Proposal (1068) to South American Classification Committee

Establish English names for Turdus phaeopygus and T. albicollis

With the passage of the SACC proposal on changes in species limits in broadly defined Turdus albicollis, we need to establish English names for newly recognized Turdus phaeopygus and more narrowly defined T. albicollis. (We already agreed to use Dagua Thrush for T. daguae.).

From Oscar Johnson and Jacob Cooper’s SACC proposal 1047 we have the following:

“For T. phaeopygus and T. albicollis, Clements/eBird uses Gray-flanked for phaeopygus and Rufous-flanked for albicollis, which are acceptable and available names. Other options could include retaining White-necked for albicollis and adopting a new name for phaeopygus, but it is not clear what other names might apply to that bird. Amazonian Thrush is an option, as the species is widespread in the Amazon Basin, but it is one of many Amazonian Turdus species. We encourage SACC members to discuss potential names for these taxa.”

I’ve tried to get someone else, anyone else but me in fact, to work on this one, but no one stepped forward, so I’m going to start by simply proposing we adopt the eBird names, both of which are accurate. Yes, other South American Turdus have gray flanks and rusty flanks, but you all know what we are up against with the limited plumage variation is in these birds. Keeping the eBird group names is also a positive. Keeping “gray” as part of the name to match the “phaeo” part of the species epithet will help people like me remember the new names.

Nonetheless, if any of you have inspired names, speak up. Hellmayr and Cory (1934) used Gray-rumped Thrush for the subspecies name of T. a. phaeopygus, a direct translation of the species epithet. The differences in the flank color are more conspicuous than those in the rump, so I think the eBird name is better.

Here's a photo of T. phaeopygus:

And here is one of Turdus albicollis sensu stricto:

As noted by Oscar and Jacob, “Amazonian Thrush” is problematic, and retaining White-necked Thrush for the narrowly defined daughter T. albicollis goes against our guidelines for names of parent-daughter splits.

So, I recommend a YES on this one pending creation of inspired competitors by one of you or someone out there.

Van Remsen, November 2025

Vote tracking chart:

https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCPropChart1044+.htm

Comments from Gary Rosenberg (voting for Naka): “On using Gray-flanked Thrush for Turdus phaeopygus and Rufous-flanked Thrush for T. albicollis, I vote YES. Seems like obvious choices to me - particularly since they are already adopted eBird. I agree that using “flanked” is better than “rumped” as no one will ever see the rump of this species.”

Comments from Donsker (who has Bonaccorso vote): “YES. I would strongly support the use of the English names Gray-flanked Thrush for T. phaeopygus and Rufous-flanked Thrush for T. albicollis. The names are not only morphologically appropriate but are also nicely complementary.

“In addition to their use (and now widespread introduction) in eBird, both names have historical precedence as well, having been used as suggested English names for these two taxa at least as far back as in Sibley & Monroe (1990).”

Comments from Rasmussen (who has Robbins vote): “YES. I agree with continuing the use of Gray-flanked and Rufous-flanked Thrush, especially as it seems doubtful that better names will be found for two more of the many not-especially-distinctively marked Neotropical thrushes (not to mention those of the Old World!). These names contrast well with each other and highlight the character most likely to be visible and to enable identification.”