Topknot Pigeons, not Crested Pigeons, were hunted well into the 1970s. I remember finding spent shotgun shells on the ground at Mungo Brush, Myall Lakes National Park, many years back. It was a National Park and the Topknot Pigeon was a protected species but that didn’t stop some people. They mean Topknot Pigeon without a … Read more
Thanks Mike, I don’t know enough about genetics, but I find it hard to imagine a process of speciation that would have Tassie Boobooks in the same taxon as NZ birds, but a different taxon to the mainland Boobooks!! It does give me an easy armchair tick! Thanks again, John Tongue Ulverstone, Tas. On 16/06/2012, … Read more
I have just been comparing the new IOU V3.1 Checklist (http://worldbirdnames.org) with the list on Tony Palliser’s web site (from V2.10). 1. They have reversed the decision on Powerful Boobook, Rufous Boobook, etc. They are back to Powerful Owl, Rufous Owl, etc. 2. The Variable Goshawk (ssp. natalis) from Christmas Island has been put back … Read more
Coming from Tasmania as you do, I’m not surprised that you raised this one and I apologise for misleading everyone by telling only half the story. Firstly, whilst the IOC recognises that the Boobook from Lord Howe Island is extinct, that is not their position with regard to the bird on Norfolk Island. Whilst I … Read more
John, According to IOC version 3.1, Morepork – Ninox novaeseelandiae has 3 subspecies – leucopsis (Tasmania), novaeseelandiae (New Zealand) & undulate (Norfolk Island). My understanding is that they brought a bird from New Zealand to breed with the last Norfolk Island bird, so I guess that would make the current birds some sort of hybrid … Read more