Main changes in the January 2008 version
The major change to this version over the previous (January 2007) one is the addition of Range and Status information for the passerines.Changes to the main preferred names lines are detailed below. The only scientific name changes are those correcting errors. There are several preferred English name changes. Most of these are the adoption of the preferred IOC name, but this has only been done when this was supported by all other recent texts. Finally there have been several additional species added, the considerable majority being vagrants to one or more of the islands or island groups, especially of North American species occurring on islands in the North Atlantic.
All Introduced and doubtful species are placed in square brackets.
In addition now all Vagrants known only from islands (ie not on mainland Africa) and those where specific records are not known at all are placed in round brackets.
The new (6th) edition of the Clements checklist (CMT) has been noted and all notes referring to CMT now refer to this edition. Also the corrections and updates noted on the web (www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist) have been incorporated (corrections and updates dated 18 July 2007 and 8 October 2007). (In practice the main changes this 6th edition have put onto this checklist have been to remove many of the instances where CMT was inconsistent with others.)
The new BirdLife checklist (http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/downloads/
BirdLife_Checklist_Version_0.xls) has been noted and incorporated as necessary (as BL). This is noted as being preliminary but was considered worth incorporating because of the legal status of a ‘species’ in some places and BirdLife’s control over the Red List.
Finally the latest (vol.12) of Handbook of the Birds of the World has been noted (affecting Timaliidae and Paridae).
Scientific Name changes
For this version I have not reviewed scientific names as I did for the January 2007 version. The four that follow are corrections following errors in that version.
[Francolinus pondericanus becomes Francolinus pondicerianus Grey Francolin Francolin gris]
A typing error in January 2007 version
Nigrita canicapilla Grey-crowned Nigrita becomes Nigrita canicapillus Grey-headed Negrofinch
Nigrita fusconota White-breasted Nigrita becomes Nigrita fusconotus White-breasted Negrofinch
Correcting back to what they should be, following error in January 2007 version.
Ortygospiza fuscocrissa African Quailfinch Astril-caille à lunettes is split off from Ortygospiza atricollis
Correction from the January 2007 version. It is clear there should be either 1 or 3 species of Ortygospiza and not 2.
There are also three typing errors now corrected -- one of the Lophotis bustards, Malaconotus spp and one of the Cryptospiza species.
English or French preferred name changes
These are mostly changes to come into line with the IOC list, and where both the latest version of CMT and the BirdLife list agree with that.
Phoebetria fusca Dark-mantled Sooty Albatross becomes Sooty Albatross
Phoebetria palpebrata Light-mantled Sooty Albatross becomes Light-mantled Albatross
Butorides striata Green-backed Heron becomes Striated Heron
Egretta ardesiaca Black Egret becomes Black Heron
Gyps africanus African White-backed Vulture becomes White-backed Vulture
Aegypius monachus Eurasian Black Vulture becomes Cinereous Vulture
Accipiter ovampensis Ovambo Sparrowhawk becomes Ovampo Sparrowhawk
Rallus aquaticus European Water Rail becomes Water Rail
Rallus madagascariensis Madagascar Water Rail becomes Madagascar Rail
Vanellus lugubris Lesser Black-winged Lapwing becomes Senegal Lapwing
Chionis minor Lesser Sheathbill becomes Black-faced Sheathbill
Chionis albus Yellow-billed Sheathbill becomes Snowy Sheathbill
[Geopelia striata Barred Ground Dove ??] becomes Zebra Dove Géopélie zébrée
Streptopelia reichenowi African White-winged Dove becomes White-winged Collared Dove
Cuculus poliocephalus Asian Lesser Cuckoo becomes Lesser Cuckoo
Cuculus rochii Madagascar Lesser Cuckoo becomes Madagascar Cuckoo
Asio otus Northern Long-eared Owl becomes Long-eared Owl
Caprimulgus fraenatus Dusky Nightjar becomes Sombre Nightjar
Halcyon chloris White-collared Kingfisher becomes Collared Kingfisher
Tockus erythrorhynchus Red-billed Hornbill Petit Calao à bec rouge becomes Calao à bec rouge
Mirafra hova Madagascar Bush Lark becomes Madagascar Lark
Mirafra albicauda White-tailed Bush Lark becomes White-tailed Lark
Mirafra hypermetra Red-winged Bush Lark becomes Red-winged Lark
Mirafra alopex Abyssinian Lark becomes Foxy Lark
Calandrella somalica Rufous Short-toed Lark becomes Somali Short-toed Lark
Eremophila bilopha Temminck's Horned Lark becomes Temminck’s Lark
Andropadus curvirostris Cameroon Sombre Greenbul becomes Plain Greenbul
Andropadus importunus Zanzibar Sombre Greenbul becomes Sombre Greenbul
Pycnonotus xanthopygos White-eyed Bulbul becomes White-spectacled Bulbul
Irania gutturalis Irania Irania à gorge blanche becomes White-throated Robin Iranie à gorge blanche
Cercotrichas quadrivirgata Eastern Bearded Scrub-Robin becomes Bearded Scrub Robin
Cercotrichas galactotes Rufous Scrub Robin becomes Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin
Oenanthe monticola Mountain Chat becomes Mountain Wheatear
Cercomela sordida Hill Chat becomes Moorland Chat
Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris Cliff Chat becomes Mocking Cliff Chat
Monticola saxatilis Common Rock Thrush becomes Rufous-tailed Rock Thrush
Nesillas aldabrana Aldabra Warbler becomes Aldabra Brush Warbler
Schoenicola brevirostris Broad-tailed Warbler becomes Fan-tailed Grassbird
Sylvietta isabellina Somali Long-billed Crombec becomes Somali Crombec
Camaroptera brachyura Grey-backed Camaroptera becomes Green-backed Camaroptera
Parus griseiventris Miombo Grey Tit becomes Miombo Tit
Nectarinia famosa Yellow-tufted Malachite Sunbird becomes Malachite Sunbird
Zosterops senegalensis Yellow White-eye becomes African Yellow White-eye
Zosterops olivaceus Réunion White-eye becomes Réunion Olive White-eye
Speirops lugubris São Tomé Speirops becomes Black-capped Speirops
Rhodophoneus cruentus Rosy-patched Shrike becomes Rosy-patched Bush Shrike
Dicrurus forficatus Madagascar Crested Drongo becomes Crested Drongo
Corvus capensis Cape Rook becomes Cape Crow
Onychognathus fulgidus Forest Chestnut-winged Starling becomes Chestnut-winged Starling
Onychognathus blythii Somali Chestnut-winged Starling becomes Somali Starling
Lamprotornis mevesii Meves’s Long-tailed Starling becomes Meves’s Starling
Neocichla gutturalis White-winged Starling becomes Babbling Starling
Sturnus roseus Rose-coloured Starling becomes Rosy Starling
Passer montanus Tree Sparrow becomes Eurasian Tree Sparrow
All Nigrita spp …. Nigrita become … Negrofinch
Amandava subflava Orange-breasted Waxbill becomes Zebra Waxbill
Vidua maryae Plateau Indigobird becomes Jos Plateau Indigobird
Vidua raricola Goldbreast Indigobird becomes Jambandu Indigobird
Carpodacus erythrinus Scarlet Rosefinch becomes Common Rosefinch
Emberiza cia European Rock Bunting becomes Rock Bunting
Additions
The majority of these are vagrants which have occurred on one or more of the surrounding islands rather than mainland Africa, and especially those in the North Atlantic. As will be clear many are North American vagrants which have occurred on the Azores.
Pterodroma ultima Murphy’s Petrel Pétrel de Murphy
Pterodroma cahow Bermuda Petrel Pétrel des Bermudes
Botaurus lentiginosus American Bittern Butor d’Amérique
Ixobrychus exilis Least Bittern Petit Blongios
Ardea cocoi Cocoi Heron Héron cocoi
Butorides virescens Green Heron Héron vert
Egretta tricolor Tricoloured Heron Aigrette tricolour
Anser brachyrhynchus Pink-footed Goose Oie à bec court
Anas flavirostris Speckled Teal Sarcelle tachetée
Melanitta perspicillata Surf Scoter Macreuse à front blanc
Somateria mollissima Common Eider Eider à duvet
Clangula hyemalis Long-tailed Duck Harelde kakawi
Elanoides forficatus American Swallow-tailed Kite Milan à queue fourchue
Falco sparverius American Kestrel Crécerelle d’Amérique
[Phasianus colchicus Common Pheasant Faisan de Colchide]
[Perdicula asiatica Jungle Bush Quail Perdicule rousse-gorge]
[Alectoris rufa Red-legged Partridge Perdrix rouge]
Neocrex erythrops Paint-billed Crake Râle à bec peint
Fulica americana American Coot Foulque d’Amérique
Fulica armillata Red-gartered Coot Foulque à jarretières
Charadrius vociferus Killdeer Pluvier kildir
Charadrius modestus South American Dotterel Pluvier d’Urville
Calidris mauri Western Sandpiper Bécasseau d’Alaska
Gallinago delicata Wilson’s Snipe ??
Catoptrophorus semipalmatus Willet Chevalier semipalmé
Sterna elegans Elegant Tern Sterne élégante
Sterna forsteri Forster’s Tern Sterne de Forster
Uria lomvia Brunnich’s Guillemot Guillemot de Brunnich
Zenaida macroura Mourning Dove Tourterelle triste
[Myiopsitta monachus Monk Parakeet Conure veuve]
Coccyzus erythrophthalmus Black-billed Cuckoo Coulicou à bec noir
Coccyzus melacoryphus Dark-billed Cuckoo Coulicou de Vieillot
Chordeiles minor Common Nighthawk Engoulevent d’Amérique
Ceryle alcyon Belted Kingfisher Martin-pêcheur d’Amérique
Petrochelidon pyrrhonota American Cliff Swallow Hirondelle à front blanc
MIMIDAE
Mimus polyglottos Northern Mockingbird Moqueur polyglotte
Dumetella carolinensis Grey Catbird Moqueur chat
Hylocichla mustelina Wood Thrush Grive des bois
Catharus minimus Grey-cheeked Thrush Grive à joues grises
Passer moabiticus Dead Sea Sparrow Moineau de la mer Morte
Vireo griseus White-eyed Vireo Viréo aux yeux blancs
Vireo philadelphicus Philadelphia Vireo Viréo de Philadelphie
Carduelis hornemanni Arctic Redpoll Sizerin blanchâtre
Carpodacus sinoicus Pale Rosefinch Roselin du Sinai
PARULIDAE
Vermivora peregrina Tennessee Warbler Paruline obscure
Dendroica petechia Yellow Warbler Paruline jaune
Dendroica coronata Yellow-rumped Warbler Paruline à croupion jaune
Dendroica caerulescens Black-throated Blue Warbler Paruline bleue
Dendroica striata Blackpoll Warbler Paruline rayée
Setophaga ruticilla American Redstart Paruline flamboyant
Seiurus aurocapilla Ovenbird Paruline couronée
Seiurus novaeboracensis Northern Waterthrush Paruline des ruisseaux
Seiurus motacilla Louisiana Waterthrush Paruline hochequeue
Geothlypis trichas Common Yellowthroat Paruline masquée
Wilsonia citrina Hooded Warbler Paruline à capuchin
THRAUPIDAE
Piranga rubra Summer Tanager Tangara vermillion
Piranga olivacea Scarlet Tanager Tangara écarlate
Emberiza aureola Yellow-breasted Bunting Bruant aureole
Passerculus sandwichensis Savannah Sparrow Bruant des prés
Calcarius lapponicus Lapland Longspur Bruant lappon
Zonotrichia leucophrys White-crowned Sparrow Bruant à couronne blanche
CARDINALIDAE
Pheuctictus ludovicianus Rose-breasted Grosbeak Cardinale à poitrine rose
Passerina cyanea Indigo Bunting Passerin indigo
ICTERIDAE
Icterus galbula Baltimore Oriole Oriole du Nord
Dolichonyx oryzivorus Bobolink Goglu des près
Peter Lack January 2008
Main changes in the January 2007 version
Two substantial changes:
1) The main list now in 2 parts: a) Non-passerines to which brief notes of Status, Habitat and Range have been added; b) Passerines (it is intended to put similar notes onto this part in due course).
2) All names have been revisited and where the general consensus suggests that a change should be made to the main entry line this has been done with suitable modifications to the notes. A list of changes to main names is included below.
Other changes have included:
1) Updates to Clements’s checklist from www.ibispub.com dated July and December 2005. (It is noted that a 7th edition of this checklist is due for publication in January 2007 and will be incorporated as appropriate in due course.)
2) Updates to Howard & Moore’s checklist dated 31 January 2006 at Howard & Moore update
3) Handbook of Birds of the World volumes 10 and 11 (to end of warblers and flycatchers).
4) The International Ornithological Congress list of English Bird Names has been incorporated. Also the single asterisk following a secondary English name now indicates that this is the IOC preferred name (previously the asterisk indicated the name used by the Sinclair &Ryan fieldguide).
As a consequence of the above there are also some changes to the Introduction.
It is intended that this list will be updated and modified at intervals. Generally this will happen no more than once per year.
Differences
in main entries from June 2005 version
This lists the differences in the main entry lines between the new version (November
2006) and the version which was placed onto the African Bird Club website in
June 2005. In all cases necessary changes to the subsequent lines have been made.
Diomedeidae -- Albatrosses
Diomedea melanophrys becomes Thalassarche melanophrys
Diomedea cauta becomes Thalassarche cauta
Diomedea chrysostoma becomes Thalassarche chrysostoma
Diomedea chlororhynchos becomes Thalassarche chlororhynchos
Diomedea bulleri becomes Thalassarche bulleri
Diomedea immutabilis becomes Phoebastria immutabilis
Procellariidae -- Shearwaters, Petrels
Pterodroma brevirostris becomes Aphodroma brevirostris and
moves to start of Pterodroma
Sulidae -- Gannets, Boobies
Sula bassana becomes Morus bassanus
Sula capensis becomes Morus capensis
Sula serrator becomes Morus serrator
Threskiornithidae -- Ibises
Bostrychia hagedash Hadeda Ibis becomes Hadada Ibis
Anatidae -- Ducks, Geese, Swans
Anas smithii Cape Shoveler Canard du Cap becomes Canard de Smith
Accipitridae -- Eagles, Hawks
Aquila verreauxii Verreaux's Eagle becomes Verreauxs’ Eagle
Phasianidae -- Gamebirds
[Pavo cristatus Common Peacock Paon bleu] is added in square brackets
Francolinus pondericanus Grey Francolin ?? is added
Otididae -- Bustards
Eupodotis ruficrista becomes Lophotis ruficrista
Eupodotis savilei becomes Lophotis savilei
Eupodotis gindiana becomes Lophotis gindiana
Eupodotis afra becomes Afrotis afra
Eupodotis afraoides becomes Afrotis afraoides
Eupodotis melanogaster becomes Lissotis melanogaster
Eupodotis hartlaubii becomes Lissotis hartlaubii
Scolopacidae -- Waders
Tringa solitaria becomes a definite record not in square brackets
Laridae -- Gulls
Larus sabini becomes Xema sabini and moves to end of Larus
Columbidae -- Pigeons, Doves
[Geopelia striata Barred Ground Dove ??] is added in square brackets
Turtur afer Blue-spotted Wood Dove Tourtelette amethystine becomes Tourtelette
améthystine
Columba livia Rock Dove; Feral Pigeon; Rock Pigeon becomes Rock Dove/Feral
Pigeon
Strigidae -- Owls
Otus icterorhynchus, Otus ireneae, Otus brucei, Otus
hartlaubi, Otus pembaensis, Ptilopsis leucotis become
Petit-duc …. (not Petit-Duc ….)
Bubo ascalaphus, Bubo capensis, Bubo africanus, Bubo
poensis, Bubo shelleyi, Bubo lacteus, Bubo leucostictus become
Grand-duc … (not Grand-Duc…)
Ketupa zeylonensis Brown Fish Owl ?? is added
Caprimulgidae -- Nightjars
Caprimulgus ruwenzorii Rwenzori Nightjar becomes Ruwenzori Nightjar
Apodidae -- Swifts
Apus pallidus Pallid Swift Martinet pale becomes Martinet pâle
Alcedinidae -- Kingfishers
Alcedo nais Principé Kingfisher Martin-pêcheur de Principé becomes
Príncipe Kingfisher Martin-pêcheur de Príncipe
Bucerotidae -- Hornbills
Tockus albocristatus becomes Tropicanus albocristatus
Picidae -- Woodpeckers
Dendropicos lugubris Melancholy Woodpecker Pic àraies noires
becomes Pic à raies noires
Alaudidae -- Larks
Mirafra alopex Abyssinian Lark Alouette abyssinienne is added
Certhilauda brevirostris Algulhas Long-billed Lark becomes Agulhas
Long-billed Lark
Certhilauda barlowi Barlow's Lark Alouette de Barlow is split from C.
erythrochlamys
Calandrella erlangeri Erlanger's Lark Alouette d'Erlanger is split
from C. blanfordi
Hirundinidae -- Swallows, Martins
Hirundo semirufa becomes Cecropis semirufa
Hirundo senegalensis becomes Cecropis senegalensis
Hirundo abyssinica becomes Cecropis abyssinica
Hirundo cucullata becomes Cecropis cucullata
Hirundo daurica becomes Cecropis daurica
Hirundo fuliginosa becomes Petrochelidon fuliginosa
Hirundo preussi becomes Petrochelidon preussi
Hirundo rufigula becomes Petrochelidon rufigula
Hirundo spilodera becomes Petrochelidon spilodera
Hirundo perdita becomes Petrochelidon perdita
Hirundo fuligula becomes Ptyonoprogne fuligula
Hirundo rupestris becomes Ptonoprogne rupestris
Motacillidae -- Pipits, Wagtails
Anthus latistriatus Jackson's Pipit Pipit à raies larges is split
from A. cinnamomeus
Pycnonotidae -- Bulbuls
Bleda canicapilla becomes Bleda canicapillus
Bleda notatus Lesser Bristlebill Bulbul jaunelore is split
from B. eximius
Pycnonotus jocosus Red-whiskered Bulbul ?? is added
Turdidae -- Thrushes
(Sheppardia aurantiithorax Rubeha Akalat ??) becomes Rougegorge de Tanzanie)
Neocossyphus fraseri becomes Stizorhina fraseri
Neocossyphus finschii becomes Stizorhina finschi
Psophocichla litsitsirupa Groundscraper Thrush Merle litsipsirupa becomes
Merle litsitsirupa
Sylviidae -- Warblers
Nesillas longicaudata is moved to between N. typica and N.
brevicaudata
Phylloscopus canariensis Canary Islands Chiffchaff Pouillot de Canaries
is added
Orthotomus moreaui becomes Artisornis moreaui
Orthotomus metopias becomes Artisornis metopias
Cryptosylvicola randriansoloi becomes Cryptosylvicola randrianasoloi
Neomixis flavoviridis becomes Hartertula flavoviridis
Regulidae now raised as a family from Sylviidae
Regulus teneriffae (races teneriffae and ellenthaleri)
subsumed into Regulus regulus
Cisticolidae -- Warblers
Cisticola dorsti becomes Cisticola guinea
Apalis ruwenzorii Rwenzori Apalis becomes Ruwenzori
Apalis
Prinia hypoxantha Drakensberg Prinia Prinia à poitrine
cannelle split from P. maculosa
Prinia leucopogon becomes Schistolais
leucopogon
Prinia leontica becomes Schistolais
leontica
Muscicapidae -- Flycatchers
Melaenornis annamarulae Nimba Flycatcher Gobemouche
du Libérie becomes Gobemouche du Libéria
Platysteiridae -- Flycatchers
Platysteira laticincta Banded Wattle-eye Pririt
de Bamenda split from P. peltata
Incertae sedis near Timaliidae -- Babblers
Chaetops aurantius Drakensberg Rockjumper Chétopse
doré is split from C. frenatus
Arcanator orostruthus becomes Modulatrix
orostruthus
Nectariniidae -- Sunbirds
Anabathmis hartlaubii Principé Sunbird
becomes Príncipe Sunbird
Nectarinia reichenowi becomes Drepanorhynchus
reichenowi
Zosteropidae -- White-eyes
Zosterops ficedulinus Principé White-eye
becomes Príncipe White-eye
Zosterops poliogaster becomes Zosterops
poliogastrus
Zosterops mouroniensis Mount Karthala White-eye
becomes Karthala White-eye
Speirops leucophaeus Principé Speirops
Zostérops de Principé becomes Speirops
leucophoeus Príncipe Speirops Zostérops de Príncipe
(note that the spelling of scientific, English and French names all changed)
Laniidae -- Shrikes
Lanius souzae Sousa's Shrike becomes Souza's
Shrike
Malaconotidae -- Bush Shrikes
Laniarius leucorhynchus Sooty Boubou becomes Lowland
Sooty Boubou
Laniarius fuelleborni Fulleborn's Boubou Gonolek
de Fulleborn becomes Fülleborn's Boubou Gonolek de Fülleborn
Vireonidae - Vireos
Vireo olivaceus Red-eyed Vireo Viréo aux
yeux rouges is added
Sturnidae -- Starlings
Lamprotornis cupreocauda Copper-tailed Glossy Starling becomes Copper-tailed
Starling
Lamprotornis purpureiceps Purple-headed Glossy Starling becomes Purple-headed
Starling
Lamprotornis purpureus Purple Glossy Starling becomes Purple Starling
Lamprotornis nitens Cape Glossy Starling becomes Cape Starling
Lamprotornis chalcurus Bronze-tailed Glossy Starling becomes Bronze-tailed
Starling
Lamprotornis corruscus Black-bellied Glossy Starling becomes Black-bellied
Starling
Lamprotornis ornatus Principé Glossy Starling Choucador de
Principé becomes Príncipe Starling Choucador de Príncipe
Lamprotornis splendidus Splendid Glossy Starling becomes Splendid
Starling
Lamprotornis purpuropterus Ruppell's Glossy Starling becomes Ruppell's
Starling
Lamprotornis mevesii Meves's Long-tailed Glossy Starling becomes Meves's
Long-tailed Starling
Pholia femoralis becomes Cinnyricinclus femoralis
Passeridae -- Sparrows
Carpospiza brachydactyla is now placed in Passeridae not Fringillidae
Ploceidae -- Weavers
Histurgops ruficaudus becomes Histurgops ruficauda
Ploceus princeps Príncipe Golden Weaver Tisserin de Principé becomes
Príncipe Golden Weaver Tisserin de Príncipe
Pachyphantes superciliosus becomes Ploceus superciliosus
Euplectes macroura becomes Euplectes macrourus
Estrildidae -- Waxbills
Nigrita luteifrons Pale-fronted Negrofinch becomes Pale-fronted Nigrita
Nigrita canicapillus Grey-crowned Negrofinch becomes Nigrita canicapilla Grey-crowned
Nigrita
Nigrita bicolor Chestnut-breasted Negrofinch becomes Chestnut-breasted
Nigrita
Nigrita fusconotus White-breasted Negrofinch becomes Nigrita fusconota White-breasted
Nigrita
Coccopygia melanotis becomes Estrilda melanotis
Coccopygia quartinia becomes Estrilda quartinia
Granatina ianthinogaster becomes Uraeginthus ianthinogaster
Granatina granatina becomes Uraeginthus granatinus
Lagonosticta landanae Landana Firefinch Amarante de Landana is added
Ortypgospiza fuscocrissa is subsumed into Ortygospiza atricollis
Paludipasser locustella becomes Ortygospiza locustella
Sporaeginthus subflavus becomes Amandava subflava
Odontospiza griseicapilla becomes Lonchura griseicapilla
Spermestes cucullatus becomes Lonchura cucullata
Spermestes bicolor becomes Lonchura bicolor
Spermestes fringilloides becomes Lonchura fringilloides
Euodice cantans becomes Lonchura cantans
Fringillidae -- Finches
Serinus rufobrunneus Principé Seedeater becomes Príncipe
Seedeater
Serinus flavivertex Yellow-crowned Canary Serin à calotte jaune
is subsumed into Serinus canicollis
Alario alario becomes Serinus alario
Alario leucolaemus Damara Canary Serin alario du Nord is subsumed
into Serinus alario
Carpospiza brachydactyla Pale Rockfinch Moineau pâle is moved
to Passeridae
Bucanetes githaginea becomes Bucanetes githagineus
Latest page update 8th January 2008