Updates to Clements World List

At the end of 2008, the latest updates to the Clements world checklist were announced by Cornell Lab of Ornithology, who now administer the list. These changes are all explained in great detail on Cornell's website, where you can also download the new world list.

It has taken a little time, but BUBO Listing now incorporates all of these changes. Whilst there have been many minor name changes, the changes affecting birders most significantly are the species which have been split, and those that have been lumped. For many birders it will appear to be bad news, as the number of lumps far outweighs the number of splits, so most world lists are likely to decline.

For existing lists, we have had to remove any records of species that have been lumped or split, and listers will have to go in and add the ones that should now be there instead. To make this task a little easier, we here list the splits and the lumps to consider:

Splits (old species listed first, then new ones)

Red-winged Tinamou Rhynchotus rufescens

    >   Red-winged Tinamou Rhynchotus rufescens

    >   Huayco Tinamou Rhynchotus maculicollis

Spot-billed Duck Anas poecilorhyncha

    >   Indian Spot-billed Duck Anas poecilorhyncha

    >   Eastern Spot-billed Duck Anas zonorhyncha

White-chinned Petrel Procellaria aequinoctialis

    >   White-chinned Petrel Procellaria aequinoctialis

    >   Spectacled Petrel Procellaria conspicillata

Audubon's Shearwater Puffinus lherminieri

    >   Audubon's Shearwater Puffinus lherminieri

    >   Galapagos Shearwater Puffinus subalaris

White-eared Parakeet Pyrrhura leucotis

    >   White-eared Parakeet Pyrrhura leucotis

    >   Pfrimer's Parakeet Pyrrhura pfrimeri

Marbled Frogmouth Podargus ocellatus

    >   Marbled Frogmouth Podargus ocellatus

    >   Solomon Islands Frogmouth Rigidipenna inexpectata

Little Nightjar Caprimulgus parvulus

    >   Todd's Nightjar Caprimulgus heterurus

    >   Little Nightjar Caprimulgus parvulus

Chapman's Swift Chaetura chapmani

    >   Chapman's Swift Chaetura chapmani

    >   Amazonian Swift Chaetura viridipennis

Ashy-tailed Swift Chaetura andrei

    >   Sick's Swift Chaetura meridionalis

    >   {Vaux's Swift - some subspecies transferred} Chaetura vauxi

Pale-tailed Barbthroat Threnetes niger

    >   Pale-tailed Barbthroat Threnetes leucurus

    >   Sooty Barbthroat Threnetes niger

Blue-tailed Emerald Chlorostilbon mellisugus

    >   Western Emerald Chlorostilbon melanorhynchus

    >   Red-billed Emerald Chlorostilbon gibsoni

    >   Blue-tailed Emerald Chlorostilbon mellisugus

Golden-bellied Starfrontlet Coeligena bonapartei

    >   Golden-bellied Starfrontlet Coeligena bonapartei

    >   Dusky Starfrontlet Coeligena orina

Black-mandibled Toucan Ramphastos ambiguus

    >   Chestnut-mandibled Toucan Ramphastos swainsonii

    >   Black-mandibled Toucan Ramphastos ambiguus

Rufous-headed Woodpecker Celeus spectabilis

    >   Rufous-headed Woodpecker Celeus spectabilis

    >   Kaempfer's Woodpecker Celeus obrieni

White-necked Puffbird Notharchus macrorhynchos

    >   White-necked Puffbird Notharchus hyperrhynchus

    >   Guianan Puffbird Notharchus macrorhynchos

White-ruffed Manakin Corapipo altera

    >   White-ruffed Manakin Corapipo altera

    >   White-bibbed Manakin Corapipo leucorrhoa

Slender-footed Tyrannulet Zimmerius gracilipes

    >   Slender-footed Tyrannulet Zimmerius gracilipes

    >   Guianan Tyrannulet Zimmerius acer

Golden-faced Tyrannulet Zimmerius chrysops

    >   Choco Tyrannulet Zimmerius albigularis

    >   Golden-faced Tyrannulet Zimmerius chrysops

Warbling Antbird Hypocnemis cantator

    >   Guianan Warbling-Antbird Hypocnemis cantator

    >   Imeri Warbling-Antbird Hypocnemis flavescens

    >   Peruvian Warbling-Antbird Hypocnemis peruviana

    >   Yellow-breasted Warbling-Antbird Hypocnemis subflava

    >   Rondonia Warbling-Antbird Hypocnemis ochrogyna

    >   Spix's Warbling-Antbird Hypocnemis striata

Spot-winged Antbird Percnostola leucostigma

    >   Humaita Antbird Schistocichla humaythae

    >   Brownish-headed Antbird Schistocichla brunneiceps

    >   Rufous-faced Antbird Schistocichla rufifacies

    >   Spot-winged Antbird Schistocichla leucostigma

Tropical Boubou Laniarius aethiopicus

    >   Somali Boubou Laniarius erlangeri

    >   Tropical Boubou Laniarius aethiopicus

    >   Zanzibar Boubou Laniarius sublacteus

Lumps (new species listed first, then old ones)

Ring-necked Pheasant Phasianus colchicus

    >   Ring-necked Pheasant Phasianus colchicus

    >   Green Pheasant Phasianus versicolor

Green-winged Teal   Anas crecca

    >   Green-winged Teal   Anas carolinensis

Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis

    >   Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis

    >   Andean Duck Oxyura ferruginea

Black-faced Ibis Theristicus melanopis

    >   Andean Ibis Theristicus branickii

    >   Black-faced Ibis Theristicus melanopis

Sharp-shinned Hawk Accipiter striatus

    >   Sharp-shinned Hawk Accipiter striatus

    >   Plain-breasted Hawk Accipiter ventralis

    >   Rufous-thighed Hawk Accipiter erythronemius

Bicolored Hawk Accipiter bicolor

    >   Bicolored Hawk Accipiter bicolor

    >   Chilean Hawk Accipiter chilensis

Common Black-Hawk Buteogallus anthracinus

    >   Common Black-Hawk Buteogallus anthracinus

    >   Mangrove Black-Hawk Buteogallus subtilis

Variable Hawk Buteo polyosoma

    >   Red-backed Hawk Buteo polyosoma

    >   Puna Hawk Buteo poecilochrous

Black Rail Laterallus jamaicensis

    >   Junin Rail Laterallus tuerosi

    >   Black Rail Laterallus jamaicensis

Black-necked Stilt   Himantopus mexicanus

    >   Black-necked Stilt Himantopus mexicanus

    >   White-backed Stilt Himantopus melanurus

Herring Gull   Larus argentatus

    >   European Herring Gull Larus argentatus

    >   American Herring Gull Larus smithsonianus

    >   East Siberian Gull Larus vegae

Caspian Gull Larus cachinnans

    >   Caspian Gull Larus cachinnans

    >   Steppe Gull Larus barabensis

Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus

    >   Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus

    >   Heuglin's Gull Larus heuglini

Grey-headed Dove Leptotila plumbeiceps

    >   Grey-headed Dove Leptotila plumbeiceps

    >   Brown-backed Dove Leptotila battyi

Green Parakeet Aratinga holochlora

    >   Green Parakeet Aratinga holochlora

    >   Socorro Parakeet Aratinga brevipes

    >   Red-throated Parakeet Aratinga rubritorquis

Mitred Parakeet Aratinga mitrata

    >   Mitred Parakeet Aratinga mitrata

    >   Chapman's Mitred Parakeet Aratinga alticola

Painted Parakeet Pyrrhura picta

    >   Azuero Parakeet Pyrrhura eisenmanni

    >   Todd's Parakeet Pyrrhura caeruleiceps

    >   Sinu Parakeet Pyrrhura subandina

    >   Painted Parakeet Pyrrhura picta

Rose-fronted Parakeet Pyrrhura roseifrons

    >   Red-crowned Parakeet Pyrrhura roseifrons

    >   Wavy-breasted Parakeet Pyrrhura peruviana

Santarem Parakeet Pyrrhura amazonum

    >   Hellmayr's Parakeet Pyrrhura amazonum

    >   Madeira Parakeet Pyrrhura snethlage

Monk Parakeet Myiopsitta monachus

    >   Monk Parakeet Myiopsitta monachus

    >   Cliff Parakeet Myiopsitta luchsi

Vermiculated Screech-Owl Megascops guatemalae

    >   Guatemalan Screech-Owl Megascops guatemalae

    >   Vermiculated Screech-Owl Megascops vermiculatus

    >   Roraima Screech-Owl Megascops roraimae

    >   Rio Napo Screech-Owl Megascops napensis

Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus

    >   Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus

    >   Magellanic Horned Owl Bubo magellanicus

Northern Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium gnoma

    >   Northern Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium californicum

    >   Mountain Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium gnoma

    >   Guatemalan Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium cobanense

    >   Cape Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium hoskinsii

Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium brasilianum

    >   Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium brasilianum

    >   Tucuman Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium tucumanum

Greater Antillean Nightjar Caprimulgus cubanensis

    >   Greater Antillean Nightjar Caprimulgus cubanensis

    >   Hispaniolan Nightjar Caprimulgus ekmani

Short-tailed Swift Chaetura brachyura

    >   Short-tailed Swift Chaetura brachyura

    >   Tumbes Swift Chaetura ocypetes

Streamertail Trochilus polytmus

    >   Red-billed Streamertail Trochilus polytmus

    >   Black-billed Streamertail Trochilus scitulus

Amazilia Hummingbird Amazilia amazilia

    >   Amazilia Hummingbird Amazilia amazilia

    >   Loja Hummingbird Amazilia alticola

Versicolored Emerald Amazilia versicolor

    >   Versicolored Emerald Agyrtria versicolor

    >   Rondonia Emerald Agyrtria rondoniae

Green-bellied Hummingbird Amazilia viridigaster

    >   Green-bellied Hummingbird Saucerottia viridigaster

    >   Copper-tailed Hummingbird Saucerottia cupreicauda

White-throated Mountain-gem Lampornis castaneoventris

    >   White-throated Mountain-gem Lampornis castaneoventris

    >   Grey-tailed Mountain-gem Lampornis cinereicauda

Andean Hillstar Oreotrochilus estella

    >   Andean Hillstar Oreotrochilus estella

    >   Green-headed Hillstar Oreotrochilus stolzmanni

Collared Inca Coeligena torquata

    >   Gould's Inca Coeligena inca

    >   Collared Inca Coeligena torquata

Golden-bellied Starfrontlet Coeligena bonapartei

    >   Golden Starfrontlet Coeligena eos

    >   Golden-bellied Starfrontlet Coeligena bonapartei

Amethyst-throated Sunangel Heliangelus amethysticollis

    >   Longuemare's Sunangel Heliangelus clarisse

    >   Amethyst-throated Sunangel Heliangelus amethysticollis

Sapphire-vented Puffleg Eriocnemis luciani

    >   Sapphire-vented Puffleg Eriocnemis luciani

    >   Coppery-naped Puffleg Eriocnemis sapphiropygia

Blue-crowned Motmot Momotus momota

    >   Blue-crowned Motmot Momotus momota

    >   Highland Motmot Momotus aequatorialis

Emerald Toucanet Aulacorhynchus prasinus

    >   Wagler's Toucanet Aulacorhynchus wagleri

    >   Emerald Toucanet Aulacorhynchus prasinus

    >   Blue-throated Toucanet Aulacorhynchus caeruleogularis

    >   Violet-throated Toucanet Aulacorhynchus cognatus

    >   Santa Marta Toucanet Aulacorhynchus lautus

    >   Andean Toucanet Aulacorhynchus albivitta

    >   Black-throated Toucanet Aulacorhynchus atrogularis

Golden-spangled Piculet Picumnus exilis

    >   Golden-spangled Piculet Picumnus exilis

    >   Black-spotted Piculet Picumnus nigropunctatus

Russet-throated Puffbird Hypnelus ruficollis

    >   Russet-throated Puffbird Hypnelus ruficollis

    >   Two-banded Puffbird Hypnelus bicinctus

Striped Manakin Machaeropterus regulus

    >   Western Striped Manakin Machaeropterus striolatus

    >   Eastern Striped Manakin Machaeropterus regulus

Green-backed Becard Pachyramphus viridis

    >   Green-backed Becard Pachyramphus viridis

    >   Yellow-cheeked Becard Pachyramphus xanthogenys

Paltry Tyrannulet Zimmerius vilissimus

    >   Paltry Tyrannulet Zimmerius vilissimus

    >   Venezuelan Tyrannulet Zimmerius improbus

Royal Flycatcher Onychorhynchus coronatus

    >   Northern Royal Flycatcher Onychorhynchus mexicanus

    >   Amazonian Royal Flycatcher Onychorhynchus coronatus

    >   Pacific Royal Flycatcher Onychorhynchus occidentalis

Whiskered Flycatcher Myiobius barbatus

    >   Whiskered Flycatcher Myiobius barbatus

    >   Yellow-rumped Flycatcher Myiobius mastacalis

White-winged Black-Tyrant Knipolegus aterrimus

    >   White-winged Black-Tyrant Knipolegus aterrimus

    >   Caatinga Black-Tyrant Knipolegus franciscanus

Crowned Chat-Tyrant Ochthoeca frontalis

    >   Crowned Chat-Tyrant Ochthoeca frontalis

    >   Peruvian Chat-Tyrant Ochthoeca spodionota

Slaty-backed Chat-Tyrant Ochthoeca cinnamomeiventris

    >   Slaty-backed Chat-Tyrant Ochthoeca cinnamomeiventris

    >   Maroon-chested Chat-Tyrant Ochthoeca thoracica

Northern Slaty-Antshrike Thamnophilus punctatus

    >   Northern Slaty-Antshrike Thamnophilus punctatus

    >   Maranon Slaty-Antshrike Thamnophilus leucogaster

Plumbeous Antvireo Dysithamnus plumbeus

    >   White-streaked Antvireo Dysithamnus leucostictus

    >   Plumbeous Antvireo Dysithamnus plumbeus

Black-faced Antthrush Formicarius analis

    >   Mexican Anthrush Formicarius monileger

    >   Black-faced Antthrush Formicarius analis

Creamy-breasted Canastero Asthenes dorbignyi

    >   Creamy-breasted Canastero Asthenes dorbignyi

    >   Dark-winged Canastero Asthenes arequipae

    >   Pale-tailed Canastero Asthenes huancavelicae

Necklaced Spinetail Synallaxis stictothorax

    >   Necklaced Spinetail Synallaxis stictothorax

    >   Chinchipe Spinetail Synallaxis chinchipensis

Plain-brown Woodcreeper Dendrocincla fuliginosa

    >   Plain-brown Woodcreeper Dendrocincla fuliginosa

    >   Thrush-like Woodcreeper Dendrocincla turdina

Red-billed Woodcreeper Hylexetastes perrotii

    >   Red-billed Woodcreeper Hylexetastes perrotii

    >   Uniform Woodcreeper Hylexetastes uniformis

    >   Brigida's Woodcreeper Hylexetastes brigidai

Strong-billed Woodcreeper Xiphocolaptes promeropirhynchus

    >   Strong-billed Woodcreeper Xiphocolaptes promeropirhynchus

    >   Carajas Woodcreeper Xiphocolaptes carajaensis

Ocellated Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus ocellatus

    >   Tschudi's Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus chunchotambo

    >   Ocellated Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus ocellatus

Elegant Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus elegans

    >   Elegant Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus elegans

    >   Jurua Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus juruanus

Buff-throated Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus guttatus

    >   Buff-throated Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus guttatus

    >   Lafresnaye's Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus guttatoides

House Wren Troglodytes aedon

    >   House Wren Troglodytes aedon

    >   Cobb's Wren Troglodytes cobbi

Le Conte's Thrasher Toxostoma lecontei

    >   Le Conte's Thrasher Toxostoma lecontei

    >   Vizcaino Thrasher Toxostoma arenicola

Slaty Thrush Turdus nigriceps

    >   Andean Slaty-Thrush Turdus nigriceps

    >   Eastern Slaty-Thrush Turdus subalaris

Spectacled Thrush Turdus nudigenis

    >   Bare-eyed Thrush Turdus nudigenis

    >   Ecuadorian Thrush Turdus maculirostris

Stonechat Saxicola torquatus

    >   European Stonechat Saxicola rubicola

    >   African Stonechat Saxicola torquatus

    >   Siberian Stonechat Saxicola maurus

Golden-bellied Warbler Basileuterus chrysogaster

    >   Golden-bellied Warbler Basileuterus chrysogaster

    >   Choco Warbler Basileuterus chlorophrys

Epaulet Oriole Icterus cayanensis

    >   Moriche Oriole Icterus chrysocephalus

    >   Epaulet Oriole Icterus cayanensis

Orchard Oriole Icterus spurius

    >   Orchard Oriole Icterus spurius

    >   Fuertes' Oriole Icterus fuertesi

Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis

    >   Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis

    >   Guadalupe Junco Junco insularis

Black-and-rufous Warbling-Finch Poospiza nigrorufa

    >   Black-and-rufous Warbling-Finch Poospiza nigrorufa

    >   Black-and-chestnut Warbling-Finch Poospiza whitii

Spotted Towhee Pipilo maculatus

    >   Socorro Towhee Pipilo socorroensis

    >   Spotted Towhee Pipilo maculatus

Black-capped Hemispingus Hemispingus atropileus

    >   Black-capped Hemispingus Hemispingus atropileus

    >   White-browed Hemispingus Hemispingus auricularis

Black-eared Hemispingus Hemispingus melanotis

    >   Piura Hemispingus Hemispingus piurae

    >   Black-eared Hemispingus Hemispingus melanotis