow Arremon nigriceps.

While strongly resembling each other, the two taxa long united as Black-capped Sparrow Arremon abeillei Lesson, 1844 differ conspicuously in supercilium pattern and mantle color, with nigriceps Taczanowski, 1880 having a white supercilium in front of the eye lacking in abeillei, and a green mantle vs gray in abeillei, and they do not seem to show any approach to each other in plumage characteristics. They were recognized as two groups in Sibley and Monroe (1990), flagged by Ridgely and Greenfield (2001) as possibly meriting separate species treatment, and shown to have some differences in their rather variable songs (Boesman 2016: #362). del Hoyo and Collar (2016) adopted a two-species treatment, and this has been further bolstered by their considerable genomic DNA divergence (Buainain et al 2022). This AviList 1.0 treatment is followed here (Clements et al. 2024), as by BLI v8.1, and IOC-WBL 14.2. However, this does not yet align with SACC, which has not yet taken up the case, or with Paynter (1970), Wolters (1980), Sibley and Monroe (1990), or Dickinson and Christidis (2014). Both nigriceps and abeillei were first described as species.

English names: As by del Hoyo and Collar (2016), the familiar English name Black-capped Sparrow is retained for Arremon abeillei sensu stricto, given its larger range, and the apt and helpful name Marañon Sparrow is adopted for Arremon nigriceps.

Choco Brushfinch Atlapetes crassus and Golden-crowned Brushfinch Atlapetes tricolor are split from Tricolored Brushfinch Atlapetes tricolor

Summary: (1→2 species) The Chocó region of western Colombia and northwestern Ecuador is a major avian hotspot, and now gains another endemic bird, the Choco Brushfinch.

Details: v2024 taxa 33193–33194, text: Polytypic Tricolored Brushfinch Atlapetes tricolor is split into monotypic Choco Brushfinch Atlapetes crassus and monotypic Golden-crowned Brushfinch Atlapetes tricolor.

The two forms long united as Tricolored Brushfinch Atlapetes tricolor (Taczanowski, 1875), while fairly similar in overall plumage, differ in numerous ways (Garcia-Moreno and Fjeldså 1999, Ridgely and Tudor 2009) including plumage and bill size, vocalizations (Sánchez-González et al. 2015, Boesman 2016: #365), genetics (Klicka et al. 2014; Sánchez-González et al. 2015), and elevational distribution. A two-species treatment was adopted by del Hoyo and Collar (2016), who split crassus Bangs, 1908 of the Chocó region from tricolor of the Peruvian Andes. In addition, differential response was found in limited playback trials (Freeman and Montgomery 2017). This AviList 1.0 treatment, adopted here (Clements et al. 2024), now agrees with IOC-WBL since v.1.0, and BLI v8.1, but not with older sources including Paynter (1970), Wolters (1980), Sibley and Monroe (1990), or Dickinson and Christidis (2014). A proposal to SACC (https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCprop754.htm) that would include elevating crassus to species status is under consideration and the case of crassus has received strong support thus far. Both taxa were originally described as full species.

English names: del Hoyo and Collar (2016) retained the name Tricolored Brushfinch for Atlapetes tricolor sensu stricto, but the two daughter species have similar range sizes, and the name “Tricolored” is not particularly apt for either. Hence, we tentatively use the more accurate Golden-crowned Brushfinch for Atlapetes tricolor sensu stricto, while retaining the well-entrenched and useful name Choco Brushfinch for Atlapetes crassus.

Northern Slaty Brushfinch Atlapetes schistaceus and Peruvian Slaty Brushfinch Atlapetes taczanowskii are split from Slaty Brushfinch Atlapetes schistaceus

Summary: (1→2 species) The Andes of central Peru gain yet another endemic species, the Peruvian Slaty Brushfinch.

Details: v2024 taxa 33195–33200, text: Polytypic Slaty Brushfinch Atlapetes schistaceus is split into polytypic Northern Slaty Brushfinch Atlapetes schistaceus (with subspecies schistaceus, fumidus, castaneifrons, and tamae) and monotypic Peruvian Slaty Brushfinch Atlapetes taczanowskii.

Despite their similarity in overall appearance, the two groups (e.g., in Sibley and Monroe 1990) long treated as conspecific as Slaty Brushfinch Atlapetes schistaceus (Boissonneau, 1840) have recently been found to likely not be sister taxa and to differ strongly in vocalizations (Sánchez-González et al 2015). del Hoyo and Collar (2016) considered them to comprise two separate species, the polytypic schistaceus sensu stricto of the Andes from western Venezuela southwestward through southern Ecuador, and taczanowskii (Sclater and Salvin, 1875) of the central Peruvian Andes, and this AviList 1.0 treatment, which appears supported by the available evidence, is followed here (Clements et al. 2024). This agrees with the treatment in BLI v8.1, and IOC-WBL 14.2, but not that of earlier works including Paynter (1970), Wolters (1980), Sibley and Monroe (1990), and Dickinson and Christidis (2014). Both taxa now considered full species, but not those treated as subspecies, were initially described at the species level.

English names: del Hoyo and Collar (2016) retained the name widely familiar name Slaty Brushfinch for Atlapetes schistaceus sensu stricto, and adopted the eponym Taczanowski’s Brushfinch for Atlapetes taczanowskii. Although the range of Atlapetes schistaceus sensu stricto is much larger than that of Atlapetes taczanowskii, wehave opted instead to tentatively use the regional qualifiers Northern Slaty Brushfinch and PeruvianSlaty Brushfinch, respectively, given that this retains the familiar names while contrasting, adding useful geographic information to them, and highlighting a Peruvian endemic.

New/Resurrected Species

Timor Nightjar Caprimulgus ritae is recognized as a new species

Summary: (0→1 species) The small, vocally distinctive nightjar of Timor, Rote, and Wetar in the eastern Lesser Sundas is now described as a new species.

Details: v2024 taxon 3618, text: Recognize Timor Nightjar Caprimulgus ritae as a new species.

Since at least 2009, it has been apparent that the nightjar on Timor and Wetar of the “Large-tailed Nightjar Caprimulgus macrurus” Horsfield, 1821 complex is vocally distinct (Trainor et al. 2009, Eaton et al. 2016). An integrative taxonomic analysis has now demonstrated that it is morphologically and genetically distinct as well from its closest relative, the relatively recently described Caprimulgus meesi Sangster and Rozendaal, 2004 (King et al. 2024). Thus, a new species was described, Timor Nightjar Caprimulgus ritae King et al., 2024, and is accepted as such by AviList 1.0 (as enacted by Clements et al. 2024).

English name: The English name proposed by the describers is appropriate and already familiar, with its use in Eaton et al. (2016), and hence adopted here.

Ascension Night Heron Nycticorax olsoni is added as an extinct species

Summary: (0→1 species) The Ascension Night Heron, extinct for perhaps 500 years, is recognized.

Details: v2024 taxon 7532, text: Add extinct species Ascension Night Heron Nycticorax olsoni.

The extinct Ascension Night Heron Nycticorax olsoni Bourne et al., 2003 was first discovered by Olson (1977), for whom it was later named. Known from subfossil remains of several individuals, it was unusually small, and its proportions suggest it had reduced flight capability. It may have become extinct in the past 500 years due to introduced predators (Bourne et al. 2003), and thus is included by Clements et al. (2024).

English name: The name Ascension Night Heron is adopted here, as apt and relatively familiar.

White-tailed Tityra Tityra leucura is considered a valid species

Summary: (0→1 species) A lost Brazilian species, whose validity was doubted by most authorities, the continued existence of the White-tailed Tityra has now been photo-documented.

Details: v2024 taxon 15805, text: Recognize White-tailed Tityra Tityra leucura as a full species.

Tityra (Erator) leucura Pelzeln, 1868 was described from a single specimen from Rondônia, Brazil. Although recognized by Peters (1979), most sources have not recognized it as a valid taxon, but rather an aberrant specimen or possible hybrid (for details see SACC Proposal #634, https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCprop634.htm, which did not pass). A 2006 sight record (Whittaker 2008), though highly suggestive, was not considered conclusive evidence. Tityra leucura was however considered a species by del Hoyo and Collar (2016), and this was accepted by AviList 1.0. Now, photos and video taken in Amazonas, Brazil in 2022 by Bradley Davis of an individual matching the description of leucura are available (https://ebird.org/checklist/S177995115). The attribution of the species to the genus Tityra Vieillot, 1816 rather than to Pachycephala Vigors, 1825 is in question. In addition, the slight possibility of its representing a hybrid between a tityra and becard remains. This issue is likely to be reconsidered soon by SACC.

English name: The English name used by del Hoyo and Collar (2016) and others is appropriate and familiar, and is adopted here, although the generic placement of the taxon is subject to reevaluation.

Lumps

Moluccan Swiftlet Aerodramus infuscatus now subsumes Sulawesi Swiftlet Aerodramus sororum, Halmahera Swiftlet Aerodramus infuscatus, and Seram Swiftlet Aerodramus ceramensis

Summary: (3→1 species) The Moluccan Swiftlet now includes populations from Sulawesi and most of the main islands of the Moluccas.

Details: v2024 taxa 3931–3934, text: Monotypic Sulawesi Swiftlet Aerodramus sororum, monotypic Halmahera Swiftlet Aerodramus infuscatus, and monotypic Seram Swiftlet Aerodramus ceramensis are lumped into polytypic Moluccan Swiftlet Aerodramus infuscatus (with subspecies sororum, infuscatus, and ceramensis).

The Sulawesi Swiftlet Aerodramus sororum (Stresemann, 1931), Halmahera Swiftlet Aerodramus infuscatus (Salvadori, 1880), and Seram Swiftlet Aerodramus ceramensis (van Oort, 1911) were split as species partly on the basis of Rheindt and Hutchinson (2007). However, del Hoyo and Collar (2014) and Dickinson and Remsen (2013) considered them all conspecific, and in-progress work indicates that they are all very shallowly diverged genetically (F. Rheindt, in litt.). Hence, all three are treated as a single species, the Moluccan Swiftlet Aerodramus infuscatus by AviList 1.0 (as enacted by Clements et al. 2024) and IOC 14.2.

English name: Reversion to the long-familiar name Moluccan Swiftlet is appropriate and adopted here.

White-nest Swiftlet Aerodramus fuciphagus now subsumes Germain’s Swiftlet Aerodramus germani

Summary: (2→1 species) Germain’s Swiftlet of the Malaysian Peninsula area is lumped with the widespread mostly Indonesian White-nest Swiftlet.

Details: v2024 taxon 4004–4014, text: Polytypic Germain’s Swiftlet Aerodramus germani (with subspecies germani and amechanus) is lumped with polytypic White-nest Swiftlet Aerodramus fuciphagus (with subspecies inexpectatus, vestitus, perplexus, fuciphagus, dammermani, and micans).

Germain’s Swiftlet Aerodramus germani (Oustalet, 1876) of the Malaysian Peninsula region is non-monophyletic with respect to White-nest Swiftlet Aerodramus fuciphagus (Thunberg, 1812) (Earl of Cranbrook et al. 2013; Cibois et al. 2018), and its morphological differences are minor and inconstant. This led to the treatment of germani by del Hoyo and Collar (2014) and Dickinson and Remsen (2013) as conspecific with fuciphagus, the treatment adopted by AviList 1.0 (and enacted by Clements et al. 2024) and IOC-WBL 14.2.

English name: The name White-nest Swiftlet is tentatively retained for the combined species, although the familiar and apt Edible-nest Swiftlet may be adopted in future.

Red-crowned Parakeet Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae subsumes extinct Macquarie Parakeet Cyanoramphus erythrotis

Summary: (2→1 species) The extinct Macquarie Parakeet is now considered a subspecies of New Zealand’s Red-crowned Parakeet.

Details: v2024 taxon 12338–12342, text: Monotypic Macquarie Parakeet Cyanoramphus erythrotis is lumped into polytypic Red-crowned Parakeet Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae, as polytypic Red-crowned Parakeet Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae (with subspecies cyanurus, novaezelandiae, chathamensis, and erythrotis).

Recognition of Macquarie Parakeet Cyanoramphus erythrotis (Wagler, 1832) as a species in Clements et al. (2023) followed the treatment then of IOC-WBL, but is not the treatment adopted by AviList 1.0. In this treatment, erythrotis is once again considered a subspecies of Red-crowned Parakeet Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae (Sparrman, 1787), aligning with Peters (1937), Sibley and Monroe (1990), IOC-WBL 14.2, and others.

English name: With the addition of the extinct Macquarie Parakeet as subspecies erythrotis, there is no need to modify the English name of the expanded Red-crowned Parakeet.

Papuan Pitta Erythropitta macklotii subsumes North Papuan Pitta Erythropitta habenichti

Summary: (2→1 species) The North Papuan Pitta is now lumped into Papuan Pitta.

Details: v2024 taxon 13202–13208, text: Monotypic North Papuan Pitta Erythropitta habenichti is lumped with polytypic South Papuan Pitta Erythropitta macklotii, as Papuan Pitta Erythropitta macklotii (with subspecies habenichti, macklotii, digglesi, loriae, and finschii).

An early decision made by AviList to split North Papuan Pitta Erythropitta habenichti (Finsch, 1912) as a species distinct from South Papuan Pitta Erythropitta macklotii (Temminck, 1834) and enacted in Clements et al. (2023) was reversed, based on presentation of further evidence against the species-level distinctiveness of habenichti (T. Pratt, in litt.). The two taxon groups are thus united as Erythropitta macklotii.

English name: The English name Papuan Pitta is adopted here for the inclusive species, as it is apt and familiar.

Mouse-colored Tyrannulet Nesotriccus murinus subsumes Northern Mouse-colored Tyrannulet Nesotriccus incomtus

Summary: (2→1 species) The Northern and Southern mouse-colored tyrannulets of Central and South America are now considered conspecific, as Mouse-colored Tyrannulet.

Details: v2024 taxon 16458–16464: (2→1 species) Polytypic Northern Mouse-colored Tyrannulet Nesotriccus incomtus is lumped with Southern Mouse-colored Tyrannulet Nesotriccus murinus, as Mouse-colored Tyrannulet Nesotriccus murinus (with subspecies eremonomus, incomtus, wagae, and murinus).

Although two species may well be involved, pending further study and resolution of areas of uncertainty, the Northern Mouse-colored Tyrannulet Nesotriccus incomtus (Cabanis and Heine, 1860) is lumped with the Southern Mouse-colored Tyrannulet Nesotriccus murinus (Spix, 1825), as the Mouse-colored Tyrannulet Nesotriccus murinus. This tentative treatment by AviList 1.0 (as enacted by Clements et al. 2024) aligns with SACC (https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCprop956.htm).

English name: The English name Mouse-colored Tyrannulet aligns with that used by SACC (https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCprop956.htm).

Oriental Cuckooshrike Coracina javensis* subsumes five subspecies formerly under Large Cuckooshrike Coracina macei

Summary: (2→1 species)

Details: v2024 taxon 18523–18530: (2→1 species, accounted for under Splits) Polytypic Large Cuckooshrike Coracina macei is split into polytypic Indian Cuckooshrike Coracina macei (with subspecies macei and layardi), monotypic Malaysian Cuckooshrike Coracina larutensis, and, with lump of monotypic Javan Cuckooshrike Coracina javensis, polytypic Oriental Cuckooshrike Coracina javensis (with subspecies javensis, nipalensis, andamana, siamensis, larvivora, and rexpineti). (See also Splits).

Treatment of several taxa formerly recognized as Large Cuckooshrike Coracina macei (Lesson, 1831) within Coracina javensis (Horsfield, 1821) instead aligns with Wells (2007), Dickinson and Christidis (2014), del Hoyo and Collar (2016), and Eaton et al. (2021). After the two splits [Malayan Cuckooshrike Coracina larutensis (Sharpe, 1887) and Indian Cuckooshrike Coracina macei including layardi (Blyth, 1866); see the Splits section for further details] from this complex, the taxa included therein are: javensis, nipalensis (Hodgson, 1836), andamana (Neumann, 1915), siamensis (Baker, 1918), larvivora (Hartert, 1910), and, more tentatively, rexpineti (Swinhoe, 1863). This treatment is based on morphological, vocal, and genetic similarity (Le Pepke et al. 2019), and is adopted by AviList 1.0 (as enacted in Clements et al. 2024 and IOC-WBL 14.2). *Formerly Javan Cuckooshrike.

English name: With the merger of several continental subspecies into Coracina javensis, the name Javan Cuckooshrike is no longer helpful or appropriate. Retention of “Large Cuckooshrike” for this massively reconstituted species would be confusing; hence the adoption of the novel Oriental Cuckooshrike (see discussion under Splits).

Golden Whistler Pachycephala pectoralis subsumes Western Whistler Pachycephala fuliginosa

Summary: (2→1 species) The Western Whistler of western Australia is now considered conspecific with the Golden Whistler of eastern Australia.

Details: v2024 taxon 19263–19272: Polytypic Western Whistler Pachycephala fuliginosa (with subspecies occidentalis and fuliginosa)is lumped with polytypic Golden Whistler Pachycephala pectoralis (with subspecies pectoralis, youngi, glaucura, contempta, xanthoprocta, and now also occidentalis and fuliginosa).

The Western Whistler Pachycephala fuliginosa Vigors and Horsfield, 1827 of western Australia was split as a species from the Golden Whistler Pachycephala pectoralis (Latham, 1801) of eastern Australia and the Tasman Sea islands, based largely on mtDNA analyses (Jønsson et al. 2014, Joseph et al. 2020). However, a more recent genomic analysis (Brady et al.2022) shows that the two taxa are very closely related, and morphological differences between them are slight. Hence, current evidence does not favor the continued recognition of fuliginosa as specifically distinct, and thus they are considered conspecific by AviList 1.0 (and as enacted by Clements et al. 2024).

English name: With the merger of Western Whistler back intoGolden Whistler, the very familiar name for the latter is conserved.

Chestnut-bellied Monarch Monarcha castaneiventris subsumes Bougainville Monarch Monarcha erythrostictus

Summary: (2→1 species) The Bougainville Monarch is no longer considered a separate species from the Chestnut-bellied Monarch of the Solomon Islands.

Details: v2024 taxon 20642–20648: Monotypic Bougainville Monarch Monarcha erythrostictus is lumped with polytypic Chestnut-bellied Monarch Monarcha castaneiventris (with subspecies castaneiventris, obscurior, megarhynchus, ugiensis, and erythrostictus).

The Bougainville Monarch Monarcha erythrostictus (Sharpe, 1888) has long been treated as a distinct species by Clements et al. and IOC-WBL, but not by Dickinson and Christidis (2014) nor by del Hoyo and Collar (2016). Although its facial pattern is distinctive, it is shallowly diverged genetically (Uy et al. 2009, Andersen et al. 2015) and is not known to be vocally distinctive, though the available recordings are too few and variable to be certain (Boesman 2016: #195). Further study is needed, but present data do not support species status for erythrostictus (AviList 1.0, enacted by Clements et al. 2024).

English name: The well-established English name Chestnut-bellied Monarch is maintained for the enlarged species, as in Dickinson and Christidis (2014).

Asian Tit Parus cinereus subsumes Japanese Tit Parus minor

Summary: (2→1 species) The Japanese Tit of eastern Asia and Cinereous Tit of southern and southeastern Asia are lumped as a single species, Asian Tit.

Details: v2024 taxon 21969–21992: Polytypic Japanese Tit Parus minor (with subspecies minor, dageletensis, tibetanus, subtibetanus, nubicolus, commixtus, amamiensis, okinawae, and nigriloris) is lumped with polytypic Cinereous Tit Parus cinereus, thus, now known as Asian Tit Parus cinereus (with subspecies caschmirensis, ziaratensis, decolorans, planorum, vauriei, stupae, mahrattarum, templorum, hainanus, ambiguus, cinereus, sarawacensis, minor, dageletensis, tibetanus, subtibetanus, nubicolus, commixtus, amamiensis, okinawae, and nigriloris).

The Great Tit Parus major Linnaeus, 1758 complex has been considered three groups of a single Palearctic and Oriental region species (Sibley and Monroe 1990) and then three species: Parus major of the Western Palearctic; Cinereous Tit Parus cinereus Vieillot, 1818 of southern and southeastern Asia; and Japanese Tit Parus minor Temminck and Schlegel, 1848 of eastern Asia by most authorities. However, numerous recent studies have demonstrated that the present three-species treatment is not well-justified, based on genetics (Zhao et al. 2012, Song et al. 2020), and BLI v8.1 recognizes just a single species. However, the complex seems better considered two species, Western Palearctic Parus major and Asian Parus cinereus, with a narrow hybrid zone (Kvist and Rytkönen 2006) and that differ in vocalizations (Päckert et al. 2005), and this two-species treatment is adopted by AviList 1.0 (and enacted by Clements et al. 2024). This is a novel treatment except as already adopted by IOC-WBL 14.2. Alternative treatments of four or more species in the complex are not well-supported by present data, but further study is needed.

English name: With the merger of Japanese and Cinereous tits, neither existing English name is suitable, the former because it only refers to a tiny portion of the range, and the latter because it does not well-describe several taxa, in addition to potentially causing confusion due to its use for the restricted species. Thus, while recognizing that there are several species of tits in Asia, the name Asian Tit for the enlarged Parus cinereus is adopted because it adequately describes the region of occurrence, and none of the other existing English names seem appropriate.

Somali Lark Mirafra somalica* subsumes Ash’s Lark Mirafra ashi

Summary: (2→1 species) The poorly known Ash’s Lark of coastal Somalia is now considered a subspecies of Somali Lark.

Details: v2024 taxon 22351–22355: Monotypic Ash’s Lark Mirafra ashi is lumped with polytypic Somali Long-billed Lark Mirafra somalica (with subspecies somalica and rochei), as Somali Lark Mirafra somalica. (*See below for move to Corypha.)

The little-known Ash’s Lark Mirafra ashi Colston, 1982 of coastal Somalia has been shown to be a close sister to Somali Lark Mirafra somalica (Witherby, 1903) (Alström et al. 2024). In addition, the morphological differences between ashi and somalica are congruent with subspecies status (Alström et al. 2024); in the absence of information on vocalizations of ashi, the evidence favors conspecificity, as adopted by AviList 1.0 (and enacted by Clements et al. 2024).

English name: The name Somali Lark is retained for the combined species, as it is geographically apt and unlikely to cause much confusion, given that Ash’s Lark is almost unknown in life.

Yellow-bellied Eremomela Eremomela icteropygialis subsumes Salvadori’s Eremomela Eremomela salvadorii

Summary: (2→1 species) Salvadori’s Eremomela of west-central Africa is now part of the widely distributed African species, Yellow-bellied Eremomela.

Details: v2024 taxon, text 22708–22719: Monotypic Salvadori’s Eremomela Eremomela salvadorii is lumped with polytypic Yellow-bellied Eremomela Eremomela icteropygialis (with subspecies alexanderi, griseoflava, abdominalis, polioxantha, salvadorii, puellula, icteropygialis, helenorae, perimacha, and saturatior).

The Salvadori’s Eremomela Eremomela salvadorii Reichenow, 1891 of Angola to central Africa was described as and long treated (e.g., Sibley and Monroe 1990) as a full species, as recommended by Hall (1960), who considered that specimens showed it to be sympatric with the widespread Yellow-bellied Eremomela Eremomela icteropygialis (de Lafresnaye, 1839). However, some other authorities (White 1961, Traylor 1962, Dowsett and Dowsett-Lemaire 1993) considered the series variable and evidently intergradient with subspecies polioxantha Sharpe, 1883, and thus a rationale for their non-conspecificity remains to be convincingly demonstrated. Hence, AviList 1.0 (as enacted by Clements et al. 2024) treats salvadorii as conspecific with icteropygialis, aligning with Mayr and Cottrell (1986), BLI v8.1, and IOC-WBL 14.2.

English name: The merger of the relatively narrow-range Salvadori’s Eremomela is not considered to require any change to the familiar, appropriate name of the very widespread Yellow-bellied Eremomela.

Eastern Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica subsumes Striated Swallow Cecropis striolata

Summary: (2→1 species) The confusing Striated Swallow of eastern and southeastern Asia through Indonesia is now part of Eastern Red-rumped Swallow.

Details: v2024 taxon 24009–24019: (2→1 species, accounted for under Splits) Polytypic Striated Swallow Cecropis striolata (with subspecies mayri, stanfordi, vernayi, and striolata) is lumped with polytypic Eastern Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica (with subspecies nipalensis, erythropygia, daurica, and japonica). (See also Splits.)

The long-standing two-species treatment of the Red-rumped/Striated Swallow Cecropis daurica (Laxmann, 1769) and Cecropis striolata (Schlegel, 1844) may have its origins in a claim by Baker (1926) of sympatric breeding between the two in Meghalaya, northeastern India. This was disputed by Ticehurst (1927) and has never been corroborated (Dickinson and Dekker 2001, Rasmussen and Anderton 2005). In genetic analyses (Sheldon et al. 2005, Brown 2019), striolata is embedded within the clade of Asian daurica, which is not surprising as morphological distinctions of some forms treated within daurica and others in striolata are minimal. Dickinson and Christidis (2014) noted that species limits were probably incorrect, and as there seems to be no compelling evidence for their specific separation, striolata and its subspecies is lumped by AviList 1.0 (as enacted by Clements et al. 2024) within daurica, aligning with BLI v8.1 (on this aspect) and IOC-WBL 14.2, but not earlier checklists including Mayr and Greenway (1960) and Sibley and Monroe (1990).

English name: See under Splits for discussion of English names of the Cecropis daurica complex.

Rufous-fronted Babbler Cyanoderma rufifrons subsumes Buff-chested Babbler Cyanoderma ambiguum

Summary: (2→1 species) The Buff-chested Babbler is now part of Rufous-fronted Babbler.

Details: v2024 taxon 25718–25729: Buff-chested Babbler Cyanoderma ambiguum (with subspecies ambiguum, planicola, adjunctum, and insuspectum) is lumped with Rufous-fronted Babbler Cyanoderma rufifrons (with subspecies pallescens, rufifrons, obscurum, poliogaster, and sarawacense).

The Buff-chested Babbler Cyanoderma ambiguum (Harington, 1915) has been treated as a distinct species by most authorities (e.g., Mayr and Paynter 1964, Sibley and Monroe 1990) since Deignan (1945) considered that it occurs in sympatry with Rufous-fronted Babbler Cyanoderma rufifrons (Hume, 1873) in northern Thailand. However, this was considered unproven by Harrison (1987), and even now remains to be corroborated. No vocal differences are apparent, though that is also true for some other species in this genus. Deep genetic divergences (Moyle et al. 2012, Price et al. 2014, Hosner et al. 2015, Cai et al. 2019) do suggest multiple species in the complex, but present analyses are insufficiently comprehensive to enable sorting this out. Given the lack of resolution, AviList 1.0 (as enacted by Clements et al. 2024) follows the treatment of BLI v8.1, IOC-WBL 14.2, and regional field guides (e.g., Rasmussen and Anderton 2005) in treating ambiguum as conspecific with rufifrons.

English names: Although both Buff-chested and Rufous-fronted babblers are relatively widespread, the name Rufous-fronted Babbler has generally been retained by authors treating them as conspecific. Given an absence of known, apt alternatives, or obvious new possibilities, we follow suit here.

Redpoll Acanthis flammea subsumes Lesser Redpoll Acanthis cabaret and Hoary Redpoll Acanthis hornemanni

Summary: (3→1 species) The Lesser Redpoll, Hoary Redpoll, and Common Redpoll are now united in a single species, the circumpolar Redpoll.

Details: v2024 taxon 32205–32215: Monotypic Lesser Redpoll Acanthis cabaret and polytypic Hoary Redpoll Acanthis hornemanni (with subspecies exilipes and hornemanni) are lumped with polytypic Common Redpoll Acanthis flammea, and the English name is changed to Redpoll, as Redpoll Acanthis flammea (with subspecies flammea, rostrata, islandica, cabaret, exilipes, and hornemanni).

The redpolls Acanthis Borkhausen, 1797 have been extremely extensively studied, not surprisingly given their very wide Holarctic distribution, and yet their species limits remain controversial (Knox et al. 2024). A near-lack of genetic differentiation coupled with high levels of gene flow (Marthinsen et al. 2008; Mason and Taylor 2013, Funk et al. 2021), intermediate phenotypes, and the anecdotal nature of claims for assortative mating has finally led to the decision by NACC (https://americanornithology.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/2024-B-final.pdf) and AviList 1.0 (as enacted by Clements et al. 2024) to lump all redpolls into a single species, the Redpoll Acanthis flammea (Linnaeus, 1758). This aligns with Wolters (1980), BLI v8.1, Chesser et al. (2024), and IOC-WBL 14.2, but not most earlier sources (e.g., Paynter 1968, Sibley and Monroe 1990).

English name: With their treatment as a single species, there is no need for a modifier for the name Redpoll, as adopted by Chesser et al. (2024) and here.

Generic Changes

Subsume Musophaga in Tauraco

Summary: (2→1 genera) Despite their greatly differing plumage, the two purple turacos are embedded within the main lineage of green turacos.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa2951–2952, text: Move monotypic Violet Turaco Musophaga violacea and monotypic Ross’s Turaco Musophaga rossae into Tauraco, as monotypic Violet Turaco Tauraco violaceus and monotypic Ross’s Turaco Tauraco rossae.

Veron and Winney (2000) and Perktaşet al. (2020) found Musophaga Isert, 1788 embedded within a clade of green turacos in Tauraco Kluk, 1779. This led to the AviList 1.0 move enacted by Clements et al. (2024) of Violet Turaco Musophaga violacea Isert, 1788 and Ross’s Turaco Musophaga rossae Gould, 1852 into Tauraco, as monotypic Violet Turaco Tauraco violaceus and monotypic Ross’s Turaco Tauraco rossae. This aligns with IOC-WBL but not BLI v8.1; Wolters (1976) recognized Musophaga, but also six subgenera within the broad Tauraco comprising all the green-bodied species.

Some sources (including the Richmond Index card, https://www.zoonomen.net/cit/RI/Genera/T/t00146a.jpg) give 1799 as the date for Tauraco, in which case Musophaga would have priority over Tauraco, but Peters (1940) gives 1779 as the date, which is correct. Zoonomen https://www.zoonomen.net/avtax/frame.html indicates that 1779 is believed to be the correct date, though there is a 1797 reprint of the original, and notes that Richmond gives the date as 1799, for unclear reasons. D. Lepage however confirmed that the correct date is 1779 (D. Lepage, in litt.).

Resurrect Chalcites for seven Australasian Chrysococcyx species

Summary: (1→2 genera) The small Australasian bronze-cuckoos are now in a separate genus from the small dimorphic Afro-Asian species, with their glossy males and drab females.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa3260–3291, text: Move Long-billed Cuckoo Chrysococcyx megarhynchus, Horsfield’s Bronze-Cuckoo Chrysococcyx basalis, Black-eared Cuckoo Chrysococcyx osculans, Rufous-throated Bronze-Cuckoo Chrysococcyx ruficollis, Shining Bronze-Cuckoo Chrysococcyx lucidus, White-eared Bronze-Cuckoo Chrysococcyx meyerii, and Pied Bronze-Cuckoo Chrysococcyx crassirostris into Chalcites, as Long-billed Cuckoo Chalcites megarhynchus, Horsfield’s Bronze-Cuckoo Chalcites basalis, Black-eared Cuckoo Chalcites osculans, Rufous-throated Bronze-Cuckoo Chalcites ruficollis, Shining Bronze-Cuckoo Chalcites lucidus, White-eared Bronze-Cuckoo Chalcites meyerii, and Pied Bronze-Cuckoo Chalcites crassirostris. [For individual species in “text for website 2024”, “Move from Chrysococcyx into Chalcites.”]

Although they form sister clades that are only moderately diverged (Sorenson and Payne 2005), the bronze-cuckoos of Australasia (from the Malayan Peninsula eastward) and the glossy cuckoos of Africa and continental Asia (through the Philippines and Greater Sundas) differ in numerous ways. These include several osteological (Hughes 2000) and plumage characteristics, including the much greater degree of sexual dichromatism in the Afro-Asian core Chrysococcyx Boie, 1826 with type species Chrysococcyx cupreus Shaw, 1792 as compared to the Australasian Chalcites Lesson, 1830, with type species Chalcites lucidus Lesson, 1830. Thus, AviList 1.0 (as enacted by Clements et al. 2024) resurrects the genus Chalcites, with eight species, now aligning with Wolters (1976) except for the inclusion here of megarhynchus Gray, 1858 (formerly in Rhamphomantis Salvadori, 1878 before its transfer to Chrysococcyx); this also now aligns with IOC-WBL 14.2. Peters (1940), and Morony et al. (1975) on the other hand, included the two Asian species maculatus Gmelin, 1788 and xanthorhynchus Horsfield, 1821 in Chalcites, which is now known not to reflect their true relationships. Of the species now in Chalcites, only Chalcites osculans Gould, 1847 was originally placed in that genus, even though five of the others were described after 1830.

Resurrect Heteroscenes for Cacomantis pallidus

Summary: (1→2 genera) Australia’s Pallid Cuckoo is again placed in its own genus.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 3292, text: Move monotypic Pallid Cuckoo Cacomantis pallidus into Heteroscenes, asPallid Cuckoo Heteroscenes pallidus.

The Pallid Cuckoo of Australia (Columba pallida of Latham, 1801) strongly resembles members of the genus Cuculus Linnaeus, 1758. In fact, it was placed in the past in Cuculus, including by Clements through the 6^th edition (Clements 2009), but it is not closely related to Cuculus, instead being part of the Cacomantis Müller, 1843assemblage (with type species Cacomantis merulinus), though not a core member (Sorenson and Payne 2005). According to this mtDNA phylogeny, pallidus is quite closely related to the dissimilar-looking White-crowned Cuckoo Caliechthrus (Cacomantis) leucolophus of New Guinea. Given their striking differences in plumage and behavior from the core Cacomantis clade, both Heteroscenes Cabanis and Heine, 1862, with type species Heteroscenes pallidus, and Caliechthrus are considered by AviList 1.0 (as by Clements et al. 2024) to be separate genera, aligning with Wolters (1976), and now IOC-WBL 14.2.

Resurrect Caliechthrus for Cacomantis leucolophus

Summary: (1→2 genera) The striking White-crowned Cuckoo of New Guinea is restored to its own monotypic genus.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 3293, text: Move monotypic White-crowned Cuckoo Cacomantis leucolophus into Caliechthrus, as Caliechthrus leucolophus.

Highly autapomorphic in plumage, the White-crowned Cuckoo Caliechthrus (Cacomantis) leucolophus (Müller, 1840) has usually been placed in its own monotypic genus Caliechthrus Cabanis and Heine, 1863 (e.g., by Peters 1940, Wolters 1976, Sibley and Monroe (1990), BLI from v.0.0, and Clements through 6^th ed. of 2009), but it was found to be closely related to the Pallid Cuckoo Heteroscenes pallidus (Sorenson and Payne 2005), in the larger Cacomantis clade, and thus transferred to the latter genus including in IOC-WBL from v.1.0. However, the multiple biological differences between these taxa now lead to their AviList 1.0 treatment (enacted in Clements et al. 2024) as three separate genera, now aligning with IOC-WBL 14.2, among others.

Recognize Tepuiornis for Setopagis whitelyi

Summary: (1→2 genera) The tepui region centered in southeastern Venezuela now has its own endemic genus of nightjar in the newly named Tepuiornis.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 3483, text: Move monotypic Roraiman Nightjar from Setopagis into Tepuiornis as Tepuiornis whitelyi.

Like many nightjars, the external appearance of the Roraiman Nightjar gives little clue in its appearance as to its generic relationships. It was placed by several sources since around 2014 in Setopagis Ridgway, 1912 as Setopagis whitelyi (Salvin, 1885), but previously was placed by Wolters (1976) in Nyctipolus Ridgway, 1912. Molecular analyses (Han et al. 2010, Sigurðsson and Cracraft 2014) have shown that the present generic treatment of whitelyi and several other New World nightjar taxa is untenable, and that whitelyi lacks close relatives. As no available genus existed for it, the new genus Tepuiornis Costa et al., 2023 was erected for the monotypic whitelyi (Costa et al. 2023), and its recognition as Tepuiornis whitelyi by AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024) now aligns with the decision of SACC (Proposal 1005, https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCprop1005.htm).

Recognize Quechuavis for Systellura decussata

Summary: (1→2 genera) The Tschudi’s Nightjar of arid coastal Peru and northern Chile was known to have a unique voice, and recently changed from subspecies to monotypic genus status.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 3491, text: Move monotypic Tschudi’s Nightjar from Systellura into Quechuavis as Quechuavis decussata.

Treated as a subspecies of Band-winged Nightjar Systellura longirostris (Bonaparte, 1825) by Clements and others until around 2014, recognition of the very distinctive voice of taxon decussata (Tschudi, 1844) mandated its specific recognition (e.g., del Hoyo and Collar 2014). Although only rather subtly different from morphologically from longirostris (del Hoyo and Collar 2014), decussata proves to be yet another New World nightjar taxon without close relatives (Han et al. 2010, Sigurðsson and Cracraft 2014) or an available generic name, and hence the new genus Quechuavis van Els et al., 2023 was erected for it (Costa et al. 2023). Treatment as Quechuavis decussata by AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024) now aligns with the consensus in SACC (Proposal 1005, https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCprop1005.htm).

Resurrect Antiurus for Hydropsalis maculicaudus

Summary: (1→2 genera) Though widespread from Mexico through Brazil, the Spot-tailed Nightjar is now not only a monotypic species but it also is placed in its own monotypic genus, Antiurus.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 3495, text: Move monotypic Spot-tailed Nightjar from Hydropsalis into Antiurus as Antiurus maculicaudus.

The rather distinctive-looking (for a nightjar) Spot-tailed Nightjar has been placed in the genus Hydropsalis Wagler, 1832, with type species Hydropsalis torquata (Gmelin, 1789), as Hydropsalis maculicaudus (Lawrence, 1862) by most authorities since around 2014, but genetic data (Han et al. 2010, Sigurðsson and Cracraft 2014) do not strongly support this treatment, unless a very disparate, broad assemblage is included within Hydropsalis. Rather than adopt such a treatment that flies in the face of morphological and biological data, a narrower treatment that includes the resurrection of the genus Antiurus Ridgway, 1912, for which maculicaudus is the type species is that accepted by AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024), and was passed by SACC (Proposal 1005, https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCprop1005.htm) ; this also aligns with Wolters (1976).

Move Amazilia boucardi into Chrysuronia

Summary: [1→1 (different) genus] Costa Rica’s endemic Mangrove Hummingbird is now known to be the northernmost member of the genus Chrysuronia, most of which are exclusively South American.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 5094, text: Move monotypic Mangrove Hummingbird Amazilia boucardi into Chrysuronia, as Mangrove Hummingbird Chrysuronia boucardi.

The Amazilia Lesson, 1843 hummingbirds, as recognized by Peters (1945), contained a multitude of species (including a few not now recognized as valid taxa) in three subgenera. One of those Peters and Wolters (1976) treated in subgenus Polyerata Heine, 1863 was the Mangrove Hummingbird Amazilia boucardi (Mulsant, 1877), endemic to the mangroves of Costa Rica’s west coast. While most members of the erstwhile genus Amazilia have recently been dismantled based on molecular analyses (McGuire et al. 2014, Stiles et al 2017), boucardi was one of the few unsampled species. Taxon boucardi has now been shown by Albertazzi et al. (2024) to be embedded in the genus Chrysuronia Bonaparte, 1850, with type Chrysuronia oenone, as recognized in several recent sources including NACC (Kratter, 2024, Proposal 2024-C-7), and this AviList 1.0 treatment (enacted in Clements et al. 2024) now aligns with Chesser et al. (2024), IOC-WBL 14.2. This leaves only four species in Amazilia, one of them the unsampled Honduran Emerald Amazilia luciae (Lesson and Garnot, 1827).

Resurrect Crecopsis for Crex egregia

Summary: (1→2 genera) The African Crake, now known not to be closely related to the Corn Crake, gets its monotypic genus back.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 5268, text: Change generic name of African Crake from Crex egregia to Crecopsis egregia.

Although the monotypic genus Crecopsis Sharpe, 1893 was erected for African Crake Crecopsis egregia (Peters, 1854), and this generic placement was adopted by Peters (1934), Morony et al. (1975), Wolters (1975), and Sibley and Monroe (1990), among others, it has been placed in the genus Crex Bechstein, 1803 by many authorities. Taxon egregia has now been shown not to be closely related to Crex crex (Linnaeus, 1758), the type species of Crex, based on genomic data (Garcia-R et al. 2020; Kirchman et al. 2021). Nor is it particularly closely related to any other taxon, being a distant sister to Rougetius rougetii (Guérin-Méneville, 1843) of Ethiopia, which differs strikingly in bill length, color, and pattern. Hence, AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024) resurrects the genus Crecopsis for Crecopsis egregia, aligning with IOC-WBL since v.10.2.

Resurrect Aphanocrex for Atlantisia podarces

Summary: [1→1 (different) genus] The giant extinct rail of St. Helena is returned to its own genus.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 5270, text: Move monotypic St. Helena Rail Atlantisia podarces into Aphanocrex, as monotypic St. Helena Rail Aphanocrex podarces.

Subfossil remains from St. Helena of a large rallid were originally described (Wetmore 1963) as the monotypic genus Aphanocrex Wetmore, 1963, with type species Aphanocrex podarces Wetmore, 1963. Olson (1973) found more material and showed that Aphanocrex podarces is similar osteologically to Atlantisia Lowe, 1923, though very much larger, and he united it therein. Although not sampled genetically, such great size disparity would be atypical of rallid genera as presently defined, and thus podarces is now restored to Aphanocrex by AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024), aligning with Wolters (1975) and IOC-WBL, but not with Dickinson and Remsen (2013) or BLI v8.1.

Resurrect Aenigmatolimnas for Amaurornis marginalis

Summary: (1→2 genera) Africa’s poorly known Striped Crake was long placed with the Australasian bush-hens, but is better treated in the monotypic genus described for it earlier.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 5507, text: Change generic name of Striped Crake from Amaurornis marginalis to Aenigmatolimnas marginalis.

The elusive but widely distributed Striped Crake Amaurornis marginalis(Hartlaub, 1857) of Africa was long placed in its own genus, Aenigmatolimnas Peters, 1932, before being placed either in Porzana (as in Clements through the 3rd ed.) or Amaurornis Reichenbach, 1853, of which the type species Amaurornis olivacea. IOC-WBL has however retained marginalis in Aenigmatolimnas since v1.0. This species is very different morphologically and in voice from core Australasian Amaurornis species, to which it is a rather deeply diverged sister (Garcia-R et al. 2020, Kirchman et al. 2021). The return of marginalis to Aenigmatolimnas by AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024) also follows biogeographic expectations, and now aligns with Peters (1932), Morony et al. (1975), Wolters (1975), and Sibley and Monroe (1993).

Move Anurolimnas fasciatus into Rufirallus

Summary: [1→1 (different) genus] The Black-banded Crake of western Amazonia has confused taxonomists for years, but its true affinities seem to be with Rufirallus.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 5562, text: Move monotypic Black-banded Crake Anurolimnas fasciatus into Rufirallus, as monotypic Black-banded Crake Rufirallus fasciatus.

Understanding the relationships of the smaller rallids has been vexed, and especially so in the case of the Black-banded Crake. Described as Porzana fasciata by Sclater and Salvin, 1868, it has been placed in various genera such as Laterallus (IOC-WBL), Porzana (BLI v8.1), and Anurolimnas (Wolters 1975, Clements since the 4^th ed.). To add to the confusion, fasciata was also known by the replacement name of Laterallus hauxwelli Sclater and Salvin, 1869 (e.g., in Peters 1932), though this was shown to be unnecessary and the specific epithet had reverted to fasciatus by the time of Morony et al. (1975) and Wolters (1975). Genetic data (Depino et al. 2023) support its treatment within Rufirallus Bonaparte, 1856 (for which the type species is Rufirallus viridis) as Rufirallus fasciatus. This AviList 1.0 treatment (enacted in Clements et al. 2024) does not yet align with other checklists.

Move Laterallus leucopyrrhus and Laterallus xenopterus into Rufirallus

Summary: [1→1 (different) genus] The Red-and-white Crake and Rufous-faced Crake of south-central South America were found not to be closely related to several other small similar-looking crakes, but to belong to Rufirallus instead.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 5563–5564, text: Move monotypic Red-and-white Crake Laterallus leucopyrrhus and monotypic Rufous-faced Crake Laterallus xenopterus into Rufirallus, as monotypic Red-and-white Crake Rufirallus leucopyrrhus and monotypic Rufous-faced Crake Rufirallus xenopterus.

Unlike the previous species, both Laterallus leucopyrrhus (Vieillot, 1819) and Laterallus xenopterus Conover, 1934 have almost always been treated within the genus Laterallus Gray, 1855 since the description. Now, however, genetic data (Depino et al. 2023) support their inclusion instead within Rufirallus Bonaparte, 1856. This is a novel AviList 1.0 treatment (enacted in Clements et al. 2024).

Move Rufirallus castaneiceps into Anurolimnas

Summary: [1→1 (different) genus] The Chestnut-headed Crake of western Amazonia is shown to lack close relatives, thus meriting its own genus.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 5565–5567, text: Move polytypic Chestnut-headed Crake Rufirallus castaneiceps into Anurolimnas, as polytypic Chestnut-headed Crake Anurolimnas castaneiceps.

The Chestnut-headed Crake Rufirallus castaneiceps (Sclater and Salvin, 1869) was long treated by most authorities in Anurolimnas Sharpe, 1893 (Peters 1934), although it has been in Rufirallus in the IOC-WBL since v.10.2. Genetic data (Kirchman et al. 2021, Depino et al 2023) confirm that it should be in Anurolimnas, of which it is the type (and now sole) species. This AviList 1.0 treatment (enacted in Clements et al. 2024) aligns with Wolters (1975), Sibley and Monroe (1993),andSACC.

Subsume Atlantisia in Laterallus

Summary: (2→1 genera) Isolated in the South Atlantic, Inaccessible Island’s tiny endemic rail has been shown to belong to Laterallus, rendering the generic name Atlantisia a synonym.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 5572, text: Move monotypic Inaccessible Island Rail Atlantisia rogersi into Laterallus, as monotypic Inaccessible Island Rail Laterallus rogersi.

When the Inaccessible Island Rail was first described, the genus Atlantisia Lowe, 1923 was erected for it, and it has generally been treated as Atlantisia rogersi Lowe, 1923 ever since (e.g., Peters 1934, Wolters 1975, Sibley and Monroe 1990), although BLI since v.5 and IOC-WBL since v10.2 have placed it in Laterallus Gray, 1855 based on genetic data (Stervander et al. 2019; Garcia-R et al. 2020). This AviList 1.0 treatment (enacted in Clements et al. 2024) now aligns with IOC-WBL and BLI v8.1.

Move Coturnicops notatus into Laterallus

Summary: [1→1 (different) genus] Although it sounds much like Yellow Rail, the Speckled Rail isn’t closely related, and moves with several other small rails into Laterallus.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 5573, text: Move monotypic Speckled Rail Coturnicops notatus into Laterallus, as monotypic Speckled Rail Laterallus notatus.

The little-known Speckled Rail of South America was originally described as Zapornia notata Gould, 1841; Zapornia Leach, 1816 has as its type species Zapornia parva. At least since Peters (1934), notatus has since been placed mostly in Coturnicops Gray, 1855. However, recently notatus has been found to belong to the Laterallus clade instead of either Zapornia or Coturnicops (Depino et al. 2023), and this treatment now aligns with AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024), but not with earlier checklists including Wolters (1975), who retain it in Coturnicops.

Subsume Hapalocrex in Laterallus

Summary: (2→1 genera) The Yellow-breasted Crake of the Neotropics joins other small Neotropical crakes in Laterallus, although further study may alter this.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 5574–5579, text: Move polytypic Yellow-breasted Crake Hapalocrex flaviventer into Laterallus, as polytypic Yellow-breasted Crake Laterallus flaviventer.

While earlier classifications typically placed the Yellow-breasted Crake Hapalocrex flaviventer (Boddaert, 1783) in Porzana Vieillot, 1816, more recent treatments have been about equally divided as to whether it is placed in Laterallus Gray, 1855 (with Laterallus melanophaius as type species) or returned to its own monospecific genus, Hapalocrex Ridgway, 1920 (with flaviventer as type species). Currently published analyses do not allow resolution of this matter, but the AviList 1.0 decision (enacted in Clements et al. 2024) to move flaviventer to Laterallus aligns with IOC-WBL and preserves monophyly (Stervander et al. 2019, Kirchman et al. 2021). This conflicts however with Wolters (1975), and NACC since the 57^th Supplement, who recognize Hapalocrex. SACC retains flaviventer in Porzana, following the failure of a 2014 proposal https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCprop652.htm to move it to Laterallus.

Move Porzana spiloptera into Laterallus

Summary: (1→2 genera) The Dot-winged Crake joins several other small Neotropical crakes in the genus Laterallus, abandoning Porzana to three larger species of the Holarctic and Australia.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 5602, text: Move monotypic Dot-winged Crake Porzana spiloptera into Laterallus, as Dot-winged Crake Laterallus spilopterus. Note gender.

The Dot-winged Crake was described in Porzana Vieillot, 1816, as Porzana spiloptera Durnford, 1877, and was treated by most major checklists as such for many years. Only recently, with its inclusion in genetic analyses (Stervander et al. 2019), has it become clear that its true relationships lie with Laterallus Gray, 1855, and thus it is now treated by AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024) as Laterallus spilopterus, aligning with BLI v.2020 on, IOC-WBL from 10.2 on, and AviList 1.0. Wolters (1975) placed spilopterus in Creciscus Cabanis. 1857, along with the black rail group.

Resurrect Thinornis for seven species of Charadrius

Summary: (1→2 genera) Genetic data inform us of an ancient divergence within Old World Charadrius plovers, now separated as genus Thinornis.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 5780–5793, text: Move Hooded Plover Charadrius cucullatus, Black-fronted Dotterel Charadrius melanops, Shore Plover Charadrius novaeseelandiae, Forbes’s Plover Charadrius forbesi, Three-banded Plover Charadrius tricollaris, Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius, and Long-billed Plover Charadrius placidus into Thinornis, as Hooded Plover Thinornis cucullatus, Black-fronted Dotterel Thinornis melanops, Shore Plover Thinornis novaeseelandiae, Forbes’s Plover Thinornis forbesi, Three-banded Plover Thinornis tricollaris, Little Ringed Plover Thinornis dubius, and Long-billed Plover Thinornis placidus.

Deep genetic divergence (Barth et al. 2013; Černý and Natale 2022) leads to the transfer by AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024) of seven species from Charadrius Linnaeus, 1758 to Thinornis Gray, 1845. This does not align with previous treatments, although Wolters (1975) had enacted several generic differences for this assemblage. None of the seven species involved were originally placed in Thinornis, with type species Thinornis novaeseelandiae (Gmelin, 1789), which is not surprising, considering that Thinornis Gray, 1845 was described later than most, and the taxa involved do not form an obvious genus group to the exclusion of other plovers based on plumage or other aspects of morphology. Wolters (1975) recognized Thinornis with two of the Australasian species, cucullatus and novaeseelandiae, while also recognizing Elseyornis Mathews, 1913 for the Australian melanops; Afroxyechus Mathews, 1913 for the two African species forbesi and tricollaris, and two different subgenera of Charadrius for the Palearctic dubius and placidus.

Subsume Stiltia in Glareola

Summary: (2→1 genera) The elegant, tall Australian Pratincole is just that, another member of the genus Glareola.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 6278, text: Change generic name of Australian Pratincole from Stiltia isabella to Glareola isabella and remove parentheses from authority.

Although more courser-like in appearance than other pratincoles, and the erection of the genus Stiltia Gray, 1855 for which it is the type species, nevertheless the Australian Pratincole Stiltia isabella (Vieillot, 1816) is embedded genetically within the pratincole clade (Černý and Natale 2022). Thus, despite its autapomorphies apparently in adaptation to aridlands, it is now treated by AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024) as Glareola isabella, as it was originally described. Wolters (1975) retained isabella in Stiltia.

Subsume Ixobrychus in Botaurus

Summary: (2→1 genera) Despite appearances, the small bitterns are intermingled genetically with large ones in the genus Botaurus.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 7477–7503, text: Move Ixobrychus species into Botaurus, as Stripe-backed Bittern Botaurus involucris, Least Bittern Botaurus exilis, Black Bittern Botaurus flavicollis, Cinnamon Bittern Botaurus cinnamomeus, Schrenck’s Bittern Botaurus eurhythmus, Dwarf Bittern Botaurus sturmii, Little Bittern Botaurus minutus, Yellow Bittern Botaurus sinensis, Black-backed Bittern Botaurus dubius, and New Zealand Bittern Botaurus novaezelandiae.

A new nearly comprehensive phylogeny of Ardeidae (Hruska et al. 2023) indicates paraphyly of the bitterns, such that the most stable alternative going forward would seem to be moving all species of Ixobrychus Billberg, 1828 into Botaurus Stephens, 1819 (Chesser proposal 2024-A-2 to NACC, https://americanornithology.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/2024-A.pdf), as adopted by AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024). Wolters (1976), however, recognized six subgenera within Ixobrychus alone.

Subsume Bubulcus in Ardea

Summary: (2→1 genera) Cattle-egrets now join most other large typical egrets and herons in the genus Ardea, based on genetics.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 7631–7632, text: Move Western Cattle-Egret Bubulcus ibis and Eastern Cattle-Egret Bubulcus coromandus into Ardea, as Western Cattle-Egret Ardea ibis and Eastern Cattle-Egret Ardea coromanda.

Despite the fairly distinctive appearance and habits of the cattle-egrets, there is no genetic support for the genus Bubulcus Bonaparte, 1855, which is embedded within Ardea Linnaeus, 1758 (Hruska et al. 2023; Chesser proposal 2024-A-2 to NACC, https://americanornithology.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/2024-A.pdf), adopted by AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024). Wolters (1976) retained the genus Bubulcus, and interposed it between Pilherodias and Ardeola.

Subsume Dryotriorchis in Circaetus

Summary: (2→1 genera) The Congo Serpent-Eagle becomes the seventh species of snake-eagle in the genus Circaetus, all but one of which are exclusively African.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 7893–7895, text: Move polytypic Congo Serpent-Eagle Dryotriorchis spectabilis (with subspecies spectabilis and batesi) into Circaetus and change English group name to Snake-Eagle, as polytypic Congo Snake-Eagle Circaetus spectabilis.

The snake-eagle genus Circaetus Vieillot, 1816 is paraphyletic unless Dryotriorchis Shelley, 1874is included, based on the near-complete accipitriform phylogeny of Catanach et al. (2024). Thus, Dryotriorchis spectabilis (Schlegel, 1863) becomes Circaetus spectabilis in AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024). However, given the divergence levels between subclades within Circaetus sensu stricto, a three-genus solution might be favored were a genus available for the two banded snake-eagles Circaetus cinerascens and Circus fasciolatus, which form a basal clade within the genus as now defined. Wolters (1976) retained the genus Dryotriorchis.

Resurrect Lophospiza for Accipiter trivirgatus and Accipiter griseiceps

Summary: (1→2 genera) Despite their size, the widespread Crested Goshawk and its apparent close relative the Sulawesi Goshawk are not goshawks at all genetically, and now occupy the genus Lophospiza.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 7990–8002, text: Move polytypic Crested Goshawk Accipiter trivirgatus into Lophospiza, as Crested Goshawk Lophospiza trivirgata (with subspecies indica, peninsulae, layardi, formosae, trivirgata, niasensis, javanica, microsticta, palawana, extima, and castroi). Move monotypic Sulawesi Goshawk Accipiter griseiceps into Lophospiza, as monotypic Sulawesi Goshawk Lophospiza griseiceps. Note gender.

The former genus Accipiter Brisson, 1760, with type species Accipiter nisus, has been found to be highly non-monophyletic (Lerner and Mindell 2005, Mindell et al. 2018). However, until very recently no phylogeny has been comprehensive enough to enable confident reallocation, but Catanach et al. (2024) now provides a near-complete phylogeny of the Accipitridae. The clade until now in Accipiter that is most distant to core Accipiter and whose inclusion creates the greatest problems with non-monophyly is that formed by the Crested Goshawk Accipiter trivirgatus (Temminck, 1824), with (presumably) the unsampled Sulawesi Goshawk Accipiter griseiceps (Kaup, 1848). This presumptive clade of two Asian species is now moved by AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024) from Accipiter to Lophospiza Kaup, 1844, aligning with Wolters (1976), who split only this genus off Accipiter, while recognizing a great many subgenera in the genus.

Resurrect Aerospiza for Accipiter tachiro and castanilius

Summary: (1→2 genera) Two mid-sized African accipiter species known for their distinctive flight displays are now placed in the resurrected genus Aerospiza.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 8023–8035, text: Move polytypic African Goshawk Accipiter tachiro into Aerospiza, as polytypic African Goshawk Aerospiza tachiro (with subspecies macroscelides, toussenelii, canescens, lopezi, unduliventer, croizati, sparsimfasciata, pembaensis, and tachiro). Move monotypic Chestnut-flanked Goshawk Accipiter castanilius into Aerospiza, as monotypic Chestnut-flanked Goshawk Aerospiza castanilius.

The former genus Accipiter Brisson, 1760, with type species Accipiter nisus, has been found to be highly non-monophyletic (Lerner and Mindell 2005, Mindell et al. 2018). However, until very recently no phylogeny has been comprehensive enough to enable confident reallocation, but Catanach et al. (2024) now provides a near-complete phylogeny of the Accipitridae.

Once Lophospiza Kaup, 1844 is removed, the next clade in toward the remaining assemblage of Accipiter is formed by two African species, African Goshawk Accipiter tachiro (Daudin, 1800) and Chestnut-flanked Goshawk Accipiter castanilius (Bonaparte, 1853). These are moved by AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024) into Aerospiza Roberts, 1922, which has as its type species Aerospiza tachiro; Wolters (1976) considered Aerospiza a subgenus of Accipiter.

Resurrect Tachyspiza for 27 speciesof Accipiter

Summary: (1→2 genera) 27 species of Old World medium- to small-sized accipiters are now united in Tachyspiza.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 8036–8144, text: Move polytypic Red-thighed Sparrowhawk Accipiter erythropus into Tachyspiza, as Tachyspiza erythropus. Move monotypic Little Sparrowhawk Accipiter minullus into Tachyspiza, as Tachyspiza minulla. Move polytypic Besra Accipiter virgatus into Tachyspiza, as Tachyspiza virgata (with subspecies affinis, fuscipectus, besra, abdulalii, confusa, quagga, rufotibialis, vanbemmeli, virgata, and quinquefasciata). Move monotypic Small Sparrowhawk Accipiter nanus into Tachyspiza, as Tachyspiza nanus. Move polytypic Rufous-necked Sparrowhawk Accipiter erythrauchen into Tachyspiza, as Tachyspiza erythrauchen. Move polytypic Collared Sparrowhawk Accipiter cirrocephalus into Tachyspiza, as Tachyspiza cirrocephala (including subspecies papuana and cirrocephala). Move monotypic New Britain Sparrowhawk Accipiter brachyurus into Tachyspiza, as Tachyspiza brachyura. Move polytypic Vinous-breasted Sparrowhawk Accipiter rhodogaster into Tachyspiza, as Tachyspiza rhodogaster. Move polytypic Japanese Sparrowhawk Accipiter gularis into Tachyspiza, as Tachyspiza gularis (with subspecies sibirica, gularis, and iwasakii). Move polytypic Shikra Accipiter badius into Tachyspiza, as Tachyspiza badia (with subspecies sphenura, polyzonoides, cenchroides, dussumieri, badia, and poliopsis). Move polytypic Nicobar Sparrowhawk Accipiter butleri into Tachyspiza, as Tachyspiza butleri (with subspecies butleri and obsoleta). Move monotypic Levant Sparrowhawk Accipiter brevipes into Tachyspiza, as Tachyspiza brevipes. Move monotypic Chinese Sparrowhawk Accipiter soloensis into Tachyspiza, as Tachyspiza soloensis. Move monotypic Imitator Sparrowhawk Accipiter imitator into Tachyspiza, as Tachyspiza imitator. Move polytypic Frances’s Sparrowhawk Accipiter francesiae into Tachyspiza, as Tachyspiza francesiae (with subspecies francesiae, griveaudi, pusilla, and bruta). Move monotypic Spot-tailed Goshawk Accipiter trinotatus into Tachyspiza, as Accipiter trinotata. Move monotypic Gray-headed Goshawk Accipiter poliocephalus into Tachyspiza, as Tachyspiza poliocephala. Move monotypic New Britain Goshawk Accipiter princeps into Tachyspiza, as Tachyspiza princeps. Move monotypic Gray Goshawk Accipiter novaehollandiae into Tachyspiza. Move polytypic Variable Goshawk Accipiter hiogaster into Tachyspiza, as Tachyspiza hiogaster (with subspecies sylvestris, polionota, albiventris, obiensis, griseogularis, mortyi, hiogaster, pallidiceps, leucosoma, misoriensis, manusi, pallidimas, misulae, matthiae, dampieri, lavongai, lihirensis, bougainvillei, rufoschistacea, rubianae, malaitae, and pulchella. Move polytypic Black-mantled Goshawk Accipiter melanochlamys into Tachyspiza, as Tachyspiza melanochlamys (with subspecies melanochlamys and schistacina). Move polytypic Pied Goshawk Accipiter albogularis into Tachyspiza, as Tachyspiza albogularis (with subspecies eichhorni, woodfordi, albogularis, gilva, and sharpei). Move monotypic Fiji Goshawk Accipiter rufitorques into Tachyspiza, as Tachyspiza rufitorques. Move monotypic Moluccan Goshawk Accipiter henicogrammus into Tachyspiza, as Tachyspiza henicogramma. Move monotypic Slaty-mantled Goshawk Accipiter luteoschistaceus into Tachyspiza, as Tachyspiza luteoschistacea. Move monotypic New Caledonian Goshawk Accipiter haplochrous into Tachyspiza, as Tachyspiza haplochroa. Move polytypic Brown Goshawk Accipiter fasciatus into Tachyspiza, as Tachyspiza fasciata (with subspecies natalis, stresemanni, wallacii, tjendanae, savu, hellmayri, dogwa, polycrypta, rosseliana, didimus, fasciata, and vigilax). Note gender.

The former genus Accipiter Brisson, 1760, with type species Accipiter nisus, has been found to be highly non-monophyletic (Lerner and Mindell 2005, Mindell et al. 2018). However, until very recently no phylogeny has been comprehensive enough to enable confident reallocation, but Catanach et al. (2024) now provides a near-complete phylogeny of the Accipitridae. The majority of species fall into a single Old World clade for which the appropriate name is Tachyspiza Kaup, 1844, with Tachyspiza soloensis as type species. The 27 species now moved by AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024) to Tachyspiza are: erythropus, minulla, virgata, nanus, erythrauchen, cirrocephala, brachyura, rhodogaster, gularis, badia, butleri, brevipes, soloensis, imitator, francesiae,trinotata, poliocephala, princeps, novaehollandiae, hiogaster, melanochlamys, albogularis, rufitorques, henicogramma, luteoschistacea, haplochroa, fasciata. Note change of gender.

Wolters (1976) included all these in his Accipiter but placed them in several different subgenera, most lacking names, as follows: Subgenus _: erythropus, minulla; Erythrospizias Gurney, 1875: trinotata; Paraspizias Mathews, 1915: erythrauchen, cirrocephala, brachyura; Subgenus –: rhodogaster; Hieraspiza Kaup, 1844: nanus, virgata, gularis; Tachyspiza: francesiae, badia, butleri, brevipes, soloensis; Urospiza Kaup, 1854: novaehollandiae, fasciata, hiogaster; Subgenus –: melanochlamys, haplochroa, albogularis, rufitorques; ; Subgenus –: henicogramma, luteoschistacea; Subgenus –: imitator; Subgenus –: poliocephala, princeps.

Resurrect Astur for nine species of Accipiter

Summary: (1→2 genera) The large goshawks and mid-sized New World accipiters are now in Astur.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 8174–8208, text: Move Bicolored Hawk Accipiter bicolor, Chilean Hawk Accipiter chilensis, Cooper’s Hawk Accipiter cooperii, Gundlach’s Hawk Accipiter gundlachi, Eurasian Goshawk Accipiter gentilis, American Goshawk Accipiter atricapillus, Meyer’s Goshawk Accipiter meyerianus, Black Goshawk Accipiter melanoleucus, and Henst’s Goshawk Accipiter henstii into Astur, as Bicolored Hawk Astur bicolor, Chilean Hawk Astur chilensis, Cooper’s Hawk Astur cooperii, Gundlach’s Hawk Astur gundlachi, Eurasian Goshawk Astur gentilis, American Goshawk Astur atricapillus, Meyer’s Goshawk Astur meyerianus, Black Goshawk Astur melanoleucus, and Henst’s Goshawk Astur henstii. [For individual species in text for website 2024, “Move from Accipiter into Astur.”]

The former genus Accipiter Brisson, 1760, with type species Accipiter nisus, has been found to be highly non-monophyletic (Lerner and Mindell 2005, Mindell et al. 2018). However, until very recently no phylogeny has been comprehensive enough to enable confident reallocation, but Catanach et al. (2024) now provides a near-complete phylogeny of the Accipitridae. Nine species are in a near-global clade for which the appropriate name is Astur de Lacépède, 1799, with type species Astur gentilis (Linnaeus, 1758). The other species transferred by AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024) from Accipiter to Astur are: bicolor, chilensis, cooperii, gundlachi, atricapillus, meyerianus, melanoleucus, and henstii. Of these, the four larger species meyerianus, gentilis, henstii, and melanoleucus were placed in subgenus Astur of Accipiter by Wolters (1976), while he placed the three medium-sized species bicolor, gundlachi, and cooperii in subgenus Cooperastur Bonaparte, 1854.

Resurrect Trachylaemus for Trachyphonus goffinii and purpuratus

Summary: (1→2 genera) Two hooting African forest barbets are moved to Trachylaemus, rather thanTrachyphonuswhich hosts their loudly duetting, bushland-dwelling relatives.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 10423–10428, text: Move polytypic Western Yellow-billed Barbet Trachyphonus goffinii and polytypic Eastern Yellow-billed Barbet Trachyphonus purpuratus into Trachylaemus, as Trachylaemus goffinii and Trachylaemus purpuratus.

While other species of Trachyphonus Ranzani, 1821 with type species Trachyphonus vaillantii Ranzani, 1821 are savanna-dwelling, ground-feeding species that give complex, loud duets, goffini (Goffin, 1863) and purpuratus (Verreaux and Verreaux, 1851) are forest canopy species with simple hooting songs. The latter two share several morphological differences from core Trachyphonus (Zimmerman 1972), from which they are rather deeply diverged genetically (Moyle 2004), and are thus moved by AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024) into the resurrected Trachylaemus Reichenow, 1891, with type species Trachylaemus purpuratus. This now aligns with BLI v8.1; Wolters (1976) treated Trachylaemus as a subgenus of Trachyphonus.

Resurrect Neopsephotus for Neophema bourkii

Summary: (1→2 genera) Australia’s unusually plumaged Bourke’s Parrot is now in its own genus, Neopsephotus.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 12319, text: Move monotypic Bourke’s Parrot Neophema bourkii into Neopsephotus, as Bourke’s Parrot Neopsephotus bourkii.

Neophema bourkii (Gould, 1841) is a morphological outlier to other members of Neophema Salvadori, 1891 with type species Neophema pulchella (Shaw, 1792), and bourkii is a deeply diverged sister taxon to this clade (Christidis et al. 1991, Provost et al 2018, Smith et al. 2024, Collar and Boesman 2024). Hence, it is moved by AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024) into Neopsephotus Mathews, 1912, aligning with Wolters (1975), BirdLife since v0.0, IOC-WBL since v1.0, and HM since v.3.

Subsume Psittaculirostris in Cyclopsitta

Summary: (2→1 genera) New Guinea fig-parrot genus Psittaculirostris is subsumed into the more broadly defined Cyclopsitta.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 12424–12433, text: Move polytypic Large Fig-Parrot Psittaculirostris desmarestii (with subspecies blythii, occidentalis, desmarestii, intermedius, godmani, and cervicalis), monotypic Edwards’s Fig-Parrot Psittaculirostris edwardsii, and monotypic Salvadori’s Fig-Parrot Psittaculirostris salvadorii into Cyclopsitta, as polytypic Large Fig-Parrot Cyclopsitta desmarestii (with subspecies blythii, occidentalis, desmarestii, intermedia, godmani, and cervicalis), monotypic Edwards’s Fig-Parrot Cyclopsitta edwardsii, and monotypic Salvadori’s Fig-Parrot Cyclopsitta salvadorii. Note gender.

Species in the genus Psittaculirostris Gray and Gray, 1859 are moved by AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024) into Cyclopsitta, Reichenbach, 1850 to better reflect relationships and recency of diversification (Joseph et al. 2020, Smith et al. 2020, 2023). Wolters (1975) retained the genus Psittaculirostris.

Subsume Synorhacma in Charmosyna

Summary: (2→1 genera) New Guinea’s Striated Lorikeet moves from the monotypic Synorhacma into the broader Papuan genus Charmosyna.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 12460, text: Move monotypic Striated Lorikeet Synorhacma multistriata into Charmosyna, as monotypic Striated Lorikeet Charmosyna multistriata.

The Striated Lorikeet Synorhacma multistriata (Rothschild, 1911) is moved into the genus Charmosyna Wagler, 1832, considered by AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024) to be more informative about its relationships and biogeography, and the recency of the radiation (Joseph et al. 2020, Smith et al. 2020, 2023). Wolters (1975) placed this species in Hypocharmosyna Salvadori, 1891.

Subsume Charmosynoides in Vini

Summary: (2→1 genera) The Duchess Lorikeet of the Solomon Islands moves from the monotypic genus Charmosynoides into the broader Melanesian and Polynesian genus Vini.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 12470, text: Move monotypic Duchess Lorikeet Charmosynoides margarethae into Vini, as monotypic Duchess Lorikeet Vini margarethae.

The monotypic genus Charmosynoides Joseph et al., 2020 of the Solomon Islands, erected for Charmosynoides margarethae Tristram, 1879 is moved to the genus Vini Lesson, 1833. This is deemed by AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024) to best reflect relationships, biogeography, and recency of the radiation, as shown by recent phylogenetic analyses (Joseph et al. 2020, Smith et al. 2020, 2023). Wolters (1975) placed this species in Charmosyna Wagler, 1832.

Subsume Parvipsitta in Psitteuteles

Summary: (2→1 genera) Australia’s Little and Purple-crowned lorikeets move from Parvipsitta into the Australian genus Psitteuteles.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 12510–12511, text: Move monotypic Little Lorikeet Parvipsitta pusilla and monotypic Purple-crowned Lorikeet Parvipsitta porphyrocephala into Psitteuteles, asmonotypic Little Lorikeet Psitteuteles pusillus and monotypic Purple-crowned Lorikeet Psitteuteles porphyrocephalus. Note gender.

The two species in the genus Parvipsitta Mathews, 1916 are moved into the broader Australian genus Psitteuteles, as the Purple-crowned Lorikeet Psitteuteles porphyrocephalus (Dietrichsen, 1837) and the Little Lorikeet Psitteuteles pusillus (Shaw, 1790). This is considered by AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024) to be most informative about the sister relationship of these species with the Varied Lorikeet Psitteuteles versicolor (Lear, 1831) and their biogeography, and to reflect the recency of origin of these lineages as shown by recent phylogenetic analyses (Joseph et al. 2020, Smith et al. 2020, 2023).

Subsume Pseudeos in Chalcopsitta

Summary: (2→1 genera) The Dusky and Cardinal lories of New Guinea are moved from Pseudeos to the broader Papuan genus Chalcopsitta.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 12512–12513, text: Move monotypic Dusky Lory Pseudeos fuscata and monotypic Cardinal Lory Pseudeos cardinalis into Chalcopsitta, as monotypic Dusky Lory Chalcopsitta fuscata and monotypic Cardinal Lory Chalcopsitta cardinalis.

The genus Pseudeos Peters, 1935, with its two species Dusky Lory Pseudeos fuscata (Blyth, 1858) and Cardinal Lory Pseudeos cardinalis (Gray, 1849), is moved into the Papuan genus Chalcopsitta Bonaparte, 1850. This is deemed by AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024) to be appropriate given relationships, biogeography, and recency of divergence of these taxa (Joseph et al. 2020, Smith et al. 2020, 2023).

Subsume Glossopsitta in Trichoglossus

Summary: (2→1 genera) The Musk Lorikeet of Australia is moved from monotypic Glossopsitta into the broad Australasian lorikeet genus Trichoglossus.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 12526, text: Move monotypic Musk Lorikeet Glossopsitta concinna into Trichoglossus, as monotypic Musk Lorikeet Trichoglossus concinnus. Note gender.

The genus Glossopsitta Bonaparte, 1854, with its sole species the Musk Lorikeet Glossopsitta concinna (Shaw, 1791) of Australia, is moved into the broad Australasian genus Trichoglossus Stephens, 1827). This is deemed by AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024) to better reflect the relationships and recency of origin of this species (Joseph et al. 2020, Smith et al. 2020, 2023), which was retained in Glossopsitta subgenus Glossopsitta by Wolters (1975).

Subsume Saudareos in Trichoglossus

Summary: (2→1 genera) Five species of lorikeet from Indonesia and the Philippines are moved from Saudareos into the broader Australasian genus Trichoglossus.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 12527–12534, text: Move monotypic Mindanao Lorikeet Saudareos johnstoniae, polytypic Iris Lorikeet Saudareos iris (with subspecies iris, rubripileum, and wetterensis), monotypic Ornate Lorikeet Saudareos ornata, monotypic Yellow-cheeked Lorikeet Saudareos meyeri, and monotypic Sula Lorikeet Saudareos flavoviridis to Trichoglossus, as monotypic Mindanao Lorikeet Trichoglossus johnstoniae, polytypic Iris Lorikeet Trichoglossus iris (with subspecies iris, rubripileum, and wetterensis), monotypic Ornate Lorikeet Trichoglossus ornatus, monotypic Yellow-cheeked Lorikeet Trichoglossus meyeri, and monotypic Sula Lorikeet Trichoglossus flavoviridis). [For individual species in text for website 2024, “Move from Saudareos into Trichoglossus. Note gender.”]

The genus Saudareos Joseph et al., 2020, was erected for several lorikeets from Indonesia and one from Mindanao, southern Philippines: johnstoniae Hartert, 1903, the Mindanao Lorikeet; iris (Temminck, 1835), the Iris Lorikeet of the eastern Lesser Sundas; ornata Linnaeus, 1758, the Ornate Lorikeet of Sulawesi; meyerii (Walden, 1871), the Yellow-cheeked Lorikeet of Sulawesi; and flavoviridis (Wallace, 1863), the Sula Lorikeet. These are now moved to Trichoglossus Stephens, 1827 by AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024) to better reflect relationships and recency of origin as shown by recent phylogenetic analyses (Joseph et al. 2020, Smith et al. 2020, 2023), and aligning with Wolters (1975).

Subsume Eos in Trichoglossus

Summary: (2→1 genera) The red Eos lories of Indonesia, despite their distinctive appearance, belong to a larger Australasian assemblage and are placed in the genus Trichoglossus.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 12535–12548, text: Move monotypic Blue-streaked Lory Eos reticulata, monotypic Blue-eared Lory Eos semilarvata, polytypic Red Lory Eos bornea (with subspecies bornea and cyanonotha), monotypic Black-winged Lory Eos cyanogenia, polytypic Red-and-blue Lory Eos histrio (with subspecies challenger, talautensis, and histrio), and polytypic Violet-necked Lory Eos squamata (with subspecies riciniata, obiensis, and squamata) into Trichoglossus, as monotypic Blue-streaked Lory Trichoglossus reticulatus, monotypic Blue-eared Lory Trichoglossus semilarvatus, polytypic Red Lory Trichoglossus borneus (with subspecies borneus and cyanonothus), monotypic Black-winged Lory Trichoglossus cyanogenius, polytypic Red-and-blue Lory Trichoglossus histrio (with subspecies challenger, talautensis, and histrio), and polytypic Violet-necked Lory Trichoglossus squamatus (with subspecies riciniatus, obiensis, and squamatus). Note gender.

The six Indonesian red lory species long comprising the genus Eos Wagler, 1832 have been shown to be part of the Trichoglossus Stephens, 1827 clade (Joseph et al. 2020, Smith et al. 2020, 2023), despite their generally larger size and shorter tails. Thus, AviList 1.0 (as enacted in Clements et al. 2024) moves Blue-streaked Lory Eos reticulata (Müller, 1841), Blue-eared Lory Eos semilarvata Bonaparte, 1850, Red Lory Eos bornea (Linnaeus, 1758), Black-winged Lory Eos cyanogenia Bonaparte, 1850, Red-and-blue Lory Eos histrio (Müller, 1776), and Violet-necked Lory Eos squamata (Boddaert, 1783) into Trichoglossus. All were retained in Eos by Wolters (1975).

Recognize Neophilydor for Philydor fuscipenne and Philydor erythrocercum

Summary: (1→2 genera) Two species of foliage-gleaner are now in the newly described genus Neophilydor.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 14978–14986, text: Move polytypic Slaty-winged Foliage-gleaner Philydor fuscipenne and polytypic Rufous-rumped Foliage-gleaner Philydor erythrocercum into Neophilydor, as Neophilydor fuscipenne and Neophilydor erythrocercum.

Philydor Spix, 1824, with type species Philydor atricapillus Wied-Nuwied, 1821, has been shown based on genetic data (Derryberry et al. 2011; Harvey et al. 2020) to be polyphyletic when it contains fuscipenne Salvin, 1866 and erythrocercum (Pelzeln, 1859). The genus Neophilydor Sangster et al., 2023, with type species erythrocercum, was thus erected to contain these two species, as accepted by SACC (https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCprop991.htm) and by AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024).

Subsume Antilophia into Chiroxiphia

Summary: (2→1 genera) Despite their spectacularly distinctive plumage, the front-crested Antilophia manakins are not a separate lineage from the blue-backed Chiroxiphia manakins.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 15533–15534, text: Change generic name of Araripe Manakin Chiroxiphia bokermanni from Antilophia to Chiroxiphia. Change generic name of Helmeted Manakin Antilophia galeata from Antilophia to Chiroxiphia.

Several genetic studies show that Antilophia Reichenbach, 1850is embedded within Chiroxiphia Cabanis, 1847 (Silva et al. 2018, Harvey et al. 2020, Leite et al. 2021, and Zhao et al. 2022). Thus, the genus Antilophia is subsumed into Chiroxiphia, with Antilophia bokermanni Coelho and Silva, 1998 becoming Chiroxiphia bokermanni and Antilophia galeata (Lichtenstein, 1823) becoming Chiroxiphia galeata. This treatment by AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024) now aligns with IOC-WBL 14.1 and SACC (https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCprop975.htm), but not earlier checklists including Traylor (1979) or Wolters (1977).

Resurrect Acrochordopus for Phyllomias zeledoni and burmeisteri

Summary: (2→1 genera) Two tiny tyrannulets with strange rough-scaled tarsi are moved from Phyllomias into the resurrected genus Acrochordopus.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 16614–16621, text: Move White-fronted Tyrannulet Phyllomias zeledoni and Rough-legged Tyrannulet Phyllomias burmeisteri into Acrochordopus, as White-fronted Tyrannulet Acrochordopus zeledoni and Rough-legged Tyrannulet Acrochordopus burmeisteri.

Two species are moved from Phyllomyias Cabanis and Heine, 1860 to the resurrected genus Acrochordopus von Berlepsch and Hellmayr, 1905, based on genomic evidence (Harvey et al. 2020) and morphology. Acrochordopus now includes the type species Acrochordopus burmeisteri Cabanis and Heine, 1860 and Acrochordopus zeledoni (Lawrence, 1869). This treatment by AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024) now aligns with Wolters (1977), SACC (https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCprop962.htm), IOC-WBL 14.2, but not Traylor (1979), Dickinson and Christidis (2014), or BLI v8.1.

Resurrect Tyranniscus for Phyllomyias nigrocapillus, cinereiceps, and uropygialis

Summary: (1→2 genera) Three small tyrannulets with distinctive crown coloration are returned from Phyllomyias to the genus Tyranniscus.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 16622–16627, text: Move Black-capped Tyrannulet Phyllomyias nigrocapillus, Ashy-headed Tyrannulet Phyllomyias cinereiceps, and Tawny-rumped Tyrannulet Phyllomyias uropygialis into Tyranniscus, as Black-capped Tyrannulet Tyranniscus nigrocapillus, Ashy-headed Tyrannulet Tyranniscus cinereiceps, and Tawny-rumped Tyrannulet Tyranniscus uropygialis.

Three species are moved from Phyllomyias Cabanis and Heine, 1860 to the resurrected genus Tyranniscus Cabanis and Heine, 1860, based on genomic evidence (Harvey et al. 2020). Tyranniscus now includes the type species Tyranniscus nigrocapillus (de Lafresnaye, 1845), as well as Tyranniscus cinereiceps (Sclater, 1860) and Tyranniscus uropygialis (Lawrence, 1869). This treatment by AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024) now aligns with SACC (https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCprop962.htm), and IOC-WBL 14.2; Wolters (1977) also recognized these species, along with several others, in Tyranniscus. Most earlier checklists (e.g., Traylor (1979), Dickinson and Christidis (2014), and BLI v8.1) kept all in Phyllomyias.

Subsume Territornis in Meliphaga

Summary: (2→1 genera) Three Australasian honeyeaters in Territornis are moved into the broader genus Meliphaga.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 17563–17565, text: Move Streak-breasted Honeyeater Territornis reticulata, Kimberley Honeyeater Territornis fordiana, and White-lined Honeyeater Territornis albilineata into Meliphaga, as Streak-breasted Honeyeater Meliphaga reticulata, Kimberley Honeyeater Meliphaga fordiana, and White-lined Honeyeater Meliphaga albilineata.

Three genera are united with Meliphaga Lewin, 1808, based on morphological similarity as well as the fact that they all form a cohesive clade (Marki et al. 2017; Andersen et al. 2019; McCullough et al. 2019, Hays et al. 2022). Thus, the three species of Territornis Mathews, 1924 aremoved by AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024) into Meliphaga: reticulata; fordiana; and albilineata. Wolters (1979) maintained these in Meliphaga.

Subsume Oreornis in Meliphaga

Summary: (2→1 genera) The Orange-cheeked Honeyeater of New Guinea is moved from monotypic Oreornis into the broader genus Meliphaga.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 17566, text: Move Orange-cheeked Honeyeater Oreornis chrysogenys into Meliphaga, as Orange-cheeked Honeyeater Meliphaga chrysogenys.

Three genera are united with Meliphaga Lewin, 1808, based on morphological similarity as well as the fact that they all form a cohesive clade (Marki et al. 2017; Andersen et al. 2019; McCullough et al. 2019, Hays et al. 2022). In the case of Oreornis van Oort, 1910, this change is needed to restore monophyly to the genus Meliphaga. Thus, Oreornis chrysogenys van Oort, 1910 is moved by AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024) into Meliphaga as Meliphaga chrysogenys. This species was kept in Oreornis by Wolters (1979).

Subsume Microptilotis in Meliphaga

Summary: (2→1 genera) Ten Australasian honeyeaters are moved from Microptilotis into the broader genus Meliphaga.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 17567–17601, text: Move Forest Honeyeater Microptilotis montanus, Mottled Honeyeater Microptilotis mimikae, Yellow-gaped Honeyeater Microptilotis flavirictus, Mountain Honeyeater Microptilotis orientalis, Scrub Honeyeater Microptilotis albonotatus, Mimic Honeyeater Microptilotis analogus, Tagula Honeyeater Microptilotis vicina, Graceful Honeyeater Microptilotis gracilis, Cryptic Honeyeater Microptilotis imitatrix, and Elegant Honeyeater Microptilotis cinereifrons into Meliphaga, as Forest Honeyeater Meliphaga montana (with subspecies montana, steini, sepik, germanorum, huonensis, and aicora), Mottled Honeyeater Meliphaga mimikae (with subspecies mimikae, bastille, and granti), Yellow-gaped Honeyeater Meliphaga flavirictus (with subspecies crockettorum and flavirictus), Mountain Honeyeater Meliphaga orientalis (with subspecies facialis, becki, and orientalis), Scrub Honeyeater Meliphaga albonotata (with subspecies setekwa and albonotata), Mimic Honeyeater Meliphaga analoga (with subspecies papuae, analoga, longirostris, flavida, and connectens), Tagula Honeyeater Meliphaga vicina, Graceful Honeyeater Meliphaga gracilis, Cryptic Honeyeater Meliphaga imitatrix, and Elegant Honeyeater Meliphaga cinereifrons (with subspecies stevensi and cinereifrons). [For individual species in “text for website 2024”, “Move from Microptilotis into Meliphaga.”]

Three genera are united with Meliphaga Lewin, 1808, based on morphological similarity as well as the fact that they all form a cohesive clade (Marki et al. 2017; Andersen et al. 2019; McCullough et al. 2019, Hays et al. 2022). This results in the transfer by AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024) of ten species from Microptilotis Mathews, 1912 to Meliphaga: montana; mimikae; flavirictus; orientalis; albonotata; analoga; vicina; gracilis; imitatrix; and cinereifrons. Note the change of gender. Wolters (1979) maintained all these in Meliphaga.

Subsume Crateroscelis into Origma

Summary: [2→1 genera] New Guinea’s Mountain and Rusty mouse-warblers are moved from Crateroscelis into Origma.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 18100–18113, text: Move polytypic Mountain Mouse-Warbler Crateroscelis robusta and polytypic Rusty Mouse-Warbler Crateroscelis murina into Origma, as polytypic Mountain Mouse-Warbler Origma robusta and polytypic Rusty Mouse-Warbler Origma murina.

The genetic data of Norman et al. (2018) indicate that Mountain Mouse-Warbler Crateroscelis robusta and Rusty Mouse-Warbler Crateroscelis murina should be united in the genus Origma Gould, 1838, (with type species Origma solitaria) rather than Crateroscelis Sharpe, 1883 (with type species Crateroscelis murinus), as accepted by AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024). Wolters (1979) maintained these in Crateroscelis.

Resurrect Ceblepyris for five African Coracina species

Summary: (1→2 genera) The African cuckooshrikes are moved from Coracina into their own resurrected genus, Ceblepyris.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 18449–18460, text: Move Comoro Cuckooshrike Coracina cucullata, Madagascar Cuckooshrike Coracina cinerea, Grauer’s Cuckooshrike Coracina graueri, Gray Cuckooshrike Coracina caesia, and White-breasted Cuckooshrike Coracina pectoralis into Ceblepyris, as Comoro Cuckooshrike Ceblepyris cucullatus (with subspecies cucullatus and moheliensis), Madagascar Cuckooshrike Ceblepyris cinereus (with subspecies cinereus and pallidus), Grauer’s Cuckooshrike Ceblepyris graueri, Gray Cuckooshrike Ceblepyris caesius (with subspecies purus, preussi, and caesius), and White-breasted Cuckooshrike Ceblepyris pectoralis). Note gender.

African cuckooshrikes have been found to constitute a deeply diverged clade (Jønsson et al. 2010, McCullough et al. 2022), and hence five species—cucullatus, cinereus, graueri, caesius, and pectoralis are transferred by AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024) from Coracina Vieillot, 1816, with type species Coracina papuensis, to Ceblepyris Cuvier, 1816, with type species Ceblepyris cinereus Müller, 1776. Note the change of gender. Wolters (1977) considered Ceblepyris a subgenus of Coracina, and included in it some Asian species as well as the African ones.

Move Celebesia parvula to Coracina

Summary: (2→1 genera) The Halmahera Cuckooshrike is moved from Celebesia into the broader cuckooshrike genus Coracina.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 18564, text: Move monotypic Halmahera Cuckooshrike Celebesia parvula into Coracina, as monotypic Halmahera Cuckooshrike Coracina parvula.

Although the Halmahera Cuckooshrike Celebesia parvula(Salvadori, 1878) is sometimes placed in Celebesia Riley, 1918 or Celebesica Strand, 1928, it is genetically embedded within Coracina Vieillot, 1816 (McCullough et al. 2022) and hence is moved by AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024) to the latter genus. This is not the case, however, for Pygmy Cuckooshrike Celebesia abbotti, which is deeply diverged and retained in the genus Celebesia, but under the corrected spelling Celebesica. Wolters (1977) placed Celebesia/Celebesica in the synonymy of Edolisoma Jacquinot and Pucheran, 1853, and placed parvula in subgenus Coracina.

Subsume Analisoma in Edolisoma

Summary: (2→1 genera) Three cuckooshrikes from the Philippines and Melanesia are moved from Analisoma into the cicadabird genus Edolisoma.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 18665–18670, text: Move New Caledonian Cuckooshrike Analisoma analis, Blackish Cuckooshrike Analisoma coerulescens, and White-winged Cuckooshrike Analisoma ostenta into Edolisoma, as New Caledonian Cuckooshrike Edolisoma anale, Blackish Cuckooshrike Edolisoma coerulescens (with subspecies coerulescens, deschauenseei, and alterum), and White-winged Cuckooshrike Edolisoma ostentum. Note gender.

The three species of cuckooshrike currently in Analisoma Mathews, 1928—anale, caerulescens, and ostentum—are basal to the core Edolisoma Jacquinot and Pucheran, 1853 lineage (McCullough et al. 2022) and are hence subsumed within Edolisoma by AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024). Wolters (1977) treated Analisoma as a subgenus of Coracina, but only including anale therein.

Resurrect Dyaphorophyia for Platysteira castanea, hormophora, and tonsa

Summary: (1→2 genera) A group of stub-tailed African wattle-eyes is moved from Platysteira to the resurrected genus Dyaphorophyia.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 19613–19615, text: Move monotypic Chestnut Wattle-eye Platysteira castanea, monotypic West African Wattle-eye Platysteira hormophora, and monotypic White-spotted Wattle-eye Platysteira tonsa to Dyaphorophyia, as monotypic Chestnut Wattle-eye Dyaphorophyia castanea, monotypic West African Wattle-eye Dyaphorophyia hormophora, and monotypic White-spotted Wattle-eye Dyaphorophyia tonsa.

The striking, short-tailed wattle-eyes often placed in Dyaphorophyia Bonaparte, 1854, with type species Dyaphorophyia castanea (Fraser, 1843), form a monophyletic group when restricted to three species (Njabo et al. 2008; Fuchs et al. 2012; Érard et al. 2019). These three species, castanea, hormophora, and tonsa are thus now moved by AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024) back from Platysteira Jardine and Selby, 1830 to Dyaphorophyia. This aligns with the generic treatment of Wolters (1977).

Move six species from Telophorus to Chlorophoneus

Summary: [1→2 genera] Six African bushshrikes are moved from Telophorus to Chlorophoneus.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 19946–19966, text: Move Gray-green Bushshrike Telophorus bocagei, Sulphur-breasted Bushshrike Telophorus sulfureopectus, Olive Bushshrike Telophorus olivaceus, Many-colored Bushshrike Telophorus multicolor, Black-fronted Bushshrike Telophorus nigrifrons, and Mount Kupe Bushshrike Telophorus kupeensis to Chlorophoneus, as Gray-green Bushshrike Chlorophoneus bocagei, Sulphur-breasted Bushshrike Chlorophoneus sulfureopectus, Olive Bushshrike Chlorophoneus olivaceus, Many-colored Bushshrike Chlorophoneus multicolor, Black-fronted Bushshrike Chlorophoneus nigrifrons, and Mount Kupe Bushshrike Chlorophoneus kupeensis.

A group of bushshrikes in Telophorus Swainson, 1832 have been shown to be better removed to the resurrected genus Chlorophoneus Cabanis, 1851 based on genetic data (Fuchs et al. 2004, 2006, 2012; Nguembock et al. 2008), although further studies are needed that include the type species Chlorophoneus olivaceus (Shaw, 1809). The species moved by AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024) are: Chlorophoneus bocagei; Chlorophoneus sulfureopectus; Chlorophoneus olivaceus; Chlorophoneus multicolor; Chlorophoneus nigrifrons; and Chlorophoneus kupeensis. This treatment aligns with Wolters (1977), BLI v8.1, and IOC-WBL.

Resurrect Corvinella for Lanius corvinus

Summary: (1→2 genera) The drab-colored but long-tailed Yellow-billed Shrike of Africa is returned from Lanius to its own genus Corvinella.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 20801–20805, text: Move polytypic Yellow-billed Shrike Lanius corvinus into Corvinella, as polytypic Yellow-billed Shrike Corvinella corvina (with subspecies corvina, togoensis, caliginosa, and affinis).

The Yellow-billed Shrike Lanius corvinus Shaw, 1809 is distinctively plumaged compared to most shrikes and has often been kept in Corvinella Lesson, 1831, of which it is the type species. Evidence for deep divergence from Lanius Linnaeus, 1758 (Fuchs et al. 2019) has led to a return to recognition by AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024) of the genus Corvinella. However, recent genomic DNA (McCullough et al. 2022) may contradict this treatment, showing Corvinella embedded within Lanius. Wolters (1977) treated Corvinella as a subgenus of Lanius.

Resurrect Urolestes for Lanius corvinus

Summary: (1→2 genera) The striking Magpie Shrike of Africa is returned from Lanius to its own genus Urolestes.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 20806–20809, text: Move polytypic Magpie Shrike Lanius melanoleucus (with subspecies aequatorialis, expressus, and melanoleucus) into Urolestes, as polytypic Magpie Shrike Urolestes melanoleucus (with subspecies aequatorialis, expressus, and melanoleucus).

The Magpie Shrike Lanius melanoleucus (Jardine, 1831) differs strikingly from most shrikes and has traditionally been treated in its own genus, Urolestes Cabanis, 1851, with type species Lanius melanoleucus. As relationships are still partly unresolved, and there is some evidence for its deep divergence from Lanius Linnaeus, 1758 (Fuchs et al. 2019), the genus Urolestes is once again recognized by AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024). However, genomic DNA (McCullough et al. 2022) may contradict this treatment, showing an embedded Urolestes. Wolters (1977) treated Urolestes as a subgenus of Lanius.

Subsume Calocitta in Cyanocorax

Summary: (2→1 genera) The two elaborately plumaged magpie-jays of Mesoamerica are moved from Calocitta into the broader genus Cyanocorax.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 20987–20993, text: Move monotypic Black-throated Magpie-Jay Calocitta colliei and polytypic White-throated Magpie-Jay Calocitta formosa into Cyanocorax, as monotypic Black-throated Magpie-Jay Cyanocorax colliei and polytypic White-throated Magpie-Jay Cyanocorax formosa.

The long-recognized genus Cyanocorax Boie, 1826 is now known to be paraphyletic (McCullough et al. 2022). Despite their ornate plumage, with long recurved crests and elongate tails, the magpie-jays in Calocitta Gray, 1841, with type species Calocitta formosa (Swainson, 1827) are embedded within Cyanocorax. Their merger by AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024) with Cyanocorax partly resolves the issue. Wolters (1977) opted for a four-genus treatment of the assemblage, including Cissilopha Bonaparte, 1850 for the four blue-and-black Mesoamerican species.

Subsume Psilorhinus in Cyanocorax

Summary: (2→1 genera) The soberly colored Brown Jay of Mesoamerica is moved from Psilorhinus into the broader genus Cyanocorax.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 20994–20998, text: Move polytypic Brown Jay Psilorhinus morio into Cyanocorax, as polytypic Brown Jay Cyanocorax morio.

As long defined, the genus Cyanocorax Boie, 1826 was paraphyletic (McCullough et al. 2022). This is partly resolved by the merger by AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024) of Psilorhinus Rüppell, 1837, with type species Psilorhinus morio Wagler, 1829 into Cyanocorax, to which it is generally similar except in the lack of blue. Wolters (1977) opted for a four-genus treatment of the assemblage, including Cissilopha Bonaparte, 1850 for the four blue-and-black Mesoamerican species.

Resurrect Coloeus for Corvus monedula and Corvus dauuricus

Summary: (1→2 genera) The two species of Palearctic jackdaws are moved from Corvus into their own genus, Coloeus.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 21290–21295, text: Move Corvus monedula to Coloeus, as Coloeus monedula. Move Corvus dauuricus to Coloeus, as Coloeus dauuricus.

The jackdaws, with their distinctive vocalizations, have been found to be basal to all other crows and ravens Corvus Linnaeus, 1758 (Haring et al. 2012, Jønsson et al. 2012, Weissensteiner et al. 2020, McCullough et al. 2022), and hence are separated by AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024) in the genus Coloeus Kaup, 1829, with type species Coloeus monedula (Linnaeus, 1758), aligning with Wolters (1977).

Resurrect Leucophantes for Heteromyias brachyurus

Summary: (1→2 genera) The Black-chinned Robin of New Guinea is moved from Heteromyias into its own genus, Leucophantes.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 21593–21596, text: Move polytypic Black-chinned Robin Heteromyias brachyurus into Leucophantes, as Leucophantes brachyurus.

The Black-chinned Robin Heteromyias brachyurus is deeply diverged genetically, based on unpublished sequences (https://www.birdforum.net/threads/australo-papuan-robins.142481/page-3#post-4551389), and is thus moved by AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024) from Heteromyias Sharpe, 1879 to the sister lineage Leucophantes Sclater, 1874, of which it is the type species. Disagreement over the gender to be used remains to be resolved. Wolters (1980) placed this species in subgenus Leucophantes of Heteromyias.

Move Mirafra rufa and Mirafra gilletti to Calendulauda

Summary: [1→1 (different) genus] Two African larks are moved from Mirafra to Calendulauda.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 22204–22207, 22220–22222, text: Move polytypic Rusty Lark Mirafra rufa and polytypic Gillett’s Lark Mirafra gilletti to Calendulauda, as polytypic Rusty Lark Calendulauda rufa (with subspecies nigriticola, rufa, and lynesi) and polytypic Gillett’s Lark Calendulauda gilletti (with subspecies gilletti and arorihensis).

Mirafra Horsfield, 1821 (type species Mirafra javanica) bushlarks, as long recognized, has several deeply diverged lineages (Alström et al. 2024), which are now considered to represent genera. Of these, two further species are moved by AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024) into Calendulauda Blyth, 1855: Calendulauda rufa and Calendulauda gilletti. Wolters (1979) placed these two additional species in Sabota Roberts, 1922.

Recognize new genus Plocealauda for five Asian species in Mirafra

Summary: (1→2 genera) Five Asian larks are moved from Mirafra to a new genus, Plocealauda.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 22249–22254, text: Move Burmese Bushlark Mirafra microptera, Indochinese Bushlark Mirafra erythrocephala, Jerdon’s Bushlark Mirafra affinis, Bengal Bushlark Mirafra assamica, and Indian Bushlark Mirafra erythroptera to Plocealauda, as Burmese Bushlark Plocealauda microptera, Indochinese Bushlark Plocealauda erythrocephala, Jerdon’s Bushlark Plocealauda affinis, Bengal Bushlark Plocealauda assamica, and Indian Bushlark Plocealauda erythroptera.

The broad genus Mirafra Horsfield, 1821 (with type species Mirafra javanica), though long recognized, has been comprised of multiple deeply diverged clades (Alström et al. 2024). Among those now recognized by AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024) at the genus level is the newly described genusPlocealauda Alström et al., 2023 for five Asian species, with type species Plocealauda assamica (Horsfield, 1840), and also including Plocealauda microptera (Hume, 1873); Plocealauda erythrocephala (Salvadori and Giglioli, 1875); Plocealauda affinis (Blyth, 1845); and Plocealauda erythroptera (Blyth, 1845). Wolters (1979) used subgenus Plocealauda Gray, 1844 (where it remained a nomen nudum) of Mirafra for these, plus two African species.

Resurrect Amirafra for Mirafra collaris, angolensis, and rufocinnamomea

Summary: (1→2 genera) Three African larks are moved from Mirafra to the narrower genus Amirafra.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 22288–22308, text: Move Collared Lark Mirafra collaris, Angolan Lark Mirafra angolensis, and Flappet Lark Mirafra rufocinnamomea to Amirafra, as Collared Lark Amirafra collaris, Angolan Lark Amirafra angolensis, and Flappet Lark Amirafra rufocinnamomea.

The bushlarks Mirafra Horsfield, 1821 (with type species Mirafra javanica), as long recognized, contains multiple deeply diverged clades (Alström et al. 2024), which are now recognized at the genus level. For one of these lineages, Amirafra Bianchi, 1906, with type species Amirafra collaris is resurrected by AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024) for three species until now in Mirafra: Amirafra collaris; Amirafra angolensis; and Amirafra rufocinnamomea. Wolters (1979) placed only collaris in Amirafra, with the other two (angolensis and rufocinnamomea) in Mirafra subgenus Corypha.

Move six species from Mirafra to Corypha

Summary: (1→2 genera) Six African larks are moved from Mirafra to the narrower genus Corypha.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 22309–22363, text: Move Cape Clapper Lark Mirafra apiata, Eastern Clapper Lark Mirafra fasciolata, Rufous-naped Lark Mirafra africana (including split species), Somali Lark Mirafra somalica (including Ash’s Lark Mirafra ashi), Red-winged Lark Mirafra hypermetra (including split species), and Sharpe’s Lark Mirafra sharpii into Corypha, as Cape Clapper Lark Corypha apiata, Eastern Clapper Lark Corypha fasciolata, Rufous-naped Lark africana (see Splits for additional species), Somali Lark Corypha somalica (including Ash’s Lark Corypha ashi), and Red-winged Lark Corypha hypermetra (see Splits for additional species), and change English name of Sharpe’s Lark to Russet Lark Corypha sharpii.

The long-recognized, broad genus Mirafra Horsfield, 1821 (with type species Mirafra javanica) has been shown to be comprised of multiple deeply diverged clades (Alström et al. 2024), which are considered best recognized at the genus level. Thus, Corypha Gray, 1840, with type species Corypha apiata (Vieillot, 1816) is resurrected by AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024) for six species formerly in Mirafra: Corypha apiata; Corypha fasciolata; Corypha africana; Corypha somalica; Corypha hypermetra and Corypha sharpii. Wolters (1979) placed four of these species (apiata, africana, hypermetra, and sharpii)in subgenus Corypha of Mirafra, along with two other species.

Move Xanthomixis tenebrosa into Crossleyia

Summary: [1→1 (different) genus] The little-known Dusky Tetraka of Madagascar is moved from Xanthomixis to Crossleyia.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 23741, text: Move monotypic Dusky Tetraka Xanthomixis tenebrosa into Crossleyia, as monotypic Dusky Tetraka Crossleyia tenebrosa.

The genetic data of Younger et al. (2019) show that the rare, mysterious Dusky Tetraka Xanthomixis tenebrosa (Stresemann, 1925) of Madagascar should be placed within Crossleyia Sharpe, 1875 (with type species Crossleyia xanthophrys) rather than with Xanthomixis Sharpe, 1881 (with type species Xanthomixis zosterops), as accepted by AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024). Wolters (1977) considered Xanthomixus [sic] a synonym of Bernieria Bonaparte, 1854, which he used as a subgenus of Phyllastrephus Swainson, 1832.

Move Ixos nicobariensis into Hypsipetes

Summary: [1→1 (different) genus] The Nicobar Bulbul is moved from Ixos into the broader Asian bulbul genus Hypsipetes.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 24313, text: Move monotypic Nicobar Bulbul Ixos nicobariensis into Hypsipetes, as Hypsipetes nicobariensis.

The Nicobar Bulbul has a rather complicated nomenclatural history, as it was first named Ixocincla virescens Blyth, 1845, but this preoccupied name was then replaced with Hypsipetes nicobariensis Moore, 1854. This replacement enacted before 1961 renders the original name virescens permanently unavailable for this species (Dickinson and Christidis 2014), although Wolters (1979) maintained it in virescens. The generic affiliation of nicobariensis has remained unclear, but a recent phylogeny (Goyal et al. 2024) shows it to be a close sister to members now treated within Hypsipetes (as enacted in Clements et al. 2024), within which it was long included. The branch length in this study does not support the generic separation of nicobariensis from Hypsipetes, even if a genus name was available for it.

Subsume five parrotbill genera into Paradoxornis

Summary: (5→1 genera) Five genera of larger Asian parrotbills are moved back into Paradoxornis.

Details: Clements v2024mtaxa 25200–25202, 25205–25222, text: Move polytypic Reed Parrotbill Calamornis heudei, monotypic Great Parrotbill Conostoma aemodium, monotypic Brown Parrotbill Cholornis unicolor, polytypic Three-toed Parrotbill Cholornis paradoxus, polytypic Gray-headed Parrotbill Psittiparus gularis, monotypic Black-headed Parrotbill Psittiparus margaritae, monotypic White-breasted Parrotbill Psittiparus ruficeps, and polytypic Rufous-headed Parrotbill Psittiparus bakeri into Paradoxornis, as polytypic Reed Parrotbill Paradoxornis heudei, monotypic Great Parrotbill Paradoxornis aemodius, monotypic Brown Parrotbill Paradoxornis unicolor, polytypic Three-toed Parrotbill Paradoxornis paradoxus, polytypic Gray-headed Parrotbill Paradoxornis gularis, monotypic Black-headed Parrotbill Paradoxornis margaritae, monotypic White-breasted Parrotbill Paradoxornis ruficeps, and polytypic Rufous-headed Parrotbill Paradoxornis bakeri.

Two well-resolved clades exist among the parrotbills (Cai et al. 2019), which form part of Paradoxornithidae as currently recognized: Paradoxornis Gould, 1836 and Suthora Hodgson, 1837. Within the Paradoxornis clade, multiple subclades exist (Penhallurick and Robson 2009, Yeung et al. 2011) that have often been granted generic status: Calamornis Gould, 1874, with type species Paradoxornis heudei David, 1874; Conostoma Hodgson, 1841, with type species Conostoma oemodium Hodgson, 1841; Cholornis Verreaux, 1871, with type species Cholornis paradoxus Verreaux, 1871; Psittiparus Hellmayr, 1903, with type species Paradoxornis ruficeps Blyth, 1842; and Paradoxornis Gould, 1836, with type species Paradoxornis flavirostris Gould, 1836. These divisions are represented by AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024) as subgenera, aligning with BLI v8.1 and IOC-WBL. Wolters (1980) recognized Calamornis, Conostoma, a three-species Cholornis, and a single-species Psittiparus.

Subsume Cataponera in Turdus

Summary: (5→1 genera) The skulking and enigmatic Sulawesi Thrush, despite its unusual appearance, is now known to be a member of the genus Turdus.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 25200–25202, 25205–25222, text: Move polytypic Sulawesi Thrush Cataponera turdoides into Turdus, as Turdus turdoides.

Although its slightly unusual appearance for a thrush misled earlier ornithologists into describing the new genus Cataponera Hartert, 1896 and maintaining the Sulawesi Thrush in that genus as Cataponera turdoides Hartert, 1896, it is now clear that it is embedded deeply within Turdus (Reeve et al. 2022). This treatment by AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024) now aligns with IOC-WBL and will mandate the change of gender of the variable subspecies abditiva and tenebrosa to masculine, as abditivus and tenebrosus (to be enacted in Clements v2025). Wolters (1980) maintained the species in Cataponera.

Resurrect Myopornis for Bradornis boehmi

Summary: (1→2 genera) The Böhm’s Flycatcher of Africa is moved from Bradornis back into a monotypic genus, Myopornis.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 28576, text: Move monotypic Böhm’s Flycatcher Bradornis boehmi into Myopornis, as Böhm’s Flycatcher Myopornis boehmi.

Due to its deep genetic divergence and a lack of support for monophyly (Voelker et al. 2016), and biological differences from core Bradornis Smith, 1847 species, Böhm’s Flycatcher is moved from Bradornis toMyopornis Reichenow, 1901, for which boehmi Reichenow, 1884 is the type species. This treatment by AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024) as Myopornis boehmi now aligns with Wolters (1980) and BLI v8.1.

Resurrect Artomyias for Bradornis ussheri and Bradornis fuliginosus

Summary: (1→2 genera) The Ussher’s and Sooty flycatchers of Africa are moved from Bradornis back into a resurrected genus, Artomyias.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 28577, text: Move monotypic Ussher’s Flycatcher Bradornis ussheri and polytypic Sooty Flycatcher Bradornis fuliginosus into Artomyias, as monotypic Ussher’s Flycatcher Artomyias ussheri and polytypic Sooty Flycatcher Artomyias fuliginosa (with subspecies fuliginosa and minuscula).

The canopy-dwelling Bradornis ussheri (Sharpe, 1871) and Bradornis fuliginosus (Cassin, 1855) are quite different in aspect and biology from core members of Bradornis Smith, 1847, and this is reflected in the relatively deep genetic divergence and lack of support for monophyly with that clade (Voelker et al. 2016). They are thus returned by AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024) to Artomyias Verreaux and Verreaux, 1855, which has as type Artomyias fuliginosa, originally named Butalis infuscatus. Treatment as Artomyias ussheri and Artomyias fuliginosa aligns with Wolters (1980) and BLI v8.1.

Resurrect Namibornis for Melaenornis herero

Summary: (1→2 genera) The Herero Chat of Africa is moved from Melaenornis back into a monotypic genus, Namibornis.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 28649, text: Move monotypic Herero Chat Melaenornis herero into Namibornis, as monotypic Herero Chat Namibornis herero.

Although long overlooked and then originally named as a species within Bradornis Smith, 1847, the Herero Chat Melaenornis herero (Meyer de Schauensee, 1931) is deeply diverged genetically from other taxa (Voelker et al. 2016) and differs in aspect as well. It is thus restored by AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024) to the monotypic genus erected for it, Namibornis Bradfield, 1935, as Namibornis herero, now aligning with Wolters (1980).

Resurrect Empidornis for Melaenornis semipartitus

Summary: (1→2 genera) The Silverbird of Africa is moved back from Melaenornis into a monotypic genus, Empidornis.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 28650, text: Move monotypic Silverbird Melaenornis semipartitus into Empidornis, as monotypic Silverbird Empidornis semipartitus.

The very distinctive Silverbird, with its unusual plumage pattern and shape, is deeply diverged genetically from Melaenornis Gray, 1840 (Voelker et al. 2016) and is thus restored by AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024) to the genus erected for it, Empidornis Reichenow, 1901, as Empidornis semipartitus (Rüppell, 1840). This treatment aligns with Wolters (1980) and BLI v8.1.

Resurrect Sigelus for Melaenornis silens

Summary: (1→2 genera) The Fiscal Flycatcher of Africa is moved back from Melaenornis into a monotypic genus, Sigelus.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 28651, text: Move monotypic Fiscal Flycatcher Melaenornis silens into Sigelus, as monotypic Fiscal Flycatcher Sigelus silens.

The Fiscal Flycatcher, originally described as Lanius silens Shaw, 1809, resembles a cross between a flycatcher and a shrike, hence its name. It is deeply diverged from Melaenornis Gray, 1840 (Voelker et al. 2016) and thus is moved by AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024) from that genus into the genus erected for it, Sigelus Cabanis, 1850, now aligning on that treatment with Wolters (1980).

Resurrect Tychaedon for five species in Cercotrichas

Summary: (1→2 genera) Five African scrub-robins are moved from Cercotrichas into a resurrected genus, Tychaedon.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 28680–28695, text: Move Karoo Scrub-Robin Cercotrichas coryphoeus, Forest Scrub-Robin Cercotrichas leucosticta, Brown Scrub-Robin Cercotrichas signata, Bearded Scrub-Robin Cercotrichas quadrivirgata, and Miombo Scrub-Robin Cercotrichas barbata into Tychaedon, as Karoo Scrub-Robin Tychaedon coryphoeus, Forest Scrub-Robin Tychaedon leucosticta, Brown Scrub-Robin Tychaedon signata, Bearded Scrub-Robin Tychaedon quadrivirgata, and Miombo Scrub-Robin Tychaedon barbata.

Five species (leucosticta, quadrivirgata, barbata, signata, and coryphaeus) that make up a clade of scrub-robins were long placed in Cercotrichas Boie, 1831, but this was shown to be a paraphyletic grouping (Voelker et al. 2016). Thus they are moved by AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024) to the genus Tychaedon Richmond, 1917, with Tychaedon signata (Sundevall, 1850) as type species. This aligns with Wolters (1980), except that he kept coryphaeus in Cercotrichas.

Move Cossypha isabellae into Cossyphicula

Summary: [1→1 (different) genus] The Mountain Robin-Chat of western Africa is moved from Cossypha into Cossyphicula.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 28933–28935, text: Move polytypic Mountain Robin-Chat Cossypha isabellae into Cossyphicula, as polytypic Mountain Robin-Chat Cossyphicula isabellae (with subspecies batesi and isabellae).

Although long placed in Cossypha Vigors, 1825, the Mountain Robin-Chat Cossypha isabellae Gray, 1862 is now shown on the basis of genetic data (Zhao et al. 2023) to be better placed in the genus Cossyphicula Grote, 1934, with type species Cossyphicula roberti (Alexander, 1903). This treatment by AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024) aligns with BLI v8.1 and IOC-WBL, while Wolters (1980) retained isabellae in Cossypha.

Resurrect Dessonornis for four species in Cossypha

Summary: (1→2 genera) Four African robin-chats are moved from Cossypha to the resurrected genus Dessonornis.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 28936–28951, text: Move Archer’s Robin-Chat Cossypha archeri, Olive-flanked Robin-Chat Cossypha anomala, Cape Robin-Chat Cossypha caffra, and White-throated Robin-Chat Cossypha humeralis into Dessonornis, as Archer’s Robin-Chat Dessonornis archeri (with subspecies archeri and kimbutui), Olive-flanked Robin-Chat Dessonornis anomalus (with subspecies grotei, mbuluensis, macclounii, anomalus, and gurue*), Cape Robin-Chat Dessonornis caffer (with subspecies iolaemus, kivuensis, namaquensis, and caffer), and White-throated Robin-Chat Dessonornis humeralis. *Taxon gurue is synonymized.

Four species (archeri, anomala, caffra, and humeralis) long placed in Cossypha Vigors, 1825 are shown based on genetic data (Zhao et al. 2023) to form a clade that is best separated as the genus Dessonornis Smith, 1836 (sometimes spelled Bessonornis), with type species Dessonornis humeralis (Smith, 1836). This treatment by AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024) now aligns with BLI v8.1, and IOC-WBL; Wolters (1980) placed only humeralis in Dessonornis, with the other three in two different genera: Dryocichloides Irwin and Clancey, 1974 for anomalus and archeri; and Caffrornis Robertson, 1922 for caffer.

Resurrect Pachyglossa for Prionochilus olivaceus and six species of Dicaeum

Summary: (1→2 genera) A third genus of flowerpecker, Pachyglossa, is recognized for seven species distributed from southern Asia through the Philippines.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 29679–29706, text: Move polytypic Olive-backed Flowerpecker Prionochilus olivaceus into Pachyglossa, as Olive-backed Flowerpecker Pachyglossa olivacea (with subspecies parsonsi, samarensis, and olivacea). Move polytypic Thick-billed Flowerpecker Dicaeum agile into Pachyglossa, as Thick-billed Flowerpecker Pachyglossa agilis (with subspecies agilis, zeylonica, modesta, pallescens, atjehensis, finschi, tincta, obsoleta, striatissima, aeruginosa, and affinis). Move polytypic Brown-backed Flowerpecker Dicaeum everetti into Pachyglossa, as Brown-backed Flowerpecker Pachyglossa everetti. Move monotypic Whiskered Flowerpecker Dicaeum proprium into Pachyglossa, as Whiskered Flowerpecker Pachyglossa propria. Move polytypic Yellow-vented Flowerpecker Dicaeum chrysorrheum into Pachyglossa, as Yellow-vented Flowerpecker Pachyglossa chrysorrhea (with subspecies chrysochloris and chrysorrhea). Move monotypic Yellow-bellied Flowerpecker Dicaeum melanozanthum into Pachyglossa, as Yellow-bellied Flowerpecker Pachyglossa melanozantha. Move monotypic White-throated Flowerpecker Dicaeum vincens into Pachyglossa, as White-throated Flowerpecker Pachyglossa vincens. Note gender.

The molecular phylogenies of Saucier et al. (2019) and Fjeldså et al. (2020) show that a third major lineage of flowerpecker Dicaeidae is required. Thus, the genus Pachyglossa Blyth, 1843, with type species Pachyglossa melanoxantha Blyth, 1843, is resurrected by AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024) for six species currently in Dicaeum Cuvier, 1816: proprium, chrysorrheum, vincens, melanozanthum, agile, and everetti, as well as Prionochilus olivaceus. Support for the inclusion of olivaceus in the genus Pachyglossa is however poor and conflicting between analyses, thus requiring further study.

Wolters (1979) included chrysorrheum, vincens, and melanozanthum in Pachyglossa, but he also included two additional species therein, and he used Piprisoma Blyth, 1844 for proprium, agile, and everetti, and Prionochilus Strickland, 1841 for olivaceus.

Subsume Bathilda ruficauda in Emblema

Summary: (2→1 genera) The Star Finch of Australia is moved from Bathilda to the broader Australian genus Emblema.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 30752–30755, text: Move polytypic Star Finch Bathilda ruficauda to Emblema, as Star Finch Emblema ruficauda.

Although branch lengths are somewhat equivocal (Olsson and Alström 2020), and could be interpreted as support for the generic status of Bathilda Reichenbach, 1863, the Star Finch Bathilda ruficauda Gould, 1837 forms a rather tight-knit clade with Emblema Gould, 1842 and Aidemosyne Reichenbach, 1863. These are thus united by AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024) within Emblema, in the case of the present species as Emblema ruficauda. Wolters (1979) used Bathilda.

Subsume Aidemosyne modesta in Emblema

Summary: (2→1 genera) The Plum-headed Finch of Australia is moved from Aidemosyne to the broader Australian genus Emblema.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 30756, text: Move monotypic Plum-headed Finch Aidemosyne modesta to Emblema, as monotypic Plum-headed Finch Emblema modesta.

Although branch lengths in the study of Olsson and Alström (2020) do not provide unequivocal information in this case and could perhaps equally support the generic status of Aidemosyne Reichenbach, 1863, the Plum-headed Finch Aidemosyne modesta Gould, 1837 forms a compact clade with Emblema Gould, 1842 and Bathilda Reichenbach, 1863. Thus, these three are all united by AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024) within Emblema, in the case of the present species as Emblema modesta. Wolters (1979) used Aidemosyne.

Recognize new genus Driophlox for four species in Habia

Summary: (1→2 genera) Four species of Neotropical ant-tanager are moved from Habia to a new genus, Driophlox.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 34190–34201, text: Move Red-throated Ant-Tanager Habia fuscicauda, Sooty Ant-Tanager Habia gutturalis, Black-cheeked Ant-Tanager Habia atrimaxillaris, and Crested Ant-Tanager Habia cristata to Driophlox, as Red-throated Ant-Tanager Driophlox fuscicauda, Sooty Ant-Tanager Driophlox gutturalis, Black-cheeked Ant-Tanager Driophlox atrimaxillaris, and Crested Ant-Tanager Driophlox cristata.

Polyphyly within the long-recognized genus Habia Blyth, 1840, with type species Habia rubica (Temminck, 1823), has led to the erection of the new genus Driophlox Scott et al., 2024 for the other four species in the erstwhile genus: atrimaxillaris; cristata; fuscicauda; and gutturalis) (Scott et al. 2022, 2024). Proposals by K. J. Burns to NACC (2024-C-17, https://americanornithology.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/2024-C-1-26-final.pdf) and SACC (https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCprop1007.htm) were accepted, and this treatment by AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024) now aligns with Chesser et al. (2024), SACC, and IOC-WBL 14.2. All taxa were in Habia (without subgenera) in Wolters (1980).

Nomenclature Changes

Great Spotted Kiwi Apteryx haastii becomes Apteryx maxima

Summary: (1→1 species) The Great Spotted Kiwi’s scientific name referred to a hybrid, and is replaced with Apteryx maxima.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 26, text: Change specific epithet of Great Spotted Kiwi from Apteryx haastii to Apteryx maxima.

The syntypes of the Great Spotted Kiwi, Apteryx haastii Potts, 1872 have been shown genetically to be hybrids of other kiwi species (Shepherd et al. 2021). The name Apteryx maxima Sclater and Hochstetter, 1861 was earlier designated a nomen oblitum (Palma et al. 2003), and given that no other applicable name is available, Apteryx maxima was resurrected by Shepherd et al. (2021). This decision was agreed to by AviList 1.0 and enacted in Clements et al. (2024).

Egretta garzetta nigripes becomes Egretta garzetta immaculata

Summary: (1→1 subspecies) The black-footed Australasian Little Egret subspecies nigripes refers to hybrids and is now replaced by the name immaculata.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 7564, text: Subspecies nigripes is considered an intergrade between yellow-footed Egretta garzetta garzetta and black-footed Australian Egretta garzetta populations, and is thus replaced by immaculata.

The variable and intermediate characteristics of some syntypes of Little Egret Egretta garzetta nigripes (Temminck, 1840) leads to nigripes being considered an intergrade by AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024), and thus the applicable name for the black-footed Australasian populations is Egretta garzetta immaculata (Gould, 1846).

Guanay Cormorant Leucocarbo bougainvillii becomes Leucocarbo bougainvilliorum

Summary: (1→1 species) The specific name of the Guanay Cormorant is emended to reflect the fact that it honors two mariners rather than one.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 7355, text: Change specific epithet of Guanay Cormorant Leucocarbo bougainvillii to bougainvilliorum, asGuanay Cormorant Leucocarbo bougainvilliorum.

The form of the specific epithet of Guanay Cormorant Leucocarbo bougainvillii (Lesson, 1837) is modified to reflect the fact that the species was expressly indicated in the original description as being dedicated to two mariners named Bougainville. This AviList 1.0 decision (enacted in Clements et al. 2024) however does not align with SACC.

Bar-tailed Trogon Apaloderma vittatum camerunensis becomes Apaloderma vittatum camarunense

Summary: (1→1 species) A correction is made to the gender of a subspecies of Bar-tailed Trogon.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 9355, text: Emend subspecific epithet to neuter Apaloderma vittatum camarunense and modify range with recognition of additional taxa.

The subspecific epithet Apaloderma vittatum camerunensis must be emended to the neuter Apaloderma vittatum camerunense (as enacted in Clements et al. 2024) (Kennedy et al. 2022).

Kakapo Strigops habroptila becomes Strigops habroptilus

Summary: (1→1 species) The original spelling of the Kakapo’s specific name, habroptilus, is adopted due to nomenclatural technicality.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 12032, text: Change specific epithet of Kakapo from Strigops habroptila to Strigops habroptilus.

Differences of opinion on whether the specific epithet for the Kakapo Strigops habroptilus Gray, 1845 should be “habroptila” or retain the original spelling of “habroptilus” (e.g., Savage and Digby 2023) are resolved by Article 31.2.2 of the ICZN. This article indicates that when there is doubt as to whether a name is a noun or adjective, it is to be treated as a noun in apposition with gender ending unchanged. Hence, even though the genus Strigops is feminine, the original spelling is retained by AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024).

Resurrect Nannopsittacus for Cyclopsitta melanogenia, Cyclopsitta gulielmitertii, and Cyclopsitta nigrifrons

Summary: (1→2 genera) Dusky-cheeked, Blue-fronted, and Black-fronted fig-parrots are moved from Cyclopsitta to Nannopsittacus based on a nomenclatural technicality.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 12404–12413, text: Move polytypic Dusky-cheeked Fig-Parrot Cyclopsitta melanogenia (with subspecies suavissima, fuscifrons, and melanogenia), monotypic Blue-fronted Fig-Parrot Cyclopsitta gulielmitertii, and polytypic Black-fronted Fig-Parrot Cyclopsitta nigrifrons into Nannopsittacus, as polytypic Dusky-cheeked Fig-Parrot Nannopsittacus melanogenia, monotypic Blue-fronted Fig-Parrot Nannopsittacus gulielmitertii, and polytypic Black-fronted Fig-Parrot Nannopsittacus nigrifrons.

The name Nannopsittacus Mathews, 1916 must be used instead of Suavipsitta Mathews, 1917 because the former is not a junior homonym of Nannopsittaca Ridgway, 1912, given the one-letter rule of ICZN (Art. 57.6). This treatment by AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024) agrees with Wolters (1975).

Calyptomena viridis caudacuta becomes Calyptomena viridis gloriosa

Summary: (1→1 species) The Greater Sundas form of Green Broadbill undergoes a scientific name change, from caudacuta to gloriosa.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 13122–13125, text: Calyptomena viridis caudacuta becomes Calyptomena viridis gloriosa.

Evidence summarized by Wells (2013) led to the conclusion that the type specimen of Green Broadbill Calyptomena viridis Raffles, 1822 originated from the Thai-Malay Peninsula rather than Sumatra. This led to a redefining of the nomenclature and ranges of the subspecies, such that the continental form became the nominate, while subspecies caudacuta Swainson, 1838 becomes a synonym of the nominate. The name for the insular form from Sumatra and Borneo and associated islands becomes Calyptomena viridis gloriosa Deignan, 1947 (Dickinson and Dekker 2000, Wells 2013) in Clements et al. (2024).

Malurus splendens musgravi becomes Malurus splendens callainus

Summary: (1→1 subspecies) A subspecies of the Splendid Fairy-Wren of Australia changes from musgravi to callainus, based on a nomenclatural technicality.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 17486, text: Change subspecific epithet of Splendid Fairy-Wren from Malurus splendens musgravi to Malurus splendens callainus.

The name for a subspecies of the Splendid Fairy-Wren Malurus splendens musgravi Mathews, 1922 is changed to Malurus splendens callainus Gould, 1867. The name callainus was thought to be an intergradient population (Schodde and Mason 1999), but Mees (2003) considered it recognizable and thus that it should not have been replaced by musgravi, and this is followed by Clements et al. (2024). The name callainus was used by Kearns et al. (2024).

Celebesia abbotti becomes Celebesica abbotti

Summary: (1→1 genus) The genus name of the Pygmy Cuckooshrike changes from Celebesia to Celebesica due to a nomenclatural technicality.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 18663, text: Change genus Celebesia to Celebesica, whose single remaining member becomes Celebesica abbotti.

The genus name Celebesia Riley, 1918 is preoccupied by Celebesia Bolivar, 1917. It is thus replaced in Clements et al. (2024) by Celebesica Strand, 1928 (https://www.zoonomen.net/cit/RI/Genera/C/c00527a.jpg). With the transfer by Clements et al. (2024) of Celebesia parvula (Salvadori, 1878) to Coracina, the only remaining species in the genus Celebesica is now the Pygmy Cuckooshrike Celebesica abbotti Riley, 1918.

Rhipidura melaenolaema becomes Rhipidura melanolaema

Summary: (1→1 species) The scientific name of Santa Cruz Fantail is now corrected.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 20122–20126, text: Correct Rhipidura melaenolaema (an ISS) to original spelling Rhipidura melaenolaema.

The specific epithet for the Santa Cruz Fantail is corrected from the incorrect subsequent spelling (ISS) Rhipidura melaenolaema Sharpe, 1879 to the original spelling, Rhipidura melaenolaema in Clements et al. (2024), following Dickinson and Christidis (2014).

Vogelkop Lophorina Lophorina niedda becomes Lophorina superba andGreater Lophorina Lophorina superba becomes Lophorina latipennis

Summary: (1→1 species) The species formerly known as Superb Bird-of-Paradise was split into three species, now called Lophorinas; the taxonomic change led to differences of interpretation of the applicable scientific names, now resolved.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 20376–20378, text: Change species name of Vogelkop Lophorina Lophorina niedda (with subspecies inopinata and niedda) to Vogelkop Lophorina Lophorina superba (with subspecies superba and niedda). Change species name of Greater Lophorina Lophorina superba (with subspecies superba, addenda, and latipennis) to Greater Lophorina Lophorina latipennis (with subspecies feminina, addenda, and latipennis).

An extremely complex nomenclatural situation (Schodde et al. 2021, Elliott et al. 2022) involving the identity and nomenclature of multiple taxa of Lophorina Vieillot, 1816 birds-of-paradise is resolved by AviList 1.0 (as enacted in Clements et al. 2024) returning to the treatment as in BLI v8.1.

Terpsiphone atrocaudata atrocaudata/ilex becomes Terpsiphone atrocaudata atrocaudata/illex

Summary: (1→1 group) A spelling correction is made to a group name of Black Paradise-Flycatcher.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 20494, text: Correct spelling of Black Paradise-Flycatcher Terpsiphone atrocaudata atrocaudata/ilex to Terpsiphone atrocaudata atrocaudata/illex.

This change in Clements et al. (2024) corrects a typographical error in the group name illex in Clements et al. (2024).

Maupiti Monarch Pomarea pomarea becomes Pomarea maupitiensis

Summary: (1→1 species) The scientific name of the extinct Maupiti Monarch, of the Society Islands, is changed from pomarea to maupitiensis due to a nomenclatural technicality.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 20575, text: Change specific epithet of Maupiti Monarch from Pomarea pomarea to Pomarea maupitiensis.

With regard to the names of the Tahiti Monarch Pomarea nigra (Sparrman, 1786) and the extinct Maupiti Monarch Pomarea pomarea (Lesson & Garnot, 1828), Dickinson et al. (2019) lectotypified the names pomarea and maupitiensis (Garnot, 1829), such that the former refers to the Tahiti population (thus becoming a synonym of nigra) and the latter to the Maupiti birds. Thus, AviList 1.0 (as enacted in Clements et al. 2024) adopts Pomarea maupitiensis as the scientific name for Maupiti Monarch.

Collared Crow Corvus pectoralis becomes Corvus torquatus

Summary: (1→1 species) The scientific name for Collared Crow changes from pectoralis to torquatus due to a nomenclatural technicality.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 21391, text: Change specific epithet of Collared Crow from Corvus pectoralis to Corvus torquatus.

The supposed preoccupation of the senior name for the Collared Crow Corvus torquatus Lesson, 1831 by Eurasian Jackdaw Corvus monedula torquata Bechstein, 1791 led to the use of the junior name Corvus pectoralis Gould, 1836 (Blake and Vaurie 1962). However, Bechstein’s name was for an aberration, not a valid taxonomic unit, and thus has no taxonomic standing. Thus, Corvus torquatus is the correct name (AviList 1.0; as enacted in Clements et al. 2024).

Brown-eared Bulbul Hypsipetes amaurotis harterti becomes Hypsipetes amaurotis nagamichii

Summary: (1→1 subspecies) The name for the Taiwanese subspecies of Brown-eared Bulbul is changed from harterti to nagamichii due to a nomenclatural technicality.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 24350, text: Change Hypsipetes amaurotis harterti to Hypsipetes amaurotis nagamichii.

Due to preoccupation of the name Microscelis amaurotis harterti Kuroda, 1922 by Criniger affinis harterti Stresemann, 1912 when both were placed in Hypsipetes Vigors, 1831, and its replacement before 1961 (see Art. 59.3 of ICZN 1999; Dickinson and Christidis 2014), Kuroda’s name is permanently invalid. Thus, the replacement name Hypsipetes amaurotis nagamichii Deignan, 1960 is now used instead of Hypsipetes amaurotis harterti by Clements et al. (2024).

Pellorneum malaccense poliogenys becomes Pellorneum malaccense saturatum and Pellorneum malaccense sordidum becomes Pellorneum malaccense poliogene

Summary: (1→1 species) Major changes in the nomenclature of the Bornean groups of Short-tailed Babbler are detailed below.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 25998–26001, text: Change subspecific epithet of Pellorneum malaccense from poliogenys to saturatum, change English name from Short-tailed Babbler (Glissando) to Short-tailed Babbler (Leaflitter), and modify range. Change subspecific epithet from sordidum to poliogene, change English name from Short-tailed Babbler (Leaflitter) to Short-tailed Babbler (Glissando), and modify range.

The east Bornean population of Short-tailed Babbler Pellorneum malaccense (Hartlaub, 1844), now in the Short-tailed Babbler (Leaflitter) group, is changed in Clements et al. (2024) from Pellorneum malaccense sordidum (Chasen and Kloss, 1929), with type locality of Sandakan, in Sabah, to Pellorneum malaccense poliogene (Strickland, 1849), with type locality Sungei Karau, southeastern Borneo, as both localities are in the range of the eastern group. In addition, the gender ending changes from poliogenys to poliogene. The west Bornean population of Short-tailed Babbler Pellorneum malaccense, now in the Short-tailed Babbler (Glissando) group, is changed in Clements et al. (2024) from Pellorneum malaccense poliogenys to Pellorneum malaccense saturatum (Robinson and Kloss, 1920), given the new circumscription of the ranges of the groups, which are likely to be recognized as distinct species in the future (Eaton et al. 2021).

Red-billed Oxpecker Buphagus erythrorynchus becomes Buphagus erythroryncha

Summary: (1→1 species) The original spelling erythroryncha of the specific name of the Red-billed Oxpecker is adopted.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 27439, text: Spelling of specific epithet for Red-billed Oxpecker Buphagus erythrorynchus reverts to erythroryncha, its original spelling as a noun.

For the Red-billed Oxpecker Buphagus erythroryncha (Stanley, 1814), neither the oft-used spelling “erythrorhynchus” nor “erythrorynchus” can be considered to be in prevailing usage, and “erythroryncha” (the original spelling) is invariable. Thus, the spelling erythroryncha is adopted by AviList 1.0 (enacted in Clements et al. 2024)

Anthus cinnamomeus spurius becomes Anthus cinnamomeus spurium

Summary: (1→1 subspecies) The name of a subspecies of African Pipit is corrected to spurium.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 31499, text: Correct Anthus cinnamomeus spurius to Anthus cinnamomeus spurium.

The name for a subspecies of African Pipit, Anthus cinnamomeus spurius Clancey, 1951, is corrected to Anthus cinnamomeus spurium in Clements et al. (2024).

Subspecies Changes

Recognize Casuarius bennetti westermanni

Summary: (0→2 subspecies) A subspecies of Dwarf Cassowary from the Vogelkop Peninsula of western New Guinea is recognized.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 11–11.2, text: Recognize new subspecies Casuarius bennetti westermanni and modify range of nominate accordingly.

On the Vogelkop Peninsula, the Dwarf Cassowary Casuarius bennettii Gould, 1857 evidently differs from those from elsewhere in the range by having a large whitish occipital patch, and they also show mtDNA divergence (Perron 2011), and thus subspecies westermanni Sclater, 1874 is resurrected (Clements et al. 2024). Questions remain however about the attribution of names (Beehler and Pratt 2016, Folch et al. 2022).Taxon westermanni was originally described as a species.

Synonymize Crypturellus obsoletus hypochraceus

Summary: (9→8 subspecies) A subspecies of Brown Tinamou from southwestern Brazil is synonymized.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 94–104, text: Synonymize Crypturellus obsoletus hypochraceus with Crypturellus obsoletus griseiventris and modify range of griseiventris accordingly.

One of the several forms of Brown Tinamou Crypturellus obsoletus (Temminck, 1815), subspecies Crypturellus obsoletus hypochraceus (Miranda-Ribeiro, 1938) from southwestern Brazil was shown by Gomes and Silveira (2021) to be indistinguishable from subspecies Crypturellus obsoletus griseiventris (Salvadori, 1895) (Gomes 2024) and is thus treated as a synonym of griseiventris by Clements et al. (2024). Taxon hypochraceus was originally described as a species.

Recognize Penelope superciliaris pseudonyma

Summary: (3→4 subspecies) A subspecies of Rusty-margined Guan from the left bank of the Tapajós River in Amazonia is recognized.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 874, text: Add subspecies Penelope superciliaris pseudonyma (Evangelista-Vargas et al. 2017).

A subspecies of Rusty-margined Guan Penelope superciliaris Temminck, 1815 that was formerly subsumed, Penelope superciliaris pseudonyma Neumann, 1933 from the left bank of the Tapajós River in Amazonia, was shown by Evangelista-Vargas et al. (2017) to be distinctive, so much so that it is a candidate for species status, and is hence resurrected here (Clements et al. 2024, del Hoyo and Kirwan 2024). Taxon pseudonyma was originally described as a subspecies.

Synonymize Penelope obscura bronzina

Summary: (2→0 subspecies) A subspecies of Dusky-legged Guan from eastern Brazil is synonymized.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 893, text: Synonymize Penelope obscura bronzina with Penelope obscura obscura, rendering P. obscura monotypic. See Evangelista-Vargas and Silveira (2018).

A subspecies of Dusky-legged Guan Penelope obscura Temminck, 1815, Penelope obscura bronzina Hellmayr, 1914, from eastern Brazil has been shown to be indistinguishable from the nominate (Evangelista-Vargas and Silveira 2018) and is thus treated as a synonym of the nominate (Clements et al. 2024, del Hoyo and Kirwan 2024). Taxon bronzina was originally described as a subspecies.

Synonymize Callipepla douglasii languens

Summary: (6→5 subspecies) A subspecies of Elegant Quail from Chihuahua, western Mexico, is synonymized.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 1057–1063, text: Synonymize Callipepla douglasii languens with Callipepla douglasii bensoni and modify range of bensoni accordingly.

The subspecies of Elegant Quail Callipepla douglasii (Vigors, 1829) described from Chihuahua, Callipepla douglasii languens (Friedmann, 1943), has been shown to be variable in plumage and to intergrade with Callipepla douglasii bensoni Ridgway, 1887 (Blanco et al. 2017, Brown and McGee 2024), and is thus treated as a synonym of bensoni by Clements et al. (2024). Taxon languens was originally described as a subspecies.

Recognize Lerwa lerwa major

Summary: (0→2 subspecies) A subspecies of Snow Partridge from central China is recognized.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 1198–1198.2, text: Add subspecies Lerwa lerwa major and modify range of nominate accordingly.

In alignment with BLI and Dickinson and Remsen (2013), the central China subspecies of Snow Partridge Lerwa lerwa Hodgson, 1833, Lerwa lerwa major Meinertzhagen, 1927, is considered to be distinct (Yao et al. 2022) and is thus treated as a valid subspecies by Clements et al. (2024). However, variability in plumage and size may not be constant (Madge and McGowan 2002, McGowan and Kirwan 2024). Taxon major was originally described as a subspecies.

Recognize Tympanuchus phasianellus hueyi

Summary: (6→7 subspecies) An extinct subspecies of Sharp-tailed Grouse from New Mexico is recognized.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 1294–1300.5, text: Recognize new subspecies Tympanuchus phasianellus hueyi.

In alignment with BLI, Dickinson and Remsen (2013), and IOC-WBL, the extinct (c. 1952) northeastern New Mexico subspecies of Sharp-tailed Grouse Tympanuchus phasianellus hueyi Dickerman and Hubbard, 1994 is considered valid (Dickerman and Hubbard 1994, Clements et al. 2024, Connelly et al. 2024). Taxon hueyi was originally described as a subspecies.

Recognize Lagopus lagopus hibernica

Summary: (19→20 subspecies) A subspecies of Willow Ptarmigan from Ireland is recognized.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 1319, text: Add subspecies hibernica to Willow Ptarmigan Lagopus lagopus, as Lagopus lagopus hibernica and Lagopus lagopus scotica and modify range of scotica accordingly.

The Irish population of Willow Ptarmigan Lagopus lagopus (Linnaeus, 1758) differs subtly in plumage, habitat, and, according to two studies, genetically, from Lagopus lagopus scotica (Latham, 1787) (Anon. 2011, Sangster et al. 2022) and is here resurrected (Clements et al. 2024, Hannon et al. 2024). Taxon hibernica was originally described as a species.

Recognize Scleroptila levaillantii crawshayi and momboloensis

Summary: (2→4 subspecies) Two further subspecies of Red-winged Francolin, one from northeastern Zambia and northern Malawi and the other from Angola and western Zambia, are recognized.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 1639–1641, text: Add new subspecies Scleroptila levaillantii crawshayi and momboloensis and modify ranges of kikuyuensis and nominate accordingly.

Although both are often synonymized, recent work (Dowsett et al. 2008, Mandiwana-Neudani et al. 2019) has shown that two subspecies of Red-winged Francolin Scleroptila levaillantii (Valenciennes, 1825), Scleroptila levaillantii crawshayi (Ogilvie-Grant, 1896) of northeastern Zambia and northern Malawi, and Scleroptila levaillantii momboloensis (White 1952) of Angola and western Zambia, are recognizable. They are thus treated as valid here (Clements et al. 2024, Moura et al. 2024). Taxon crawshayi was originally described as a species, while momboloensis was originally described as a subspecies.

Recognize Columba janthina stejnegeri

Summary: (2→3 subspecies) A subspecies of Black Wood-Pigeon from the southern Ryukyu Islands, southern Japan, is recognized.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 1878–1880, text: Add new subspecies Columba janthina stejnegeri.

In alignment with BLI and IOC-WBL, the smaller, shorter-tailed subspecies of Black Wood-Pigeon Columba janthina stejnegeri (Kuroda, 1923) of the southern Ryukyu Islands is recognized (Clements et al. 2024, Baptista et al. 2024). Taxon stejnegeri was originally described as a subspecies.

Recognize seven subspecies in Treron curvirostra

Summary: (2→7 subspecies) Five further subspecies of Thick-billed Green-Pigeon from southern and southeastern Asia are recognized.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 2468–2477, text: Recognize 7 subspecies for Treron curvirostra, with nipalensis, hainanus, curvirostra, haliplous, and pegus in the curvirostra group, and smicrus and hypothapsinus in the hypothapsinus group and modify ranges accordingly.

Although their validity is disputed (e.g., del Hoyo and Collar 2014, who considered the species monotypic), other sources (e.g., IOC-WBL, Eaton et al. 2021) recognize multiple subspecies within Thick-billed Green-Pigeon Treron curvirostra (Hodgson, 1836), including taxa from islands west of Sumatra that may deserve specific status (Eaton et al. 2021). One subspecies, pegus Oberholser, 1912 from Nias Island was shown to be misallocated to the hypothapsinus Oberholser, 1912 group (Rheindt et al. 2020). The number of recognized subspecies of Treron curvirostra in Clements et al. (2024) is now seven. Of the taxa newly added, only nipalensis was originally described as a full species.

Recognize Treron sphenurus delacouri and etorques

Summary: (3→5 subspecies) Two further subspecies of the Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon, one from Vietnam and the other from Sumatra, are recognized.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 2528–2531, text: Add new subspecies Treron sphenurus delacouri and Treron sphenurus etorques and modify ranges of robinsoni and korthalsi accordingly.

 In alignment with BLI and IOC-WBL, two subspecies of Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon Treron sphenurus (Vigors, 1832) that were previously subsumed are now recognized by Clements et al. (2024): Treron sphenurus delacouri Biswas, 1950, from the mountains of central Vietnam and formerly subsumed in Treron sphenurus robinsoni (Ogilvie-Grant, 1906), of the Malayan Peninsula; and Treron sphenurus etorques (Salvadori, 1879) from Sumatra, formerly subsumed in Treron sphenurus korthalsi (Bonaparte, 1855) (Violani 1980, van Marle and Voous 1988, Baptista et al. 2024).Taxon etorques was originally described as a species, while delacouri was described as a subspecies.

Recognize Centropus cupreicaudus songweensis

Summary: (0→2 subspecies) Southern Tanzania has its own subspecies of Coppery-tailed Coucal, though its differences from the nominate are subtle.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 3064–3064.2, text: Add new subspecies Centropus cupreicaudus songweensis and modify range of nominate accordingly.

In alignment with Dickinson and Remsen (2013), BLI, IOC-WBL, and Payne (2005), subspecies songweensis Benson, 1948 of Coppery-tailed Coucal Centropus cupreicaudus Reichenow, 1896 (Benson 1948) is recognized (Clements et al. 2024). However, the validity of songweensis has been disputed (Fry et al. 1988) and careful study is required. Taxon songweensis was originally described as a subspecies.

Recognize Zanclostomus javanicus pallidus

Summary: (0→2 subspecies) The Javan nominate of Red-billed Malkoha and the subspecies from elsewhere in the species’ Sundaic range are recognized as different.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 3124–3124.2, text: Add new subspecies Zanclostomus javanicus pallidus and modify range of nominate accordingly.

The subspecies of Red-billed Malkoha Zanclostomus javanicus pallidus Robinson and Kloss, 1921, of the Malayan Peninsula and Greater Sundas (except Java) is recognized by Clements et al. (2024) as distinct from Zanclostomus javanicus javanicus (Horsfield, 1821). This follows Payne (2005) and aligns with IOC-WBL; the range of the nominate thus is restricted to Java (Payne and Hansasuta 2024). Some other checklists (BLI v8.1, Dickinson and Remsen (2013) also recognize natunensis Chasen, 1935, restricted to Natuna Island, in the Riau Archipelago. Taxon pallidus was originally described as a subspecies.

Recognize Eudynamys scolopaceus corvinus

Summary: (5→6 subspecies) Asian Koels from the northern Moluccas, which seem to differ vocally from other taxa, are recognized as a distinct subspecies.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 3219-3224, text: Add new subspecies Eudynamys scolopaceus corvinus from northern Moluccas and modify range of mindanensis accordingly.

Asian Koel subspecies Eudynamys scolopaceus corvinus Stresemann, 1931 of the northern Moluccas is recognized by Clements et al. (2024) as distinct from Eudynamys scolopaceus mindanensis (Linnaeus, 1766). Taxon corvinus is a potential species-level candidate based on bare parts coloration and voice (Eaton et al. 2021). However, corvinus was placed within Eudynamys orientalis by BLI v8.1, and the two subspecies are indeed similar in measurements and female plumage (Limparungpatthanakij 2024). Taxon corvinus was originally described as a subspecies.

Recognize Cacomantis flabelliformis meeki

Summary: (5→6 subspecies) The Fan-tailed Cuckoo is now considered to be an endemic subspecies to the Solomon Islands, where it is rare and mysterious, so careful documentation is needed.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 3298–3304, text: Add new subspecies Cacomantis flabelliformis meeki.

The highly polytypic Fan-tailed Cuckoo Cuculus flabelliformis (Latham, 1801) includes multiple taxa with distinctive plumage and vocalizations. However, further sampling and analyses are required before species limits can be addressed. The presence of this species in the Solomons was long ago documented, and the taxon there was named Cacomantis meeki Rothschild and Hartert, 1902. However, since then there have been very few Solomons records and the subspecies has not always been recognized, with the rationale that they may be migrants (Dutson 2011). Treatment of Cacomantis flabelliformis meeki as a valid taxon by Clements et al. (2024) aligns with Wolters (1976), Dickinson and Remsen (2013), IOC-WBL, and BLI. Taxon meeki was originally described as a species.

Synonymize Cacomantis sonneratii malayanus

Summary: (5→4 subspecies) The described subspecies of Bay-banded Cuckoo from the Malayan Peninsula is not considered recognizable.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 3306–3311, text: Synonymize subspecies Cacomantis sonneratii malayanus with nominate and modify range of nominate accordingly.

The Bay-banded Cuckoo subspecies Cacomantis sonneratii malayanus (Chasen and Kloss, 1931), recognized by Peters (1940) for most of the Malayan Peninsula, is deemed undiagnosable and hence synonymized by Clements et al. (2024) with nominate Cacomantis sonneratii(Latham, 1790), aligning with Wolters (1976), Dickinson and Remsen (2013), BLI, and IOC-WBL. Taxon malayanus was originally described as a subspecies.

Recognize Cercococcyx mechowi lemaireae

Summary: (0→2 subspecies) The striking vocal differences in Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo between eastern and western Africa suggest they are different species, but pending study they are considered distinct subspecies.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 3341–343, text: Add new subspecies lemaireae, as Cercococcyx mechowi lemaireae, and modify range of nominate accordingly.

Although morphological differences, if any exist, remain to be elucidated, West African Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo Cercococcyx mechowi Cabanis, 1882 has been shown to have striking vocal differences from birds of Cameroon eastwards (Chappuis 2000, Dowsett and Dowsett-Lemaire 2015, Boesman and Collar 2019). These differences are atypical of subspecies among cuckoos, but given that no other differences are known, the newly described taxon Cercococcyx lemaireae Boesman and Collar, 2019 from central Africa is treated by AviList 1.0 (as enacted by Clements et al. 2024) at the subspecies level, as Cercococcyx mechowi lemaireae, pending further study, aligning with IOC-WBL 14.2. Taxon lemaireae was originally described as a species.

Recognize Thinornis cucullatus tregellasi

Summary: (0→2 subspecies) The Hooded Plover population of western Australia differs from those in the east in numerous ways and is now treated as a subspecies.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 5780–5780.2, text: Add new subspecies Thinornis cucullatus tregellasi and modify range of nominate accordingly.

Although long treated as monotypic, including by Peters (1937), populations of the Hooded Plover Thinornis cucullatus (Vieillot, 1818) in western Australia show several morphological, behavioral, and ecological differences from those in the east (Weston et al. 2020). Thus, the name Charadrius cucullatus tregellasi Mathews, 1912 is resurrected by Clements et al. (2024) for the western population. Taxon tregellasi was originally described as a subspecies.

Recognize Thinornis novaeseelandiae rossii

Summary: (0→2 subspecies) An extinct taxon of Shore Plover probably from Auckland Islands, southeast of New Zealand, is recognized.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 5782–5782.2, text: Add new subspecies Thinornis novaeseelandiae rossii and modify range of nominate accordingly.

The long-neglected, extinct Thinornis rossii Gray, 1845 was found by Kirwan and Collar (2020) to be somewhat differentiated from the nominate, and to have probably originated in the Auckland Islands, as first indicated (Wiersma et al. 2024). It is reinstated by Clements et al. (2024) on this basis as a subspecies of Shore Plover Thinornis novaeseelandiae (Gmelin, 1789). Taxon rossii was originally described as a species.

Synonymize Jacana spinosa gymnostoma and violacea

Summary: (3→0 subspecies) The Northern Jacana does not have well-marked subspecies, and is now considered monotypic.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 5925, text: Synonymize Jacana spinosa gymnostoma and Jacana spinosa violacea with nominate, rendering Jacana spinosa as monotypic.

Three subspecies have often been recognized for Northern Jacana Jacana spinosa (Linnaeus, 1758) since Peters (1937) and Wetmore (1965), but several other authorities have considered the variation to be of an individual nature, and treated the species as monotypic (Hellmayr and Conover 1948, Wolters 1975, Blake 1977, Dickinson and Remsen 2013, IOC-WBL). Thus, the putative subspecies Jacana spinosa gymnostoma (Wagler, 1831) from Mexico and Jacana spinosa violacea (Cory, 1881) from the Greater Antilles are considered by Clements et al. (2024) to be synonyms of the nominate. Both gymnostoma and violacea were originally described as species.

Recognize Scolopax celebensis heinrichi

Summary: (0→2 subspecies) Though extremely poorly known, the Sulawesi Woodcock of northern Sulawesi is considered a distinct subspecies.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 6011–6011.2, text: Add new subspecies Scolopax celebensis heinrichi and modify range of nominate accordingly.

Although sometimes treated as monotypic (White and Bruce 1986), the Sulawesi Woodcock Scolopax celebensis Riley, 1921 population of the northern arm of Sulawesi is rather widely disjunct from that of central Sulawesi. Both are very poorly known, but Kennedy et al. (2001) considered Scolopax celebensis heinrichi 1932 to be diagnosable, and it is recognized by Clements et al. (2024), aligning with Peters (1937), BLI, and IOC-WBL. Taxon heinrichi was originally described as a subspecies.

Recognize Phoenicopterus ruber glyphorhynchus

Summary: (0→2 subspecies) The widely separated Galapagos population of American Flamingo is considered a distinct subspecies.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 6732–6732.2, text: Add new subspecies Phoenicopterus ruber glyphorhynchus and modify range of nominate accordingly.

Despite its great isolation, the Galapagos Islands population of American Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber Linnaeus, 1758 has not usually been recognized even at the subspecific level (Peters 1931, Wolters 1975, BLI, IOC-WBL). However, it differs from the Caribbean nominate in its smaller size, reduced sexual dimorphism, smaller eggs, and reduced heterozygosity (Frias-Soler 2014, 2022). Hence, the name Phoenicopterus ruber glyphorhynchus Gray, 1869 is resurrected by Clements et al. (2024) for the Galapagos taxon. Taxon glyphorhynchus was originally described as a species.

Recognize Procellaria aequinoctialis steadi

Summary: (0→2 subspecies) The New Zealand area population of White-chinned Petrel is considered a distinct subspecies.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 7113–7113.2, text: Add new subspecies Procellaria aequinoctialis steadi and modify range of nominate accordingly.

Although recognized by few works (IOC-WBL), the New Zealand area population of White-chinned Petrel Procellaria aequinoctialis Linnaeus, 1758 has been shown to form a distinct genetic group (Techow et al. 2009, Rexer-Huber et al. 2019) that was originally described as Procellaria aequinoctialis steadi Mathews, 1912, and is thus resurrected by Clements et al. (2024). According to Harrison et al. (2021), steadi often differs phenotypically from the nominate in having little or no white on the chin. Taxon steadi was originally described as a subspecies.

Synonymize Phalacrocorax punctatus oliveri

Summary: (2→0 subspecies) The Spotted Shag is now monotypic, though the North Island population is genetically distinct.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 7325, text: Synonymize subspecies oliveri with nominate Phalacrocorax punctatus punctatus, rendering the species monotypic.

The Spotted Shag Phalacrocorax punctatus (Sparrman, 1786) has long considered by most sources to be comprised of two subspecies. However, Rawlence et al. (2019) have shown that no morphological characters or genetic variation consistently separate Phalacrocorax punctatus oliveri Mathews, 1930 of western South Island from the nominate of North Island and eastern South Island. Hence, the species is now considered monotypic by Clements et al. (2024), although Rawlence et al. (2019) found that the North Island population is genetically diverged and further study is required. Taxon oliveri was originally described as a full species.

Recognize Cathartes aura meridionalis

Summary: (4→5 subspecies) The subspecies of Turkey Vulture from western North America is treated as valid.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 7724, text: Add new subspecies Cathartes aura meridionalis for western North America populations and modify range of the nominate accordingly.

The Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura (Linnaeus, 1758) of western North America north of Mexico is larger than the nominate, although there are intermediate individuals (Kirk et al. 2024). Following Wetmore (1964), the subspecies Cathartes aura meridionalis Swann, 1921 is resurrected by Clements et al. (2024). Taxon meridionalis was originally described as a subspecies.

Synonymize Buteogallus anthracinus utilensis

Summary: (5→4 subspecies) The Common Black Hawk of Isla Utila, off Honduras, is considered the same as the nominate subspecies.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 8316, text: Synonymize Buteogallus anthracinus utilensis with Buteogallus anthracinus anthracinus and modify range of nominate accordingly.

The characters of the Common Black Hawk Buteogallus anthracinus (Deppe, 1830) subspecies Buteogallus anthracinus utilensis Twomey, 1956 of Isla Utila, Gulf of Honduras (Twomey 1956), have been shown to be found in populations of the nominate (e.g., Amadon 1961). Hence, it is synonymized here with the nominate subspecies (Clements et al. 2024, Johnson and Schnell 2024). Taxon utilensis was originally described as a subspecies.

Recognize Buteo jamaicensis abieticola and suttoni

Summary: (14→16 subspecies) Following extensive research, two more subspecies of Red-tailed Hawk have been identified as valid, one from most of Canada and the other from the tip of Baja California.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 8410–8429, text:Recognize abieticola as a valid subspecies of Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis and modify range of calurus and borealis accordingly. Recognize suttoni as a subspecies of Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis.

Although its validity has long been a matter of contention, the validity of the boreal-breeding subspecies abieticola Todd, 1950 of Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis (Gmelin, 1788) has been affirmed through ongoing studies of plumage and genomics (Robinson et al. 2024), now enacted by Clements et al. (2024), as discussed in Preston and Beane (2024). In addition, the population resident in southern Baja California, Buteo jamaicensis suttoni Dickerman, 1993, has been shown to require recognition, now enacted by Clements et al. (2024). Both abieticola and suttoni were originally described as subspecies.

Recognize Otus lettia cnephaeus

Summary: (5→6 subspecies) The population of scops-owls in the Malayan Peninsula formerly placed in Sunda Scops-Owl is moved to the Collared Scops-Owl following a vocal analysis.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 8600, text: Recognize subspecies cnephaeus as part of Otus lettia. Recognize the taxon that occurs in Peninsular Malaysia to Singapore as Otus lettia cnephaeus and modify range of Otus lempiji accordingly.

The scops-owl taxon cnephaeus Deignan, 1950 has been the subject of much controversy in the literature, largely owing to its distinctive vocalizations that even prompted calls for it to be considered a full species (König et al. 2008). A recent comprehensive analysis of vocalizations (Wu and Rheindt 2023) indicated that cnephaeus should be resurrected and considered part of Collared Scops-Owl Otus lettia (Hodgson, 1836), as enacted by Clements et al. (2024). Note also the major change to ranges (Holt et al. 2024), aligning with IOC-WBL and AviList 1.0. Taxon cnephaeus was originally described as a subspecies.

Recognize Apaloderma vittatum francisci and delhoyoi

Summary: (2→4 subspecies) A major revision of the Bar-tailed Trogon showed it to be much more geographically variable than previously thought, with four subspecies, and possibly two species.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 9353–9355.2, text: Add new subspecies Apaloderma vittatum francisci and delhoyoi and modify range of camerunense accordingly.

In a recent analysis of morphology including from photographs of living birds, Kennedy et al. (2022) showed that current subspecies boundaries of the Bar-tailed Trogon Apaloderma vittatum Shelley, 1882 are problematic. Based on their findings, they propose species rank for the western African camerunense (Reichenow, 1902), resuscitate subspecies francisci Alexander, 1903 for the Bioko (Gulf of Guinea) population, and describe a new subspecies from central Africa, delhoyoi Kennedy et al., 2022. Here (Clements et al. 2024), all taxa proposed for recognition in Kennedy et al. (2022) are considered subspecies, pending a formal evaluation of species limits within the complex. Of these taxa, francisci was originally described at the species level, while camerunense and delhoyoi were described as subspecies.

Synonymize Trogon melanurus occidentalis

Summary: (4→3 subspecies) A subspecies of Black-tailed Trogon with an erroneous southern Brazil range is synonymized.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 9425–9429, text: Subspecies occidentalis is synonymized with Trogon melanurus eumorphus and range of eumorphus is modified accordingly.

The putative subspecies of Black-tailed Trogon Trogon melanurus Swainson, 1838, from western Amazonian Brazil, occidentalis Pinto, 1950 is synonymized by Clements et al. (2024) with Trogon melanurus eumorphus Zimmer, 1948 (Collar 2001). The range statement attributed to occidentalis of “SE Brazil (São Paulo region)” in Clements since at least Clements (2007) was in error; the type locality of occidentalis is Rio Eiru, in western Amazonas, western Brazil (https://www.zoonomen.net/cit/RI/SP/Troc/troc00819a.jpg) (Pinto 1950, Collar and Kirwan 2024). Taxon occidentalis was originally described as a subspecies.

Synonymize Pelargopsis capensis nesoeca and isoptera

Summary: (15→13 subspecies) Two subspecies of Stork-billed Kingfisher from islands west of Sumatra are not considered valid.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 9941–9956, text: Synonymize Pelargopsis capensis nesoeca and Pelargopsis capensis isoptera with Pelargopsis capensis sodalis and modify range of sodalis accordingly.

Three subspecies of Stork-billed Kingfisher Pelargopsis capensis (Linnaeus, 1766) described from the islands west of Sumatra—sodalis Richmond, 1903 of Banyak, nesoeca (Oberholser, 1909) of Nias and Batu, and isoptera (Oberholser, 1909) of the Mentawai Archipelago—have been considered undiagnosable (Ripley 1944, Rheindt et al. 2020) and are hence synonymized (Eaton et al. 2021, Woodall and Kirwan 2020, Clements et al. 2024). Both nesoeca and isoptera were originally described as subspecies.

Recognize Upupa epops saturata

Summary: (7→8 subspecies) The eastern Palearctic subspecies of Eurasian Hoopoe is considered recognizable.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 9504, text: Add new subspecies saturata to Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops and modify range of the nominate accordingly.

Populations of the Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops Linnaeus, 1758 from the eastern Palearctic are generally darker and more richly colored below and grayer above than the nominate (Ericson 1997, Mlodinow and Pyle 2024), and are thus resurrected by Clements et al. (2024) as subspecies Upupa epops saturata Lönnberg, 1909. Taxon saturata was originally described as a subspecies.

Recognize Pogoniulus uropygialis eupterus

Summary: (with split of Pogoniulus pusillus, 3→3 subspecies) The East African subspecies of Northern Red-fronted Tinkerbird is considered recognizable.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 10503–10505.1, text: Add new subspecies Pogoniulus uropygialis eupterus and modify range of affinis accordingly.

A previously synonymized subspecies of Northern Red-fronted Tinkerbird Pogoniulus uropygialis (Heuglin, 1862) from eastern Africa, eupterus Grote, 1928, was found to be genetically distinctive though morphologically cryptic (Kirschel et al 2021), and is thus resurrected by Clements et al. (2024). Taxon eupterus was originally described as a subspecies.

Recognize Yungipicus kizuki ijimae and kurodae

Summary: (11→13 subspecies) Two further subspecies are recognized in Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker, one from Sakhalin and the other from the southern Kuril Islands.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 11138–11149, text: Add new subspecies Yungipicus kizuki ijimae and kurodae and modify range of seebohmi accordingly.

Based on the comprehensive study of Red’kin and Zhigir (2020; https://openpolar.no/Record/ftdatacite:10.24412%2Fcl-18610451), two previously subsumed subspecies of Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker Yungipicus kizuki (Temminck, 1835) are recognized by Clements et al. (2024): ijimae Taka-Tsukasa, 1922 from Sakhalinand kurodae Bergman, 1931 from the southern Kuril Islands. Bothijimae and kurodae were originally described as subspecies.

Recognize Dryobates lignarius puncticeps

Summary: (0→2 subspecies) The Bolivian and far northern Argentine population of Striped Woodpecker is recognized as a valid subspecies.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 11365–11367, text: Add new subspecies and new monotypic group Striped Woodpecker (Bolivian) Dryobates lignarius puncticeps and modify range of the nominate accordingly.

An isolated population of Striped Woodpecker Dryobates lignarius (Molina, 1782) in southern Bolivia and northwestern Argentina has often not been recognized even as a subspecies (e.g., by Winkler et al. 1995). However, it has been found to differ in vocalizations from the nominate, suggesting it may even be a valid species (Pearman and Areta 2021), and is thus resurrected by Clements et al. (2024), as Dryobates lignarius puncticeps (d’Orbigny, 1840) (Winkler et al. 2024). Taxon puncticeps was originally described as a species.

Synonymize Falco peregrinus submelanogenys

Summary: (19→18 subspecies) A subspecies of Peregrine Falcon described from southwestern Australia is considered unrecognizable.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 11997–12018, text: Synonymize Falco peregrinus submelanogenys with Falco peregrinus macropus and retain as monotypic group Peregrine Falcon (Australian) Falco peregrinus macropus; modify range to “Australia”.

The population of Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus Tunstall, 1771 of southwestern Australia has been considered a separate subspecies from that of the rest of Australia, as Falco peregrinus submelanogenys Mathews, 1912. The diagnosability of submelanogenys is doubtful, however (e.g., del Hoyo and Collar 2016, R. Schodde in litt.), and it is thus synonymized by Clements et al. (2024), rendering the Peregrine Falcon (Australian) group monotypic (White et al. 2024). Taxon submelanogenys was originally described as a subspecies.

Recognize Cacatua sulphurea paulandrewi

Summary: (5→6 subspecies) The Tukangbesi or Wakatobi Islands southeast of Sulawesi have an endemic subspecies of the now-rare Yellow-crested Cockatoo.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 11966–11971, text: Add new subspecies paulandrewi to Yellow-crested Cockatoo Cacatua sulphurea and modify range of Cacatua sulphurea djampeana accordingly.

A new subspecies of Yellow-crested Cockatoo Cacatua sulphurea (Gmelin, 1788) was described from the Tukangbesi or Wakatobi Islands, southeast of Sulawesi. This new subspecies, Cacatua sulphurea paulandrewi Collar and Marsden, 2014, differs from djampeana Hartert, 1897 in size of bill and cheek patch (Collar and Marsden 2014) and is thus recognized by Clements et al. (2024). Taxon paulandrewi was originally described as a subspecies.

Synonymize Trichoglossus iris rubripileum

Summary: (3→2 subspecies) The eastern Timor population of Iris Lorikeet is considered unrecognizable.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 12528–12531, text: Synonymizesubspecies rubripileum with Iris Lorikeet Trichoglossus iris iris and modify range of iris accordingly.

The population of Iris Lorikeet Trichoglossus iris (Temminck, 1835) described from eastern Timor as rubripileum (Salvadori, 1891) has long been considered of doubtful validity (e.g., del Hoyo and Collar 2014), and is thus synonymized with the nominate by Clements et al. (2024). Taxon rubripileum was originally described as a species.

Recognize Forpus xanthopterygius flavescensand flavissimus

Summary: (0→3 subspecies) Two further taxa are recognized for the Cobalt-rumped Parakeet, one from Peru and Bolivia, and the other from northeastern Brazil.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 12868–12868.3, text: Add new subspecies flavescens and flavissimus to Cobalt-rumped Parrotlet Forpus xanthopterygius and modify range of nominate accordingly.

Variation within Cobalt-rumped Parrotlet Forpus xanthopterygius (Spix, 1824) may be interpreted as largely ecomorphological and thus uninformative taxonomically (Bocalini and Silveira 2015), or as supporting the recognition of three subspecies: the nominate of the southern part of its range, including northeastern Argentina; flavescens (Salvadori, 1891) of Peru and Bolivia; and flavissimus Hellmayr, 1929 of northeastern Brazil (Collar et al. 2024). Treatment as polytypic, as by Clements et al. (2024), aligns with Dickinson and Remsen (2013) and del Hoyo and Collar (2014), but not BLI v8.1 and IOC-WBL. Taxon flavescens was originally described as a species, while flavissimus was described as a subspecies.

Recognize Sakesphoroides cristatus niedeguidonae

Summary: (0→2 subspecies) Females of Silvery-cheeked Antshrike from either side of the São Francisco River in the Caatinga of northeastern Brazil differ quite strikingly, leading to the description of a putative new species.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 13361–13363, text: Add new subspecies niedeguidonae to Silvery-cheeked Antshrike Sakesphoroides cristatus and modify range of nominate accordingly.

The Silvery-cheeked Antshrike Sakesphoroides cristatus (Wied-Neuwied, 1831) of the Caatinga biome has long been considered monotypic, but the analysis of Cerqueira et al. (2024) found remarkable diversification largely on either side of the São Francisco River in northeastern Brazil. They named a new taxon from the north of the river: Sakesphoroides cristatus niedeguidonae Cerqueira et al., 2024. Its taxonomic status remains to be formally evaluated and hence it is presently treated as a subspecies by Clements et al. (2024). Taxon niedeguidonae was originally described as a full species.

Recognize Sclerurus rufigularis furfurosus

Summary: (3→4 subspecies) The Short-billed Leaftosser population from northeastern Amazonia is considered a distinct subspecies.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 14395–14397.5, text: Add new subspecies Sclerurus rufigularis furfurosus and modify range of brunnescens accordingly.

In alignment with Dickinson and Christidis (2014) and IOC-WBL, the northeastern Amazonian subspecies of Short-billed Leaftosser Sclerurus rufigularis Pelzeln, 1868, furfurosus Todd, 1948 is recognized by Clements et al. (2024). It is described as being generally paler overall (Todd 1948, Remsen 2024). Taxon furfurosus was originally described as a subspecies.

Synonymize Sclerurus caudacutus olivascens and recognize caligineus

Summary: (6→6 subspecies) A subspecies of Black-tailed Leaftosser from east Peru and west Bolivia is considered invalid, while another one from northeastern Brazil is recognized as valid.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 14403–14409, text: Synonymize olivascens with Sclerurus caudacutus brunneus and modify range of brunneus accordingly. Add new subspecies Sclerurus caudacutus caligineus and modify range of umbretta accordingly.

With the synonymy of subspecies olivascens Cabanis, 1873 of eastern Peru and western Bolivia, and recognition of caligineus Pinto, 1954 from Alagoas, northeastern Brazil, treatment of subspecies in Black-tailed Leaftosser Sclerurus caudacutus (Vieillot, 1816) by Clements et al. (2024) now aligns with Dickinson and Christidis (2014), del Hoyo and Collar (2016), IOC-WBL, and Remsen (2024). Taxon olivascens was originally described as a species, while caligineus was described as a subspecies.

Synonymize Syndactyla dimidiata baeri

Summary: (2→0 subspecies) The Russet-mantled Foliage-gleaner subspecies from southeastern Brazil to Paraguay is considered unrecognizable.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 15028, text: Synonymize subspecies baeri with Syndactyla dimidiata dimidiata, rendering Syndactyla dimidiata monotypic.

Variation within the Russet-mantled Foliage-gleaner Syndactyla dimidiata (Pelzeln, 1859) that led to the description of subspecies baeri (Hellmayr, 1911) from the southeastern part of its range has recently been shown not to be of taxonomic significance (Lopes and Gonzaga 2014, Remsen et al. 2024). Thus, baeri is synonymized into the nominate by Clements et al. (2024), aligning with del Hoyo and Collar (2014) and IOC-WBL. Taxon baeri was originally described as a species.

Recognize Asthenes modesta hilereti and cordobae

Summary: (0→2 subspecies) Two further populations of Cordilleran Canastero are recognized, one from northwestern Argentina and the other from north-central Argentina.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 15266–15271, text: Add new subspecies Asthenes modesta hilereti and modify range of nominate accordingly. Add new subspecies Asthenes modesta cordobae and modify range of serrana and australis accordingly.

With the recognition of two further subspecies within Cordilleran Canastero Asthenes modesta (Eyton, 1852)—cordobae Nores and Yzurieta, 1980 of the mountains of north-central Argentina, and hilereti (Oustalet, 1904) of northwestern Argentina—the Clements et al. (2024) treatment now aligns with Remsen (2024) and others. Taxon hilereti was originally described as a species, while cordobae was described as a subspecies.

Recognize Asthenes harterti bejaranoi

Summary: (0→2 subspecies) The population of Black-throated Thistletail from the central Bolivian Andes is considered a distinct subspecies.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 15278–15278.2, text: Add new subspecies Asthenes harterti bejaranoi and modify range of nominate accordingly.

The Black-throated Thistletail Asthenes harterti (Berlepsch, 1901) is treated as polytypic by Clements et al. (2024), following Remsen (2024). The nominate is the form of northern Bolivia, while the name bejaranoi (Remsen, 1981) is resurrected for the population of the central Bolivian Andes. Taxon bejaranoi was originally described as a subspecies.

Recognize Siptornis striaticollis nortoni

Summary: (0→2 subspecies) The population of Spectacled Prickletail from the Ecuadorian Andes is considered a distinct subspecies.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 15305–15307, text: Add new subspecies Siptornis striaticollis nortoni and modify range of nominate accordingly.

The Spectacled Prickletail Siptornis striaticollis (de Lafresnaye, 1843) is now treated by Clements et al. (2024) as comprised of two subspecies, the nominate from the southern Colombian Andes and the fairly distinctive nortoni Graves and Robbins, 1987 from the Andes of Ecuador and far northern Peru (Remsen 2020). Taxon nortoni was originally described as a subspecies.

Recognize Cranioleuca demissa cardonaorum

Summary: (0→2 subspecies) The Tepui Spinetail population from southern Venezuela is considered a distinct subspecies.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 15359–15359.2, text: Add new subspecies Cranioleuca demissa cardonaorum and modify range of nominate accordingly.

 In alignment with other lists (del Hoyo and Collar 2016, IOC-WBL, Remsen 2024), the Tepui Spinetail Cranioleuca demissa Salvin and Godman, 1884 is now treated by Clements et al. (2024) as having two subspecies, the nominate from southeastern Venezuela and tepuis of adjacent countries, and cardonaorum (Phelps and Dickerman, 1980), originally cardonai, of the tepuis of southern Venezuela. Taxon cardonaorum was originally described as a subspecies.

Recognize Pseudoseisura lophotes argentina

Summary: (0→2 subspecies) The Brown Cacholote population from Argentina is treated as a distinct subspecies.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 15387–15387.2, text: Add new subspecies Pseudoseisura lophotes argentina and modify range of nominate accordingly.

Treatment by Clements et al. (2024) of Brown Cacholote Pseudoseisura lophotes (Reichenbach, 1853) as comprised of two subspecies, with southern populations bearing the name Pseudoseisura lophotes argentina Parkes, 1960, follows Remsen (2024). Taxon argentina was originally described as a subspecies.

Recognize Pseudoseisura gutturalis ochroleuca

Summary: (0→2 subspecies) The population of Brown Cacholote from northern Argentina is treated as a different subspecies from that distributed to the south.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 15388–15388.2, text: Add new subspecies Pseudoseisura gutturalis ochroleuca and modify range of nominate accordingly.

Treatment by Clements et al. (2024) of White-throated Cacholote Pseudoseisura gutturalis (d’Orbigny and de Lafresnaye, 1838) as being comprised of two subspecies, with more northerly populations bearing the name Pseudoseisura gutturalis ochroleuca Olrog, 1959, follows Remsen (2024). Taxon ochroleuca was originally described as a subspecies.

Synonymize Synallaxis erythrothorax furtiva

Summary: (3→2 subspecies) The population of Rufous-breasted Spinetail from southeastern Mexico is considered to be the same as that from the Yucatan and farther south.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 15484–15487, text: Synonymize furtiva with Synallaxis erythrothorax erythrothorax and modify range of nominate accordingly.

The Rufous-breasted Spinetail Synallaxis erythrothorax Sclater, 1855 is often considered to be comprised of three subspecies, but Synallaxis erythrothorax furtiva Bangs and Peters, 1927 was considered unrecognizable by Remsen (2003) and is thus synonymized with the nominate here (Clements et al. 2024, Gulson et al. 2024). Taxon furtiva was originally described as a subspecies.

Synonymize Ceratopipra erythrocephala flammiceps

Summary: (3→2 subspecies) A subspecies of Golden-headed Manakin described from eastern Colombia is considered invalid.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 15676–15678, text: Synonymize Ceratopipra erythrocephala flammiceps into Ceratopipra erythrocephala erythrocephala and modify range of berlepschi accordingly.

The form flammiceps (Todd, 1919) of Golden-headed Manakin Ceratopipra erythrocephala (Linnaeus, 1758) described from Santander, eastern Colombia, is considered indistinguishable from berlepschi (Ridgway, 1906) (Snow 2004, del Hoyo and Collar 2016) of western Amazonia, and is synonymized here (Clements et al. 2024, Tamanini et al. 2024). Taxon flammiceps was originally described as a subspecies.

Recognize Tyrannus melancholicus occidentalis

Summary: (3→4 subspecies) Tropical Kingbirds of western Mexico are recognized as a distinct subspecies, and their songs suggest they may even be specifically distinct.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 17284, text: Add new subspecies Tropical Kingbird (West Mexican) Tyrannus melancholicus occidentalis and modify range of satrapa accordingly.

Although some individuals are not identifiable on plumage (e.g., Traylor 1979), dawn songs of Tropical Kingbird Tyrannus melancholicus Vieillot, 1819 from western Mexico are said to differ noticeably from those of other parts of the range (Howell and Webb 1995, Howell and Dyer 2023). The subspecies occidentalis Hartert and Goodson, 1917 is thus resurrected by Clements et al. (2024) for this population. Taxon occidentalis was originally described as a subspecies.

Recognize Amytornis whitei parvus

Summary: (0→2 subspecies) Two subspecies are now recognized for the Pilbara Grasswren of Western Australia, one from the Cape Range and the other from the Pilbara Ranges.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 17426–17426.2, text: Add new subspecies Amytornis whitei parvus and modify range of nominate accordingly.

In accordance with a recent study by Black et al. (2020a) of Pilbara Grasswren Amytornis whitei Mathews, 1910, the new subspecies Amytornis whitei parvus Black, 2020 is recognized by Clements et al. (2024) for the form from the Cape Range of the far west of Western Australia, while the nominate is now restricted to the Pilbara Ranges. Taxon parvus was originally described as a subspecies.

Recognize Amytornis oweni aenigma

Summary: (0→2 subspecies) A new subspecies of Sandhill Grasswren is recognized from the Eyre Peninsula of South Australia.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 17427–17427.2, text: Add new subspecies Amytornis oweni aenigma and modify range of nominate accordingly.

In accordance with a recent study by Black et al. (2020a) of Sandhill Grasswren Amytornis oweni Mathews, 1911, the new subspecies Amytornis oweni aenigma Black, 2020 is recognized by Clements et al. (2024) for the form from the western Eyre Peninsula of South Australia, while the nominate is much more widely distributed. Taxon aenigma was originally described as a subspecies.

Recognize Amytornis striatus howei

Summary: (0→2 subspecies) Striated Grasswrens of central New South Wales is considered a distinct subspecies from those occurring farther east.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 17429–17429.2, text: Add new subspecies Amytornis striatus howei and modify range of nominate accordingly.

 In accordance with a recent study by Black et al. (2020b) of Striated Grasswren Amytornis striatus Gould, 1840, the subspecies Amytornis striatus howei (Mathews, 1911)is recognized by Clements et al. (2024) for the population of central New South Wales, while the nominate occurs from southeastern South Australia through southwestern New South Wales. Taxon howei was originally described as a subspecies.

Synonymize Microptilotis mimikae rara with Microptilotis analogus flavida*

Summary: (4→3 subspecies in Microptilotis mimikae, 5→5 subspecies in Microptilotis analogus) A putative subspecies of Mottled Honeyeater from northern New Guinea has been shown to be Mimic Honeyeater instead.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 17592, text: Synonymize Microptilotis mimikae rara with Microptilotis analogus flavida and modify range of flavida accordingly.

The described subspecies of Mottled Honeyeater Meliphaga* mimikae rara (Salomonsen, 1966) was based on a single specimen from the northern watershed of New Guinea, and has been shown to instead be a member of Meliphaga analoga flavida (Stresemann and Paludan, 1932) (Diamond 1972, LeCroy 2011, Beehler and Pratt 2016, Higgins et al. 2024), which rationale was accepted by AviList 1.0 (and enacted by Clements et al. 2024). *Microptilotis now subsumed within Meliphaga; note gender. Taxon rara was originally described as a subspecies.

Synonymize Microptilotis albonotatus setekwa*

Summary: (2→0 subspecies) Scrub Honeyeater is now treated as monotypic, following synonymy of the south-central New Guinea subspecies.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 17585, text: Synonymize setekwa with Microptilotisalbonotatus albonotatus, rendering species monotypic.

 Subspecies setekwa Rand, 1936 of Scrub Honeyeater Meliphaga albonotata* (Salvadori, 1876) of south-central New Guinea was considered insufficiently distinctive for continued recognition by Beehler and Pratt (2016), and is thus synonymized with the nominate (Clements et al. 2024, Higgins et al. 2024). *Microptilotis now subsumed within Meliphaga; note gender. Taxon setekwa was originally described as a subspecies.

Synonymize Microptilotis cinereifrons stevensi*

Summary: (2→0 subspecies) Elegant Honeyeater is now considered monotypic, following synonymy of subspecies from north slope of southeast peninsula of New Guinea.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 17597, text: Synonymize stevensi with Microptilotiscinereifrons cinereifrons, rendering species monotypic.

Subspecies stevensi Rand, 1936 of Elegant Honeyeater Meliphaga cinereifrons* Rand, 1936 from the north slope of mountains of the southeastern peninsula of New Guinea is considered insufficiently distinctive for continued recognition by Beehler and Pratt (2016). It is thus treated as a synonym of the nominate (Clements et al. 2024, Higgins et al. 2024). *Microptilotis now subsumed within Meliphaga; note gender. Taxon stevensi was originally described as a subspecies.

Synonymize Gavicalis versicolor intermedius

Summary: (4→2 subspecies) Two subspecies of Varied Honeyeater, from northern New Guinea and some islands off northern and eastern New Guinea, are synonymized.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 17689–17693, text: Synonymize vulgaris and intermedius into Gavicalis versicolor sonoroides and modify range of sonoroides accordingly.

Varied Honeyeater Gavicalis versicolor Gould, 1843 subspecies vulgaris (Salomonsen, 1966) of coastal northern New Guinea and intermedius (Mayr and Rand, 1935) of islands off eastern New Guinea are considered insufficiently distinctive from Gavicalis versicolor sonoroides (Gray, 1862) for continued recognition by Higgins et al. (2008, 2024) and Beehler and Pratt (2016), and is thus synonymized with sonoroides by Clements et al. (2024). Taxon intermedius was originally described as a subspecies.

Synonymize Myzomela obscura aruensis

Summary: (4 subspecies in obscura group→3 subspecies in Myzomela obscura) The Aru Islands population of Dusky Myzomela is considered not distinctive and thus synonymized.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 17775–17779, text: Synonymize aruensis with Myzomela obscura fumata and modify range of fumata accordingly.

Subspecies aruensis Kinnear, 1924 of Dusky Myzomela Myzomela obscura Gould, 1843 is considered identical to the nominate (Beehler and Pratt 2016, Higgins 2024), and is thus synonymized with it by Clements et al. (2024). Taxon aruensis was originally described as a subspecies.

Recognize Nesoptilotis leucotis depauperata, thomasi, and schoddei

Summary: (2→5 subspecies) Three additional subspecies of White-eared Honeyeater are recognized based on a recent study.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 17929–17931.5, text: Add new subspecies Nesoptilotis leucotis depauperata and thomasi and modify range of nominate accordingly. Add new subspecies Nesoptilotis leucotis schoddei and modify range of novaenorciae accordingly.

Dolman and Joseph (2015) suggested the synonymy of White-eared Honeyeater subspecies Nesoptilotis leucotis thomasi (Mathews, 1912) based on mtDNA (Higgins et al. 2024). However, Black (2019) advocated the resurrection of thomasi and another previously synonymized subspecies, depauperata Mathews, 1912, as well as the newly described subspecies schoddei Black, 2019, the treatment followed by Clements et al. (2024). All three newly recognized taxa were originally described as subspecies.

Synonymize Sericornis beccarii weylandi

Summary: (7→6 subspecies) A subspecies of Tropical Scrubwren described from the Weyland Mountains, western New Guinea, is considered unrecognizable.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 18133–18140, text: Synonymize weylandi with Sericornis beccarii cyclopum and modify range of cyclopum accordingly.

Subspecies weylandi Mayr, 1937 of Tropical Scrubwren Sericornis beccarii Salvadori, 1874 is considered synonymous with Sericornis beccarii cyclopum Hartert, 1930 (Beehler and Pratt 2016, Gregory 2024), as enacted by Clements et al. (2024). These authors note that the same treatment may be most appropriate for wondiwoi Mayr, 1937 as well. Taxon weylandi was originally described as a subspecies.

Recognize Acanthiza pusilla samueli

Summary: (5→6 subspecies) A subspecies of Brown Thornbill from Mt. Lofty, South Australia, is recognized.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 18210–18215, text: Add new subspecies Acanthiza pusilla samueli.

The Mount Lofty population, in south-central South Australia, of Brown Thornbill Acanthiza pusilla (Shaw, 1790) is recognized by Clements et al. (2024) as subspecies samueli Mathews, 1913 (Black 2015, Gregory 2024). Taxon samueli was originally described as a subspecies.

Recognize Cinclosoma clarum morgani

Summary: (2→3 subspecies) A subspecies of Copperback Quailthrush from the Eyre Peninsula of South Australia is recognized.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 18337–18339.5, text: Add new subspecies Cinclosoma clarum morgani.

Morphological and genetic data alike support the subspecific recognition of the population of Copperback Quail-thrush

Cinclosoma clarum Morgan, 1926 from the Eyre Peninsula (Black et al. 2019, McElroy et al. 2020). The subspecies Cinclosoma clarum morgani Condon, 1951 is thus resurrected (Clements et al. 2024, Kirwan and Boles 2024). Taxon morgani was originally described as a subspecies.

Move taxon edithae to Edolisoma morio

Summary: (3→2 subspecies in Edolisomamorio, following split of Edolisoma salvadorii) A little-known subspecies from southern Sulawesi is moved from Common Cicadabird to Sulawesi Cicadabird.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 18723, text: Move subspecies edithae of Edolisoma tenuirostre to Edolisoma morio and modify range of morio accordingly.

The poorly known taxon edithae Stresemann, 1932 from southwestern Sulawesi is transferred from Common Cicadabird* Edolisoma tenuirostre (Jardine, 1831) to Sulawesi Cicadabird Edolisoma morio (Müller, 1843) by Clements et al. (2024), in agreement with AviList 1.0. Taxon edithae was originally described as a subspecies. *Name Common Cicadabird now retired with multi-way split.

Synonymize Daphoenositta papuensis wahgiensis and intermedia

Summary: (6→4 subspecies) Two subspecies of Papuan Sitella, one from the Mt. Hagen area and the other from western Papua, are considered synonyms of other subspecies.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 18759–18765, text: Synonymize wahgiensis with Daphoenositta papuensis toxopeusi and modify range of toxopeusi accordingly. Synonymize intermedia with Daphoenositta papuensis alba and modify range of alba accordingly.

Two subspecies of Papuan Sitella Daphoenositta papuensis (Schlegel, 1871) are considered synonyms of other subspecies by Beehler and Pratt (2016): wahgiensis (Gyldenstolpe, 1955) with Daphoenositta papuensis toxopeusi (Rand, 1940) and intermedia (Junge, 1952) with Daphoenositta papuensis alba (Rand, 1940) (del Hoyo et al. 2024), and are so treated by Clements et al. (2024). Both synonymized taxa, wahgiensis and intermedia, were originally described as subspecies.

Recognize eight subspecies in Vireo pallens

Summary: (5→8 subspecies) Three further subspecies of Mangrove Vireo are recognized, one from the Yucatan Peninsula, one from the Bay Islands of Honduras, and one from Nicoya Peninsula of northwestern Costa Rica.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 18981–18991, text: Add new subspecies salvini to Vireo pallens and modify range of semiflavus accordingly. Add new subspecies angulensis and nicoyensis to Vireo pallens and modify range of nominate accordingly.

The highly polytypic Mangrove Vireo Vireo pallens Salvin, 1863 still requires a thorough integrative taxonomic analysis, as more than one species is probably involved (e.g., Howell and Dyer 2023, Brewer and Kirwan 2024). Clements et al. (2024) now recognizes subspecies salvini Van Rossem, 1934 for the Yucatan Peninsula population that occurs in a wide range of habitats; angulensis Parkes, 1990 of the Bay Islands (off northern Honduras); and nicoyensis Parkes, 1990 from the Nicoya Peninsula and eastern side of Gulf of Nicoya of northwestern Costa Rica. All three added taxa were originally described as subspecies.

Recognize Vireo flavoviridis hypoleucus

Summary: (3→4 subspecies) A subspecies of Yellow-green Vireo from western Mexico is once again recognized, and the Tres Marias population is considered a breeding endemic to those islands.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 19085–19090, text: Add new subspecies hypoleucus to Vireo flavoviridis and modify range of forreri accordingly.

The Tres Marias subspecies of Yellow-green Vireo Vireo flavoviridis, forreri Madarász, 1885, is now considered restricted as a breeding bird to that island group. The formerly synonymized hypoleucus Van Rossem and Hachisuka, 1937 is resurrected by Clements et al. (2024) for western Mexican birds. Some details, especially wintering ranges and extent of the breeding range of hypoleucus and the attribution of the insular birds in Panama, remain to be worked out (S. N. G. Howell, in litt.). Taxon forreri was originally described as a species, while hypoleucus was described as a subspecies.

Synonymize Colluricincla harmonica tachycrypta

Summary: (6→5 subspecies) A subspecies of Gray Shrikethrush from southeastern New Guinea is considered unrecognizable.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 19116–19122, text: Synonymize tachycrypta with Colluricincla harmonica superciliosa and modify range of superciliosa accordingly.

The subspecies tachycrypta Rothschild and Hartert, 1915 from coastal southeastern New Guinea is considered a synonym of Gray Shrikethrush Colluricincla harmonica superciliosa Masters, 1876 of northernmost Queensland including the Torres Strait Islands (Beehler and Pratt 2016, Clements et al. 2024, Boles 2024). Taxon tachycrypta was originally described as a subspecies.

Move taxa par and compar to Pachycephala orpheus

Summary: (1→3 subspecies) Two eastern Lesser Sundas subspecies are moved from Yellow-throated Whistler to Fawn-breasted Whistler.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 19181–19185, text: Move subspecies compar and par from Pachycephala macrorhyncha to Pachycephala orpheus and modify ranges of macrorhyncha and orpheus accordingly.

Two whistler taxa with female-plumaged males of remote islands in the Lesser Sundas are moved by AviList 1.0 (as enacted in Clements et al. 2024). They are moved from Yellow-throated Whistler Pachycephala macrorhyncha Strickland, 1849 to the similarly drab-plumaged Fawn-breasted Whistler Pachycephala orpheus Jardine, 1849, of nearby Timor and surrounding islands, as in Eaton et al. (2021). The taxa moved are the Leti and Moa and subspecies compar Hartert, 1904 and the Romang subspecies par Hartert, 1904 (Boles 2024). Taxon parwas originally described as a species, and compar was described as a subspecies thereof.

Delete Pachycephala orioloides whitneyi

Summary: (10→9 subspecies) A form found to be a hybrid between two different species of whistlers in the Solomon Islands is deleted.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 19232, text: Delete Pachycephala orioloides whitneyi, a hybrid between Pachycephala orioloidesbougainvillei and Pachycephalamelanura dahli, and modify range of bougainvillei accordingly.

One of the most conspicuously polytypic species still recognized in the former Golden Whistler Pachycephala pectoralis complex, the Oriole Whistler Pachycephala orioloides Pucheran, 1853 differs dramatically between islands in plumage of both sexes. While that issue remains to be studied carefully, one putative subspecies, whitneyi Hartert, 1929 is now deleted by Clements et al. (2024) as it is considered to be an interspecific hybrid (Mayr and Diamond 2001, Dickinson and Christidis (2014). Taxon whitneyi was originally described as a subspecies.

Move taxon calliope to Pachycephala fulvotincta, as Pachycephala calliope

Summary: (with split of Pachycephala teysmanni, 5 subspecies in Pachycephala fulvotincta→5 subspecies in Pachycephala calliope) A Timor subspecies of whistler is moved from Yellow-throated Whistler to Tenggara Whistler.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 19243–19249, text: Move Pachycephala macrorhyncha calliope to Pachycephala fulvotincta, when calliope takes priority for the species.

Following Eaton et al. (2021), the Timor region yellow-bellied whistler taxon, calliope Bonaparte, 1850, is moved by AviList 1.0 (as enacted by Clements et al. 2024) from Yellow-throated Whistler Pachycephala macrorhyncha Strickland, 1849 to Tenggara Whistler Pachycephala fulvotincta Wallace, 1864. However, as the name calliope then has priority over fulvotincta, the name for the expanded species becomes Pachycephala calliope (del Hoyo et al. 2024). Taxon calliope was originally described as a species.

Move taxon dammeriana to Pachycephala melanura

Summary: (4→5 subspecies) A Damar, eastern Lesser Sundas, subspecies is moved from Yellow-throated Whistler to Black-tailed Whistler.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 19273–19279, text: Move subspecies dammeriana from polytypic Yellow-throated Whistler Pachycephala macrorhyncha to Black-tailed Whistler Pachycephala melanura, as monotypic group Black-tailed Whistler (Damar) Pachycephala melanura dammeriana, and modify range of Pachycephala melanura accordingly.

The whistler taxon endemic to the isolated island of Damar in the eastern Lesser Sundas was originally described as a subspecies of Black-tailed Whistler Pachycephala melanura Gould, 1843. Now, it is returned by AviList 1.0 (enacted by Clements et al. 2024) to that species as Pachycephala melanura dammeriana Hartert, 1900, as the most northwesterly occurring subspecies of the complex, partly on the basis of genetic data (Jønsson et al. 2014).

Recognize Oriolus chinensis lamprochryseus

Summary: (18→19 subspecies) A population of oriole on Masalembu Islands, Java Sea, is recognized as a valid subspecies.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 19418–19440, text: Add new subspecies Oriolus chinensis lamprochryseus.

A large, richly colored form of Black-naped Oriole Oriolus chinensis Linnaeus, 1766 is endemic to the Masalembu Islands in the Java Sea. Aligning with Eaton et al. (2021) and other sources, Clements et al. (2024) now recognizes this subspecies as Oriolus chinensis lamprochryseus Oberholser, 1917. Taxon lamprochryseus was originally described as a subspecies.

Synonymize Rhodophoneus cruentus kordofanicus

Summary: (4→3 subspecies) A Sudan subspecies of Rosy-patched Bushshrike is considered a synonym.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 19928–19932, text: Synonymize kordofanicus with Rhodophoneus cruentus cruentus and modify range of nominate accordingly.

The subspecies of Rosy-patched Bushshrike Rhodophoneus cruentus (Hemprich and Ehrenberg, 1828) described from the Kordofan region of Sudan, kordofanicus (Sclater and Mackworth-Praed, 1918) is synonymized by Clements et al. (2024) with the nominate, following del Hoyo and Collar (2016). Taxon kordofanicus was originally described as a subspecies.

Recognize Rhipidura teysmanni coomansi

Summary: (2→3 subspecies) The fantail of north Sulawesi is recognized as a distinct subspecies.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 20091–20093, text: Add new subspecies Rhipidura teysmanni coomansi and modify range of toradja accordingly.

While the nominate Sulawesi Fantail Rhipidura teysmanni Büttikofer, 1892 of southwestern Sulawesi is distinctively plumaged, the taxon coomansi van Marle, 1940 of montane northern Sulawesi is less noticeably distinct from toradja Stresemann, 1931 of central and southeastern Sulawesi. However, coomansi is recognized by Eaton et al. (2021) based on plumage differentiation, and is thus resurrected by Clements et al. (2024), although further study is required (Boles and Kirwan 2024). Taxon coomansi was originally described as a subspecies.

Recognize Symposiachrus vidua squamulatus

Summary: (0→2 subspecies) Uki, an islet off the eastern Solomon Island of Makira, has a distinctive form of White-collared Monarch, now recognized as a subspecies.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 20699–20701, text: Add subspecies squamulatus to Symposiachrus vidua, as Symposiachrus vidua squamulatus.

As recognized by Dutson (2011) and del Hoyo and Collar (2016), among others, the White-collared Monarch Symposiachrus vidua (Tristram, 1879) is comprised of two subspecies moderately diverged in plumage: the nominate of Makira, and squamulatus (Tristram, 1882) of the small neighboring island of Uki (Ugi), this treatment being now accepted by Clements et al. (2024). Taxon squamulatus was originally described as a species.

Recognize five subspecies in Perisoreus infaustus

Summary: (9→5 subspecies) Five subspecies of Siberian Jay are synonymized, while another is resurrected.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 20942–20951, text: Synonymize ruthenus with Perisoreus infaustus infaustus and modify range of infaustus accordingly. Synonymize ostjakorum with Perisoreus infaustus rogosowi and modify range of rogosowi accordingly. Add new subspecies Perisoreus infaustus sibericus and synonymize yakutensis and varnak with sibericus. Synonymize sakhalinensis with Perisoreus infaustus maritimus and modify range of maritimus accordingly.

A five-subspecies treatment of Siberian Jay Perisoreus infaustus (Linnaeus, 1758) stemming from Stepanyan (1990) was adopted by Dickinson and Christidis (2014) and IOC-WBL. The Clements et al. (2024) treatment thus now aligns with these sources on subspecies (Madge 2024). However, del Hoyo and Collar (2016) recognized nine subspecies, and further study is clearly needed. The newly added subspecies sibericus was originally described at the species level, while all five synonymized taxa were originally described as subspecies.

Synonymize Aphelocoma californica immanis, caurina, oocleptica, and cactophila

Summary: (8→4 subspecies) Four subspecies of California Scrub-Jay are synonymized.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 21075–21083, text: Synonymize immanis, caurina, and oocleptica with Aphelocoma californica californica and modify range of californica accordingly. Synonymize cactophila with Aphelocoma californica hypoleuca and modify range of hypoleuca accordingly.

For a linearly distributed species with an essentially contiguous range, it seems surprising that the California Scrub-Jay Aphelocoma californica (Vigors, 1839) would have as many as eight recognized subspecies. Indeed, only four subspecies were recognized by Dickinson and Christidis (2014), on the authority of Phillips (1986), in which the three northern subspecies caurina Pitelka, 1951, immanis Grinnell, 1901, and oocleptica Swarth, 1918 are synonymized with the nominate. Also in this four-subspecies treatment, cactophila Huey, 1942 of central Baja California is synonymized with hypoleuca Ridgway, 1887 of southern Baja California. This treatment is that followed by Clements et al. (2024), but clearly further study is needed on subspecies in the California Scrub-Jay (Curry et al. 2024). All four synonymized taxa were originally described as subspecies.

Synonymize Microeca flavigaster terrareginae

Summary: (7→6 subspecies) A north Queensland population of Lemon-bellied Flycatcher is considered intermediate and thus synonymized.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 21565–21572, text: Synonymize Microeca flavigaster terrareginae with Microeca flavigaster flavissima and modify range of flavissima accordingly.

Putative subspecies of Lemon-bellied Flycatcher Microeca flavigaster Gould, 1843 from Cairns, northern Queensland, Microeca flavigaster terraereginae Mathews, 1912 was considered by Schodde and Mason (1999) and Beehler and Pratt (2016) to be intermediate between populations to either side, and is thus synonymized by Clements et al. (2024) with Microeca flavigaster flavissima Schodde and Mason, 1999. Note however that a potentially new taxon occurs in Western Province of Papua New Guinea (Gregory 2017, Boles et al. 2024). Taxon terraereginae was originally described as a subspecies.

Recognize Orthotomus ruficeps germaini

Summary: (8→9 subspecies) A newly described subspecies of Ashy Tailorbird from southern Vietnam is recognized.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 22941–22949, text: Add new subspecies Orthotomus ruficeps germaini and modify range of cineraceus accordingly.

Based on genetic and morphological analyses (Fuchs and Zuccon 2018), a new subspecies of Ashy Tailorbird Orthotomus ruficeps (Lesson, 1830) from southern Vietnam and southeastern Cambodia was recently described: Orthotomus ruficeps germaini Fuchs and Zuccon, 2018 and is recognized by Clements et al. (2024). Taxon germaini was originally described as a subspecies.

Synonymize Orthotomus sericeus nuntius

Summary: (4→3 subspecies) A subspecies of Rufous-tailed Tailorbird from Cagayan Sulu in the Sulu Sea is considered unrecognizable.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 22954–22957, text: Synonymize nuntius with Orthotomus sericeus sericeus and modify range of sericeus accordingly.

A putative subspecies of Rufous-tailed Tailorbird Orthotomus sericeus Temminck, 1836 from Cagayan Sulu, nuntius Bangs, 1922 is considered unrecognizable (Dickinson et al. 1991), and is synonymized with the nominate by Clements et al. (2024). However, the Palawan population forms a genetically divergent lineage (Lim et al. 2014), on which further study is needed. Taxon nuntius was originally described as a subspecies.

Recognize Cisticola tinniens elegans

Summary: (5→6 subspecies) A subspecies of Levaillant’s Cisticola from southwest Africa is recognized.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 23247–23253, text: Add new subspecies Cisticola tinniens elegans and modify range of nominate accordingly.

Following the rationale in del Hoyo and Collar (2016) and Engelbrecht and Jamie (2024), the subspecies of Levaillant’s Cisticola Cisticola tinniens (Lichtenstein, 1842) from southwestern South Africa, elegans (Hartlaub and Finsch, 1870) is recognized by Clements et al. (2024). The name brookei Herremans et al., 1999 is predated by elegans. Taxon elegans was originally described as a species.

Recognize Locustella lanceolata hendersonii

Summary: (0→2 subspecies) The far eastern Palearctic subspecies of Lanceolated Warbler is recognized.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 23566–23566.2, text: Add new subspecies Locustella lanceolatahendersonii and modify range of nominate accordingly.

 Recognition by Clements et al. (2024) of the far eastern subspecies of Lanceolated Warbler Locustella lanceolata (Temminck, 1840), hendersonii (Cassin, 1858) follows del Hoyo and Collar (2016) and Pearson (2024). Taxon lanceolata was originally described at the species level. Taxon hendersonii was originally described as a species.

Move taxon pusilla to Ptyonoprogne rufigula

Summary: (2→3 subspecies in Ptyonoprogne rufigula, formerly a group) A Sahel subspecies is moved from a group now in the Pale Crag-Martin to the Red-throated Crag-Martin.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 23922–23925, text: Move subspecies pusilla from [obsoleta Group], now Ptyonoprogne obsoleta, to Ptyonoprogne rufigula (Ash and Atkins 2009).

The taxon of crag-martin that occurs across the Sahel zone, pusilla (Zedlitz, 1908) has been treated as part of Pale Crag-Martin Ptyonoprogne obsoleta (Cabanis, 1851) but is now transferred by AviList 1.0 (as enacted by Clements et al. 2024) to Red-throated Crag-Martin Ptyonoprogne rufigula (Fischer and Reichenow, 1884) on the basis of biogeography, although its plumage is somewhat intermediate and further study is needed (del Hoyo et al. 2024). Taxon pusilla was originally described as a subspecies.

Synonymize Pycnonotus leucotis dactylus

Summary: (3→2 subspecies) A subspecies of White-eared Bulbul from the Persian Gulf coast is synonymized.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 24545–24548, text: Synonymize dactylus with Pycnonotus leucotis mesopotamia and modify range of mesopotamia accordingly.

The putative subspecies of White-eared Bulbul Pycnonotus leucotis (Gould, 1836) from the Persian Gulf coast of eastern Arabia, dactylus Ripley, 1951, is considered unrecognizable (Cramp 1988, Dickinson and Christidis 2014) and thus synonymized by Clements et al. (2024) with mesopotamia Ticehurst, 1918 (Fishpool and Tobias 2024). Taxon dactylus was originally described as a subspecies.

Recognize Phylloscopus pulcher vegetus

Summary: (2→3 subspecies) A subspecies of Buff-barred Warbler from southern China and northwestern Vietnam and northwestern Vietnam is recognized.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 24568–24570.5, text: Add Phylloscopus pulcher vegetus and modify range of nominate accordingly.

The population of Buff-barred Warbler Phylloscopus pulcher Blyth, 1845 from southern China and northwestern Vietnam, vegetus (Bangs, 1913), possesses only subtle morphological differences but is fairly divergent in genetics and song (Päckert et al. 2014, Clement and Sharma 2024), and is thus recognized by Clements et al. (2024). Taxon vegetus was originally described as a subspecies.

Recognize Phylloscopus intermedius ocularis

Summary: (2→3 subspecies) A subspecies of White-spectacled Warbler from southern Vietnam is recognized.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 24671–24673.5, text: Add new subspecies Phylloscopus intermedius ocularis and modify range of zosterops accordingly.

The population of White-spectacled WarblerPhylloscopus intermedius (La Touche, 1898) from southern Vietnam, ocularis (Robinson and Kloss, 1919) has been shown to be genetically and perhaps vocally somewhat distinctive (Olsson et al. 2004, Rheindt 2006, Alström 2024), although the situation is far from clear and further study is needed. However, treatment at least as a subspecies seems warranted and is enacted by Clements et al. (2024). Taxon ocularis was originally described as a subspecies.

Recognize Curruca melanocephala leucogastra and valverdei

Summary: (3→5 subspecies) A subspecies of Sardinian Warbler from the Canary Islands and a newly described subspecies from southern Morocco and Western Sahara are recognized.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 25116–25119, text: Add new subspecies Curruca melanocephala leucogastra and modify range of nominate accordingly. Add new subspecies Curruca melanocephala valverdei and modify range of nominate accordingly.

In a recent study (Cabot and Urdiales 2005), the Canary Islands population of Sardinian WarblerCurruca melanocephala (Gmelin, 1789), leucogastra (Ledru, 1810) was considered to be worthy of recognition at the species level. In addition, Cabot and Urdiales (2005) named the new subspecies valverdei (Cabot and Urdiales, 2005) from southern Morocco and Western Sahara. Although this treatment has been disputed (Dietzen et al. 2008, Shirihai and Svensson 2018), they are recognized by Clements et al. (2024), as in del Hoyo and Collar (2014; Aymí and Gargallo 2024). Taxon leucogastra was originally described as a species, while valverdei was originally described as a subspecies.

Recognize Suthora zappeyi erlangshanica

Summary: (0→2 subspecies) An overlooked subspecies of Gray-hooded Parrotbill from southwestern Sichuan is recognized.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 25259–25259.2, text: Add new subspecies Suthora zappeyi erlangshanica and modify range of nominate accordingly.

The population of Gray-hooded Parrotbill Suthora zappeyi (Thayer and Bangs, 1912) from the Erlang Shan, southwestern Sichuan, erlangshanica (Cheng et al., 1983) is said to have several plumage differences from the nominate (del Hoyo and Collar 2014, Robson 2024) and is thus recognized by Clements et al. (2024), as it is by other current checklists. Taxon erlangshanica was originally described as a subspecies.

Recognize Suthora alphonsiana ganluoensis

Summary: (2→3 subspecies) A subspecies of Ashy-throated Parrotbill from west-central China is recognized.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 25271–25273, text: Add new subspecies Suthora alphonsiana ganluoensis.

The population of Ashy-throated Parrotbill Suthora alphonsiana Verreaux, 1871 from the mountains of west-central China, in eastern Qinghai, eastern Sichuan, and Guizhou, ganluoensis (Li and Zhang, 1980) is considered to differ from the other taxa by several plumage characters (del Hoyo and Collar 2016, Robson 2024) and is thus recognized by Clements et al. (2024). Other current checklists (BLI and IOC-WBL) also recognize stresemanni (Yen, 1934), although it is said to be close to yunnanensis La Touche, 1921. Taxon ganluoensis was originally described as a subspecies.

Synonymize Pomatorhinus ruficollis bhamoensis and recognize styani

Summary: (13→13 subspecies) A subspecies of Streak-breasted Scimitar-Babbler from northern Myanmar is synonymized, and a subspecies from central and eastern China is recognized.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 25780–25793, text: Synonymize bhamoensis with Pomatorhinus ruficollis similis and modify range of similis accordingly. Add new subspecies Pomatorhinus ruficollis styani.

 The putative subspecies Streak-breasted Scimitar-Babbler Pomatorhinus ruficollis Hodgson, 1836 from the Bhamo District of northern Myanmar, bhamoensis Mayr, 1941, is considered indistinguishable from similis Rothschild, 1926 (del Hoyo and Collar, 2016, Collar and Robson 2024) and thus is synonymized by Clements et al. (2024). Conversely, the previously subsumed subspecies Pomatorhinus ruficollis styani, Seebohmi, 1884 of southern Gansu through northern Zhejiang, central and eastern China, is considered valid by Clements et al. (2024) (del Hoyo and Collar 2016, Collar and Robson 2024). Taxon bhamoensis, here synonymized, was originally described as a subspecies, while styani, here added, was originally described as a species.

Synonymize Malacopteron affine notatum

Summary: (3→2 subspecies) A subspecies of Sooty-capped Babbler from Banyak Islands (off northwestern Sumatra is synonymized.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 25906–25909, text: Synonymize notatum with Malacopteron affine affine and modify range of nominate accordingly.

The population of Sooty-capped Babbler Malacopteron affine (Blyth, 1842) from the Banyak Islands (off northwestern Sumatra), notatum Richmond, 1902, was said to be larger than the nominate, but this has been shown to be incorrect (Voous 1950, Mees 1986) and the subspecies is thus synonymized here (Clements et al. 2024, Collar and Robson 2024). There is some question as to whether phoeniceum Deignan, 1950 of Borneo should be recognized (Dickinson and Christidis 2014), but it may be vocally distinct and is browner-crowned than the nominate, and is recognized by Eaton et al. (2021). Taxon notatum was originally described as a species.

Recognize Gampsorhynchus torquatus luciae

Summary: (2→3 subspecies) A subspecies of Collared Babbler from southeast China to north Vietnam is recognized.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 25928–25930, text: Add new subspecies Gampsorhynchus torquatus luciae and modify range of nominate accordingly.

In alignment with other checklists, the southeastern Chinese to northern Vietnamese population of Collared Babbler Gampsorhynchus torquatus Hume, 1874 form, luciae Delacour, 1926 is recognized by Clements et al. (2024), though it is somewhat variable (Collar and Robson 2024). Taxon luciae was originally described as a subspecies.

Recognize Schoeniparus brunneus weigoldi

Summary: (4→5 subspecies) A subspecies of Dusky Fulvetta from eastern Sichuan is recognized.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 25952–25956, text: Add new subspecies Schoeniparus brunneus weigoldi and modify range of olivaceus accordingly.

The population of Dusky Fulvetta Schoeniparus brunneus (Gould, 1863) from eastern Sichuan in the Red Basin, weigoldi (Stresemann, 1923), is considered valid (Clements et al. 2024, Collar and Robson 2024), aligning with Cheng (1987), Dickinson and Christidis (2014), BLI, and IOC-WBL. Taxon weigoldi was originally described as a subspecies.

Recognize Pellorneum malaccense saturatum

Summary: (1→1 subspecies) A previously synonymized name for the Sarawak subspecies of Short-tailed Babbler is found to be the valid name for this group.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 25998–26001, text: Add new subspecies Pellorneum malaccensesaturatum.

A previously synonymized subspecies of Short-tailed Babbler Pellorneum malaccense (Hartlaub, 1844), saturatum (Robinson and Kloss, 1920) from Baram River, Sarawak, is added by Clements et al. (2024). Given that sordidum (Chasen and Kloss, 1929) is from Sandakan, Sabah, and thus is a junior synonym of poliogene (Strickland, 1849), the name saturatum is now used for the Short-tailed Babbler (Glissando) group of western Borneo and associated islands. Vocal differences and deep genetic divergence suggest that three species-level taxa are involved in this complex (Eaton et al. 2021).

Recognize Pellorneum tickelli garoense

Summary: (5→6 subspecies) A subspecies of Buff-breasted Babbler from northeastern India is recognized.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 26008–26013, text: Add new subspecies Pellorneum tickelli garoense and modify range of assamense accordingly.

The race of Buff-breasted Babbler Pellorneum tickelli Blyth, 1859 from the hills south of the Brahmaputra (India and Bangladesh) was long synonymized with assamense (Sharpe, 1883) of Arunachal Pradesh, northeastern India. However, the name garoense (Godwin-Austen, 1874 has priority, and thus this nomenclature was erroneous when synonymized. Nevertheless, specimens of garoense differ in plumage (Rasmussen and Anderton 2005, Dickinson and Cibois 2010) and thus both are recognized here (Clements et al. 2024, Collar and Robson 2024). Taxon garoense was originally described as a species.

Synonymize Napothera epilepidota mendeni and recognize lucilleae

Summary: (13→13 subspecies) A subspecies of Eyebrowed Wren-Babbler from southwestern Sumatra is synonymized, and a subspecies from lower montane Sumatra is recognized.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 26114–26127, text: Synonymize mendeni with Napothera epilepidota diluta and modify range of diluta accordingly. Add new subspecies Napothera epilepidota lucilleae and modify range of diluta accordingly.

Based on genetics and vocal data, several species are likely represented among the taxa long united as Eyebrowed Wren-Babbler Napothera epilepidota (Temminck, 1828) (Eaton et al. 2021). The putative subspecies mendeni Neumann, 1937 from the highlands of southwestern Sumatra is now considered synonymous with the highland subspecies diluta (Robinson and Kloss, 1916) from northern and western Sumatra by Clements et al. (2024). Instead, although van Marle and Voous (1988) recognized only diluta from Sumatra, subspecies lucilleae Meyer de Schauensee and Ripley, 1940 from lower montane Sumatra is now recognized by Clements et al. (2024), and as lucilleae evidently differs vocally from diluta, these may well be split eventually (Eaton et al. 2021, Collar and Robson 2024). Both mendeni, here synonymized, and lucilleae, here resurrected, were originally described as subspecies.

Recognize Alcippe fratercula laotiana

Summary: (2→3 subspecies) A subspecies of Yunnan Fulvetta from central Laos and north-central Vietnam is recognized.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 26164–26166.5, text: Add Alcippe fratercula laotiana and modify range of nominate accordingly.

The population of Yunnan Fulvetta Alcippe fratercula Rippon, 1900 from central Laos and north-central Vietnam, laotiana Delacour, 1926, is recognized (Clements et al. 2024, Collar and Robson 2007) in alignment with Dickinson and Christidis (2014), BLI, and IOC-WBL. Taxon laotiana was originally described as a subspecies.

Recognize Trochalopteron lineatum schachdarense

Summary: (4→5 subspecies) A subspecies of Streaked Laughingthrushfrom southeastern Tajikistan is recognized.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 26195–26199, text: Add Trochalopteron lineatum schachdarense and modify range of bilkevitchi accordingly.

The palest form of the widespread Streaked LaughingthrushTrochalopteron lineatum (Vigors, 1831), schachdarense (Stepanyan, 1998) of southeastern Tajikistan, is now recognized (Clements et al. 2024, Collar and Robson 2024), aligning with BLI, Dickinson and Christidis (2014), and IOC-WBL. Taxon schachdarense was originally described as a subspecies.

Recognize Turdoides gymnogenys kaokensis

Summary: (0→2 subspecies) A subspecies of Bare-cheeked Babblerfrom northwestern Namibia is recognized.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 26437–26437.2, text: Add Turdoides gymnogenys kaokensis and modify range of nominate accordingly.

The population of Bare-cheeked Babbler Turdoides gymnogenys (Hartlaub, 1865) in northwestern Namibia, kaokensis (Roberts, 1937) differs in several ways from the nominate of southwestern Angola, and hence is recognized at the subspecific level (Clements et al. 2024, Collar and Robson 2024), in alignment with BLI, Dickinson and Christidis (2014), and IOC-WBL. Taxon kaokensis was originally described as a subspecies.

Recognize Garrulax merulinus laoensis

Summary: (2→3 subspecies) A subspecies of Spot-breasted Laughingthrush from northwestern Thailand is recognized.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 26457–26459, text: Add Garrulax merulinus laoensis.

The population of Spot-breasted Laughingthrush Garrulax merulinus Blyth, 1851 from northwestern Thailand, laoensis Meyer de Schauensee, 1938, is recognized as a subspecies (Clements et al. 2024, Collar and Robson 2024), in alignment with BLI, Dickinson and Christidis (2014), and IOC-WBL. Taxon laoensis was originally described as a subspecies.

Synonymize Garrulax maesi grahami

Summary: (2→0 subspecies) A subspecies of Gray Laughingthrush from southwestern China is synonymized.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 26495, text: Synonymize grahami with Garrulax maesi maesi, rendering species monotypic.

The population of Gray Laughingthrush Garrulax maesi (Oustalet, 1890) from southwestern China, grahami (Riley, 1922) is not considered diagnosable, and thus is synonymized with the nominate (Clements et al. 2024, Collar and Robson 2024), aligning with BLI and IOC-WBL. Taxon grahami was initially described as a species.

Synonymize Pterorhinus davidi chinganicus and experrectus

Summary: (4→2 subspecies) A subspecies of Pere David’s Laughingthrush from northern Manchuria and a subspecies from northern Gansu are synonymized.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 26562–26566, text: Synonymize chinganicus with Pterorhinus davidi davidi and modify range of davidi accordingly. Synonymize experrectus with Pterorhinus davidi concolor and modify range of concolor accordingly.

Outlying populations of the Pere David’s Laughingthrush Pterorhinus davidi Swinhoe, 1868 are considered to be unrecognizable (Collar and Robson 2007, 2024). Thus, chinganicus (Meise, 1934) from the Khingan Mountains of northern Manchuria is synonymized with the nominate (Clements et al. 2024, Collar and Robson 2024), while experrectus (Bangs and Peters, 1928) of northern Gansu, central China is synonymized with concolor (Stresemann, 1923) (Clements et al. 2024, Collar and Robson 2024). Both synonymized taxa were initially described as subspecies.

Recognize Troglodytes musculus effutitus

Summary: (18 subspecies in musculus group of Troglodytes aedon before split→19 subspecies in Troglodytes musculus) A subspecies of Southern House Wren from the Guajira Peninsula (northern Colombia and Venezuela is recognized.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 26960–26981, text: Add new subspecies Troglodytes musculus effutitus and modify range of columbae accordingly.

The Guajira Peninsula (northeastern Colombia and northwestern Venezuela) is known for its endemic, arid-adapted taxa. The Guajira population of Southern House Wren Troglodytes musculus from the peninsula, effutitus Wetmore, 1958, is now recognized (Clements et al. 2024, Fernández et al. 2024), in alignment with BLI, Dickinson and Christidis (2014), and IOC-WBL. Taxon effutitus was originally described as a subspecies.

Recognize Aplonis fusca hulliana

Summary: (0→2 subspecies) A subspecies of Tasman Starling*from Lord Howe Island is recognized.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 27533–27535, text: Add subspecies hulliana to Aplonis fusca.

In alignment with Dickinson and Christidis (2014), BLI, and IOC-WBL, the Tasman Starling Aplonis fuscus Gould, 1836 is considered by Clements et al. (2024) to be comprised of two subspecies, including hulliana Mathews, 1912 of Lord Howe Island (Schodde and Mason 1999). Both subspecies are extinct, probably due largely to the introduction of rats (Garnett 1993). While fusca was described at the species level, hulliana was described as a subspecies thereof. *Previously Norfolk Starling.

Recognize four new subspecies within Catharus fuscater

Summary: (7→11 subspecies) Four additional subspecies of Slaty-backed Nightingale-Thrush from Panama through Peru are recognized.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 28028–28036, text: Add new subspecies Catharus fuscater arcanus and modify range of nominate accordingly. Add new subspecies Catharus fuscater tenebris, and modify range of caniceps accordingly. Add new subspecies Catharus fuscater berlepschi; range statements of other subspecies do not require change. Add new subspecies Catharus fuscater nebulus and modify range of caniceps in accord with Halley et al. 2023.

A major taxonomic revision of the Slaty-backed Nightingale-Thrush Catharus fuscater (de Lafresnaye, 1845) is likely to result in further changes including possibly species-level splits (Halley et al. 2023, Halley 2024). For the present, the resulting changes enacted by Clements et al. (2024) are: the recognition of arcanus Halley et al., 2023, from the Cerro Tacarcuna region of eastern Panama; the recognition of tenebris Halley et al., 2023, from the Rio Chinchipe watershed of southeastern Ecuador and northern Peru; the recognition of berlepschi Lawrence, 1887, from the western Andes of Ecuador; the recognition of nebulus Halley et al., 2023, from the eastern Andes of Peru. Both arcanus and berlepschi were originally described as species, while tenebris and nebulus were described at the subspecies level.

Recognize Turdus leucomelas upichiarum

Summary: (3→4 subspecies) A newly described subspecies of Pale-breasted Thrush from white-sand forest of eastern Colombia is recognized.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 28247–28250, text: Add new subspecies Turdus leucomelas upichiarum.

A newly described subspecies of Pale-breasted Thrush Turdus leucomelas Vieillot, 1818 from white-sand forest of eastern Colombia, Turdus leucomelas upichiarum Stiles and Avendaño, 2019 is now recognized by Clements et al. (2024) (Collar and Garcia 2024). Taxon upichiarum was initially described as a subspecies.

Synonymize Turdus assimilis oaxacae and oblitus

Summary: (11→9 subspecies) Two subspecies of Turdus assimilis, one from Oaxaca and the other from Costa Rica, are synonymized.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 28258–28270, text: Synonymize oaxacae with Turdus assimilis lygrus and modify range of lygrus accordingly. Synonymize oblitus with Turdus assimilis leucauchen and modify range of leucauchen accordingly.

The species- and subspecies-level taxonomy of White-throated Thrush Turdus assimilis Cabanis, 1851 is particularly vexed, with substantial further change likely. Two subspecies are now synonymized by Clements et al. (2024) (Collar et al. 2024): oaxacae Orr and Webster, 1968 of the Oaxaca highlands with Turdus assimilis lygrus Oberholser, 1921; and oblitus Miller and Griscom, 1925 from the highlands of Costa Rica with Turdus assimilis leucauchen Sclater, 1859, as proposed by Dickinson and Christidis (2014). Both oaxacae and oblitus were originally described as subspecies.

Recognize Turdus plumbeus perditus

Summary: (6→7 subspecies) An extinct subspecies of Red-legged Thrush from the Swan Islands, Honduras, is recognized.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 28343–28351, text: Add new subspecies Turdus plumbeus perditus and modify range of rubripes accordingly.

An extinct subspecies of the Red-legged Thrush Turdus plumbeus Linnaeus, 1758 from the Swan Islands, north of Honduras, Mimocichla rubripes eremita Ridgway, 1905 was shown by Kirwan and Collar (2023) to be recognizable at the subspecies level. However, the name eremita is unavailable when the species is placed in the genus Turdus, and thus a replacement name was proposed for the Swan Island taxon: Turdus plumbeus perditus Kirwan and Collar, 2023 and is accepted here (Clements et al. 2024, Larsen 2024). This taxon was originally described as a subspecies.

Move taxon dialilaemus to Cyornis hainanus

Summary: (2→3 subspecies) A subspecies of Blue-throated Flycatcher from Myanmar and Thailand is moved into Hainan Blue Flycatcher of southeast Asia.

Details: v2024 taxa 28846–28849, 28860–28862, text: Move Blue-throated Flycatcher Cyornis rubeculoides dialilaemus to Hainan Blue Flycatcher Cyornis hainanus, as Hainan Blue Flycatcher Cyornis hainanus dialilaemus.

The taxon dialilaemus Salvadori, 1889, long considered a subspecies of Blue-throated Flycatcher Cyornis rubeculoides, is transferred to Cyornis hainanus Salvadori, 1889 as a subspecies dialilaemus. The genetic analyses of Singh et al. (2020) shows dialilaemus to be a fairly close sister to a clade comprising hainanus and rogersi Robinson and Kinnear, 1928, although its status as subspecies of hainanus (as treated by Clements et al. 2024) rather than full species is questionable. Both hainanus and dialilaemus were originally described as full species, while rogersi was described as a subspecies of rubeculoides.

Synonymize Dessonornis* anomalus gurue

Summary: (5→4 subspecies) A subspecies of Olive-flanked Robin-Chatfrom Mozambique is synonymized.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 28939–28944, text: Synonymize gurue with Dessonornis anomalus anomalus and modify range of nominate accordingly. *Formerly Cossypha anomala.

The putative subspecies of Olive-flanked Robin-Chat Dessonornis anomalus fromnorth-central Mozambique, gurue (Vincent, 1933), is synonymized with the nominate by Clements et al. (2024), following White (1962), Dickinson and Christidis (2014), and del Hoyo and Collar (2016). Taxon gurue was originally described as a subspecies.

Synonymize Chamaetylas poliocephala nandensis

Summary: (10→9 subspecies) A subspecies of Brown-chested Alethe from western Kenya is synonymized.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 29010–29021, text: Synonymize nandensis with Chamaetylas poliocephala carruthersi and modify range of carruthersi accordingly.

The Nandi Hills, western Kenya population of Brown-chested Alethe Chamaetylas poliocephala (Bonaparte, 1850), nandensis (Cunningham-Van Someren and Schifter, 1981), is considered synonymous by Clements et al. (2024) with Chamaetylas poliocephala carruthersi (Ogilvie-Grant, 1906) (Zimmerman et al. 1996, Collar 2024). This now aligns with Dickinson and Christidis (2014), BLI, and IOC-WBL. Taxon nandensis was originally described as a subspecies.

Recognize Ficedula owstoni jakuschimaand shonis

Summary: (0→3 subspecies) Two subspecies of Ryukyu Flycatcher from the Ryukyu Islands, southern Japan, are recognized.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 29235–29235.3, text: Add new subspecies Ficedula owstoni jakuschima and shonis and modify range of nominate accordingly.

The populations of Ryukyu Flycatcher Ficedula owstoni (Bangs, 1901) show a stepped-cline pattern from dark-backed in the north to paler in the southern islands (Clements et al. 2024). Clements et al. (2024) follow BLI in considering this situation best represented as comprising three subspecies: the nominate of the southern Ryukyu Islands; shonis (Kuroda, 1923) of the central Ryukyu Islands; and jakuschima (Hartert, 1907) of the northern Ryukyu Islands. While owstoni was originally described as a species, both jakuschima and shonis were originally described as subspecies.

Recognize Phoenicurus ochruros murinus

Summary: (7→8 subspecies) A newly described subspecies of Black Redstart from Kazakhstan to Mongolia is recognized.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 29348–29357, text: Add new subspecies Phoenicurus ochruros murinus and modify range of phoenicuroides accordingly.

A newly described subspecies of Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros (Gmelin, 1774) from northeastern Kazakhstan, south-central Siberia, far north-central China, and western Mongolia, Phoenicurus ochruros murinus Fedorenko, 2018 is recognized by Clements et al. (2024). Its validity was, however, questioned by Martinez and Spek (2022), and further study is needed. Taxon murinus was originally described as a subspecies.

Synonymize Bombycilla garrulus centralasiae

Summary: (3→2 subspecies) A subspecies of Bohemian Waxwingfrom central and eastern Siberia is synonymized.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 29614–29616, text: Synonymize centralasiae with Bombycilla garrulus garrulus and modify range of garrulus accordingly.

The eastern Palearctic subspecies of the Bohemian Waxwing Bombycilla garrulus (Linnaeus, 1758), centralasiae Polyakov, 1915, is not consistently recognizable (del Hoyo and Collar 2016), and is synonymized here with the nominate (Clements et al. 2024, Witmer 2024), as in Dickinson and Christidis (2014) and IOC-WBL. Taxon centralasiae was originally described as a subspecies.

Move taxon ignicolle to Dicaeum hirundinaceum

Summary: (1→2 subspecies in Dicaeum hirundinaceum) A subspecies of Pink-breasted Flowerpecker from the Kai Islands and Tanimbar is moved to Mistletoebird of Australia.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 29844–29846, text: Move subspecies ignicolle from polytypic Dicaeum keiense (now including keiense and fulgidum) to polytypic Dicaeum hirundinaceum (now including hirundinaceum and ignicolle) and modify range of keiense and hirundinaceum accordingly.

The Aru Islands form placed with Pink-breasted Flowerpecker Dicaeum keiense Salvadori, 1874, ignicolle Gray, 1858, of the Kai Islands and Tanimbar is moved by AviList 1.0 (as enacted by Clements et al. 2024) to Mistletoebird Dicaeum hirundinaceum (Shaw, 1792) of Australia (Kirwan et al. 2024), based on plumage pattern and biogeography, and in accord with Gregory (2017). However, ignicolle, which was originally described at the species level, was split as such by del Hoyo and Collar (2016), and is notably shorter-winged (among other differences) than the widely disjunct nominate hirundinaceum; further study needed.

Synonymize Lonchura pallida subcastanea

Summary: (2→0 subspecies) A subspecies of Pale-headed Munia from north-central Sulawesi is synonymized.

Details: Clements v2024 taxon 30860, text: Synonymize subcastanea, rendering Lonchura pallida monotypic.

The population of Pale-headed Munia Lonchura pallida (Wallace, 1864) from the Palu Valley, in north-central Sulawesi, subcastanea (Hartert, 1897), is said not to differ in plumage from the nominate of elsewhere in Sulawesi (White and Bruce 1986, del Hoyo and Collar 2016, Payne 2024). It is thus synonymized with the nominate by Clements et al. (2024), aligning with Dickinson and Christidis (2014), BLI, IOC-WBL, and Eaton et al. (2021). However, Restall (1996) recognized subcastanea and considered that variation in populations of the eastern Lesser Sundas requires study.Taxon subcastanea was originally described at the species level.

Synonymize Lonchura spectabilis wahgiensis and mayri

Summary: (5→3 subspecies) Two subspecies of Hooded Muniafrom eastern New Guinea are synonymized.

Details: Clements v2024 taxa 30637–30642, text: Synonymize gajduseki with Lonchura spectabilis wahgiensis and modify range of wahgiensis accordingly. Synonymize sepikensis with Lonchura spectabilis mayri and modify range of mayri accordingly.

The Hooded Munia Lonchura spectabilis (Sclater, 1879) population from the Karimui Basin and eastern highlands of New Guinea, gajduseki Diamond, 1967, is considered unrecognizable by Beehler and Pratt (2016) and thus synonymized by Clements et al. (2024) with mayri (Hartert, 1930). The description of the population from eastern Sepik Province, northeastern New Guinea as sepikensis Jonkers and Roersma, 1990, was based on photos of a wild individual (Jonkers and Roersma 1990). This was considered indeterminate by Beehler and Pratt (2016), but as likely to represent polymorphism, which was already known in this species (Restall 1996). Synonymy by Clements et al. (2024) of both these taxa follows Payne (2010), Dickinson and Christidis (2014), BLI, IOC-WBL, and Beehler and Pratt (2016). Neither of the synonymized subspecies were originally described as full species.