When is it declared a new race?

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debbie
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When is it declared a new race?

I would like to know at what point is a different morph of a bird species declared a new race? I constantly read where there may be lots of different variations in colours of birds, etc, and that some of these differences lead the bird to be of a different race to another of the same species.

I have photos of the pale headed rosella I have in my area, which are totally different in colour (on the wing and body), to any other pale headed rosellas that are in any field guide or bird book I have.

Who would I approach to have my rosella identified?

I have pictures of the immatures as well .... could it be possible that "my" (belonging to my region) birds are a race of their own?

Debbie

debbie
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Thank you Dennis. I have also read about them crossbreeding with the Eastern Rosella, except of course, I live in Nth Qld, and we don't have the Eastern Rosellas up our way at all. My rosella is deep blue from his throat all the way down, and the bottom of his wing is the same colour.

I will post some photos when I find time to work the URL thing out.

Thanks once again, Dennis.

Debbie

Debbie Bray

debbie
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Ok, I just found the thread on the p-h rosella and compared my rosella to Ed's (whom I believe lives in my area), but once again, my rosella is still different. My bird is not pale coloured, and I see that Ed's bird is also a darker shade of blue than seen in any field guides, etc.

The variation in a bird species sometimes makes the bird difficult to identify, and I can find myself spending hours pouring through my books trying to find a bird that looks half like my photographs.

But now I'm here, I can share my photographs in the future and see what other people may think.

Debbie

Debbie Bray

ed
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Debbie
Your discription sounds like the race palliceps this is the southern race, as you have already seen we nomally see intergrades in our area.The illistration in Michael Morcomes Field Guide is a close match to you discription.

Ed Townsville NQ

debbie
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Thanks Ed, it must be the only field guide I don't have!

Debbie Bray

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