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Identifications

11.02.24

The guineafowl in Centralafrica 1981 50f is Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris, not Western Crested Guineafowl Guttera verreauxi.

10.02.24

The eagle in Tajikistan 2023 Save the Aral Sea is inscribed Aquila chrysaetos. But the tail is white, which makes it White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla.

09.02.24

Correction to the splits in my recent IOC upgrade: The pheasant on Malaysia 1986.01-02 is Bornean Crested Fireback Lophura ignita, and the pheasant on Thailand 1988.01-02 is Malayan Crested Fireback Lophura rufa.

09.01.24

I shall change my listing of the Kazakhstan 2020.01 owl from Eurasian Eagle-Owl Bubo bubo to Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus. The markings on the breast and belly appear to be dots and horizontal stripes, not vertical stripes. There may be other Eurasian Eagle-Owls in my listings that should be changed to Great Horned Owl or maybe Great Horned Owls that should be Eurasian Eagle-Owl?

08.01.24

The third stamp in the New Zealand 2023 Pets set is inscribed KEA. That is the name of the pet, not the name of the species. The name of the species is Maroon-bellied Parakeet Pyrrhura frontalis. Source.

05.01.24

The bird I listed as European Serin in the Syria 2013.01 Birds set is Syrian Serin Serinus syriacus as stated on the stamp. This is a new species on stamp.

19.12.23

St Vincent & Grenadines 2022 Ducks, second stamp: Sorry, no new species on stamp. This is not Lake Duck Oxyura vittata as printed on stamp. It is Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis.

01.09.23

A stamp in Mozambique 2011.35 is wrongly inscribed Sooty Albatross Phoebetria fusca. The depicted birds are Light-mantled Albatross Phoebetria palpebrata.
The bird in Niger 2013.04 is wrongly inscribed Falco naumanii. It has been "Not identified" in my listings. An acceptabel id is Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus.
I have mixed up the sequence of stamps in Aruba 2019.01. This has now been corrected, giving correct id's to the scans.
I have mixed up the sequence of stamps in Turkmenistan 2020.01. This has now been corrected, giving correct id's to the scans.
I shall list the two "Not identified" birds in Botswana 2023.01-2 as Cape Vulture Gyps coprotheres and Bateleur Terathopius ecaudatus.
The bird in Canada 2005.5-6 is Gyrfalcon, not Peregrine Falcon.

31.08.23

I shall accept the inscription on the last stamp in Micronesia 2015.03 and move the bird from Mauritius Grey White-eye to Reunion Grey White-eye Zosterops borbonicus. This is a new species on stamp.
Stamps from Sao Tome and Principe with inscription Zosterops ficedulinus show the subspecies, now full species, Sao Tome White-eye Zosterops feae. This is a new species on stamp. Principe White-eye Zosterops ficedulinus is not on stamp.

30.08.23

The Knob-billed Goose in Marshall Is 2013.02 has black flanks and can be Comb Duck Sarkidiornis sylvicola, which has been split from Knob-billed Duck Sarkidiornis melanotos. This is a new species on stamp.

06.08.23

The dove in China (Taiwan) 1997.01 Bird paintings from National Palace Museum is a domesticated dove, not Cloven-feathered Dove.

03.08.23

All flamingos in the Aruba 2022 Flamingos issue are American Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber.

12.06.22

Nightingale Island Finch Nesospiza questi was split from Inaccessible Island Finch Nesospiza acunhae some years ago. Tristan da Cunha 1988.01 features this bird, new on stamp.

11.06.22

The starling in Sao Tome and Principe 1992.01 is Principe Starling Lamprotornis ornatus, not Chestnut-winged Starling Onychognathus fulgidus.
I have changed id for the 10cor stamp in Nicaragua 1986.01 from Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush Catharus aurantiirostris to Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush Catharus frantzii. The upper mandible should be black. The plumage fits fairly well. This is a new species on stamp.

09.06.22

I have changed my id for the last stamp in Japan 2022.01 from Blakiston's Fish Owl Bubo blakistoni to Japanese Scops Owl Otus semitorques.
Not a perfect match, but I have chosen Rufous-backed Sibia Leioptila annectens for the fourth stamp in Bhutan 1999.10. This is a new bird species on stamp.

03.06.22

The fourth stamp in Nauru 2005.01 features Bridled White-eye Zosterops conspicillatus, as stated on stamp. This is a new bird on stamp.

02.06.22

I have moved the bulbul in Mauritius 1965.01 and 1967.03 from Reunion Bulbul Hypsipetes borbonicus to Mauritius Bulbul Hypsipetes olivaceus. Eye colour and distribution of grey and black is in favour of Mauritius Bulbul.
I have moved the reed warbler in Guyana 1988.01 from Great Reed-Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus to Eurasian Reed-Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus.
I have moved two reed warblers from Eurasian Reed-Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus to Great Reed-Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus: Benin 1982.01 and Tuvalu 2006.01.
The bird in Korea, North 1973.01 that I have identified as Great Reed-Warbler can be Oriental Reed Warbler Acrocephalus orientalis This is a new species on stamp.

01.06.22

I have moved the whistler in Vanuatu 1981.01 from Australian Golden Whistler Pachycephala pectoralis to Melanesian Whistler Pachycephala chlorura. The stamp is inscribed Pachycephala pectoralis cucullata. In IOC taxonomy cucullata is a subspecies of Melanesian Whistler with scientific name Pachycephala chlorura cucullata. Melanesian Whistler is a new species on stamp.

31.05.22

The third stamp in Mozambique 2011.13 is inscribed Trichoglossus flavoviridis. Change of genus and a split makes the bird with this plumage Yellow-cheeked Lorikeet Saudareos meyeri, new on stamp.
I have changed my id of the bird on the right in Philippines 1979.01 to Philippine Pitta Erythropitta erythrogaster, indicated on the stamp.
Change English name Greater Wattled Honeyeater to Polynesian Wattled Honeyeater.

30.05.22

The roller in Nicaragua 1995.01 is not Coracias cyanogaster as written on stamp. The chestnut back, dark blue outerwing, elongated outer tail feathers fits well with Abyssinian Roller Coracias abyssinicus.
There are two bird species on Togo 2015.37 MS. The bird on the left is, as listed, Brown-backed Honeybird Prodotiscus regulus. The bird on the right is, new species, Least Honeyguide Indicator exilis.
Micronesia 2013.02 is not Psittacula alexandri, as inscribed, but most probably a female Alexandrine Parakeet Psittacula eupatria.

29.05.22

The third stamp in Liberia 2016.04 is Black-casqued Hornbill Ceratogymna atrata, as identified on stamp. not Black-and-white-casqued Hornbill Bycanistes subcylindricus.
The hornbill on the second stamp in Vietnam 1977.01 is not Tickell's Brown Hornbill Anorrhinus tickelli, as indicated on the stamp, but Austen's Brown Hornbill Anorrhinus austeni. austeni was a subspecies of Tickell's Brown Hornbill in 1977.

26.05.22

Japanese Scops Owl Otus semitorques was split from Indian Scops Owl Otus bakkamoena some years ago. It is depicted on Tazania 1999.20. This is a new bird species on stamp. Red eyes.
The owl with inscription Tyto capensis in Sao Tome and Principe 2013.19 is Southern White-faced Owl Ptilopsis granti.
I have changed my listing of the owl in Oman 2002.01 inscribed Bubo bubo to Pharaoh Eagle-Owl Bubo ascalaphus.
I have changed id from Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops to African Hoopoe Upupa africana for Namibia 2002.01 and Rhodesia 1971.01.

22.05.22

American Barn Owl Tyto furcata and Eastern Barn Owl Tyto javanica are recent splits from Western Barn Owl Tyto alba. I have distributed stamps to them.
West Solomons Owl is new English name for Solomons Boobook after move from Ninox to Athene, and after the split of Guadalcanal Owl Athene granti. They are both on Solomon Is 2004.02.

21.05.22

I have changed id for the harrier on Madagascar 1999.02 to Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus (suggested on the stamp).

20.05.22

I have chosen Olrog's Gull Larus atlanticus for the "Not identified" in Tanzania 1998.01 and 1998.10.
I have chosen Roseate Spoonbill Platalea ajaja for the "Not identified" in Tanzania 1999.03.
The bird called Shy Albatross Diomedea cauta on Samoa 1989.02 is the former Shy Albatross Thalassarche cauta salvini, now Salvin's Albatross Thalassarche salvini. This is a new species on stamp.

19.05.22

The bustard in Syria 2003.01 is Great Bustard Otis tarda, not White-bellied Bustard Eupodotis senegalensis, closer match to plumage.
I have moved the whimbrels in Maldive Is 2010.01 and Marshall Is 1985.01 from Eurasian Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus to Hudsonian Whimbrel Numenius hudsonicus.

18.05.22

The nightjar with inscription Eurostopodus mystacalis on two stamps in the Solomon Is 2004.02 sheet is Solomons Nightjar Eurostopodus nigripennis in IOC taxonomy. Solomons Nightjar is distinguished from White-throated Nightjar Eurostopodus mystacalis by the ruf�us, not white, collar.

15.05.22

Corrections to Union Island 2021.05 Hummingbird:
Sparkling Violetear Colibri coruscans, not Swallow-tailed Hummingbird Eupetomena macroura
Bee Hummingbird Mellisuga helenae, female, not Curve-winged Sabrewing Pampa curvipennis.
Calliope Hummingbird Selasphorus calliope, not Volcano Hummingbird Selasphorus flammula.

06.05.22

A recent update went wrong. Here is a correction.
Scientific name of Mulga Parrot is Psephotellus varius, not Northiella haematogaster.
Scientific name of Hooded Parrot is Psephotellus dissimilis, not Northiella narethae.
Scientific name of Golden-shouldered Parrot is Psephotellus chrysopterygius, not Psephotellus varius.
Scientific name of Paradise Parrot is Psephotellus pulcherrimus �, not Psephotellus dissimilis.
Scientific name of Red-capped Parrot is Purpureicephalus spurius, not Psephotellus chrysopterygius.
Scientific name of Green Rosella is Platycercus caledonicus, not Psephotellus pulcherrimus �.
Scientific name of Crimson Rosella is Platycercus elegans, not Purpureicephalus spurius.
Scientific name of Northern Rosella is Platycercus venustus, not Platycercus caledonicus.

23.04.22

Chris Gibbins has now id Yellow-billed Cacique Amblycercus holosericeus for Ecuador 1959 Tropical birds 50c. My id is Solitary Cacique Cacicus solitarius. Please let me knw what bird you think is the best identification for the bird on this stamp.
Here is a link to an enlargement of the stamp: Mirlo stamp
Here is a link to photos of Solitary Cacique
Here is a link to photos of Yellow-billed Cacique
Links will open in new tab/window.

22.04.22

I have moved Belize 2020.01 40c and 1$ from Scarlet Flycatcher Pyrocephalus rubinus to Vermilion Flycatcher Pyrocephalus obscurus. Main reason: female Scarlet Flycatcher do not have reddish underparts. The two species may look alike and may be impossible to give names on pictures. Distribution for Scarlet Flycatcher is South America. Distribution for Vermilion Flycatcher is North America, Middle America and South America. The rest of the stamps that I have listed under Scarlet Flycatcher may be either species.

21.04.22

Togo 1985 Audubon 135f is Great-tailed Grackle Quiscalus mexicanus as written on stamp, not Boat-tailed Grackle Quiscalus major.
The inscription on the Rail stamps of Micronesia 2004.01 and Tuvalu 2003.01 is Clapper Rail Rallus longirostris. There has been splits, and the Rail on these stamps is now Ridgway's Rail Rallus obsoletus.

20.04.22

The $4 stamp in the Antigua & Barbuda 2021.01 sheet is Glittering-throated Emerald Chionomesa fimbriata
I have replaced Reunion Harrier Circus maillardi with Malagasy Harrier Circus macrosceles

19.04.22

Wrong inscription on one of the stamps in the Togo 2014.34 set The inscription is Aethopyga siparaja, but the depicted bird is the scarlet-breasted subspecies of Mrs. Gould's Sunbird Aethopyga gouldiae.

18.04.22

Bahama Nuthatch Sitta insularis has been split from Brown-headed Nuthatch Sitta pusilla. This is a new species on stamp.
Taiwan Thrush Turdus niveiceps is accepted as a species. This is a new species on stamp.

17.04.22

Comoros Black Parrot Coracopsis sibilans has been split from Lesser Vasa Parrot Coracopsis nigra. This is a new species on stamp.
Blue-backed Parrot Tanygnathus everetti has been split from Azure-rumped Parrot Tanygnathus sumatranus. This is a new species on stamp.
Stella's Lorikeet Charmosyna stellae has been split from Papuan Lorikeet Charmosyna papou. This is a new species on stamp.

16.04.22

The subspecies lafresnayii of Blue-breasted Bee-eater Merops variegatus is raised to species level. This is Ethiopian Bee-eater Merops lafresnayii: Ethiopia 1966.01, This is a new species on stamp.
The subspecies americanus of Blue-throated Bee-eater Merops viridis is raised to species level. These are Rufous-crowned Bee-eater Merops americanus: Sierra Leone 2015.26, Togo 2015.27, Uganda 2014.22. This is a new species on stamp.
The Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis is now three species: Asian Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis, Arabian Green Bee-eater Merops cyanophrys and African Green Bee-eater Merops viridissimus.

15.04.22

The subspecies magellanica of Pantanal Snipe Gallinago paraguaiae is raised to species level. These are Magellanic Snipe Gallinago magellanica: Argentina 1986.01, Falkland Is 2017.02 and 2021.01. This is a new species on stamp.

14.04.22

The subspecies bridgesi of Dusky-legged Guan Penelope obscura is raised to species level. The former Dusky-legged Guan of Argentina 1996.01 is now Yungas Guan Penelope bridgesi. This is a new species on stamp.
WasCountryNewWhy
Red-collared Lorikeet Sao Tome 2014.32 Rainbow Lorikeet Hindcollar green, not red
Coconut Lorikeet Antigua & Barbuda 2012.02 Rainbow Lorikeet No barring on chest
Coconut Lorikeet Grenada 1988.04 Rainbow Lorikeet No barring on chest
Coconut Lorikeet Mozambique 2011.13 Rainbow Lorikeet No barring on chest
Coconut Lorikeet New Caledonia 2013.02 Rainbow Lorikeet No barring on chest
Coconut Lorikeet Niger 2014.14 Rainbow Lorikeet No barring on chest
Coconut Lorikeet Palau 2002.01 Rainbow Lorikeet No barring on chest
Coconut Lorikeet Solomon Is 2014.11 Rainbow Lorikeet No barring on chest
Coconut Lorikeet St Kitts 2005.03 Rainbow Lorikeet No barring on chest
Coconut Lorikeet Yemen (Kingdom) 1969.01 Rainbow Lorikeet No barring on chest

20.03.22

Cambodia 1999.01 1000r. Wrong inscription (Dendroicha petecia) on the stamp. The bird is Atlantic Canary Serinus canaria.
A bird on Centralafrica 2016.08 sheet is named Fringilla passerina. I shall change my ID for this bird to Grasshopper Sparrow Ammodramus savannarum.
I have moved Togo 2014.39 from Griffon Vulture to White-rumped Vulture. Dark head and neck.
I have moved Kampuchea 1983.01 from Griffon Vulture to Slender-billed Vulture. Dark plumage, head and neck, range.

19.03.22

The firsr four birds in the Sao Tome and Principe 1992.02 set were listed by me as "Not identified". They are Song Thrush Turdus philomelos.

18.03.22

The fourth bird in the Bhutan 1999.04 sheet was listed by me as "Not identified". Tino Mischler suggests White-bellied Parrot Pionites leucogaster, and I accept this as a reasonable ID.

17.03.22

A stamp in Mozambique 2016.03 is wrongly inscribed Colaptes chrysoides. The bird on the stamp has no black markings on breast and belly, which it should have if it is Gilded Flicker Colaptes chrysoides. The depicted bird is a Melanerpes and most likely Gila Woodpecker Melanerpes uropygialis.
The stamp in Zambia 1998.03 with inscription Mulga Parrot cannot be a Mulga Parrot because it has a blue breast. I shall list it as Golden-shouldered Parrot Psephotellus chrysopterygius.

16.03.22

Liberia 2001.08 Little Green Woodpecker Campethera maculosa, not Green-backed Woodpecker Campethera cailliautii. Barred underparts.

22.01.22

Union Island 2013.01 Hummingbirds Buff-bellied Hummingbird Amazilia yucatanensis as written on stamp, not Rufous-tailed Hummingbird Amazilia tzacatl.

06.12.21

The Troupial in Bhutan 1999.04 is Venezuelan Troupial, not Campo Troupial.
I shall move Dominica 1981.01 5$ and St Lucia 2004.01 second stamp from Lesser Antillean Pewee to Lesser Antillean Flycatcher. Main reason is whitish wing markings.

07.06.21

The bird labelled Poecile montanus is more like Coal Tit Periparus ater. I have changed the ID in my listings. Caribbean Netherlands
Grenada 2020.01 Northern Gannet Morus bassanus, not Red-footed Booby Sula sula.

06.04.21

Nicaragua 2007.01 White-chinned Sapphire Chlorestes cyanus, not Rufous-tailed Hummingbird Amazilia tzacatl. White chin, blue throat and throat-sides, no rufous tail, belly dirty brownish-green.

03.04.21

Tanzania 1999.07 Striated Heron Butorides striata, not Black-headed Heron Ardea melanocephala.
Paraguay 2017.01 Black Jacobin Florisuga fusca, not Glittering-bellied Emerald Chlorostilbon lucidus (belly black, small white rim from vent to underwing, rather long beak).

02.04.21

Malawi 2019.02 and 2019.03 Northern Bobwhite Colinus virginianus, not Common Quail Coturnix coturnix.
Laos 1990.01 Western Reef Heron Egretta gularis, not Pacific Reef Heron Egretta (Demigretta) sacra (white throat).

01.04.21

The Emu in Guyana Wildlife of South America 2019 is not an Emu. It is a Greater Rhea Rhea americana.

25.04.20

I have changed id from See-see Partridge Ammoperdix griseogularis to Chukar Partridge Alectoris chukar for Tajikistan 2018 3s. Black line behind eye and white throat, which the birds on the stamp have, is supportive for Chukar, and contradictive for See-see, which should have white eye line and grey throat.

24.04.20

I have Northern Royal Flycatcher Onychorhynchus mexicanus for the Royal Flycatcher in Mayreau 2011 Birds of Paradise The inscription on the stamp is Pacific Royal Flycatcher (Onychorhynchus occidentalis). I'll accept this as my identification because the illustration on the stamp is a copy of a painting from 1888 by Joseph Smit Wikipedia

23.04.20

The bird with name Kauai Akialoa written on the stamp in Grenada 1993 Songbirds has scientific name Akialoa stejnegeri in IOC.

22.04.20

Southern Double-collared Sunbird Cinnyris chalybeus, as on stamp, not Greater Double-collared Sunbird Cinnyris afer in Ghana 2015 Sunbirds of Africa. Narrow red breast-band, shorter bill.
Southern/Lesser Double-collared Sunbird Cinnyris chalybeus, as on stamp, not Eastern Miombo Sunbird Cinnyris manoensis in Botswana 1982 Birds 2t. Close to narrow red breast-band, dark grey breast and belly.
Eastern Miombo Sunbird Cinnyris manoensis and not Southern Double-collared Sunbird Cinnyris chalybeus in Djibouti 2016 Sunbirds and Togo 2014 Sunbirds. Broad red breast-band, ash-grey belly.

16.04.20

Yellow-billed Cardinal Paroaria capitata, not Red-cowled Cardinal Paroaria dominicana in Cuba 2017 Brasiliana. Black breast.

11.04.20

The Paradise Whydah in Benin 1999.04 Birds is Broad-tailed Paradise Whydah Vidua obtusa. The tail is thicker and shorter than for the other Paradise Whydas. The tail is shown in the MS outside the perforation.
Uganda 1992 Birds 150s is a female Cape Robin-Chat Cossypha caffra and not Archer's Ground Robin.

10.04.20

Some of my listed Paradise Whydas may be identified as Exclamatory Paradise Whydah Vidua interjecta. I shall move Congo (Brazzaville) 1993 Brasiliana 120f and Korea, North 1993 40c from Long-tailed Paradise Whydah to Exclamatory Paradise Whydah. The tail has about the same breadth from start to end. Breast and nape is red or near-red.

08.04.20

I have changed identification for Gambia 1991 Wildlife Yellow-throated Leaflove to Yellow-bellied Greenbul Chlorocichla flaviventris
Wikipedia
Warwick Tarboton
The Internet IBC Bird Collection
African Bird Club

04.04.20

Warbling Vireo Vireo gilvus will disappear from my listings. The second stamp in Guinea 2007 J J Audubon, Alexander Wilson, John Gould will be listed with Long-eared Owl and Unidentifiable.

03.04.20

All my Golden Whistler stamps of British Solomon Is and Solomon Is are moved to Australian Golden Whistler Pachycephala pectoralis as indicated on the stamps. To be Golden Whistler the throat would have to be yellow. The throat is white, characteristic of Pachycephala pectoralis.

02.04.20

The Cicadabird on Micronesia 1991 Pohnpei rain forest is Pohnpei Cicadabird Edolisoma insperatum, a former split from Common Cicadabird. The Pohnpei Cicadabird is a new species on stamp.

01.04.20

The Paradise Whydah on Togo 1972 Exotic birds is Togo Paradise Whydah Vidua togoensis and not Sahel Paradise Whydah Vidua orientalis. The tail is uniformly broad from start to end.

30.03.20

The parrot on St Vincent 1995.02 Parrots is White-eared Parakeet, as suggested on the stamp, and not Venezuelan Parakeet.

26.03.20

I'm reverting the changes I made yesterday to the two stamps from Syria. The photograph used for the "Syrian Serin" is of a European Serin. The "Yellow-breasted Chat" may be based on a photo of a Yellow-breasted Chat.

25.03.20

Grenadines (G) 2000.03 Parrots and Parakeets inscribed Charmosyna rubronotata is in fact Orange-billed Lorikeet Neopsittacus pullicauda. This is a new species on stamp.
I have changed id for 2 birds in the Syria 2013 Birds 6v set. I accept the bird labeled Serinus Syriacus as Syrian Serin Serinus syriacus. Difference from European Serin is olive-yellow fringes to tail-feathers, obvious broad olive-yellow bars on coverts. This is a new bird on stamp.
One bird in the set is named Yellow-Breasted Chat. But Yellow-breasted Chat with scientific name Icteria virens is an American bird, and the bird on the stamp does not look very much like it. All the other birds in the set occur in Syria. A bird appearing in Syria, with some likeness to the depicted bird, is Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio (female). To me this is a better id than Icteria virens.

24.03.20

In Comoro Is 2009 Owls I shall change my id of Moheli Scops Owl Otus moheliensis to Rainforest Scops Owl Otus rutilus, as inscribed on the stamp.
I shall change my id of Northern Mealy Amazon Amazona guatemalae to Southern Mealy Amazon Amazona farinosa, as inscribed on the stamp, in Grenada 2013.02 Parrots.

21.03.20

Mozambique 2016 Warblers inscribed Setophaga coronata is not Setophaga coronata. It is Audubon's Warbler Setophaga auduboni. Difference from Setophaga coronata is yellow throat and no white supercilium. This is a new species on stamp.

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