Suggested changes to the English names of some Western Palearctic birds

Abstract

British Ornithologists' Union Recora5 Committee he body responsible for maintaining the British List has always been T t h e Records Committee (previously known as List Sub-committee) of the British Ornithologists' Union, which has published its recommendations in 1883, 1915, 1923, 1952 and 1971. A revision of the latest of these, 7he Status OfBirh in Britain and Ireland, is currently in preparation, with publication expected within two or three years. With each new list, the whole range of information concerning British birds is reviewed: relationships and validity of species, which may result in changes in sequence of listing and in scientific names; status within Britain, which usually results in numerous additions to and a small number of deletions from the list; and the English names applied to those species which are accepted on the list.At the time of preparation of the 1952 list, very few British birdwatchers travelled abroad. The change even since 1971 has been remarkable. Nowadays, most British birdwatchers have overseas birdwatching experience, and many habitually travel well beyond Europe. Now, more than ever before, there is a need for standardisation of English names, for most English names of Western Palearctic birdsbirdwatchers (a term used here in contrast to 'ornithologists', who are taken to be primarily professional scientists) do not usually use scientific names in conversation or in the field.The question of revision of English names has already been tackled by, for instance, the Royal Australasian Ornithologists' Union (1978) and the American Ornithologists' Union (1983). In 1985, therefore, the BOURC appointed a small subcommittee to make recdmmendations concerning the principles to be applied in any name changes, and, based upon these, to suggest those which were due for consideration.In 1986, the subcommittee reported to the BOURC. The seven principles set out below were considered by the BOURC and adopted after each one was accepted by a majority of the committee.Principles to be followed in adoption of any changes to English names:1. 2.Unrelated species should never have a common group name which would result in their being indexed together. All species within a natural group (certainly genus and preferably subfamily or even family) should preferabb have a distinctive group name under which they would be indexed together. Each species on the West Palearctic list should have a unique name (i.e. one not shared with another species or with a group: e.g. not Wheatear and wheatear). [In some cases, however, it was considered that a double name did not need a third element to distinguish it from a related species with a three-element name (e.g. Black Tern retained for Chlidoninr niger despite the name White-winged Black Tern for C. leucoptenrs).]When possible, names should accord with those adopted in other countries (particularly those where the species is commoner), but well-known English names should not necessarily change for this reason alone. Ideally, all names should be unique on a ...

The British List: A Checklist of Birds of Britain (10th edition)

“…The motivation to create internationally recognised English names of birds dates back to 1978 when the Royal Australian Ornithologists’ Union (now BirdLife Australia) first addressed the subject, followed by the American Ornithologists’ Union (now American Ornithological Society) in 1983, with BOURC joining the process in 1985 (Atkin et al . 1988, BOU, 1992a, Inskipp & Sharrock 1992). In 1990 the then International Ornithological Congress (IOC – later renamed the International Ornithologists' Union (IOU)) brought together ornithologists to help deliver the first list of international English bird names.…”

The British List: A Checklist of Birds of Britain (9th edition)

“…Major moves to create standard internationally recognized English names of birds date back to 1978 when the Royal Australian Ornithologists’ Union (now BirdLife Australia) first addressed the subject, followed by the American Ornithologists’ Union (now American Ornithological Society) in 1983, with BOURC joining the process in 1985 (Atkin et al . , BOU 1992b, Inskipp & Sharrock ). It was taken up in 1990 by the then International Ornithological Congress (IOC; now the IOU) who brought together ornithologists from all regions to help deliver the first standard list of international English bird names.…”