Another Taiwan Endemic ? - Grey-cheeked Fulvetta split

Taiwan Grey-cheeked Fulvetta (Alcippe morrisonia)


More good news for naturalists in Taiwan is the proposed Grey-cheeked Fulvetta split which proposes splitting three races of the Grey-cheeked Fulvetta Alcippe morrisonia into three species. One of which will raise the endemic Taiwan race A.m.morrisoniana to full endemic species status. The Grey-cheeked Fulvetta is a common Taiwan forest bird and large numbers are resident in the Hushan area.

It would appear that based on Zuo Fasheng et al (2007) Molecular phylogenetic analysis of the Grey-cheeked Fulvetta Alcippe morrisonia of China, Taiwan, and Indochina that a case of remarkable genetic divergence in the species exists. On chatting to a Taiwan based researcher who has worked with the species it would appear that the proposed split is largely being accepted by researchers locally in Taiwan.

South-eastern (Taiwan) Grey-cheeked Fulvetta Alcippe morrisonia

Northern Grey-cheeked Fulvetta Alcippe davidi

Western Grey-cheeked Fulvetta Alcippe fratercula

See Grey-cheeked Fulvetta split post by the Oriental Bird Club on Surfbirds.com.
Mark Wilkie
2007-9-9

Update:
While the science on this one looks pretty sound acceptance of the split has been slow and it has yet to be accepted by any of the major bird lists.