Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Last year, Craig Benkman and others published a paper in the Condor describing a new species of crossbill. To be commonly called South Hills Crossbill, for its restricted range in the South Hills of south-central Idaho, the scientific name emphasized it's close relationship to its lodgepole pine habitat in the absence of selective pressures from squirrels--Loxia sinesciurus. The species is recognized by its habitat, bill size, genetics, and song. However, the AOU voted last week on whether it deserved official species recognition. The vote was 6:5 in favor, which was below the 2/3 majority needed to pass. Stronger genetic evidence, a better type specimen, and a suggestion for how to treat the entire Red Crossbill complex would have helped the case. To read the comments of the committee members, visit the AOU website.

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