Recent Splits
Grey-faced Petrel Pterodroma gouldi has been split from Great-winged Petrel Pterodroma macroptera (the Grey-faced has more distinct white patch.
Masked Lapwing. This name is now reserved for Vanellus miles, inhabiting the northern part of the country.
Southern species is now Black-shouldered Lapwing (Vanellus novaehollandiae).
Crested Shrike-tit: now Eastern, Northern or Western Shrike-tit.
Cinammon Quail-thrush is now split from Nullabor Quail-thrush Chestnut-breasted Quail-thrush now split from Western Quail-thrush
Emerald Doves on Christmas Island (natalis) are now part of the Asian Emerald Dove. Those normally found in the rest of Australia (and Lord Howe) are Pacific Emerald Dove.
- Asian Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indica [Christmas Island]
- Pacific Emerald Dove Chalcophaps longirostris [mainland Australia N and E, including Lord Howe]
Spotted Catbirds have also been split into several species, which mostly affects observations from New Guinea. In Australia, the former Spotted Catbird is now treated as two species:
- Spotted Catbird Ailuroedus maculosus [Atherton Tablelands and south]
- Black-eared Catbird Ailuroedus melanotis [northern Cape York, e.g. Iron Range NP]
Striated Grasswren has been split into multiple species:
- Pilbara Grasswren Amytornis whitei [Pilbara, WA]
- Sandhill Grasswren Amytornis oweni [southern NT, western SA, eastern WA]
- Rusty Grasswren Amytornis rowleyi [near Opalton, QLD]
- Striated Grasswren Amytornis striatus [eastern SA, VIC, NSW]
The former Golden Whistler (Pachycephala pectoralis), has been split into two species.
- Golden Whistler Pachycephala pectoralis [eastern Australia ]
- Western Whistler Pachycephala fuliginosa [southern WA through to parts of Victoria ]
Graceful Honeyeater
Very similar in plumage and easier to separate by voice, Cryptic Honeyeater occurs from Cooktown south (including in the Cairns area) while Graceful Honeyeater occurs on the Cape York Peninsula and New Guinea.
- Graceful Honeyeater Microptilotis gracilis
- Cryptic Honeyeater Microptilotis imitatrix
Little Shrikethrush Colluricincla megarhyncha is split into seven species. One would need to travel to New Guinea or adjacent islands to observe most of these new species, but two occur in Australia: Rufous Shrikethrush along the east coast (NSW, Queensland and just into Northern Territory along the Gulf of Carpentaria) and Arafura Shrikethrush in the Top End of the Northern Territory and Kimberley regions.
