Papuan island thrush explained

Papuan island thrush (Turdus papuensis) is a species of passerine in the family Turdidae. It is endemic to New Guinea and Goodenough Island in the countries of Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. It was formerly considered to be a number of subspecies of the island thrush until 2024 when it was classified as a distinct species by the IOC and Clements checklist.^{[1] [2]}

Taxonomy

The Papuan island thrush was first described by ornithologist Charles Walter De Vis in 1890 as Merula papuensis based on specimens collected from Mount Victoria in Papua New Guinea. It was considered to be a number of subspecies of Island thrush until 2024 when it was one of 17 species that were split due to phylogenic evidence from a study in 2023.^[3]

Three subspecies are recognized:^[4]

• T. p. papuensis (De Vis, 1890) - Found in the mountains of southeast New Guinea (includes erebus and keysseri)
• T. p. versteegi Junge, 1939 - Found in the Jayawijaya Mountains
• T. p. canescens (De Vis, 1894) - Found on Goodenough Island

Notes and References

1. Web site: 2024 Taxonomy Update—COMING SOON . eBird . 20 October 2024.
2. Web site: Proposed Splits/Lumps . IOC World Bird List v14.2 . 20 October 2024.
3. Reeve . Andrew Hart . Gower . Graham . Pujolar . José Martín . Smith . Brian Tilston . Population genomics of the island thrush elucidates one of earth's great archipelagic radiations . Evolution Letters . January 2023 . 7 . 1 . 20 October 2024.
4. Web site: Gill . Frank . Frank Gill (ornithologist) . Donsker . David . Rasmussen . Pamela . Pamela C. Rasmussen . August 2024 . Thrushes . IOC World Bird List Version 14.2 . International Ornithologists' Union . 26 September 2024 .