Birdstack’s database has just been upgraded to conform with version 1.7 of the IOC’s World Bird Names project.

The IOC announced:

Included in the updates of this working list of 10,354 species are

• Additions of one newly discovered species (Olive-backed Forest Robin), and three splits each of Pyrrhura parakeets and Zimmerius tyrannulets
• Removal of all “species” previously marked for Deletion (DEL).
• Adjustments or changes of 19 English names, including restoration of Long-tailed Tit.
• Generic revisions including broad reclassification of gulls and terns as well as AOU’s separation of two species of Scytalopus tapaculos to a new genus Eleoscytalopus, assignments of Buarremon and Lysurus brush finches to Arremon, Darwin’s Rhea from Pterocnemia to Rhea, Slender-billed Kite from Rostrhamus to monotypic Helicolestes, Anianiau from Hemignathus to monotypic Magumma, and most Pionopsitta parrots to Pyrilia.
• Resequencing of Donacobius to Old World warblers (Sylviidae), and of Sapayoa to broadbills (Eurylaimidae) in accord with DNA revelations.

Changes to English names, binomials, family assignments, and the like have been made automatically in the database. If you would like more information about the changes that have taken place, you can peruse the World Birds Names updates pages.

Other types of changes, though, will require your input. Some of you will see a pending taxonomic updates icon in the notification area near the top of every page. When you click this icon, you will see a list of the observations that need to be reassigned after splits or lumps.

There’s a video tutorial available if you need help: taxonomic updates screencast.

This entry was posted on Sunday, October 19th, 2008 at 7:34 pm and is filed under taxonomy updates. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.