10,000 Birds

MARCH 7, 2022

The HBW reports that until recently several subspecies were commonly recognized, notably brevipes , ocularis , micronesiae , minima , leucophrys , meeki and tannensis , but that the differences are slight and the species is now treated as monotypic.

Micronesia 216

Micronesia Branding Buffalo Rabbits 216

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 28, 2014

It varies in appearance across its enormous range, and a new genetic study — Dispersal and speciation in purple swamphens (Rallidae: Porphyrio) — bolsters the case that this “supertramp” is actually a superspecies that could be split into six different species. Above: Swamphen in Australia by James Niland).

Papua New Guinea 213

Papua New Guinea Philippines New Zealand Florida 213

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 23, 2015

All the way back in 2011 I wrote about the confusing taxanomic enigma that is the Collared Kingfisher , a species that ranges from the Red Sea to Tonga in a bewildering variety of forms. I’m happy to report that an analysis of the species and some relatives has found that, as suspected, it isn’t a single species.

United Arab Emirates 196

United Arab Emirates Micronesia Tonga Vanuatu 196

10,000 Birds

MARCH 23, 2011

The world of birding is filled with challenging groups well known to all, birds like gulls , Empidonax flycatchers or cisticolas that require attention to the tiniest details in order to assign an individual to a specific species (if it can be done at all). Above we have an example of the species. Subspecies humii , Thailand.

Samoa 183

Samoa Vanuatu United Arab Emirates Tonga 183