The species name of a bird is the second part of its scientific name, which identifies the exact species that the bird belongs to. All living organisms have a scientific name made up of two parts – the genus name and the species name. The genus name is the first part, which refers to a group or classification that includes one or more related species. The species name is the second part of the scientific name that identifies the exact species within that genus.
Why do birds have scientific names?
All living things are given scientific names using binomial nomenclature, which was established by Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus in the 18th century. Binomial nomenclature consists of two Latin or Greek words – the first word is the genus name and the second word is the specific name or species epithet. This standardized two-word naming system allows scientists and researchers to precisely identify any living organism, including birds.
Scientific names are necessary because common names for birds can often be confusing. Many different species may share the same common name, while a single species may be known by different common names in different regions. Scientific names eliminate this ambiguity by assigning each bird species a unique two-word Latin name that is recognized by scientists globally.
Nomenclature Rules
There are rules governing scientific nomenclature to make it more uniform and consistent:
- The first word or genus name is always capitalized.
- The second word or specific epithet is never capitalized, even if it honors a person’s name.
- Both words are always italicized.
- Once published, a scientific name can never be changed except for certain permissible reasons.
Following these rules allows the scientific names of birds to be standardized and stabilized globally by scientists.
Binomial Nomenclature Examples
Let’s look at some examples to understand how binomial nomenclature assigns unique two-word scientific names to birds:
Bald Eagle
- Common Name: Bald Eagle
- Scientific Name: Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Here, Haliaeetus is the genus name for a group of sea eagles to which the Bald Eagle belongs. Leucocephalus is the specific epithet that distinguishes the Bald Eagle as unique from other birds in its genus.
Peregrine Falcon
- Common Name: Peregrine Falcon
- Scientific Name: Falco peregrinus
Falco is the widely encompassing genus for many falcon species, while peregrinus specially denotes the Peregrine Falcon.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
- Common Name: Ruby-throated Hummingbird
- Scientific Name: Archilochus colubris
Here, Archilochus refers to a genus of New World hummingbirds and colubris indicates the Ruby-throated Hummingbird specifically.
These examples illustrate how every bird species receives a two-word scientific name with a distinct genus and species label to precisely identify it.
Sources of Bird Species Names
The species epithets or names of birds can come from various sources:
Physical Appearance
Some scientific names describe the bird’s distinct physical traits such as feather color, bill shape, size, etc. For example:
- Aphelocoma coerulescens – the species name coerulescens means “becoming blue”, denoting the bird’s bluish color.
- Picoides borealis – borealis refers to “northern”, indicating where this bird species is found.
- Puffinus griseus – the species name griseus means “grayish”, describing the bird’s plumage color.
Habitat
The species name can also refer to the habitat the bird occupies. For example:
- Cistothorus palustris – palustris means “marshy”, denoting this bird’s habitat.
- Apus apus – the name apus means “without feet”, referring to this bird’s aerial nature.
- Oceanodroma leucorhoa – leucorhoa means “white flow”, describing this seabird’s white rump.
Behavior
Some species names also refer to the bird’s characteristic behavior. For instance:
- Turdus migratorius – migratorius denotes this bird’s migratory behavior.
- Corvus frugilegus – the name frugilegus means “fruit-gathering”, referring to the bird’s feeding habits.
- Anas platyrhynchos – platyrhynchos means “broad-billed”, describing how this bird feeds.
Range or Distribution
Some species names refer to the geographic range or distribution of the bird. For example:
- Passer domesticus – domesticus means “belonging to the house”, denoting this bird’s association with humans.
- Anthus rubescens – rubescens means “becoming red”, referring to the reddish parts of this bird’s range.
- Phylloscopus trochiloides – trochiloides means “resembling a warbler”, indicating where this bird is found.
honorific
Species epithets are sometimes derived from the name of the person who first described the bird species. For example:
- Bonasa umbellus – umbellus honors zoologist Alexander von Umbelli, who first described this grouse species.
- Ammoperdix griseogularis – griseogularis honors John Edward Gray, a 19th century zoologist.
- Junco hyemalis – hyemalis likely honors Petrus Hyemalis, an Austrian botanist contemporary to Linnaeus.
Why is standardization important?
The use of standardized binomial scientific names for all living organisms, including birds, is vitally important for several reasons:
Eliminates Confusion
Unlike common names, scientific names eliminate ambiguity and confusion by assigning each bird species a unique two-word name globally understood by scientists and ornithologists.
Enables Universality
Scientific names allow people throughout the world, regardless of language or geography, to precisely identify and communicate about a specific bird species.
Provides Specificity
The two-part Latin names distinguish between closely related or similar bird species that would otherwise be indistinguishable under a common name.
Indicates Evolutionary Relationships
The genus portion of a scientific name groups biologically similar bird species together, indicating their evolutionary relationships.
Enables Organization
Standardized scientific naming allows ornithologists and scientists to systematically organize and catalogue different bird species.
Facilitates Research
Precise scientific names make it easier for ornithologists and researchers across different regions to collaborate, share research, and build scientific knowledge.
Taxonomic Changes
In rare instances, the scientific names of birds can change. This usually occurs for the following reasons:
Reclassification
Advances in molecular research and new evolutionary understanding sometimes lead to reclassification of a bird under a different genus.
Splitting
A single recognized species can be split into two or more distinct species based on new evidence.
Lumping
Two previously recognized species can be lumped into one if evidence shows they belong to a single species.
Synonym
If a scientific name has already been used for another organism, the existing name itself may be changed while keeping the genus and species intact.
However, such taxonomic changes are relatively rare compared to the rate of new bird species being discovered and named each year.
Process of Naming New Bird Species
When ornithologists formally document and describe a new bird species previously unknown to science, they follow a formal process for naming it:
- The new bird is assigned to an existing genus containing biologically similar species.
- A unique specific epithet or species name is chosen, often based on the bird’s appearance, habitat, behavior, etc.
- The scientific name is published in an appropriate scientific journal along with the description.
- Once published, the name is considered an official part of accepted nomenclature.
- The species description must adhere to rules of zoological nomenclature from approved codes.
This standardized process ensures each new bird species receives a unique, established scientific name for universal use.
Conclusion
In summary, the species name or specific epithet is the second part of a bird’s scientific name that uniquely identifies the exact species it belongs to. Scientific names are assigned using established binomial nomenclature first standardized by Carl Linnaeus. They provide precise, universally understood terminology crucial for classifying, researching and communicating complex information about the diversity of bird species on the planet.
