Joy,
 
There is a useful web supplement to the Sibley guides that provides the scientific names of all the subspecies shown in his guides: http://www.sibleyguides.com/subspecies.htm. Click one of the six links on the left to find the species in which you are interested. There is also a link on the left side that takes you to a list corrections and comments to the Sibley guides--14 pages of them in fact!
 
As an example of the subspecies info, here's the entry for Northern Flicker:
 
"Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus
     Red-shafted C. a. cafer group
     Yellow-shafted C. a. auratus group"
 
Here are a few words from David Sibley to explain his system toward subspecies: "I have taken this hodge-podge of subspecies and variations and arbitrarily chosen to illustrate some and to divide them into regional groups because that was the only way to simplify the content of the book. There are hundreds of other subspecies that are probably 'identifiable' in the field by an observer with enough experience and confidence."
 
Hope that helps!
 
Bill
 
Bill Hubick
Elkridge, MD
bill_hubick at yahoo.com
www.billhubick.com
 
 
 


----- Original Message ----
From: Joy Peters <>
To: 
Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2006 8:58:54 PM
Subject: [MDOSPREY] Subspecies


Hello from Germantown

With all of the discussion on the Nashville warbler and the possible sub-
specie disctinctions, I have a question.

At times I have been interested in finding the scientific name of a 
particular subspecies. However, I have not found them. Sibley's doesn't 
list scientific names and neither have I found a website for them. Does 
anyone have a suggestion on how to find these scientific names?

And while we're on the subject, what is the difference between a sub-
species and a race?  The "yellow-shafted" and the "red-shafted" are 
subspecies of the northern flicker. Then there's the Eurasian "race" green-
winged teal.  Are they different?

I'll be interested in your answers.

Joy Peters
Germantown, MD