IOC LIST UPDATES

Below are summaries of updates to the IOC World Bird List, first published as Birds of the World, Recommended English Names - Version 1.0 (Gill and Wright 2006). Please click on one of the tabs (above) for particular updates. Previous versions of the Master List and Updates are available in an Update Archive.

All of the updated information and species changes are included in the latest version of the species lists available on this website. Autocounters for the number of species in each family are included on the spreadsheet.

Different formats of the updated lists, including Excel spreadsheets can be downloaded from the links on the Home page (scroll down) . The Life List format spreadsheet includes Ranges of each species. The Computer Friendly spreadsheet is our Master List which includes Ranges and also Comments about the status of species.

Version 2.9 (DRAFT)

Responding to many compelling requests, we have completed a draft of species (and subspecies) that have become extinct since the mid-1600's (17th Century). We intend to incorporate these into the IOC World Bird List.  You can download the working spreadsheet by clicking on this link (EXTINCT BIRD FILE).  We welcome your suggestions and corrections.

Our criteria are as follows:

Draft (April 23, 2011)

1. The forms listed are all taxa described from specimens that were collected as living animals. This is irrespective of whether or not the actual description was based on a living bird, skin or contemporary illustration made by the collecting naturalist. It does exclude recently extinct species only known from subfossil remains or merely from traveler's accounts, no matter how solid the evidence is that the species actually existed. So, we have excluded species or subspecies that undoubtedly lived into comparatively modern times such as North Island Takahe or Amsterdam Island Wigeon along with more remotely historically extinct, but certainly valid creatures, such as Mauritius Red Rail.

2. Although there is no formal "cut-off" date for inclusion/exclusion, for practical purposes and following the principle above,  the forms listed all became extinct in the era of European exploration. All extinctions included here are no earlier than the extinction of Dodo in the mid 17th century.

3. This treatment is largely similar to that taken by Dickinson and (we believe) also the Clements list. It does differ from the approach taken by BLI which has chosen to list all extinct species that have passed in the era of European exploration, even if they are only known from subfossil bones or traveler's accounts. (This is a slippery  slope -- Think of all those subfossils being dug out of Hawaiian and Caribbean caves, for example).

4. We've listed these taxa as "extinct" based on what we've gleaned from many sources, but particularly Fuller, BLI and Dickinson and, to a lesser degree, Clements. We thought of using BLI as the ultimate source for this classification, but BLI, in addition to listing the subfossil material,   optimisticlly lists forms that are almost undoubtedly extinct as just "Critical" if there is any remote possibility that the birds could still be living in some unexplored region of their known range.
 
5. The spreadsheet includes both extinct species and subspecies. The former highlighted in yellow, the latter in orange. Some of the species we already list. Some of the suggested species we've treated as subspecies in the ssp list. But recent studies suggest elevating them to species level status.

6. We've chosen to indicate the extinct taxa with the symbol "†" separated by a space after the taxon's name.

7. English names chosen are pretty well established in the general literature. For some, where alternative names exist, such as Miravalles Hummingbird or Bluntschli's Vanga we tried to choose names that didn't conflict with other IOC names, were more in line with IOC names of similar taxa or were more evocative.

8. Special issues concerning certain taxa are listed in the Note column.

David Donsker -- April 2011

 

Version 2.8 (MAR 31,2011)

The IOC World Bird List 2.8 contains 10,438 species classified in 40 Orders, 233 Families (including 5 Incertae Sedis) and 2232 Genera. Changes include:

SPECIES ADDED: 15

SPECIES DELETED: 3  English Names: 9

Ranges: 27

Taxonomy: 32 of which 29 are changes of Genera, especially resurrection of Antrostomus for 11 species of New World Caprimulgus and revisions of Aimophila sparrows to follow AOU.

Included with the current update of the IOC World List, v2.8, is a revised working draft (3.0b) of the subspecies in Excel format.  This spreadsheet expands the range descriptions to include all of the suboscine passerines, thanks to Sally Conyne.  In addition we incorporate the many helpful and insightful suggestions and corrections that we received from our users since posting the first working draft. We continue to welcome your interest and involvement.

 

Version 2.7 (DEC 29,2010)

The IOC World Bird List 2.7 contains 10,426 species classified in 40 Orders, 233 Families (including 5 Incertae Sedis) and 2229 Genera.

SPECIES

ADDED to Master List: 13

DELETED from Master List: 4

English Names: 6 changes

Ranges: 12 changes

Taxonomy: 37 changes including (1) Move Scotocerca to Cettiidae, (2) 7 changes of Genera, and (3) Working draft of v3.0 including subspecies, authors of nomenclature, and (nonpasserine) ranges.

 

Version 2.6 (Oct 28,2010)

The IOC World Bird List 2.6 contains 10,417 species classified in 40 Orders, 233 Families (including 5 Incertae Sedis) and 2230 Genera.

SPECIES

ADDED to Master List: 22
DELETED from Master List: 1

English Names: 19 changes

Ranges: 16 changes

Taxonomy: 180 changes including including (1) Recognition of Suliformes, Capitonidae, Semnornithidae, Macrosphenidae and Pnoepygidae, (2) Reclassification of core Babbler Taxa into 5 families (Timaliidae, Pellorneidae, Leiothrichidae, Sylviidae, Zosteropidae),and (3) 92 changes of Genera.

 

Version 2.5 (July 4, 2010)

The IOC World Bird List 2.5 contains 10,396 species classified in 39 Orders, 222 Families (+7 Incertae Sedis) and 2218 Genera.

SPECIES

ADDED to Master List: 13
DELETED from Master List: 1

English Names: 19 changes, including consensus recommendations of Guy Dutson et al for birds of Melanesian islands

Ranges: 12 changes

Taxonomy: 93 changes including 76 changes of Genera, notably changes of the taxonomy of pittas, Thryothorus wrens, and parrotbills. Also in this update is a revised sequence of species of Cinclodes that aligns with SACC sequence to reflect current genetic information. Additions of subspecies and authorities for nomenclature are underway for v3.0.

 

Version 2.4 (March 7, 2010)

The IOC World Bird List 2.4 contains 10,384 species classified in 39 Orders, 222 Families (+7 Incertae Sedis) and 2202 Genera.

SPECIES

ADDED to Master List: 25, including 4 splits of Yellow-rumped Warbler complex
DELETED from Master List: 7

English Names: 23 changes, including adoptions of 6 SACC English names for suboscine birds ofSouth America. These adoptions followed a thorough review of differences of English names on both the IOC World List and the SACC list.

Ranges: 28 changes

Taxonomy: 46 changes including 9 changes of Genera including 5 overdue ones for African greenbuls following Johansson et al (2007), and 1 change of Family (African stone partridges Ptilopachus to Odontophoridae). 

 

Version 2.3 (December 20, 2009)

The IOC World Bird List 2.3 contains 10,366 species classified in 39 Orders, 222 Families (+7 Incertae Sedis) and 2199 Genera.

Updates include:

SPECIES

Added to Master List: 19, including restoration of Mexican Duck
Deleted from Master List: 0
Added to Proposed Species List: 36

English Names: 38, including adoptions of  14 SACC English names for nonpasserine birds of  South America.  These adoptions followed a thorough review of differences of English names on both the IOC World List and the SACC list. 

Ranges: 13 changes

Taxonomy: 28 changes including 12 changes of Genera, and 11 changes of Family namely (1) Piprites to Tyrannidae, (2) Pachycare to Acanthizidae, (3,4) Mohoua & Finschia to Incertae Sedis, (5) Lamprolia to Rhipiduridae, (6) Rhabdornis to Sturnidae. (7-10) Oxyruncus, Onychorhynchus, Myiobius & Terenotriccus to Tityridae, and (11) Phibalura to Incertae Sedis.

Version 2.2 ( August 26, 2009 )

The IOC World Bird List 2.2 contains 10,347 species classified in 39 Orders, 224  Families (+6 Incertae sedis)  and 2197 Genera.

Please note that autocounters have been added to the spreadsheet for the number of species in each family as requested by David Gascoigne, courtesy of Curtis Hawthorne.

Updates include:

SPECIES

Added to Master List: 13
Deleted from Master List: 6, including 4 extinct
Added to Proposed Species List: 37


Note: The Proposed Species List summarizes potential splits that are under discussion and review for inclusion in the Master List.  This is an evolving process.  Our goal is to complete a major review of these species by the end of each year and then to transfer Accepted Species (AS) to the Master List early the next year.  In addition, we may move some PS species as warranted to the Master List with each Update.


English Name Changes: 108, including  New Guinea endemics and near endemics

New Guinea birds – Phil Gregory, Bruce Beehler and their colleagues are updating a master list of the birds of New Guinea and Bismarck Archipeligo. We worked closely for six months with Phil and his committee (Bruce Beehler, Brian Coates, Thane Pratt, Mary LeCroy) to align the English names of endemic and near endemic species on their list with the IOC list. The result has been a comprehensive alignment of the two lists, with minor exceptions. As a result we changed 96 English names on the IOC list, and conversely the New Guinea list is closely aligned with IOC names and spelling guidelines.  Some refinements are to be expected in the months to come, but we present these changes now as a positive step forward for this wonderful avifauna.


Range Changes: 8

CLASSIFICATION

Taxonomy – 9 changes of Genera; 1 change of Family (Yellow-bellied Fantail to Stenostiridae)

Sequences

The AOU’s regional committees (North and Middle America, South America) regularly change the sequence of species and genera to align their classifications with published DNA analyses of phylogeny. Our current policy is to change sequences conservatively for three reasons:  (1) we all find a particular taxon or species more easily in a familiar sequence, even if dated; (2) additional DNA analyses, many of which are underway, may support additional changes; and (3) best sequences for world birds may not match those for species in regional avifaunas.

With those caveats,  we resequenced the genera and species of New World trogons in version 2.2 of the IOC World List.  We did so to align our list with the important works of Moyle (2005) and DaCosta and Klicka (2008) and with the new sequences adopted by the AOU.

Babblers
The prevailing classifications of the Sylviidae and Timaliidae are undergoing major revisions.   A new improved classification is taking shape as a result of the published works of  Cibois (2003), Pasquet (2006), Gelang et al (2009), Moyle et al (2009) with more in press or underway in different labs. 

We could not complete the reclassification of babblers to our satisfaction for update 2.2, but our working draft includes the following features, which we outline for feedback and discussion:

  • Separate the Pygmy Wren-babblers to the family Pnoepgyidae, of unknown relationships
  • Transfer the following genera to a much enlarged Sylviidae (Sylviid babblers):  Myzornis (from Incertae sedis), Parophasma, Lioparus, Moupinia, Chrysomma, Fulvetta (8 species previously in  ‘Alcippe’), Rhopophilus, Chamaea, Conostoma, Paradoxornis, Pseudoalcippe (merge w Sylvia?), Horizorhinus (merge w Sylvia?), Lioptilus.
  • Recognize the following clades as separate families or subfamilies of Timaliidae:  Zosteropidae (White-eyes);Timaliidae (Tree Babblers and Scimitar Babblers); Pellorneidae (‘Core’ Babblers); Leiothrichidae (Laughing Thrushes). These clades are roughly of equal rank in Gelang et al's phylogeny, and we currently lean (just slightly) to continued recognition of the Zosteropidae at the family level, which would require recognition of the other clades at the family level. But the definition of the clades and their relative ranks requires more attention and inclusion of missing taxa.
  • Expand Zosteropidae with the inclusion of the following genera: Yuhina, Dasycrotapha, Sterrhoptilus (new), Zosterornis (new), and reorganize to follow Moyle et al 2009 including a broader Zosterops and exclusion of Cinnamon Ibon to Incertae sedis.
  • Revise genera in the Timaliidae, including recognition of Stachyridopsis (new) and  merger of Xiphirhynchus into Pomatorhinus (done 2.2).
  • Revise genera in the Pellorneidae, including breakup of Alcippe with some former species to the Sylviidae (Lioparus and Fulvetta) and others to Schoeniparus in this family,
  • Revise genera in the Leiothrichidae, especially Garrulax, treated extensively by Collar and Robson in HBW 12. In addition, Luo et al. (2008) show that Trochalopteron (consisting of about a dozen laughingthrush species) is probably unrelated to other laughingthrushes and should be recognized to preclude paraphyly. There is also some reasonable evidence for the validity of Ianthocincla for five larger species (Rheindt, pers. comm.)
  • The tentative generic compositions of these clades are listed on a separate page Babbler Families.

Version 2.1 ( May 13, 2009 )

The IOC World Bird List 2.1 contains 10,340 species classified in 39 Orders, 224 Families and 2198 Genera.  

Updates include

SPECIES

Added: Newly described and splits: 14, including 8 albatross splits
Deleted: To PS List : 2;  Lumps and other - 1
English Name Changes: 19, including Madeiracrest to Madeira Firecrest, Pediunker to Grey Petrel
Range Changes: 44
Revisions of Genera: 11

Version 2.0 ( January 18, 2009 )

IOC World Bird List 2.0 skips from Version 1.7 released September 30, 2008.  Versions 1.8 and 1.9 were unposted working drafts.

The IOC World Bird List 2.0 contains 10,331 species classified in 39 Orders, 224 Families and 2199 Genera.  This is a major update that includes revisions of the family classification as well as species taxonomy. 

Updates from version 1.7 to version 2.0 include:

SPECIES

Added: Newly described and splits - 25;  Conversions (PS to AS) - 226
Deleted: To PS List -  54;  Lumps and other - 8
English Name Changes : 26
Range Changes: 13
Revisions of Genera – 190

CLASSIFICATION

Overview
Addition of 9 Orders and 33 Families
Revisions of Old World Warbler families
Resequenced families of suboscines to align with SACC Classification

FAMILY INDEX

A separate Index to the 224 Families with links to the appropriate HTML page of the IOC World List and also links of the Orders to corresponding pages in the Tree of Life project.

GO TO PREVIOUS UPDATES AND EXCEL FILES