Taxonomic Swap 116027 (Committed on 27-10-2022)

Genetic divergence between Cape Lark and Agulhas Lark is rather shallow (and indeed, both species also are very little divergent from Eastern Long-billed Lark Certhilauda semitorquata) (Alström et al. 2013). With the caveat that there are few available audio recordings, vocalizations of the two also seem to be essentially identical (Boesman 2016). Therefore Agulhas Lark is lumped into Cape Lark.
https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/updates-corrections-october-2022/

Added by rjq on 26 October, 2022 08:42 | Committed by rjq on 27 October, 2022
replaced with

Comments

Posted by rjq over 1 year ago

This is sure to be an unpopular decision!

Posted by tonyrebelo over 1 year ago

Indeed. Clements/eBird are following IUCN/Birdlife here https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22735878/95119860, and also for the Benguela/Karoo lump. Though BLSA still recognise both - not sure why they differ? I guess from a recording perspective it makes little difference as observers can still record the taxon, just as a subspecies not a species

Posted by rjq over 1 year ago

PS the only other species level change that affects Southern Africa is a lump of Eurasian and African Reed Warblers

Posted by rjq over 1 year ago

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