South American Classification Committee Proposals that need to be done 
last updated 25 May 2025
done    
high priority
wait for NACC
recycle NACC proposal
Issue WGAC passed WGAC rejected Type Family/Order New data? Old problem/field guide split Author? agreed to do affects NACC
criteria for subfamily recognition n/a n/a higher-level classification general Remsen Remsen
criteria for species recognition n/a n/a species limits general Remsen Remsen
criteria for genus-family-order delimitation n/a n/a higher-level classification general Remsen Remsen
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
Split tarapacaensis from Pterocnemia pennata species limits Rheidae X
Multiple species in Crypturellus obsoletus species limits Tinamidae Laverde-R. & Cadena (2014)
Species limits in Crypturellus erythropus group species limits Tinamidae Laverde-R. & Cadena (2014)
re-evaluate Neochen/Oressochen decision generic limits Anatidae NACC rejected merger in NACC proposal 2019B-1 Chesser asked 5/11/19 wait for better data
Split Anas spinicauda species limits Anatidae X
species limits in Chloephaga species limits Anatidae Bulgarella et al. (2014) Eitnear asked but no official response
sequence of species in Penelope n/a n/a linear sequence Cracidae Remsen
Pipile species limits species limits Cracidae X Remsen
Reduce Odontophoridae to subfamily of Phasianidae n/a n/a higher-level classification Odontophoridae Kimball et al. (2011) Remsen NACC
Species limits Colinus leucopogon/C. cristatus species limits Odontophoridae NACC
recognize Podicephorus generic limits Podicipedidae Bochenski 1994, Storer 1996
sequence of genera in Phoenicopteridae n/a n/a linear sequence Phoenicopteridae Frias-Soler et al. (2022)
change Rock Pigeon to Rock Dove n/a n/a English names Columbidae NACC rejected proposal 2018A-5 Remsen NACC rejected -- need to recycle NACC
add subfamilies in Cuculidae n/a n/a higher-level classification Cuculidae NACC
Merge Neormorphus squamiger into N. rufipennis species limits Cuculidae Payne (2005) Zimmer
Change Bahian Nighhawk to Plain-tailed Nighthawk (or at least Bahia Nighthawk) n/a n/a English names Caprimulgidae Zimmer
add subfamilies in Apodidae n/a n/a higher-level classification Apodidae Cracraft (2013)
add subfamilies in Trochilidae n/a n/a higher-level classification Trochilidae McGuire et al. Remsen
linear sequence in Campylopterus n/a n/a linear sequence Trochilidae McGuire et al. Remsen
new species of Patagona species limits Trochilidae Williamson et al.
sequence of species in Heliodoxa n/a n/a linear sequence Trochilidae McGuire et al. Remsen
split inca from Coeligena torquata species limits Trochilidae Doengan et al. (2015) Stiles
split conradi from Coeligena torquata species limits Trochilidae Doengan et al. (2015) Stiles
split eos and consita from Coeligena bonapartei species limits Trochilidae Doengan et al. (2015) Stiles
split clarisse and spencei from Heliangelus amethysticollis species limits Trochilidae Doengan et al. (2015) Stiles
continue to recognize Heliangelus zusii species limits Trochilidae Perez-Eman et al. (2018) wait Graves response
English name of Popelairia letitiae n/a n/a English names Trochilidae Graves 1999 Stiles?
continued recognition of Eriocnemis godini species limits Trochilidae Graves 1996 Stiles
Merge Loddigesia into Eriocnemis generic limits Trochilidae McGuire et al. (2014) Stiles
Merge Microstilbon into Chaetocercus generic limits Trochilidae McGuire et al. (2014) Stiles
English name of Hylocharis grayi n/a n/a English names Trochilidae Donegan et al. (2015) Stiles
linear sequence of genera in Rallidae n/a n/a linear sequence Rallidae García-R et al. (2020)
Transfer viridis and schomburgki to Rufirallus  generic limits Rallidae Kirchman et al. (2021), Depino et al. (2023)  Areta
generic limits in Laterallus/Anurolimnas generic limits Rallidae García-R et al. (2014) Remsen wait better taxon-sampling? NACC
resurrect Hapalocrex generic limits Rallidae García-R et al. (2014), Kirchman et al. (2021), Depino et al. (2023)  Areta
recognize Paragallinula generic limits Rallidae Sangster et al. (2015), Garcia et al. (2020), Kirchman et al. (2021) 
linear sequence in Fulica n/a n/a linear sequence Rallidae García-R et al. (2014) Remsen
linear sequence of species in Charadrius n/a n/a linear sequence Charadriidae Dos Remedios et al. 2015 Remsen NACC already passed but came up with different sequence
English name of Rufous-chested Dotterel n/a n/a English names Charadriidae Del Hoyo & Collar (2014) Pearman
Species limits in Himantopus species limits Recurvirostridae Harvey et al.
Species limits in Catharacta species limits Stercorariidae Mota et al. (2023)  Remsen
split Royal Albatrosses species limits Diomedeidae Onley & Scofield 2007 etc
split Black-browed Albatrosses species limits Diomedeidae Burg & Croxall 2001 etc NACC
split Yellow-nosed Albatrosses species limits Diomedeidae Burg & Croxall 2001 etc NACC
split Black-browed Albatrosses species limits Diomedeidae Onley & Scofield 2007 etc NACC
split up Oceandoroma castro species limits Diomedeidae Smith et al. 2007
split up Oceandoroma leucorrhoa species limits Hydrobatidae Howell et al. 2009
split bransfieldensis from P. atriceps species limits Phalacrocoracidae X
Elevate Threskiornithidae to Order rank n/a n/a higher-level classification Threskiornithidae Mayr 2014 X Remsen NACC - submitted
Split Harpiprion from Theristicus generic limits Threskiornithidae X
Elevate Elaninae to family rank n/a n/a higher-level classification Accipitridae Starikov & Wink 2020 NACC
Recognize subfamily for Gampsonyx n/a n/a higher-level classification Accipitridae Starikov & Wink 2021 NACC
split up Accipiter striatus species limits Accipitridae X wait NACC NACC
resurrect genus Astur for Accipiter bicolor and modify linear sequence generic limits Accipitridae
split chilensis from Accipiter bicolor species limits Accipitridae x
move Microspizias and Harpagus adjacent in linear sequence linear sequence Accipitridae Catanach et al. 2024
merge Harpyja and Morphnus generic limits Accipitridae X NACC
merge Buteo ventralis and B. jamaicensis species limits Accipitridae Lerner et al. 2008, Raposo do Amaral et al. (2009) NACC
Split punctatissima from Tyto alba species limits Tytonidae x
sequence of genera in Strigidae/subfamilies n/a n/a linear sequence Strigidae Salter et al. (2020) Remsen
split pacificus from M. roboratus species limits Strigidae X Robbins 3-Aug-20
split Buteo magellanicus from B. virginianus     species limits Strigidae Ostrow et al. (2023)   Lane                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
lump Trogon ramonianus with T. violaceus species limits Trogonidae Del Hoyo & Collar (2014) Remsen
split puella from Trogon collaris species limits Trogonidae DaCosta & Klicka 2008 Remsen NACC
merge Galbuliformes into Piciformes n/a n/a higher-level classification Galbuliformes Johansson & Ericson 2003, Mayr et al. 2003, Cracraft et al. 2004, Ericson et al. 2006 Remsen
split chalcocephala from Galbula albirostris species limits Galbulidae Del Hoyo & Collar (2014)
split bicinctus from Hypnelus ruficollis species limits Bucconidae Doengan et al. (2015) X
split humboldti from Pteroglossus inscriptus Del Hoyo & Collar (2014)
Pteroglossus (torquatus) erythropygius  Yes species limits X Remsen NACC extralimital
linear sequence in Micrastur n/a n/a linear sequence Falconidae dos Santos Soares et al. (2019)
Change "Mitred" to "Mitered" Parakeet n/a n/a English names Psittacidae x Remsen
Change "Maroon-bellied Parakeet" to "Reddish-bellied Parakeet" n/a n/a English names Psittacidae Mazar Barnett & Pearman (2001) Pearman
Change Pyrrhura griseipectus to Pyrrhura anaca nomenclature Psittacidae Teixeira 1991 Piacentini
English names for various Pyrrhura n/a n/a English names Psittacidae Zimmer/Schulenberg
Black-winged vs. Black-eared Parrot n/a n/a English names Psittacidae X Rasmussen/Donsker
lump Pyrilia pulchra into P. haematotis species limits Psittacidae
species limits in Amazona ochrocephala species limits Psittacidae Eberhard & Bermingham 2004 NACC
species limits in Amazona farinosa species limits Psittacidae Del Hoyo & Collar (2014) recycle NACC proposal NACC
Treat E. pyrrhonota as a species species limits Thamnophilidae Johnson et al. (2020)
Species limits in Formicivora grisea species limits Thamnophilidae Ziimmer & Isler HBW, Hilty (2003) wait real analysis?
lump Formicivora littoralis into F. serrana species limits Thamnophilidae Firme & Raposo (2011)  Zimmer
species limits in Cercomacra serva species limits Thamnophilidae Cavarzere & Silveira (2024)  Zimmer
species limits in Willisornis species limits Thamnophilidae Quaresma et al. (2022) Zimmer
lump Scytalpus iraiensis and S. speluncae species limits Rhinocryptidae Bornschein et al. (2007)  Schulenberg, Pacheco
subfamilies in Rhinocryptidae n/a n/a higher-level classification Rhinocryptidae Ohlsen et al. (2013)
Myrmotheridae vs. Grallariidae nomenclature Grallariidae Gaudin et al. 2021 Piacentini?
species sequence in Grallaria n/a n/a linear sequence Grallariidae Winger et al. 2015, Harvey et al. 2020 Remsen NACC
split bitorquata from Melanopareia torquata species limits Melanopareiaidae Lopes & Gonzaga (2016) 
split Middle American moniliger from Formicarius analis species limits Formicariidae Miller (2008), Patten (2015) recycle NACC proposal (Jimenez and Chesser asked)
subfamilies/families in Furnaroidea n/a n/a higher-level classification Furnariidae Ohlsen et al. (2013) Claramunt NACC
species sequence in Ochetorhynchus n/a n/a linear sequence Furnariidae Derryberry et al. 2011 Remsen
lump Cinclodes taczanowskii and C. nigrofumosus species limits Furnariidae Derryberry et al. 2012 Claramunt
species rank for Cinclodes aricomae species limits Furnariidae Derryberry et al. 2013 X
species sequence in Furnarius n/a n/a linear sequence Furnariidae Derryberry et al. 2011 Remsen
new species of Aphrastura species limits  Furnariidae Rozzi et al. 2020
species sequence in Leptasthenura n/a n/a linear sequence Furnariidae Derryberry et al. 2012 Claramunt
English name Leptasthenura striata  n/a n/a English names Furnariidae X Schulenberg
Synallaxis whitneyi vs. cinerea nomenclature Furnariidae Stopiglia et al. 2013 Piacentini
Pseudocolpates boissonneautii vs. boissonneauii nomenclature Furnariidae Elliott (2020)
English name Syndactyla dimidiata  n/a n/a English names Furnariidae Remsen
Generic limits in Cranioleuca and Thripophaga generic limits Furnariidae Derryberry et al. 2011 Claramunt
Species limits in Dendrocolaptes species limits Furnariidae Santana et al. 2020, 2021 X
species limits in Xiphorhynchus guttatus group species limits Furnariidae Derryberry et al. 2011 Claramunt
species sequence in Campylorhamphus n/a n/a linear sequence Furnariidae Derryberry et al. 2011 Remsen
placement of pardalotus in Xiphorhynchus n/a n/a linear sequence Furnariidae Aleixo 2002 Remsen
English name of Manacus manacus n/a n/a English names Pipridae Dickinson & Christidis 2014 NACC
Species limits in Manacus manacus species limits Pipridae Harvey et al. (2021) NACC
Species limits in Psuedopipra pipra species limits Pipridae Berv et al. 2021 NACC
species limits in Chiroxiphia pareola species limits Pipridae Silva et al. 2019
English names of Heterocercus n/a n/a English names Pipridae
subfamilies in Tityridae n/a n/a higher-level Tityridae Barber & Rice 2007 NACC
split buckleyi from Laniisoma elegans species limits Tityridae X
split xanthogenys from P. viridis species limits Tityridae Barber & Rice 2007
linear sequence in Pachyramphus n/a n/a linear sequence Tityridae Barber & Rice 2007, Musher et al. 2019 Remsen NACC
species limits in Onychorhynchus species limits Tyrannidae Reyes et al. 2023 X Remsen NACC
species limits in Rhynchocyclus Simões et al. 2021 Remsen
species limits in Myiopagis caniceps group species limits Tyrannidae Rheindt et al. 2009, Cuervo et al. 2014
linear sequence in Elaenia and Myiopagis n/a n/a linear sequence Tyrannidae Rheindt et al. 2008a Remsen NACC
split chilensis from Elaenia albiceps species limits Tyrannidae Rheindt et al. 2008a
split minimus from Zimmerius chrysops species limits Tyrannidae Rheindt et al. (2014)  NACC
species sequence in Phylloscartes n/a n/a linear sequence Tyrannidae Fitzpatrick (2004) Remsen
split Cnemotriccus bimaculatus from C. fuscatus species limits Tyrannidae Belton 1984 x Pacheco?
merge jelskii into Ochthoeca frontalis species limits Tyrannidae Fjeldså and Krabbe (1990) X
split thoracica from Ochthoeca cinnamomeiventris species limits Tyrannidae García-Moreno et al. 1998
consider English name changes to species called Monjita n/a n/a English names Tyrannidae Chesser et al. (2020)
species limits in Myiarchus swainsoni species limits Tyrannidae Joseph et al. 2004 x
species limits in Tyrannus savanna species limits Tyrannidae Gómez-Bahamón et al. (2020) NACC
species limits in Cyclarhis species limits Vireonidae Slager et al. 2014 <wait follow-up paper>
species limits in Vireolanius species limits Vireonidae Slager et al. 2014 <wait follow-up paper>
linear sequence of genera in Hirundinidae n/a n/a linear sequence Hirundinidae NACC sequence differs Chesser asked 5/11/19
species limits in Campylorhynchus zonatus group species limits Troglodytidae Vásquez-Miranda & Barker (2021) NACC
species sequence in Campylorhynchus n/a n/a linear sequence Troglodytidae Vásquez-Miranda & Barker (2021) NACC
species limits in Henicorhina leucosticta species limits Troglodytidae Dingle et al. 2006, Pegan et al. 2015, Cadena et al. 2019 x wait additonal studies
species limits in Cyphorhinus arada species limits Troglodytidae Bocalini & Silveira 2016 NACC
resolve Tawny-faced/Half-collared n/a n/a English names Polioptilidae NACC rejected Tawny-faced Remsen NACC pending
species limits in Polioptila plumbea complex species limits Polioptilidae Smith et al. 2019 Rasmussen
change linear sequence in Turdus n/a n/a linear sequence Turdidae Bautista et al. (2020) Remsen NACC
English name of Ploceus velatus n/a n/a English names Ploceidae Dickinson & Christidis 2014 Schulenberg
linear sequence in Anthus n/a n/a linear sequence Motacillidae van Els & Norambuena 2018 Remsen
elevate Sporagra xanthogaster stejneri to species rank species limits Fringillidae Arnaiiz-Villena et al. 2020 Calramunt asked 10/20
English name of Chlorophonia cyanocephala n/a n/a English names Fringillidae Imfeld et al.
White-lored vs. Golden-bellied Euphonia n/a n/a English names Fringillidae X Schulenberg NACC
linear sequence of genera in Passerellidae n/a n/a linear sequence Passerellidae Klicka et al. 2014 Chesser asked 5/11/19
split nigrifrons from Atlapetes latinuchus species limits Passerellidae Donegan et al. 2014 Areta
Bangs's Brushfinch for Sierra Nevada Brushfinch n/a n/a English names Passerellidae
species limits in Chlorospingus species limits Passerellidae Weir et al. 2008 wait additional studies?
Yellow-whiskered vs. Short-billed Bush-Tanager n/a n/a English names Passerellidae Schulenberg
move Psarocolius viridis in species sequence n/a n/a linear sequence Icteridae Price & Lanyon (2004) Remsen
split yuracares from Psarocolius bifasciatus species limits Icteridae
lump B. ignotus into Basileuterus melanogenys species limits Parulidae X
split punctipectus from Basileuterus tristriatus species limits Parulidae Donegan 2014 Remsen NACC
sequence of genera in Cardinalidae n/a n/a linear sequence Cardinalidae Klicka et al. 2007 NACC
Engiish names in ex-Hemispingus cluster n/a n/a English names Thraupidae
Engiish names in ex-Poospiza cluster n/a n/a English names Thraupidae
Engiish names in ex-Phrygilus cluster n/a n/a English names Thraupidae
split auricularis from Kleinothraupis atropileus species limits Thraupidae García-Moreno & Fjeldså 2003
change bresilius to bresilia (in Ramphocelus bresilius) nomenclature Thraupidae Schodde & Bock 2016 Piacentini NACC
resurrect Compsocoma generic limits Thraupidae Sedano & Burns (2010) ask Burns/Mason
change uropygialis to uropigialis in Sicalis uropygialis nomenclature Thraupidae Dickinson & Christidis 2014 Piacentini
lump Sporophila ardesiaca with S. nigricollis species limits Thraupidae X Areta
sequence of species in Sporophila n/a n/a linear sequence Thraupidae Mason & Burns (2013) ask Mason?
generic limits in Camarhynchus, Geospiza, and Platypspiza generic limits Thraupidae Lamichhaney et al. (2015) NACC
Diglossa cyanea split             Remsen