We have a new species of bird here on the west coast, and it has been singing right under our noses for years! Now, before you grab your binoculars, rest assured that you have probably already seen (or more likely heard) this little forest dynamo. The winter wren, known for its secretive behaviour and not-so-secretive song, has been split into three distinct species: the Eurasian wren, the winter wren (found roughly from the Rockies eastward) and the Pacific wren.
This name change is just the latest development in the ever-changing science of bird taxonomy. For many years, there has been a steady push and pull between “lumpers”, who tend to find commonalities between species, and the “splitters”, who try to establish differences.
The splitting of the winter wren was based on some interesting sleuthing done in eastern BC, where the two types overlap. It seems that, while wrens of both types can recognize each others’ songs, females will only select males of their own type. DNA studies confirmed that they are distinct species, and have likely been that way for several million years.
It looks like the splitters are holding sway these days: the tiny cackling goose is now distinct from the Canada goose, and the blue grouse has been split into the dusky and the sooty.
Look for another new species off the shores of Stanley Park in late autumn. Among the thousands of surf scoters that often visit, you might see a few black scoters, which were recently split from the common scoter of the old world. Fortunately, we get to keep the old name.
And on the horizon? Studies of the calls of red crossbills show that there may be up to ten distinct types. Will there be a name change? For the moment, it appears that the lumpers rule.
