The five new bird species...

that weren’t

Our Lead Curator of Zoology, Dr John James Wilson, is nothing without his steadfast commitment to the scientific process of Taxidermy. He takes a look at exiting discoveries of new species that ended up, well, a bit of a flop.

The prospect of ‘discovering’ a species New to Science is something that gets all biologists overexcited. But fascinating analysis of specimens in World Museum's collection, reveal that some of these 'discoveries', turned out to be just everyday birds in disguise.

1. Mascarene Starling

The Mascarene Starling was described as a new species (Necrospar leguati) in 1898 by the Liverpool Museums’ then director, Henry Ogg Forbes.

The single specimen was seen as one of the ‘treasures’ of the museums, being the sole surviving example of a presumed extinct species.

DNA analyses in 2005 confirmed that the specimen is actually a white morph (or albinistic variety) of the Grey Trembler (Cinclocerthia gutturalis) from the Caribbean.

Illustration of a white bird with black eye and sandy coloured wings

Mascarene Starling published by the Liverpool Museums (1898)

Mascarene Starling published by the Liverpool Museums (1898)

Revealed - Grey Trembler

White morph specimen with two darker grey specimens

Mascarene Starling (NML-VZ D1792) with other Grey Tremblers from World Museum’s collections

Mascarene Starling (NML-VZ D1792) with other Grey Tremblers from World Museum’s collections

2. Forbes’ Lemon Dove

When Forbes and his assistant, Herbert Christopher Robinson, were cataloguing the museum’s pigeons in 1900, a Lemon Dove proved challenging.

Forbes and Robinson thought the specimen looked like a species drawn by Madame Knip in Les Pigeons. But the specimen was recorded as having come from South America whereas all other Lemon Doves came from Africa.

This caught the attention of Count Tommaso Salvadori who described the specimen as a new species (Haplopelia forbesi), named after Forbes.

The specimen remained a conundrum until DNA analysis in 2022 confirmed it is simply a regular Lemon Dove (Aplopelia larvata), probably from the island of Príncipe in the Gulf of Guinea.

Maroon coloured, pigeon shaped bird

Lemon Dove from Les Pigeons (c.1801)

Lemon Dove from Les Pigeons (c.1801)

Revealed - Lemon Dove

Bird specimens, Forbes specimen has a pale plumage compared to tan coloured counterparts

Forbes’ Lemon Dove (NML-VZ D3567b, second from the left) with other Lemon Doves in World Museum’s collections

Forbes’ Lemon Dove (NML-VZ D3567b, second from the left) with other Lemon Doves in World Museum’s collections

3. Jonquil Parrakeet

The Jonquil Parrakeet was described as a new species (Psittacus narcissus) by John Latham in 1801, based on a single specimen now at World Museum.

In their catalogue of parrots in the museum, Forbes and Robinson, decided the specimen is actually a pale morph (or xanthotic variety) of the common Plum-headed Parrakeet (Psittacula cyanocephala).

Illustration of a yellow bird, long tail, red head

Jonquil Parrakeet figured by John Latham (c.1801)

Jonquil Parrakeet figured by John Latham (c.1801)

Revealed - Plum-headed Parakeet

Yellow parrakeet with red head, next to standard plum headed, green bodied specimens

Jonquil Parrakeet (NML-VZ D664c, far left) with other Plum-headed Parrakeets in World Museum’s collections

Jonquil Parrakeet (NML-VZ D664c, far left) with other Plum-headed Parrakeets in World Museum’s collections

4. Crimson-crested Grosbeak

The Crimson-crested Grosbeak was described as a new species (Loxia regulus) by George Shaw in 1796, based on a single specimen now at World Museum.

World Museum’s then curator, Malcolm Largen, wrote in 1987 that the specimen was clearly a Large-billed Seed Finch (Sporophila crassirostris) ‘to which a crest of red feathers had been artificially added’!

Audacious frauds like this raised the sale price for specimens of common species and were easier to get away with in the 18th century.

Illustration of a black bird with a red crest

Crimson-crested Grosbeak drawn by C R Ryley (c.1796)

Crimson-crested Grosbeak drawn by C R Ryley (c.1796)

Revealed - Large-billed Seed Finche

Red crested specimen next to plain black counterparts

Crimson-crested Grosbeak (NML-VZ D2005a) with other Large-billed Seed Finches from World Museum’s collections

Crimson-crested Grosbeak (NML-VZ D2005a) with other Large-billed Seed Finches from World Museum’s collections

5. Canary Islands Oystercatcher

Controversy surrounded the Canary Islands Oystercatcher since its description as a new subspecies in 1913 and elevation to distinct species (Haematopus meadewaldoi) in 1982.

Only eight specimens of the presumed extinct species are known, one in World Museum.

A Spanish team analysed DNA from the specimen in World Museum in 2012 and concluded the bird is probably a black morph (or melanistic variety) of the widespread and common Eurasian Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus).

The same conclusion was reached by a British team in 2019.

Illustration of a black bird, orange beak and eye

Drawing of the Canary Island Oystercatcher by Henrik Grønvold (c.1913)

Drawing of the Canary Island Oystercatcher by Henrik Grønvold (c.1913)

Revealed - Eurasian Oystercatcher

Black morph of Eurasian Oystercatcher next to standard white specimens

Canary Island Oystercatcher (NML-VZ T16000) with a typical Eurasian Oystercatcher from World Museum’s collections

Canary Island Oystercatcher (NML-VZ T16000) with a typical Eurasian Oystercatcher from World Museum’s collections

Taxonomy is the science of arranging individual organisms into species, and then arranging these species into groups. Creating hypotheses about species and then rejecting them when stronger evidence points to another conclusion is part of normal, essential, scientific progress.

Even though these five specimens may not be unique species, they are still unusual and important examples of biological diversity, nonetheless. Or examples of unscrupulous practice in the history of natural history!

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