Hi,

Re, "Timberline Sparrow." I suspect this "new species concept" is a make
work program for biotaxonomists. In any case, what about the seeming
parallel with White-crowned Sparrows where we have the race gambeli
nesting in the sub-alpine from near the Canadian border north in Cascades
& Rockies with pugetensis nesting in brushy cleared areas below -- but
note that clearcutting has allowed pugetensis to expand its breeding
range in the Washington Cascades up to at least 4500 feet (eg., near
Potato Hill on the Yakima Res for example, also at Stevens & SNoqualmie
Passes... Also I believe the Sierra Nevadea White-crown race oriantha is
isolated at higher elevations from the lowland nuttallii. Where will it
end? Is it not now a game of geographic cookie cutting... looking for
allopatric subspecific populations, then calling them species?

Gene Hunn.

On Wed, 13 Apr 1994, Daan Sandee wrote:

> |> From: Eugene Hunn <hunn at u.washington.edu>
> |> To: Multiple recipients of list <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
> |> Subject: Re: Timberline Sparrow
> |>
> |> Russell,
> |> Breeding in California!!!? Is that accepted by the state committee?
> |> Gene.
> |>
> |> On Wed, 13 Apr 1994, Russell Rogers wrote:
> |>
> |> > From; Russell Rogers, Seattle WA, rrogers at halcyon.com
> |> >
> |> > _Taverneri_ has been found breeding at high elevations in California (and
> |> > I think in Oregon but I'm not sure). It would be interesting find out
> |> > what the status of this form is in Washington as the state could serve
> |> > as an imprtant zone of overlap in deternmining it as a speices or not (as
> |> > Gene has already stated).
>
> It's still a subspecies. The CRBC is not involved. McCaskie et al.
> (Birds of NoCal, 2nd edition) does not mention Timberline Sparrow.
> Quote "breeds very locally in district M [i.e. mountains], mostly on the
> east side of the Sierra Nevada." Also breeds (commonly) in the plains east
> of the Sierras. The latter is breweri, the former might be taverneri, but
> they don't distinguish them.
>
> Daan Sandee sandee at think.com
> Thinking Machines Corporation
> 100 View St, Suite 101
> Mountain View, CA 94041 (415) 254-5757
>