One day you’re proudly sitting at 312 species… and the next day your list is missing a bird (or two). What happened? In this episode, host Dr. Scott Taylor is joined by Dr. Dave Toews, Assistant Professor at Penn State, to pull back the curtain on bird taxonomy: what a “species” even is, who decides when birds get split or lumped, and why those decisions ripple out into birding, field guides, and conservation.In this episode, you’ll hear about:What “species” means (and why it’s messier than it sounds)The split vs. lump process—and why your life list isn’t safeWho actually makes the call (committees, checklists, and gatekeepers)The kinds of evidence that move the needle (DNA, song, plumage, etc.)If you enjoy this one, follow Okay, But… Birds and share it with a friend who keeps receipts for every rare bird they’ve ever seen.

Ask this episode

“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

Transcript

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