Coimbatore

The taxonomy update for eBird for 2021 is COMPLETE. We appreciate your patience.

This update is done once a year, taking into account new taxonomic information on splits, lumps, name changes, and changes in the species lists.

SHUFFLES OF OTHER TAXA and SUBSPECIES GROUP LUMPS FOR SOUTH ASIA

Revisions to eBird subspecies groups, and occasionally other taxa (like spuhs or slashes), can happen in our taxonomic update as well. This effectively changes the definition for these taxa and also changes how you should use them in reporting. To review your records of any of the subspecies groups below, simply open your Life List on eBird and use a browser search to search for the species name in question. Click the species to open all reports for that species; your subspecies reports will appear in this list and you can review those for accuracy. Selected revisions are listed below; for a complete listing of these changes see the Clements updates.

COMMON NAME CHANGES

Some updates relate directly to splits discussed above, since some of the taxa that were formerly species may appear here. For example, if a widespread bird that occurs in Africa and Asia is split into unique species on each continent, the population occurring on both continents might be retained here as a “slash” and appear as a name change (also a change from species to slash). Other name changes may be driven by changes in taxonomic sequence (as with hybrids and slashes, where the first-listed species always comes first), an attempt to follow an emerging consensus in local usage, or a taxonomic revision that affects hyphenation rules.

• Madagascar Turtle-Dove –> Malagasy Turtle-Dove
• Lesser Sand-Plover (Mongolian) –> Lesser Sand-Plover (Siberian)
• Kentish Plover (White-faced) –> White-faced Plover
• Mew Gull –> Common Gull
• Mew Gull (European) –> Common Gull (European)
• Mew Gull (Russian) –> Common Gull (Russian)
• Mew Gull (Kamchatka) –> Common Gull (Kamchatka)
• Oceanodroma sp. (Band-rumped complex) –> Hydrobates sp. (Band-rumped complex)
• Oceanodroma sp. –> Hydrobates sp.
• Brown-capped Woodpecker –> Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker
• Gray-capped Woodpecker –> Gray-capped Pygmy Woodpecker
• Brown-capped/Gray-capped Woodpecker –> Brown-capped/Gray-capped PygmyWoodpecker
• Sykes’s Short-toed Lark –> Mongolian Short-toed Lark
• Greater/Sykes’s Short-toed Lark –> Greater/Mongolian Short-toed Lark
• Asian/Lesser Short-toed Lark –> Asian/Turkestan Short-toed Lark
• Lesser Short-toed Lark –> Mediterranean/Turkestan Short-toed Lark
• Greater/Asian/Lesser Short-toed Lark –> Greater Short-toed Lark/Alaudala sp.
• Eremomela sp. –> eremomela sp.
• Striated Prinia –> Himalayan Prinia
• Zitting Cisticola (Zitting) –> Zitting Cisticola (Western)
• Pallas’s Grasshopper-Warbler –> Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler
• Locustella sp. –> Helopsaltes/Locustella sp.
• Sylvia sp. –> Sylvia/Curruca sp.
• Ludlow’s Fulvetta –> Brown-throated Fulvetta
• Fulvetta sp. –> fulvetta sp.
• Rusty-throated Wren-Babbler –> Mishmi Wren-Babbler
• Long-tailed Wren-Babbler –> Naga Wren-Babbler
• Red-billed/Coral-billed Scimitar-Babbler –> Coral-billed/Red-billed Scimitar-Babbler
• Blackish-breasted Babbler –> Sikkim Wedge-billed Babbler
• Chevron-breasted Babbler –> Cachar Wedge-billed Babbler
• Turdoides sp. –> Argya/Turdoides sp.
• Ianthocincla sp. –> Ianthocincla/Pterorhinus sp.
• Vivid Niltava (Large) –> Vivid Niltava (Chinese)
• Siberian Stonechat (Stejneger’s) –> Amur Stonechat
• Plain Mountain-Finch –> Plain Mountain Finch
• Black-headed Mountain-Finch –> Black-headed Mountain Finch

SPLITS

Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus is split into:

• Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus [map] [media] [my records]
• White-faced Plover Charadrius dealbatus [map] [media] [my records]

Lesser Short-toed Lark Alaudala rufescens is split into:

• Turkestan Short-toed Lark Alaudala heinei [map] [media] [my records]
• Mediterranean Short-toed Lark Alaudala rufescens [map] [media] [my records]

Striated Prinia Prinia crinigera is split into:

• Himalayan Prinia Prinia crinigera [map] [media] [my records]
• Striped Prinia Prinia striata [map] [media] [my records]

Graceful Prinia Prinia gracilis is split into:

• Graceful Prinia Prinia gracilis [map] [media] [my records]
• Delicate Prinia Prinia lepida [map] [media] [my records]

Siberian Stonechat Saxicola maurus is split into:

• Siberian Stonechat Saxicola maurus [map] [media] [my records]
• Amur Stonechat Saxicola stejnegeri [map] [media] [my records]

See here to know more about the above splits.

NEW SLASHES AND SPUHS

As with hybrids, eBird has a long list of “slashes” and “spuhs”. These are useful in the field if you get a good enough look at a bird to know it, for example, a white Egret, but not to tell if it was a Little Egret, Great Egret, Cattle Egret, or Intermediate Egret. You can use “white egret sp.”, in such instances. If you are able to narrow it down to two (or in rare cases, three or four) species options, we have “slashes”, which mention the full common name (and scientific name) for the species that are potential species for your observation (e.g., Great/Intermediate Egret). This list is being regularly updated as observers let us know what field identification problems they encounter. Slashes and spuhs are unique to the eBird taxonomy; they are not found in the Clements Checklist.

• Greater/Lesser Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus/Phoeniconaias minor
• hawk-cuckoo sp. Hierococcyx sp.
• Kentish/White-faced Plover Charadrius alexandrinus/dealbatus
• Common/Little Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula/dubius
• Bar-tailed/Black-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica/limosa
• Great/Red Knot Calidris tenuirostris/canutus
• Spotted/Common Redshank Tringa erythropus/totanus
• Sternula sp. Sternula sp.
• storm-petrel sp. (dark-rumped) Oceanitidae/Hydrobatidae sp. (dark-rumped)
• storm-petrel sp. (white-rumped) Oceanitidae/Hydrobatidae sp. (white-rumped)
• Yellow/Cinnamon Bittern Ixobrychus sinensis/cinnamomeus
• Intermediate/Cattle Egret Ardea intermedia/Bubulcus ibis
• pond-heron sp. Ardeola sp.
• snake-eagle sp. Circaetus sp.
• Eurasian/Eastern Marsh-Harrier Circus aeruginosus/spilonotus
• Eurasian Sparrowhawk/Northern Goshawk Accipiter nisus/gentilis
• Black/Brahminy Kite Milvus migrans/Haliastur indus
• Indian/Malabar Gray Hornbill Ocyceros birostris/griseus
• Common/Blue-eared Kingfisher Alcedo atthis/meninting
• bee-eater sp. Merops sp.
• Amur Falcon/Eurasian Hobby Falco amurensis/subbuteo
• Large/Black-headed Cuckooshrike Coracina macei/Lalage melanoptera
• Lesser/Greater Racket-tailed Drongo Dicrurus remifer/paradiseus
• Bay-backed/Long-tailed Shrike Lanius vittatus/schach
• green-magpie sp. Cissa sp.
• Rufous/Gray Treepie Dendrocitta vagabunda/formosae
• Mongolian Short-toed/Hume’s Lark Calandrella dukhunensis/acutirostris
• Alaudala sp. Alaudala sp.
• Crested/Malabar Lark Galerida cristata/malabarica
• Galerida sp. Galerida sp.
• Black-browed/Manchurian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus bistrigiceps/tangorum
• Blunt-winged/Manchurian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus concinens/tangorum
• Paddyfield/Blunt-winged/Blyth’s/Large-billed Reed Warbler Acrocephalus agricola/concinens/dumetorum/orinus
• Helopsaltes sp. Helopsaltes sp.
• Locustella sp. Locustella sp.
• Eurasian/Dusky Crag-Martin Ptyonoprogne rupestris/concolor
• Hirundo sp. Hirundo sp.
• house-martin sp. Delichon sp.
• bush warbler sp. Horornis sp.
• Curruca sp. Curruca sp.
• scrub-robin sp. Cercotrichas sp.
• blue flycatcher sp. Cyornis sp.
• rock-thrush sp. Monticola sp.
• Siberian/Amur Stonechat Saxicola maurus/stejnegeri
• Eastern Yellow/Citrine Wagtail Motacilla tschutschensis/citreola

 

NEW SUBSPECIES GROUPS

The following new subspecies groups are now available for data entry. When you are certain you have seen representatives of these groups, and ideally have identified them critically based on their field marks, please report them to eBird. Please do not guess based on the name, such as “Western” and “Eastern”; make sure you understand the differences being represented before reporting at so specific a level. Note that a few are adjusted and renamed, but similar groups existing in eBird previously. We are listing only those groups that has resulted in multiple entries within our region.

• Hume’s Warbler (Western) Phylloscopus humei humei
• Hume’s Warbler (Eastern) Phylloscopus humei mandellii
• Jerdon’s Babbler (Indus) Chrysomma altirostre scindicum
• Jerdon’s Babbler (Himalayan) Chrysomma altirostre griseigulare
• Jerdon’s Babbler (Irrawaddy) Chrysomma altirostre altirostre
• White-browed Fulvetta (White-throated) Fulvetta vinipectus vinipectus/kangrae
• White-browed Fulvetta (Bhutan) Fulvetta vinipectus chumbiensis
• White-browed Fulvetta (Naga Hills) Fulvetta vinipectus austeni
• White-browed Fulvetta (Chin Hills) Fulvetta vinipectus ripponi
• Striated Yuhina (Gray-crowned) Staphida castaniceps [striata Group]
• Striated Yuhina (Rufous-crowned) Staphida castaniceps castaniceps
• Beautiful Sibia (Black-eared) Heterophasia pulchella nigroaurita
• Beautiful Sibia (Gray-eared) Heterophasia pulchella pulchella
• Streak-throated Barwing (Gray-chested) Actinodura waldeni daflaensis
• Streak-throated Barwing (Rufous-chested) Actinodura waldeni [waldeni Group]
• Chestnut-tailed Starling (Western) Sturnia malabarica malabarica
• Chestnut-tailed Starling (Eastern) Sturnia malabarica nemoricola
• Blue-throated Flycatcher (Blue-throated) Cyornis rubeculoides rubeculoides
• Blue-throated Flycatcher (Notch-throated) Cyornis rubeculoides dialilaemus/rogersi

NEW HYBRIDS and INTERGRADES

eBird has a long list of field identifiable hybrids. These are always listed in taxonomic order (the species that comes first sequentially is listed first) and are always followed by “hybrid”. If you identified a hybrid, especially any of the below, please do report it to eBird (hopefully with photos)! eBird also maintains a much shorter lists of intergrades (hybrids between subspecies groups); these are sometimes followed by the phrase “intergrade” and can be identified from the scientific name by the structure of the names which indicates that it is a subspecies (a new intergrade for 2021 is within White Wagtail). Hybrids and intergrades are unique to the eBird taxonomy; they are not found in the Clements Checklist.

With Change Species, eBirders can quickly update their lists if you already have an entry of any of these (e.g., under duck sp.)–just use “add species” to search for these taxa which are available but typically won’t be on default data entry checklists yet.

• Baikal Teal x Falcated Duck (hybrid) Sibirionetta formosa x Mareca falcata
• Gadwall x Falcated Duck (hybrid) Mareca strepera x falcata
• Garganey x Green-winged Teal (hybrid) Spatula querquedula x Anas crecca
• Eurasian Wigeon x Green-winged Teal (hybrid) Mareca penelope x Anas crecca
• Red-crested x Common Pochard (hybrid) Netta rufina x Aythya ferina
• Red-crested Pochard x Ferruginous Duck (hybrid) Netta rufina x Aythya nyroca
• Mallard x Tufted Duck (hybrid) Anas platyrhynchos x Aythya fuligula
• Red-crested Pochard x Tufted Duck (hybrid) Netta rufina x Aythya fuligula
• Common Goldeneye x Smew (hybrid) Bucephala clangula x Mergellus albellus
• Indian x Green Peafowl (hybrid) Pavo cristatus x muticus
• European Turtle-Dove x Eurasian Collared-Dove (hybrid) Streptopelia turtur x decaocto
• Eurasian Moorhen x Eurasian Coot (hybrid) Gallinula chloropus x Fulica atra
• Slender-billed x Black-headed Gull (hybrid) Chroicocephalus genei x ridibundus
• Black-headed x Common Gull (hybrid) Chroicocephalus ridibundus x Larus canus
• Gray Heron x Great Egret (hybrid) Ardea cinerea x alba
• Hen x Pallid Harrier (hybrid) Circus cyaneus x macrourus
• Brown x Buffy Fish-Owl (hybrid) Ketupa zeylonensis x ketupu
• Black-naped Monarch x Blyth’s Paradise-Flycatcher (hybrid) Hypothymis azurea x Terpsiphone affinis
• Common x Great Myna (hybrid) Acridotheres tristis x grandis
• White Wagtail (Chinese x Hodgson’s) Motacilla alba leucopsis x alboides
• NEW FORMSWithin eBird, we also have forms for taxa that are field identifiable (or likely potential species) and worth tracking, but are not formally described. These include undescribed species and undescribed subspecies groups (both noted with “undescribed form”), slashes at a level between subspecies group and species (e.g., “Pied Wheatear (vittata)” below) and miscellaneous other options. This year’s update includes three undescribed forms which may be recognized as species in the future. Forms are unique to the eBird taxonomy; they are not found in the Clements Checklist.
  • Pied Wheatear (vittata) Oenanthe pleschanka (vittata form)
  • Variable Wheatear (Blyth’s) Oenanthe picata picata
  • Variable Wheatear (Gould’s) Oenanthe picata capistrata
  • Variable Wheatear (Strickland’s) Oenanthe picata opistholeuca
  • Tricolored Munia (Pale-flanked) Lonchura malacca (Pale-flanked)
  • Tricolored Munia (Dark-flanked) Lonchura malacca (Dark-flanked)
  • White Wagtail (White-faced/Transbaikalian) Motacilla alba alba/dukhunensis/baicalensis

  SCIENTIFIC NAME CHANGES

  See the Clements Checklist updates (to be posted soon here) for full discussion of the reasoning behind these name changes. Note that some relate directly to splits discussed above, since some of the taxa that were formerly species may appear here. For example, if a widespread bird that occurs in Africa and Asia that is split into unique species on each continent, the population occurring on both continents might be retained here as a “slash” and appear as a name change (also a downgrade from species to slash). We display the primary (v2021) English name as well (thus, the English name would match the revised Scientific Name in instances of a split).

  • Gray Francolin: Francolinus pondicerianus –> Ortygornis pondicerianus
  • Swamp Francolin: Francolinus gularis –> Ortygornis gularis
  • White-browed Crake: Amaurornis cinerea –> Poliolimnas cinereus
  • White-faced Plover: Charadrius alexandrinus dealbatus –> Charadrius dealbatus
  • Whimbrel (Siberian): Numenius phaeopus variegatus –> Numenius phaeopus variegatus/rogachevae
  • Swinhoe’s Storm-Petrel: Oceanodroma monorhis –> Hydrobates monorhis
  • Band-rumped Storm-Petrel: Oceanodroma castro –> Hydrobates castro
  • Hydrobates sp. (Band-rumped complex): Oceanodroma sp. (Band-rumped complex) –> Hydrobates sp. (Band-rumped complex)
  • Matsudaira’s Storm-Petrel: Oceanodroma matsudairae –> Hydrobates matsudairae
  • Hydrobates sp.: Oceanodroma sp. –> Hydrobates sp.
  • Barn Owl (Eastern): Tyto alba [delicatula Group] –> Tyto alba [javanica Group]
  • Collared Owlet: Glaucidium brodiei –> Taenioptynx brodiei
  • flameback sp.: Dinopium sp. –> Chrysocolaptes/Dinopium sp.
  • Asian/Turkestan Short-toed Lark: Alaudala cheleensis/rufescens –> Alaudala cheleensis/heinei
  • Mediterranean/Turkestan Short-toed Lark: Alaudala rufescens –> Alaudala rufescens/heinei
  • Greater Short-toed Lark/Alaudala sp.: Calandrella brachydactyla/Alaudala cheleensis/rufescens –> Calandrella brachydactyla/Alaudala sp.
  • Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler: Locustella certhiola –> Helopsaltes certhiola
  • Helopsaltes/Locustella sp.: Locustella sp. –> Helopsaltes/Locustella sp.
  • Bristled Grassbird: Chaetornis striata –> Schoenicola striatus
  • Black-headed Bulbul: Brachypodius atriceps –> Brachypodius melanocephalos
  • Barred Warbler: Sylvia nisoria –> Curruca nisoria
  • Lesser Whitethroat: Sylvia curruca –> Curruca curruca
  • Lesser Whitethroat (curruca/blythi): Sylvia curruca curruca/blythi –> Curruca curruca curruca/blythi
  • Lesser Whitethroat (halimodendri): Sylvia curruca halimodendri –> Curruca curruca halimodendri
  • Lesser Whitethroat (Lesser): Sylvia curruca curruca/blythi/halimodendri –> Curruca curruca curruca/blythi/halimodendri
  • Lesser Whitethroat (Desert): Sylvia curruca minula –> Curruca curruca minula
  • Lesser Whitethroat (Lesser/Desert): Sylvia curruca curruca/minula –> Curruca curruca curruca/minula
  • Lesser Whitethroat (Gansu): Sylvia curruca margelanica –> Curruca curruca margelanica
  • Lesser Whitethroat (Desert/Gansu): Sylvia curruca minula/margelanica –> Curruca curruca minula/margelanica
  • Lesser Whitethroat (Hume’s): Sylvia curruca althaea –> Curruca curruca althaea
  • Lesser Whitethroat (Lesser/Hume’s): Sylvia curruca curruca /althaea –> Curruca curruca curruca/althaea
  • Lesser Whitethroat (Lesser/Desert/Hume’s): Sylvia curruca curruca/minula/althaea –> Curruca curruca curruca/minula/althaea
  • Eastern Orphean Warbler: Sylvia crassirostris –> Curruca crassirostris
  • Western/Eastern Orphean Warbler: Sylvia hortensis/crassirostris –> Curruca hortensis/crassirostris
  • Asian Desert Warbler: Sylvia nana –> Curruca nana
  • Menetries’s Warbler: Sylvia mystacea –> Curruca mystacea
  • Menetries’s Warbler (rubescens/turcmenica): Sylvia mystacea rubescens/turcmenica –> Curruca mystacea rubescens/turcmenica
  • Greater Whitethroat: Sylvia communis –> Curruca communis
  • Sylvia/Curruca sp.: Sylvia sp. –> Sylvia/Curruca sp.
  • Black-throated Parrotbill (Black-throated): Suthora nipalensis nipalensis/crocotius –> Suthora nipalensis nipalensis/garhwalensis
  • Black-throated Parrotbill (Orange-eared): Suthora nipalensis humii –> Suthora nipalensis humii/crocotia
  • parrotbill sp.: Paradoxornithidae sp. –> Sylviidae (parrotbill sp.)
  • Striated Yuhina: Yuhina castaniceps –> Staphida castaniceps
  • yuhina sp.: Yuhina sp. –> Parayuhina/Staphida/Yuhina sp.
  • Dark-fronted Babbler: Rhopocichla atriceps –> Dumetia atriceps
  • Dark-fronted Babbler (atriceps): Rhopocichla atriceps atriceps –> Dumetia atriceps atriceps
  • Dark-fronted Babbler (bourdilloni): Rhopocichla atriceps bourdilloni –> Dumetia atriceps bourdilloni
  • Dark-fronted Babbler (siccata): Rhopocichla atriceps siccata –> Dumetia atriceps siccata
  • Dark-fronted Babbler (nigrifrons): Rhopocichla atriceps nigrifrons –> Dumetia atriceps nigrifrons
  • Coral-billed/Red-billed Scimitar-Babbler: Pomatorhinus ochraceiceps/ferruginosus –> Pomatorhinus ferruginosus/ochraceiceps
  • Large Scimitar-Babbler: Megapomatorhinus hypoleucos –> Erythrogenys hypoleucos
  • Rusty-cheeked Scimitar-Babbler: Megapomatorhinus erythrogenys –> Erythrogenys erythrogenys
  • Spot-breasted Scimitar-Babbler: Megapomatorhinus mcclellandi –> Erythrogenys mcclellandi
  • Abbott’s Babbler: Turdinus abbotti –> Malacocincla abbotti
  • Rufous-backed Sibia: Minla annectens –> Leioptila annectens
  • Large Gray Babbler: Turdoides malcolmi –> Argya malcolmi
  • Ashy-headed Laughingthrush: Garrulax cinereifrons –> Argya cinereifrons
  • Slender-billed Babbler: Turdoides longirostris –> Argya longirostris
  • Rufous Babbler: Turdoides subrufa –> Argya subrufa
  • Orange-billed Babbler: Turdoides rufescens –> Argya rufescens
  • Jungle Babbler: Turdoides striata –> Argya striata
  • Jungle Babbler (Jungle): Turdoides striata [striata Group] –> Argya striata [striata Group]
  • Jungle Babbler (Black-winged): Turdoides striata somervillei –> Argya striata somervillei
  • Yellow-billed Babbler: Turdoides affinis –> Argya affinis
  • Jungle/Yellow-billed Babbler: Turdoides striata/affinis –> Argya striata/affinis
  • Afghan Babbler: Turdoides huttoni –> Argya huttoni
  • Common Babbler: Turdoides caudata –> Argya caudata
  • Striated Babbler: Turdoides earlei –> Argya earlei
  • Common/Striated Babbler: Turdoides caudata/earlei –> Argya caudata/earlei
  • Argya/Turdoides sp.: Turdoides sp. –> Argya/Turdoides sp.
  • Wayanad Laughingthrush: Ianthocincla delesserti –> Pterorhinus delesserti
  • Rufous-vented Laughingthrush: Ianthocincla gularis –> Pterorhinus gularis
  • White-cheeked Laughingthrush: Ianthocincla vassali –> Pterorhinus vassali
  • Yellow-throated Laughingthrush: Ianthocincla galbana –> Pterorhinus galbanus
  • Rufous-necked Laughingthrush: Ianthocincla ruficollis –> Pterorhinus ruficollis
  • Chestnut-backed Laughingthrush: Ianthocincla nuchalis –> Pterorhinus nuchalis
  • White-browed Laughingthrush: Ianthocincla sannio –> Pterorhinus sannio
  • Greater Necklaced Laughingthrush: Ianthocincla pectoralis –> Pterorhinus pectoralis
  • Lesser/Greater Necklaced Laughingthrush: Garrulax monileger/Ianthocincla pectoralis –> Garrulax monileger/Pterorhinus pectoralis
  • Mount Victoria Babax: Ianthocincla woodi –> Pterorhinus woodi
  • White-throated Laughingthrush: Ianthocincla albogularis –> Pterorhinus albogularis
  • Gray-sided Laughingthrush: Ianthocincla caerulata –> Pterorhinus caerulatus
  • Ianthocincla/Pterorhinus sp.: Ianthocincla sp. –> Ianthocincla/Pterorhinus sp.
  • laughingthrush sp.: Garrulax/Ianthocincla/Trochalopteron/Montecincla sp. –> Leiothrichidae sp. (laughingthrush sp.)
  • Indian Blackbird (Black-capped): Turdus simillimus nigropileus/spencei –> Turdus simillimus nigropileus
  • Hill Blue Flycatcher: Cyornis banyumas –> Cyornis whitei
  • Amur Stonechat: Saxicola maurus stejnegeri –> Saxicola stejnegeri
  • Green Avadavat: Sporaeginthus formosus –> Amandava formosa

IMPORTANT LINKS

Global eBird taxonomy update 2021 – post on eBird Central Portal

Downloadable checklist (Clements 2021)