On August 7 2022 the International Ornithological Congress (IOC) released the latest version of its world bird list (v12.2):

Gill F, D Donsker & P Rasmussen  (Eds). 2022. IOC World Bird List (v12.2). doi :  10.14344/IOC.ML.12.2.

The IOC bird list is hosted on a dedicated World Bird Names website, which provides access to the list in various different formats. The list is updated twice a year, usually in January and July.

The details of the changes in the v12.2 release can be found by clicking on the Updates tab on the IOC website. Here is a summary of the major amendments:

New to science

Fregetta Austral Storm Petrels  +1 species
New Caledonian Storm Petrel

Zosterops White-eyes  +1 species
Meratus White-eye

Cyornis Old World Flycatchers  +1 species
Meratus Blue Flycatcher

Heliothraupis ‘Thraupidae’ Tanagers  +1 species
Inti Tanager

Splits

Anthracothorax Hummingbirds (Mangos)  +1 species

Cynanthus Hummingbirds  +1 species

Pachyptila Prions  +1

Ninox Owls (Boobooks)  +1

Lepidothrix Manakins  +1

Manucodia Birds-of-Paradise (Manucodes)  +1

Zosterops White-eyes  +2

Mixornis ‘Timaliidae’ Tit-Babblers  +1

Sturnella Meadowlarks  +1

Lumps

Pampa Hummingbirds -1  [Long-tailed Sabrewing]

Pandion Ospreys  -1  [Eastern Osprey]

Buteo Buzzards  -1  [Archer’s Buzzard]

Bubo Eagle-Owls  -1  [Usambara Eagle-Owl]

Strix Owls  -1  [Pere David’s Owl]

Pnoepyga Cupwings  -1  [Chinese Cupwing]

Acrocephalus Reed Warblers  -1  [African Reed Warbler]

Cinnyris Sunbirds  -1  [Abbott’s Sunbird]

Sporophila ‘Thraupidae’ Seedeaters  -1  [Caqueta Seedeater]

Revision and resequencing of families

Three genera within Family: Trochilidae – Hummingbirds have been resequenced.

Genus Epinecrophylla of Stipplethroats in Family: Thamnophilidae – Antbirds has been resequenced.

Family: Oriolidae – Figbirds, Old World Orioles, Piopios has a new English name.

Family: Phylloscopidae – Leaf Warblers has a modified English name.

Family: Sturnidae – Starlings, Rhabdornises has a modified English name.

Family: Icteridae – Oropendolas, New World Orioles, Blackbirds has a modified English name.

In the IOC bird list there are now 10933 extant species (net +5) ascribed to 252 families.

The two releases of the IOC bird list this year (v12.1 and v12.2) are summarised in detail here.

The changes include giving new English names to two widespread species:

– Western Osprey is renamed as Osprey

– Eurasian Reed Warbler is renamed as Common Reed Warbler

All the v12.2 changes will be reflected in the 2023 editions of the ATWB Companion Guides. These editions will be released commencing August 2022.

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Some details …

Each of the ATWB 2022 Companion Guides has a number of important features, including:

– A complete taxonomic listing of bird species

– An indication of where each bird family and species can be found in its native state

– Spotlighted species that have a restricted regional or worldwide range

However, perhaps the key feature of all eBooks in the Companion Guide series is the way you can quickly and simply access relevant, up to date online information about every featured bird species. If your reading device is connected to the internet, a single click will take you to a search results page for a species, from where you can continue to search for additional information to whatever level of detail you desire.

The ‘All the World’s Birds’ series of Companion Guides derives its taxonomy, English names and scientific names from The IOC World Bird List, an open access resource maintained by the International Ornithological Congress (IOC). The IOC bird list is hosted on a dedicated World Bird Names website, which provides access to the list in various different formats.

The version of the IOC bird list used in the ‘All the World’s Birds 2022’ series of Companion Guides is Version 11.2, published July 10 2021.

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