Jeff,

I'm not sure if the following is an error or a realignment of the Greater and American/Caribbean Flamingo. I was reviewing some photos (Apr 1987) I took in the Galapagos and at the time my guide book called it a Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber). There appears to have been a split of the species into P. ruber (Caribbean or American Flamingo) and P. roseus (Greater Flamingo). The flamingo found in the Galapagos Islands is P. ruber by whatever common name it is given.

Birders Diary Clements 2008 v6.3.2 has the P. roseus (Greater Flamingo) in the Galapagos Islands taxonomy and checklist. I believe it should be the P. ruber (American/Caribbean/Greater Flamingo) that should appear on the list of Galapagos birds.

Attached are two pages of Flamingo facts regarding this issue as my authority. I don't know if Clements is in agreeement with the data I uncovered. If this is correct, then the taxonomy and checklist should be revised to replace P. roseus with P. Ruber for the Galapagos Islands.

http://www.flamingoresources.org/greflam.html

http://www.flamingoresources.org/carflam.html

Regards, Al Borodayko

Cypress, CA

Hi Al,

I am sure that Steve will chime in on this one.

Thanks for the feedback. Do you know how to make the switch yourself in your database using the Checklist Editor?

Jeff

Done. thanks.

I will also remove the other flamingo from Galapagos.

Jeff