Changes to the Irish List, October 2002.

The initial report of the Taxonomic Sub-Committee of the BOU Records Committee (TSC) has been published in Ibis (Knox et al 2002). The report should be consulted for the full exposition of the TSC's decisions. The following recommendations included in the report are applicable to the Irish List and have been adopted by the IRBC.

• A study of the evolutionary development of the 26 basal groups of birds has indicated that the Anseriformes should be placed at the start of the Irish List followed by the Galliformes.
• Recent genetic studies of Albatrosses have revealed four major monophyletic groups, which are best recognized as genera. Black-browed Albatross Diomedea melanophris is reclassified as Thalassarche melanophris.
• The correct spelling of the scientific name of the Whiskered Tern is Chlidonias hybrida.
• The correct spelling of the scientific name of the Firecrest is Regulus ignicapilla.
• Recent studies have shown that Carrion Crow Corvus corone corone and Hooded Crow C. c. cornix should be treated as separate species. Both are now included as full species on the Irish List as Corvus corone and Corvus cornix respectively.
• The correct spelling of the scientific name of the Ovenbird is Seiurus aurocapilla.
• The correct spelling of the scientific name of the Pine Bunting is Emberiza leucocephalos

Additional recommendations in the report have no relevance to the Irish List at present although they may become applicable in the future. A PDF version of the latest Irish List may be downloaded here.

References