I note there is now a world bird list/taxonomy that brings together previous lists, particularly Clements and the IOC, that latter of which is the basis for the current HK List. I assume that the RC will agree to adopt the new 'AviList: A Unified Global Checklist of the World’s Birds' (
https://www.avilist.org/checklist/v2025/), which I think is a good thing.
However, I would urge the RC to adopt this new AviList in its entirety, both taxonomy and nomenclature, including English and Scientific names. Given that we now have broad agreement worldwide on a way forward regarding bird names and species, to my mind it makes little sense for HK to go out on a limb in respect of species about which the Records Committee votes to adopt something different. As far as I'm aware, fundamentally the reason for adopting different names is emotional, which seems to be an insufficient reason to ignore science and international agreement.
It is also important to bear in mind that eBird is now an acceptable mechanism for submitting records of HK birds, and it would therefore be illogical not to follow the same taxonomy.
Geoff Carey
[
Last edited by cgeoff at 2/07/2025 20:30 ]
