Subject: Re: terminology -Reply
Date: Jul 12 13:03:29 1998
From: Chris Thompson - THOMPCWT at dfw.wa.gov


An issue that seems to have been overlooked by everyone discussing all
of these issues regarding molt/plumage terminology is that the
Humphrey-Parkes system was developed specifically as a means to
identify and assign names to EVOLUTIONARILY HOMOLOGOUS
plumages. Conceptually, this is what distinguishes H-P from all other
nomenclatural systems. Trying to find OTHER rules for figuring out how
to assign H-P names is doomed to failure. Which nomenclatural system
one chooses to use depends in part on what your purpose/goal is. For
me, as a scientist who is interested in the evolutiuon in molt/plumage
patterns, the H-P system is clearly the best. For birders who may not
care about evolutionary homology of plumages within species (e.g.
between sexes), other systems may work fine. Regardless, to
understand and apply the H-P system, one MUST go read the original
paper (Auk 1959, no. 1 pages 1-31).

Chris Thompson
Research Scientist
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife