Subject: Record Committee Decision 2024 [Print This Page] Author: HKBWS Tung Time: 28/05/2024 23:28 Subject: Record Committee Decision 2024
At a meeting on 22 January 2024, the Record Committee made the following decisions:
Addition to Cat I
- Velvet Scoter Melanitta fusca , Tsim Bei Tsui Jetty, 9 April 2023.
Addition to Cat IIB
- Indochinese Green Magpie Cissa hypoleuca
This species has been found expanding its location widely in NE New Territories and there was a recent observation at Shek Kung Catchwater. Breeding was also recorded in several location. Sustainable breeding population in Hong Kong has been established.
- White-rumped Shama Copsychus malabaricus
This species was formerly found only in Lion Rock Country Park. During the recent Hong Kong Bird Atlas Survey on 2016-19, this species was recorded in many locations at Sai Kung area as well and there were also records at Tai Po Kau recently. Breeding was confirmed at Sai Kung and breeding population was established locally.
The HK List now stands at 581 species in Cat I and II. An updated HK List will be published later.
Hong Kong Bird Report
HKBR 2020 is now in the final stage of typesetting work and it is expected to be published in coming months. This report will have only PDF version but no printed copy.
IOC World Bird List 14.1 and proposed changes of English Bird Name
The split of Intermediate Egret made three new species, the species recorded in Hong Kong is Ardea intermedia which IOC decided the English name as Medium Egret. The HKBWS Record Committee decided not to follow IOC decision because the other two new splits: Yellow-billed A. brachyrhyncha and Plumed A. plumifera Egrets are found primarily in Africa and Australasia, both of them have only remote chances of occurring in Hong Kong. The new name causes more confusion and so the tradition name, Intermediate Egret, is retained in the Hong Kong List.
The split of Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher made the species found in Hong Kong is now named as Black-backed Dwarf Kingfisher Ceyx erithaca. RC decided to accept this change and the HK List will follow this change.
The split of Olive-backed Sunbird made the species recorded in Hong Kong is now named as Ornate Sunbird Cinnyris ornatus. RC decided to accept this change and the HK List will follow this change. Accepted wild individuals of this species found in Hong Kong clearly showed whitish belly which is a characteristic field feature for the subspecies rhizophorae.
Anarhynchus replaces Charadrius as the genus name for several small plover species.
Change of sequence is applied in Shorebirds, Gulls and Terns. Genera between Pluvialis and Glareola are in new sequence, while terns are now preceding the gulls and many are internally re-sequenced.
The next meeting is scheduled in April or May 2024. (Update: The next meeting is postponed to June or July 2024.)
At a meeting on 30 September 2024, the Record Committee made the following decisions:
Addition to Cat I
- Scaly-sided Merganser Mergus squamatus was observed at Kat Hing Bridge, Tai Lam Reservoir, from January 20, 2023, through March 2023. Identification of the species was straightforward; however, concerns arose regarding its wild origin due to a damaged bill and unusually tame behavior. After consulting a waterfowl expert, the assessment remained inconclusive. A vote was conducted within Checklist Sub-committee to determine its category - 2 votes for Category I and 1 for Category III, supporting its inclusion in Category I of the Hong Kong List.
- Latham’s Snipe Gallinago hardwickii at Long Valley, 23 April 2023.
- Shikra Tachyspiza badia at Tai Sang Wai, 29 September 2023 was the first report, subsequently another individual at Hong Kong Wetland Park, 17 December 2023, and a late submission from the same site on 26 November 2022.
- Mongolian Gull Larus mongolicus, is now split from Vega Gull Larus vegae by IOC 14.2 update. This species, formerly recognized as species but became a subspecies, has now returned to Cat I in the Hong Kong List. This is a scarce winter visitor in Hong Kong with small numbers present at Deep Bay mudflat annually.
Removal from Cat I
- Records of Stejneger’s Scoter Melanitta stejnegeri (at Pak Nai, February 5, 1982; Tsim Bei Tsui, December 26, 1985) are now regarded as Stejneger’s / Velvet Scoter. Reviews of these records were made as it is found that head and bill shape were insufficiently described for positive identification.
The HK list now stands at 584 species in Cat I and II. An updated HK List will also be published.
Species under review
- The review of Blue Flycatchers, including the subspecies klossi of the Hainan Blue Flycatcher and the Chinese Blue Flycatcher, has now been completed. The Hainan Blue Flycatchers exhibiting some orange-rufous coloration on their breasts are identified as the nominate subspecies, with a possibly mixed with genes from klossi. After examining the plumage details of klossi from Southeast Asia and the nominate Hainan Blue Flycatcher, as well as the distribution of both taxa and recent records from local and neighbouring areas, there is no definitive record of klossi in Hong Kong or South China; only hybrids with klossi have been observed.
- Based on biometric data from trapped individuals in Hong Kong, the Oriental Cuckoo Cuculus optatus has been confirmed as the taxon present in Hong Kong. However, the highly similar Himalayan Cuckoo Cuculus saturatus may also occur in Hong Kong. As such, birdwatchers are encouraged to submit any sound recordings that could aid in distinguishing between the two species.
- Review of Mountain Hawk Eagle Nisaetus nipalensis records include three previously confirmed records (and a further record at Wong Chuk Hang, 4 Nov 1995 was withdrawn by the observer). First record from Luk Keng, 7 May 1988 remains proven. However, subsequent record at Sai Kung, 22 Oct 1989 is now regarded as unproven, while the record at Long Valley, 5 Oct 1995 remains under review.
URF assessment update
- RC members have started to assess some URF submissions from 2023 and 2024 including Naumann’s Thrush, Japanese Waxwing, Red-headed Bunting, Black Eagle, Crimson Sunbird (2 URFs), etc.
Hong Kong Bird Report
- HKBR 2020 has been published and HKBR 2021 is now under preparation.
IOC update
IOC 14.2 update made several changes of taxonomy and so the bird names:
- Siberian Pipit Anthus japonicus and Buff-bellied (American) Pipit Anthus rubescens are now split.
RC adopted the split and the HK List is revised accordingly.
- Mongolian Gull Larus mongolicus and Vega Gull Larus vegae are now split.
RC adopted the split and the HK List is revised accordingly.
- Japanese Tit is now lumped with Cinereous Tit, the name Cinereous Tit has been tentatively assigned as the English name.
RC will await further update from the IOC before making a final decision on the English name.
- Grey-capped Greenfinch is changed its English name to Oriental Greenfinch.
RC adopted the change of the English name.
- Large Cuckooshrike Coracina macei has been reclassified as Oriental Cuckooshrike C. javensis.
RC adopted the changes of taxonomy and the HK List is revised accordingly.
- Eurasian Goshawk has had its genus name changed to Astur gentilis (formerly Accipiter).
RC adopted the changes of genus name.
- Besra, Chinese and Japanese Sparrowhawks have had their genus names changed to Tachyspiza virgata, T. solonesis, and T. gularis.
RC adopted the changes of genus name.
- Crested Goshawk has had its genus name changed to Lophospiza trivirgata.
RC adopted the change of genus name.
- Eastern Cattle Egret has had its scientific name changed to Ardea coromanda.
RC adopted the change of the scientific name.
- Genus name of small bitterns has been changed from Ixobrychus to Botaurus, i.e. Yellow Bittern Botaurus sinensis, Von Schrenck’s Bittern Botaurus eurhythmus, Cinnamon Bittern Botaurus cinnamomeus and Black Bittern Botaurus flavicollis.
RC adopted the change of genus name and the HK List is revised accordingly.
IUCN Red List update
A total of 11 HK bird species have been changed their global threatened status. These have been updated in the IUCN Red List website in late Oct 2024. These species include:
Falcated Duck, downlist to Least Concern
Black-headed Ibis, downlist to Least Concern
Grey Plover, uplist to Vulnerable
Ruddy Turnstone, uplist to Near threatened
Broad-billed Sandpiper, uplist to Vulnerable
Curlew Sandpiper, uplist to Vulnerable
Dunlin, uplist to Near threatened
Buff-breasted Sandpiper, uplist to Vulnerable
Long-billed Dowitcher, uplist to Near threatened
Grey-tailed Tattler, downlist to Least Concern
Lesser Yellowlegs, uplist to Vulnerable
RC adopt these changes.
eBird collaboration and HK bird list inclusion
eBird provides the HK bird list (both Chinese and English) in their system and eBird open data will be included in the coming HK Bird Reports.
RC encourages observers to submit URF of the following species:
Jerdon’s Baza at Shek Kong Catchment baicalensis White Wagtail at Mai Po fishponds
Brown-streaked Flycatcher at Ho Man Tin
Slay-backed Flycatcher at Ngong Ping
Collared Kingfisher at Po Toi
Review of URF requirement
RC decided to remove URF requirement of the following species:
Greater White-fronted Goose, Cotton Pygmy Goose, Grey-headed Swamphen, Red-footed Booby, Barred Button Quail, Short-eared Owl, Siberian House Martin, Hill Blue Flycatcher, House Sparrow, Common Reed Bunting.
RC decided to add URF requirement of the following species: Yellow-bellied Tit
Coming reviews
Chestnut-tailed Starling records and its category will be reviewed.
Taxonomic changes of Category III species will be updated.
Date of next meeting
Late January to early February 2025
