Hi Tweets,

This is a topic that opens up some interesting avenues of discussion that
go beyond Common vs. Wilson's Snipe, but first for the snipe.
Bird species are those that are described as distinct from one another. The
Wilson's Snipe (Gallinago delicata) has a checkered past. At one time it was
considered a full species. Some authorities doubted that status and the
Common Snipe and Wilson's Snipe were eventually 'lumped' into a single
species with each considered a race. As recently as the late 1990's Wilson's
Snipe were still considered a sub-species, or race, of the nominate Common
Snipe (Gallinago gallinago). They were considered conspecific and therefore
the 'Wilson's' was not considered a 'species'.
Recently, due to mitochondria DNA studies and noted differences in the
winnowing display and morphology the Wilson's Snipe was 'split' from the
Common Snipe and given full species status. At that point we went from one
species with several races to two distinct species.
How does all this happen? Well, there are two groups of ornithologists:
those that 'lump' and those that 'split'.
The 'lumpers' study and tend to use data to 'lump' species into one species
with several races. A good example being the Yellow-rumped Warbler which was
a species created by lumping 'Myrtle's Warbler' with 'Audubon's Warbler' to
create a single species with two races.
The 'splitters' tend to use data (and recently DNA studies) to split a
single species into several. A notable recent example being the split of the
Canada Goose into Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) and Cackling Goose
(Branta hutchinsii) with several races in each species.
All this happens on the ornithologist's schedule, not the publisher's. This
often means that ID books are out of date practically before they come off
of the press. Any book printed prior to 2002 will be out of date to some
degree. Whether it means much or not is up to the individual birder.
How does this affect birders? It depends.
If you simply enjoy seeing birds and it is only superficially important to
confidently ID the bird to species then it really doesn't matter at all. My
lifetime birding partner (spouse) most likely falls into this category. She
thinks snipe are really cool and really doesn't give a whit if she is
looking at a Gallinago gallinago or Gallinago delicata.
If you are a 'lister', that is you keep lists of birds you have seen around
the state or world you have to love the 'splitters' because each time they
split one species into two or more, a 'lister' has another opportunity to
add species to a list. 'Lumpers' are not so highly regarded as each 'lump'
costs a lister species.
What if your are not a lister? Well the split can cause nightmares in
identification. The recent split of Canada Goose into Canada/Cackling Goose
is causing very good birders to lose sleep and lose hair. I am one of those
(yes I list too, but I really have an obsessive need to ID birds as well).
This is one instance where I wish the 'splitters' would have left well
enough alone. Trying to figure out how to confidently ID "white-cheeked
geese" has been an adventure to say the least. I have spent more time
studying geese in that last year than I have spent bushwhacking trying to
find that eastern vagrant warbler.
Synopsis: Regardless of what your books, or mine say, Wilson's Snipe and
Common Snipe are two distinct species. Ornithologist have the final say, and
while we might have dissenting opinions, their decisions stand, until they
change the next time.

Cheers

Doug Schonewald
Moses Lake, WA
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