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Sichuan Bush Warbler Discovered In China By Multinational Team Of Ornithologists

Sichuan Bush Warbler Photo

A new species of warbler has been discovered by a multinational group of ornithologists in China, the Sichuan bush Warbler.

The group of researchers who discovered the new warbler were co-led by Dr. Per Alstrom of the Swedish Species Information Centre and Dr. Fumin Lei of the Institute of Zoology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Together, the pair along with their colleagues have suggested Locustella chengi as the scientific name for their recent discovery; a name derived from the late Professor Cheng Tso-hsin, who died in 1998.

The team of researchers noted in a paper published in the journal Avian Research that their recently proposed scientific name for the new species is in “recognition” of Professor Cheng’s “unparalleled contributions to Chinese ornithology,” which include his book, A Synopsis of the Avifauna of China.

We are pleased to name Locustella chengiafter the late Professor Cheng Tso-hsin (1906–1998) in recognition of his unparalleled contributions to Chinese ornithology, of which his monumental work A Synopsis of the Avifauna of China is the most widely known outside of China (…) Many species are named for European explorers and monarchs but few bear the names of Asian scientists.

As for the English name of the newly discovered bird, which measures a mere 13 centimeters in average length and weighs just 10 grams, the group has recommended that the bird be referred to as the Sichuan bush warbler.

While professor Pamela Rasmussen with Michigan State University, who was part of the team of scientists behind the recent discovery, indicated in a report on MSU’s website that the Sichuan birds might be elusive, but they don’t appear to be under any imminent threat.

In other warbler coverage here on Immortal News, a recent study published in the journal Biology Letters confirms that the tiny songbird known as the blackpoll warbler flies over 1,500 nonstop miles across the Atlantic Ocean in just a matter of days during its epic fall migration.

What do you think of the group’s decision to name the bird after an Asian scientist?

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