Changing names

In all the controversy over name changes one important factor seems to have been overlooked. Constantly changing bird names leads to confusion, especially among field birders. Why should the changes be decided by people that rarely set foot outside an office or laboratory. The big problem is that what the bird is called now is often very different in the field guide for the area, or in other publications. If eponymous names are to be dropped for "socio-political" reasons, then what is to be done about all the places the name already appears. This isn't new, but the number of changes has reached ridiculous proportions for varying reasons. When I first started birding, in the back of my trusty "Shell Guide" was a bird called a Rufous Bush Robin, which I finally managed to see in the UK a few years ago. In the latest IOC list it's a Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin, but I have books in which it is called Rufous Bushchat, and both scrub-robin and bush-robin are often hyphenated, although the trend now is to drop hyphens. 

This isn't too confusing, but every year (or so) I go through the IOC list to make sure that my own list (on an Excel Spreadsheet) agrees with it. When I came to the Columbidae I found complete confusion. In the beginning there was Mourning Dove, we all knew we were talking about-a common American species. But also there is Mourning Collared Dove, formerly known as African Mourning Dove, and this was called Mourning Dove by our guide in Ghana. There are also several Collared Doves, some the result of splits, why not use a more distinctive name for each one? But confusion doesn't stop there. There are five Wood Doves in the genus Turtur, but one is just a Dove (Tambourine). Other Doves have become Pigeons and vice-versa, Rock Pigeon became a Dove because it "conflicts" with two species of Rock Dove in Australia, but Australians call them Rock Pigeons anyway. I think feral pigeons should have a different name just to distinguish them from Rock Doves, although they are the same species. "Slum Dove" or "Flying Rat" have been suggested by friends of mine.

 

Nothing will change, so just be aware of exactly which species you are identifying when birding. It doesn't matter what it's called, but I always include the scientific name on any list. Although genera change even more frequently than vernacular names, species are usually set in stone, and will be the same in whatever publication or list you look. Being often Greek or Latin the ending may change (a, us or um) but it is obvious the species name is the same, it is just the "gender" of the generic name that must be followed. Again, does it really matter since the list is in English and we have no gender difference in our language. Most birders don't bother getting their heads round scientific names, but it does pin the species down whatever it's called. The IOC are trying to pull together all the various lists, resulting in a number of splits and lumps. It will also result in name changes, which will not become any more imaginative, so beware. It's quite fun to make up your own names, such as Ugly Stork (no prizes for guessing that one!) or Dark Mallard (American Black Duck), but it will never catch on. There is however a Supertramp Fantail, presumably named after the group. I've never seen it, but if I had I am far more likely to remember it than White-throated, White-browed or White-winged, all of which I have seen.