New Species: Taiwan Bush-Warbler

Taiwan Bush-Warbler, Bradypterus alishanensis
Photo Credit: Shei Wen Tu, Birding in Taiwan

A new bush-warbler (Sylviidae, Bradypterus) from Taiwan

ABSTRACT

A bush-warbler of the genus Bradypterus, known from the mountains of Taiwan since 1917, has never been formally named as a distinct taxon. Songs of the Taiwan population differ strikingly from those of its Asian congeners in being much clearer, sweeter, more piercing, and in having a very different structure of elements. Several subtle but consistent morphological differences exist between specimens from Taiwan and all named taxa, principally in bill size and shape, plumage color and reduced variability, pattern of undertail coverts, and wing formula. Therefore, the Taiwan population is best treated as a new species.

View the full article at The Auk 117(2):279-289, 2000

New Species: Calayan Rail

Photo Credit: Des Allen, Birdlife.org

Here is an exerpt from a BBC News article from 2004. Access the full article here

New bird spotted in Philippines
By Alex Kirby
BBC News Online environment correspondent

An international expedition has found a bird species new to science on a remote island in the northern Philippines.

The team of Filipino and UK researchers discovered the bird, a rail, living by a stream in the forests of Calayan.

They think the birds number only about 200 pairs at most, and since they are found nowhere else they might soon be at risk from development pressures.

They say the Calayan rail is flightless "or nearly so": it belongs to a global family including coots and moorhens.