New Species of Bulbul Discovered in Laos

A new species of bulbul was recently discovered by scientists investigating remote and rugged habitat in Laos.

"Dubbed the 'Bare-faced Bulbul' because of the lack of feathers on its face and part of its head, it is the only example of a bald songbird in mainland Asia" according to scientists with the World Conservation Society. "It is the first new species of bulbul – a family of about 130 species – described in Asia in over 100 years."

The species is described in an article published in the July issue of Forktail, a journal issued by the Oriental Bird Club. "Authors include Iain Woxvold of the University of Melbourne, along with Wildlife Conservation Society researchers Will Duckworth and Rob Timmins."

"The expedition that discovered the bird was financed by MMG, a copper and gold mining company operating in the region."

The bird is named for its mostly bald head as seen in a picture.

Further information is available at the society's web page.

Identification of a Grouse Species an Ornithological Blunder

When a supposedly new species of was described and named in a newspaper of Cornell University in 1871, it led to an exchange of views that pointedly indicated a profound ornithological blunder.

The new species of grouse was when T.W. Jaycox wrote about Bonasa Jobsii in the December 8, 1871 issue of the Cornell Era (page 182), with further information given in the January 19, 1872 issue of this Ithaca, N.Y. newspaper. The author studied standard works to assist in determining the species identity, including Baird's 'Birds of North America,' Alexander Wilson's 'American Ornithology,' Samuel's 'Birds of New England,' and 'Observation's of Wilson's American Ornithology.' None of these apparently indicated one of the primary facets of referring to a new species - the number of tail feathers, which was sixteen. And, Baird had written that there was more than one species of Bonasa genera grouse.

There was no apparent match recognized, so Bonasa Jobsii became the designated name for a grouse specimen that has to be included in the lore of historic birds of the era.

It was, however, a recognition given in error.

Celebrated ornithologists were quick to respond to the description. Their comments made certain to indicate that the species was not based in the strict specifics needed to properly describe a bird species to the ornithological community dealing with many new additions to recognized species throughout North America and elsewhere.

"It is such a complete fiasco, and at the same time is written with such ingenuousness, that I cannot do what you ask and spare the writer's feeling too. I must say that not one of the 'striking differences' that Mr. Jaycox thinks 'are sufficient to characterize a new species and perhaps a new genus,' are of the slightest consequence," said an article with no given author, in the March issue of the American Naturalist, in the same year. Further details of comparison with the local, well-known species of grouse were also considered.

Subsequent details further clarified rationale for errors in describing a new species, as considered by Burt S. Wilder, of Cornell University, citing comments by bird authorities of the period.

Professor Spencer F. Baird wrote: "... after a careful examination of the account I have no hesitation in pronouncing your bird to be one of the numerous variations assumed by the common ruffed grouse," (May 1872, American Naturalist 6(5): 300-301).

Dr. Elliott Coues, took another practical view: "...the article in which a supposed new species of bird, Bonasa Jobsii is characterized, merely adds to the synonymy with which ornithology is overburdened. So far from conflicting with the genus Bonasa, or forming a new genus, the ruffed grouse that Mr. Jobs was unlucky enough to shoot, and Mr. Jaycox still more to write about, shows nothing of specific consequence."

This article also indicated other items leading to the mistaken identity: "So neither the Era nor the University are in any way responsible for 'Bonasa Jobsii' but the Natural History Society, from the proceedings of which the description was an extract, and by the President of which (and not the President of the University) the specific name was suggested; and since some of your readers may know that the Professors of the University are honorary members of the Society, and often attend its meeting, it is but fair to them to state that none were present when 'Bonasa Jobsii' was introduced; had they been, Mr Jaycox would have been at once referred to the able papers of Mr. Allen (Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., vol. i, No. 8, and vol. ii, No. 3) in which the whole subject of specific characters is discussed."

Editorial comments subjoined to the remarks by Mr. Wilder, tempered the entire affray.

"Unquestionably bad as was the work your correspondent was called to pass upon the indiscretion here alluded to was evidently encouraged, if not indeed actually induced, by equally unfortunate 'blunders’ previously made, not by mere tyros, but by recognized ornithological authorities. That this was the case seems evident from the comparisons and precedents cited in the remarks accompanying the description of Bonasa Jobsii. Is not, in fact, Bonasa Jobsii, one of the legitimate fruits of the excessively analytic system followed in the only general works on North American ornithology accessible to students? The authors of these valuable works may have modified their opinions, and even their methods of working since the publication of these works, but as yet the general student has no means of knowing it. It seems to me that as long as species no more worthy of recognition than Bonasa Jobsii have the appearance of being currently accepted, because not yet publicly retracted, mistakes like that make by Mr. Jaycox need not be looked upon as wholly unpardonable. In fact if the author of B. Jobsii could have truthfully added, Hab. 'Columbia River,' or, 'Hudson's Bay Territory,' to his description, his pseudo-species might even now have been less summarily dealt with though none the less untenable."

Even though it was a pseudo-species, the name endured for a time with enough consideration to get mentioned in subsequent classic works in the 1870s and beyond. Dr. Coues refers to Bonasa Jobsii in his checklist of North American birds. Robert Ridgway also mentions it in his expansive work on the birds of North and Middle America that was published decades later.

This was all much adieu about a "somewhat abnormal specimen" of the common Ruffed Grouse, Bonasa umbellus, and another interesting example of one of the few mystery birds described in the bird history of the middle 1800s.

Smithsonian a Complete Guide to Bird Identification

Example of a bird parts diagram included with the Smithsonian field guide.

When hiking in search of another look at some wild birds, through the decades a wide variety of guides have been used to identify the different species among the habitats.

Colorful and lively, the birds have been known and classified in many ways, at different times of history. Rock sketches were used to denote species during the Indian times on the great prairies. In North America, the diversity of species, with some variation in the clues provided for identification, started with detailed descriptions. There were always tips about their natural habits. Cultural changes and improvements brought along illustrations, first in black-and-white, then color, and then more recently, steadily suitable photographs. Then sound could be captured and was added to the mix of important tools for bird identification.

The evolution of the effective guide to bird identification has now achieved a new pinnacle in providing a complete guide which includes some essential avian sounds. The field guide is a single source to see and hear the essentials for learning to identify wild birds.

The Smithsonian Guide to the Birds of North America has pictorial illustrations, a natural history summation, the requisite maps, guides to featheration patterns and related miscellany. An outstanding feature is the disc with a 587 songs, calls and notes in a ready-to use format.

Author Ted Floyd was assisted by a whole cadre to publish this 500+ pages guide to the more than 750 species present northward from southern Mexico. Floyd's comments for each species, tend to be a general nature. There are only a few brief sentences given as a message of the times for the species. A numeric conservation status code is provided - important for knowing one's status - based on the latest details determined by bird conservationists. A quick index is provided inside the back page.

Taxonomy has been updated to match the elusive standard of the year. The colored maps - though a bit small - well represent the range. A general overview is also provided for the species order or family group.

An example of a species account page in the field guide.

A picture, or several - there are 2,000 - depict a particular species. The variety is a grand show of live birds captured somewhere in the nation, yet shown with a sense of liveliness. A pinnacle in photography is obvious in the imagery of the birds, with the variety capturing many of the scenes appreciated by birders that would find the guide useful.

A color option for the top of the pages is an improvement in pagination. This readily shows the pages for the particular order or family group in a matching color. A font a bit darker would have improved readability.

Having depicted illustrations could have been useful for showing the variations of hawk plumages, or as an assist in seeing a comparative group of gulls. A useful item typical for older guides, but not used with this update - and some other modern guides - are those pointers useful to point-out key identification features, perhaps even referencing a bit of behaviour typical for a shorebird or thrush.

Not the least of the features, the disc is an essential addition for learning about birds through their sounds. The audio addition is a distinct feature among modern guides. The birdsong DVD is setup for easy identification of tracks, readily apparent in the file name, and includes a picture to help with recognition of the species. This is another bunch of imagery to appreciate.

There are often several sound variations for each of the 138 species included. The files can be readily downloaded to versions a few modern, portable media players.

Enjoy browsing and learning with the complete and useful Smithsonian guide for your next outing to see the birds.

---

Find out more about the Smithsonian Guide to the Birds of North America...
Bird songs
About the book
About Ted Floyd

Discovery of Piculet Woodpecker Conveys Importance of Conserving Neotropic Habitats

The recent discovery of a new species of a piculet woodpecker conveys the importance of understanding bird diversity in natural environments of the tropics.

An as yet unnamed species was recently discovered in the Cerrado region of Brazil by Professor Luís Fábio Silveira, of the Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade de São Paulo.

Pictures of the Cerrado Region.

All images taken by Fábio Schunck. Used with permission.

Three birds were collected during intensive studies of the regional avifauna. First a male and then a pair of birds were taken using a shotgun, using small-sized shot in order to obtain the specimens essential for documenting the species for identification and classification.

Professor Silveira, with experience studying "species of this genus, since the beginning of the field work in January of 2008, had heard an unusual voice, which certainly was from a Picumnus, a genus of piculet. The bird was not observed despite intensive searches and listening to them in several localities without being able to locate the species among the dense vegetation. After one week the first specimen, a male, was collected. Some days after that, in another locality, a pair was collected. "

With three birds having the same morphological characteristics in hand, tape-recordings of the voices and specimens from two different localities, he realized the birds were a new taxon.

Piculets are small, distinctive woodpeckers which occur primarily in South America. There are about 25 recognized species. Particular characteristics include a large head, lack of the stiff tail typical of many woodpecker species, short bills used to extract insects from decaying wood, and a habit for using the holes in tree cavities dug-out by other woodpeckers. About a half-dozen other piculet species occur in China, southeast Asia, central American and Africa.

Prof. Silveira and his students - Vitor Piacentini, Érika Machado and Fábio Schunck - are still working on the scientific description needed to recognize a new species. The name probably will allude to the place where the birds were collected, or the habitat, he said.

Map of the Cerrado region and the ecological station. Map courtesy of Conservation International.

"Discovery of a new species of bird is always exciting," Silveira said. "Birds are a really well known group of vertebrates and discover a new species is quite rare today. I've described a new species of a wonderful parakeet and now we're working hard to describe a new antwren, two new tapaculos, a bellbird and a treehunter with other colleagues from Brazil and USA. New things are coming to our attention due our intensive field work in the last few years."

Dr. Silveira's work as a taxonomist played an essential role in identifying the new species.

"If I had a limited experience with this genus I could simply fit the voice or the birds within previously known species," Silveira said. The professor and his students will conduct further studies to learn more about the natural history of the new species.

"We´re studying our specimens and preparing the scientific description, which will appear probably in the next year," Silveira said. "After that we plan to start a project to understand better its habitat requirements and refine the distribution in the region. Fortunately this species is protected in a large conservation unit and its situation can be considered quite safe."

The site where the species was find was within the Serra Geral do Tocantins Ecological Station, a 716,000-hectare (1,769,274 acres) protected area.

"The Serra Geral harbours a enormous diversity of birds, including the Brazilian Merganser, a species Dr. Silveira has studied since 1996. The Hyacinth Macaw and Dwarf Tinamou, are among other endemic or threatened species in the Cerrado area. And we were able to find jaguars and deers. This place is simply wonderful and is one of the most isolated lands that I ever seen."

Coal-crested Finch. Charitospiza eucosma.

Ruby-topaz Hummingbird. Chrysolampis mosquitus.

Guira Tanager. Hemithraupis guira.

The O Boticário Foundation, Conservation International, and Pequi-Pesquisa e Conservação do Cerrado provided funding that was essential in supporting the research that led to the new discovery.

Recent efforts by researchers documented 14 new species in the Cerrado region, including eight fish, three reptiles, one amphibian, and one mammal. Several threatened species were also documented during a 29-day field expedition, according to a news release by Conservation International.

The Cerrado's wooded grassland which once covered an area half the size of Europe - comprising about 21% of the land area of Brazil - is now being converted to cropland and ranchland at twice the rate of the neighboring Amazon rainforest, resulting in the loss of native vegetation and unique species.

"The geographic distribution of some of the species registered is restricted to the area of the ecological station; thus their survival depends on the good management of the protected area and its immediate surroundings," said Professor Silveira. "From the survey we can obtain data concerning the anatomy, reproductive biology, life cycle, and distribution of the species, all of which help us in future conservation programs."

Additional views of the Cerrado region at the ecological station.

Ancient Codex a Guide to Birds in Mexico in the mid-1500s

An ancient and fragile codex well studied and rendered by many scholars of a particular sort has not been known to most bird historians. Its exquisite biotic details have not been consider amongst the first history for wild birds in North America.

The particular bird details remained unknown along one sporadic trail of search during a dozen years of readings, map studies, sorta-literal travels, shelf-browsing and other book-work on the history of wild birds in North America prior to A.D. 1750.

There were no especial surprises expected in an ongoing search hither and yon for details of avian history. When there was a hint of something different, its was not realized at the time this winter. It was after a review of the first bird glyphs from the Mayan culture revealed their depiction of birds in many a manner. The feathered shamen, of Yaxchilan, was typically representative.

Other shamen also were depicted by permanent glyphs shown among the community buildings. The men of the tribe wore elaborate garlands of feathers. Plumage simply flowed in these dynamic representations of the leaders. For generations. Macaws were important to warriors in these times, maybe 15 centuries in the past. A pelican is oddly shown atop the head of a supplicant, speaking with an administrator.

Birds were mystique for their culture.

Central American lands were vibrant home for many species. Figures depict the screech owl, turkey and vulture in the graphical imagery of the times in a former millenium. Macaws were shown in several ways. Birds were symbols using with the great, ancient Mayan calendar, by the printers in the contemporary media, representing some species prevalent in the tropical forests and waters.

After due consideration of the Maya motifs, the history continued. It was a steady flight of print across the pages, book and online, ambling along the path among the feathered edges of history. With improved norms for watching, there were new finds of birds among the words. When something interesting was located, a close look nearby on occasion would provide another bird find worth a look.

A mid-morning among the upper stacks dramatically changed the view of bird history for a continent. It was there among a bunch of related volumes, closely bunched on the shelf. Then were red, tall and thin and worth a look.

There were illustrations and descriptive text for a variety of bird species. It was the a codex from Florentine. It has been attributed to the A.D. 1540-1585 era, with the original author Fray Bernardino de Sahagun. He was around Tlatelolco, Texcoco and Tenochtitlan at Lake Texcoco, central Mexico.

Generations from the earlier Mayans had improved the local knowledge of bird life in their country. It was captured by the missionary and recorded in a long and elaborate document that went from Spainsh American to a Florentine library.

More than one hundred bird species are represented among the various chapters of bird groups a few centuries ago. There are more than a hundred images of bird types, scenes, coloration and feathers, their calls occasionally, anatomy, and other details of birdly interest.

Different types of feathers were shown in the illustrations. Species accounts discussed habitats and geographic distribution. There was a sketch of fowl hunters in a boat in pursuit of western grebes.

Book 11 - Earthly Things

Second Chapter, which telleth of all the different kinds of birds.

First Paragraph, which telleth of the many different kinds of birds, of whatever sort.

Quetzaltototl - Resplendent Quetzal

Tzinitzcan - Mountain Trogon

Tlauhquechol - Roseate Spoonbill

Also its name is teoquechol. It is a waterfowl, like the duck: wide-footed, chili-red footed. It is wide-billed; its bill is like a palette knife. It is crested. Its head - as well as on its breast, on its belly - and its tail, and its wings are pale, pink, whitish, light-colored. Its back and its wing-bend are chili-red, a well-textured, dried chili-red; the bill becomes yellow. The bill is yellow, the bill becomes wide; the legs become yellow, the legs become very yellow, chili-red. [Its plumage] becomes pale, pink, chili-red, well textured.

Xiuhquechol

Caquan - Troupial

Aioquan, also Ayoquan - Yellow-winged Cacique

Chalchiuhtototl - Red-legged Honeycreeper

Xiuhtototl - Lovely Cotinga

Xiopalquechol - Turquoise-browed Motmot

Xochitenacal - Emerald Toucanet

Quappachtototl - Squirrel Cuckoo

It is tawny, completely tawny: smoky, even-colored, well textured. It is smoked; it is smoky; it turns smoky.

Elotototl - Blue Grosbeak

Second Paragraph, which telleth of birds like the young yellow-headed parrot and the scarlet macaw, and still others.

Toznene - young Yellow-headed Parrot, adult

Alo - Scarlet Macaw

Cocho - White-fronted Parrot

Quiliton - Parakeet [Aratinga astec = ??]

It resembles the young yellow-headed parrot and the white-fronted parrot. It is small, tiny; the small head is chili-red. Everywhere [the body is] herb-green, dark green. The wing coverts are dark red. Its food is maize. It eats grains of dried maize.

I give it grains of dried maize to eat.

Tlalacuecali - Red-crowned Parrot

Vitzitzili - Hummingbird

Quetzalhuitzilin - Broad-tailed Hummingbird

Xihujtzilli - Costa's Hummingbird

It is entirely, completely light blue like a cotinga, pale like fine turquoise. It is resplendent like turquoise, like fine turquoise.

Chalchihuitzili - Broad-billed Hummingbird

Tlapalhuitzilin - Rufous Hummingbird

Aiopalhujtzili - Bumblebee Hummingbird

Tlevitzilli - Allen's Hummingbird

Quappachvitzilin - Cinnamon Hummingbird

Hecauitzilin - hummingbird

Totozcatleton - Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Telolouitzilin

Yollotototl

Popocales - Rail

Tecuciltototl

Ixmatlatototl

Third Paragraph, which telleth of the waterfowl.

Canauhtli, also Tzonyayauhqui - Duck

Concanauhtli, also Tlalalacatl - probably Greater White-fronted Goose

Colcanauhtli - Mallard

Tocujlcoiotl - Sandhill Crane

Xomotl - Heron species

Tecoloctli

Atotolin - American White Pelican

Quachilton, Yacacintli is the same as the American Coot

Vexocanauhtli - Black-crowned Night-heron

Acolin - Wilson's Snipe

Atzitzicujlotl - Red-necked Phalarope

Acuicuialotl - Cliff Swallow

Cuicuitzatl - Barn Swallow

It is small and black, with small, pointed bill, with small, short legs. It is charcoal-colored, very black, like the American cherry. It is a warbler, a crier, a constant warbler, an awakener of the sleeping. It is a builder of mud nests in house roofs, in house fronts. It is a traveler, a disappeared; later it comes, in [the month of] Atemoztli. It awakens sleepers, it brings them from their sleep; it warbles, it cries out; it flutters; it cleans itself, beautifies itself; it hurls itself into the water, it bathes itself.

Aztatl - Snowy Egret

Axoquen - Little Blue Heron

Totoli, Huexolotl (male) - Wild Turkey

Pelican

Acoiotl - Anhinga

Acitli - Western Grebe

Tenitztli - Black Skimmer

Quapetlaoac - Wood Stork

Quatezcatl - Purple Gallinule

Tolcomoctli - American Bittern

Covixin - Black-bellied Plover

Icxixixouhqui - American Avocet

Quetzaltecolocton - Green-winged Teal

Metzcanauhtli - Blue-winged Teal

Quacoztli - Canvasback

Hecatototl - Hooded Merganser

Amanacoche - Bufflehead

Atapalcatl - Ruddy Duck

Tzitzioa - Northern Pintail

Xalquani - American Wigeon

Yacapitzaoac - Eared Grebe

Tzonyayauhqui - a species of duck

It is named tzonyayauhqui because its head is very black, much like charcoal, reaching to its neck. Its eyes are yellow; its neck, its breast very white; its back dark ashen. Its tail is quite small, also dark ashen; its belly black, [but two] white [feathers] are placed on both sides near its tail. Its feet are black and broad. It does not rear its young here; it just comes [and] goes. Many come. They eat what is in the water, [as well as] the sand from the rocks and water plant seeds. Good-tasting is their flesh; it is fat, like bacon.

Colcanauhtli - Mallard

Chilcanauhtli - Cinnamon Teal

Achalalactli, Achalalactli - Belted Kingfisher

Iacapatlaoac - Northern Shoveler

Oactli - Black-Crowned Night Heron

Pipitztli - Gull, probably Larus franklini

Acachichictli - Western Grebe

Fourth Paragraph, which telleth of all the birds [of prey].

Quauhtli - Golden Eagle

Mixcoaquauhtli - Crab-Hawk

White Eagle - Bald Eagle

Nocturnal Eagle

Tlacoquauhtli - Northern Harrier

Water Eagle - Eagle

Aitzquauhtli - Osprey

Cozcaquauhtli - King Vulture

Oactli - Laughing Falcon

It resembles the king vulture. It sings in this manner: sometimes it laughs like some man; like a man speaking it can pronounce these words: yeccan, yeccan, yaccan. When it laughs, it says ha ha ha ha ha, ha hay, ha hay, hay hay, ay. Especially when it finds its food it really laughs.

Tzopilotl - Black Vulture

Owl - cf. Great Horned Owl

Cacatecolutl, inludes Tlalchiquatli - Burrowing Owl

Cacalotl - Common Raven

Acacalotl - Jabiru

Pipixcan - Franklin's Gull

Tlhotli - Prairie Falcon

Quauhtlotli - also turcuello, its feathers are yellow; also Ecatlotli and Ayauhlotli - Falcon

Ecatlotli

Ayauhtlotli

White Falcon

Obsidian Falcon

Youaltlotli, Youaltlotli - Lesser Nighthawk

Necuilictli

Tetzompa - Loggerhead Shrike

Fifth Paragraph, which telleth of still other kinds of birds, of whatever sort.

Xochitototl - Bullock's Oriole

Aiacachtototl - Band-backed Wren

Tachitouya

Quauhtotopotli - Golden-Fronted Woodpecker

Poxaquatl - suggests Whip-poor-will

Vitlalotl - suggests Crested Guan

Chiquatli, also Chichtli, includes Tapalcatzotzonqui - Barn Owl

Tapalcatzotzonqui

Ilamatototl - Canyon Towhee

Tlatuicicitli - Wren

Chiquatototl - Eastern Meadowlark

Cacatlatli - Sparrows

Tlapaltototl - Vermilion Flycatcher

Its body, its feathers are an over-all chili-red, but its wings, its tail are ashen, well colored, well textured. It is very chili-red, the color of dried chili. It is a night-singer. It becomes chili-red, it becomes ashen. Four times, five times at night does it sing. It is not fat.

Chiltotopil - Red Warbler

It is the same as the vermilion flycatcher. Its flesh is inedible. It has no blood; its blood is only like serous fluid.

Molotl - Finch, Carpodacus species

Quachichil; Quachichil and Nochtototl - House Finch

Nochtototl

Cocotli: Scardafella inca - Inca Dove

Sixth Paragraph, which telleth of still other kinds of birds.

Colin - Montezuma Quail

Tecucolin

Ouaton - Quail

Seventh Paragraph, which telleth of still other birds, of their habits.

Tzanatl - Slender-billed Grackle

Teotzanatl - Boat-Tailed Grackle

Acatzanatl or Acatzunatl - Blackbird

Coyoltototl- suggests Agelaius gubernator grandis; the yellow-breasted species suggests the Yellow-headed Blackbird - Yellow-headed Blackbird

Uilotl - Mourning Dove

Tlacuailotl - Common Ground-Dove

Eighth Paragraph, which telleth of the birds which are good singers.

Cuitlacochin - Curve-billed Thrasher

It has long legs, stick-like legs, very black; it has a pointed, slender, curved bill. It is ashen, ash-colored, dark ashen. It has a song, a varied song.

It is named cuitlacochtototl, which is taken from its song, because it says cuitlacoch, cuitlacoch, tarati, tarat, tatatati, tatatati, titiriti, tiriti.

It is capable of domestication; it is teachable. It breeds everywhere, in treetops, in openings in walls. Wherever it is inaccessible, there it breeds. Its food is insects, flies, water flies, flesh, ground maize. And in winter it does not sing, it does not cry out, it does not produce songs. When the rains come, when they threaten, when it becomes warm, then it begins to sing. Toward whence the wind comes, there it settles facing it, continuing to call, to sing.

Centzontlatole - Northern Mockingbird

Miauatototl

Chuqujmoli - Ladder-backed Woodpecker

Chachalacametl - Plain Chachalaca

Ninth Paragraph, which telleth of the native turkeys.

Totoli; Huexolotl (male) - Wild Turkey

Tenth Paragraph, which telleth of the parts of the different birds.

... The names of [the feathers] of all the different birds are, caquan, quechol, tzinitzcan: and of them it is understood that they are the precious ones. The proverb speaks of "the precious feathers of the lord."

The property, the possession, which belongs to all the different birds and to turkeys is feathers. And those which appear on their heads, even the not precious, are called tzinitzcan. Those which appear on the head of a resplendent trogon are called quetzaltzinitzcan. And those which appear on the neck are called tapalcayotl; its tapalcayotl feathers. So one refers to the eagle's tapalcatl feathers. Those which appear on its belly and on its back are called alapachtli and its tapalcayotl feathers. Those which are right on its skin are called tlachcayotl. So one refers to the tlachcayotl feathers of the eagle, the scarlet macaw, the xamotl. And those which are at the edge of its rump, which cover the base of the tail, are called olincayotl, poyaualli, poyauallotl. Imaxtli, so it is said, are the eagle's moloctli feathers, the resplendent trogon's olincayotl feathers, the tzinpoyauacayotl feathers of a turkey, of a bird, the imaxtli feathers of a heron.

Wings - tzinitzcan - lesser coverts; tzicoliuhqui - middle coverts; chilchotic - greater coverts

Primaries - ahauitztli, also called nacatl

Wing - Ahaztli

Body - Aztlacapalli, the two joints of the wing

Tip of the wing - Ahauitztli

This portion of the codex - edited by Messrs. Dibble and Anderson - is an effective guide to the species of the Mayan lands nearly 500 years before the common era. It may be the first guide to birds in North America? It includes the essential components for an illustrated guide to different species.

Some of the bird species accounted for by the ancient document are still elusive, with their contemporary name not known. Further clues might be available in the original color version of the Florentine Codex. Those few colorful items that were published are quite lush and expressive.

There are many published observations for birds during these historic times. Christopher Columbus and clan introduced North America to Europe around A.D. 1500. They referred to some species at a particular locale. Other visitors scribed narratives of numerous variety through each subsequent decade.

The Spanish had a special interest in Mexico. Many a missionary visited, and they filed a report that has become one of the annals. They made brief mentions of this or that bird, but nothing with an account and illustrations.

Then there was the comprehensize codex by the reverend Bernardino de Sahagun. Nothing comparable was printed for long time that followed. In 1649, there was a bird list prepared for Virginia, though not illustrated. Mark Catesby published an exquisite account of bird life at the Carolinas of the 1720-30s. Historic and modern ornithology sprung from these first efforts.

The Atotolin ... capture and eating.

Feather Atlas Useful for Identification of North American Birds

A unique resource for identification of flight feathers of North American birds is now available at the online Feather Atlas.

“The Feather Atlas is the first widely-available resource to provide species identification tools for detached feathers,” said Pepper Trail, the ornithologist with the National Fish and Wildlife Forensics Laboratory, a division of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. He is the coordinator for the atlas website project.

“Until the Feather Atlas, there was no widely-available image database of detached flight feathers of North American birds,” Trail said in an email interview. “These scans will be useful in terms of illustrating feather structure and function (compare, for example, the outer primaries of buteos, accipiters, and falcons), as well as documenting plumage variation."

“The primary intended use is for species identification, but there are many other possible uses, including by researchers (as a source for feather measurements), artists (to reference fine details of plumage when they lack access to specimens), and educators (to show examples of feather shape and appearance). There will likely be other uses for these scans that have not even been imagined."

Groups represented by the atlas thus far are hawks, eagles, vultures, falcons, pigeons and doves, cuckoos, owls, and woodpeckers, with 64 species currently illustrated.

Tail fathers of the Red-bellied Woodpecker. Image courtesy of the Feather Atlas.

“We began with raptors, with particular emphasis on the different plumages of Bald and Golden Eagles,” said Pepper Trail, a biologist in the Laboratory. “The feathers of birds of prey, including hawks, eagles, and owls, are the most commonly encountered by FWS agents, both in partial carcasses (for example, electrocuted bird remains) and in crafted items (such as feather fans). Flicker feathers are also frequently used in crafted items, which led us into the woodpeckers.”

For each species, examples of wing and tail feathers are shown on a background that provides a scale for referencing the size of each feather. Precise measurements – to the nearest millimeter – are also given in a data table found beneath each scan. “The measurements are an important additional resource for making identifications,” Trail said.

Further details for each image provide the bird’s sex, age and where it originated.

Also provided with the atlas is a glossary of terms used to describe parts of a feather, illustrated with annotated figures. Coming soon to the web site will be options to zoom in to view feathers in a greater detail, print an image or create a portable document file with the image.

Details on the legal issues related to feather possession are presented, including a link to the complete list of protected species. There is also information about special rules which are applicable to Native Americans, which often use bird material in tribal ceremonies.

The Forensics Laboratory created the atlas since it provides “identification resources to the field officers of the Office of Law Enforcement,” Trail said. “Much of our work at the laboratory involves making species identifications from partial remains, including loose feathers,” Trail said. “Therefore, we have both the expertise and the specimen reference collection needed to undertake this effort.

“Law enforcement personnel will find the scans useful in identifying flight feathers in crafted items and bird carcasses. Field biologists will be able to use the scans to identify feathers encountered during field work. For example, I am often asked to identify molted feathers picked up during field surveys, where the goal is to distinguish Great Gray versus Great Horned Owls or Northern Goshawk versus other raptors.

“The Feather Atlas marks an expansion of our identification resources onto a widely accessible web-based platform that will be useful not only to Fish and Wildlife Service agents, but to refuge officers, state game departments, researchers, and the general public.”

The laboratory already provides a variety of bird “Identification Notes” for use by agents and researchers.

The web site has already undergone a review by “various Fish and Wildlife Service personnel and museum-based ornithologists,” Trail said. “Their comments were very helpful in refining our search tools and in developing the information presented on the homepage. We are still working toward implementation of some of their suggestions, for example, making thumbnails of the scans available.”

The ultimate goal of the atlas is to present images of the flight feathers of all species of North American birds – a project that will take years.

Trail stated that the strategy is to scan as many members of a bird family as possible before adding that group to the atlas, thus allowing comparisons between similar species. As a result, he explained, “the availability of specimens influences which groups we work on. We are currently scanning the feathers of upland gamebirds (quail, grouse, and relatives) and nightjars. After that, we plan to begin work on waterfowl. And on an ongoing basis, we will add new species and scans to existing groups as additional specimens become available.”

Feathers scanned for the website are from specimens in the reference collection of the Forensics Laboratory, Mr. Trail said. “Almost all these are salvaged carcasses that have been donated by our wide network among wildlife rehabilitation centers, National Wildlife Refuges and other FWS offices, bird-banders, and state game departments. No birds are killed to provide specimens.”

The actual scanning is done by a Laboratory volunteer, Sue Polich, and the specimen preparation and website design are done by Laboratory staff when time is available, Trail said.

The website emphasizes that it is illegal to possess birds or parts of birds protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which covers almost all native North American species.

“This includes molted feathers and feathers that may have come from road- or window-kills,” Trail explained, noting that the Feather Atlas offers a legal way to study and appreciate the beauty of the feathers of protected native species: “Appreciate the images, but don’t collect feathers unless you have a permit to do so!”

Opportunities for close examination of feathers may be available at museums, zoos, and wildlife rehabilitation centers.

“Education about feathers can be done using the feathers of non-native birds such as Ring-necked Pheasant, Indian Peafowl, Rock Pigeon, European Starling and House Sparrow, Trail concluded. “The feathers of all these species can be legally possessed without permits.”

“Feathers represent a supreme combination of beauty and functionality, Trail said. “The variety of their patterns and shapes is an endless source of fascination, and I never tire of the challenge of making species identifications based on feathers alone. This project has required a sustained focus on the details of feather appearance that has been very rewarding. The response so far has suggested wide interest in this resource, which is certainly encouraging.”

National Forensics Laboratory Feather Atlas

National Forensics Lab bird “Identification Notes”