[Tweeters] Classifications based upon songs?

[Rob Faucett via Tweeters]

Hi Jim - First best step is to learn about the concept of “species concepts.”  There are several and wrapping your head around that will be a great start to understanding the “why” in all of this. I’ll write more in a bit. 

Best
Rob
—
Rob Faucett
+1(206) 619-5569
robfaucett at mac.com
Seattle, WA  98105


> On Aug 1, 2024, at 9:50 AM, Jim Betz via Tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu> wrote:

> 

> Hi,

> 

>   I read with interest the changes in classifications for this year (more?/less?).  Among

> 

> them were certain splits - based primarily/substantially upon differences in songs/calls.

> 

> I have often read about song/vocalization changes that happen over time/based upon

> 

> locations - where a grouping of a species is known to be "evolving a new vocalization

> 

> change".  And I had to wonder ... ?  And also where a given population is know to

> 

> have a different set of songs/calls than another population of 'the same species'.

> 

>   Similarly, this year as always, there are some changes that combine what was

> 

> previously recognized as more than one species into just one (Redpolls, this time).

> 

> 

>   Why aren't vocalizations of relatively less importance than they seem to be when

> 

> organizations such as the AOS are making decisions about species classifications.

> 

> Or, more importantly, why isn't DNA more important than anything else when it

> 

> comes to bird classification?

> 

> 

>   Let me give a non-birding example ... in the arena of Killer whales there are very

> 

> distinct differences such as whether or not the pod travels long distances or

> 

> stays in one specific area.  Yet, they are all considered to be the same species.

> 

>   Here's another example - when talking about an individual species of birds

> 

> in a local area and at the same time of year/stage of breeding ... we recognize

> 

> that there can be huge differences from individual to individual in terms of

> 

> the coloring (both locations and 'intensity') and the calls/songs ... yet they are,

> 

> for example, both/all Red-tailed Hawks.

> 

> 

>              I'm asking ... why isn't this approach taken for birds?

> 

>              - Jim

> 

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