Ross,
Yes Virginia, there is a Southern Robin.
In Peterson's 1947 edition field guide (which I would recommend in a heartbeat for beginning birders) he included a lengthy appendix on subspecies. Under Robin, Turdus migratorius, he lists three subspecies: 1) Eastern Robin, T. m. migratorius, breeds from tree line in Canada to KS,IL,OH,PA and NJ; 2) Southern Robin, T. m. achrusterus, breeds from MD and s. IL to w. SC, n. GA, cent. AL and n. MS; 3) Black-backed Robin, T. m. nigrideus, breeds in NF and n. PQ. Since the last one winters to eastern US, the Records Committee just examined specimens in the Smithsonian collection. Results of that review will be included in the next report, with photos comparing the two subspecies that winter here. They show exactly what Peterson described: Black-backed is "Noticeably darker backed; probably distinguishable in spring only; does not show contrast between head and upper back." These subspecies designations still apply but are rarely used day to day, unless you happen upon a black-backed Robin that really jumps out at you as something unusual. Having seen them in Newfoundland in January, I might disagree with Peterson about distinguishing them in seasons other than spring. They are seriously black-backed.
Disclosure: I took liberty with the state abbreviations as the current ones didn't exist when Peterson wrote the guide.
Paul O'Brien
Rockville, Mont. Co., MD
-----Original Message-----
From: Ross Geredien <>
To:
Sent: Fri, Feb 11, 2011 11:08 am
Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] C&O Canal Towpath Checklist from April 1946, with an esteemed leader
Interesting to see they refer to "Southern" Robin - was this a common
distinction made during the '40's? As opposed to a "Northern?" What else is
known about this, whether it was a local reference, or widespread, etc.?
Ross GeredienEdgewater, MD
--- On Fri, 2/11/11, Phil Davis <> wrote:
From: Phil Davis <>
Subject: [MDOSPREY] C&O Canal Towpath Checklist from April 1946, with an
esteemed leader
To:
Date: Friday, February 11, 2011, 4:16 AM
MD Osprey:
Some of you may know that I canvassing historical PWRC records that were
retrieved from deep storage last year, primarily to locate detailed write-ups of
any MD/DC Records Committee "reviewable" sightings. In the process of reviewing
these records, however, I have run across some very interesting material, such
as the following ...
The checklist, below, is from an April 1946 C&O Towpath bird walk, led by none
other than Roger Tory Peterson. Note that there were 70 people in tow (no pun
intended, well, ... maybe so). I also found another RTP bird walk checklist from
Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens on 28 May 1944 ("last walk of the season"), with an
attendance of ... are you ready? ... 165 people!!! Yikes!
Enjoy ...
================================================================
A Check List of Birds Regularly Seen in the National Capital Parks, Washington,
DC
C&O Canal Towpath
April 21, 1946 (Easter)
Sycamore Island & upstream to Cabin John Run
Clear, calm, warm
Number of species: 43
Number of people: 70
Leaders:
Roger Tory Peterson, assisted by:
Donald Edward McHenry
Dr. E.G. Davis
R. Barth
This list is arranged alphabetically for the convenience of amateur bird
students. Resident birds are indicated in CAPITAL LETTERS. Birds nesting in the
vicinity are shown by a number after the name which indicates the month of the
beginning of the nesting season. Ex. Indigo Bunting-5 means that this bird
starts nesting in May.
[PCD: This pre-printed, folded checklist includes columns for "Date Seen" as
well as 13 distributional columns that show whether this species is present
during the following:
WINTER
SPRING
March
April
May
SUMMER
June
July
AUTUMN
Aug 1-15
Aug 15-Sep 30
Oct
Nov]
BIRDS: [Note: numbers of birds seen was not indicated. PCD]
BLUEBIRD-4
CARDINAL-4
CHICKADEE, CAROLINA-4
Cowbird-5
CROW, COMMON-4
DOVE, MOURNING-4
Duck, Blue-winged Teal
Duck, Lesser Scaup
Duck, Wood-4
EAGLE, BALD-2
Finch, Purple
FLICKER-5
Gnatcatcher, Blue-gray-5
GOLDFINCH-7
GRACKLE, PURPLE-4
HAWK, RED-SHOULDERED-4
JAY, BLUE-4
MOCKINGBIRD-4
NUTHATCH, WHITE-BREASTED-4
Osprey-4
Phoebe-4
Redstart, American-5
Robin, Southern-4
SPARROW, HOUSE-3
SPARROW, SONG-4
Sparrow, White-throated
STARLING-4
Swallow, Tree
Swift, Chimney-6
THRASHER, BROWN-5
TITMOUSE, TUFTED-4
TOWHEE (CHEWINK)-5
Vulture, Black-4
VULTURE, TURKEY-4
Warbler, Black and White-5
Warbler, Myrtle
Warbler, Parula-5
Waterthrush, Louisiana-5
WOODPECKER, DOWNY-5
WOODPECKER, RED-BELLIED-4
Wren, House-5
Wren, Winter
Yellowthroat, Maryland-5
===================================================
Phil Davis, Secretary
MD/DC Records Committee
2549 Vale Court
Davidsonville, Maryland 21035 USA
301-261-0184
mailto:[log in to unmask]
MD/DCRC Web site: http://www.MDBirds.org/mddcrc/rcindex.html
===================================================
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