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May 26, 2005
BOURC - Taxonomic changes (Scoters)
Taxonomic changes to the British List
The following recommendations relating to the taxonomy of birds on the British List will take effect from the publication of the BOURC Taxonomic Subcommittee's (BOURC-TSC) next report in Ibis.
Black Scoter Melanitta nigra
The two currently recognised subspecies of Black Scoter, the Eurasian M. n. nigra and the North American and East Asian M. n. americana should be treated as separate species:
Common Scoter M. nigra (monotypic)
Black Scoter M. americana (monotypic).
Both taxa are currently on the British List.
Black Scoter,ssp americana, Denmark, Blåvand 28-03-2003 © Ole Krogh
Velvet Scoter Melanitta fusca
Eurasian populations M. f. fusca are distinct from East Asian and North American populations M. f. stejnegeri and M. f. deglandi, and should be recognised as separate species:
Velvet Scoter M. fusca (monotypic)
White-winged Scoter M. deglandi (polytypic, with subspecies deglandi and stejnegeri).
Velvet Scoter is on the British List.
Supporting information relating to these decisions will be published separately.
Posted by Surfbirds at May 26, 2005 03:34 AM
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