Falco carolinensis J. F. Gmelin, 1788

Schmitt, Stéphane & Gouraud, Christophe, 2024, The significance of Buffon and Guéneau de Montbeillard’s Histoire naturelle des oiseaux ([1765] - 1783) in the taxonomy of birds: General presentation and correspondence between Buffon’s “ eagles ” and the species acknowledged by Linnaeus (1758, 1766), Brisson (1759 - 1762), and Gmelin (1788 - 1789), Zoosystema 46 (16), pp. 361-409 : 400-401

18. Buffon’s “Pêcheur” (full species or variety)

18.1. Linnaeus (1758): not considered.

18.2. Brisson (1759a): corresponds to two full species (18.2.1 and 18.2.2).

18.2.1. Brisson (1759a: 361-362, 1763a: 105): “ FAUCON PESCHEUR DES ANTILLES ”, “ FALCO PISCATOR ANTILLARUM ”, species 14 of genus VIII (“Épervier”, “ Accipiter ”), order III, section 1.

OBSERVATION. — No direct observation. Description borrowed from Du Tertre.

REFERENCES. — Du Tertre (1667: 253), “Pêcheur”; maybe direct observation; Ray (1713: 19 no. 2), based on Du Tertre.

DISTRIBUTION. — Antilles.

MODERN IDENTIFICATION. — The only first-hand source is Du Tertre’s very vague description. The characters (bird of prey that eats fish, whose feathers are white on the abdomen and black on the top of the head) and the distribution (Lesser Antilles) may correspond to * Pandion haliaetus carolinensis (J. F. Gmelin, 1788) or * Pandion haliaetus ridgwayi Maynard, 1887 ; the former being present in the Antilles in winter, the latter all year round.

18.2.2. Brisson (1759a: 362-363, 1763a: 105): “ FAUCON PESCHEUR DE LA CAROLINE ”, “ FALCO PISCATOR CAROLINIENSIS ”, species 15 of genus VIII (“Épervier”, “ Accipiter ”), order III, section 1.

OBSERVATION. — No direct observation. Description borrowed from Catesby.

REFERENCES. — Catesby (1731: 2, pl. 2), “ Accipiter Piscatorius ”, “Fishing Hawk”, “Faucon pecheur”; Klein (1750: 52 no. 19), “ Falco Piscator Cyanopus ”, based on Catesby.

DISTRIBUTION / HABITAT.— “Mouth of rivers, little bays of the sea” (of Carolina).

MODERN IDENTIFICATION. — * Pandion haliaetus carolinensis (J. F. Gmelin, 1788) , according to Catesby’s plate and description. See Reveal (2015).

18.3. Linnaeus (1766): not considered.

18.4. Buffon in Buffon & Guéneau de Montbeillard (1771a: 142-144), quarto edition; (1771b: 111-112), folio edition: “ PÊCHEUR ”. Buffon thinks that Du Tertre’s “Pêcheur” and Catesby’s “Faucon pecheur” are in all likelihood (“très vraisemblablement”) the same species, and probably the same species as the European Balbuzard (see above).

OBSERVATION. — No direct observation. Description borrowed from Du Tertre and Catesby.

REFERENCES. — Du Tertre (1667: 253); Catesby (1731: 2, pl. 2).

DISTRIBUTION. — Antilles, Carolina.

MODERN IDENTIFICATION. — See the comments on Brisson; it is * Pandion haliaetus carolinensis (J. F. Gmelin, 1788) in Catesby, probably * Pandion haliaetus carolinensis (J. F. Gmelin, 1788) or * Pandion haliaetus ridgwayi Maynard, 1887 , in Du Tertre.

18.5. Gmelin (1788: 263): Variety γ “ carolinensis ” of “ Falco Haliaëtos ” G42, S26 (see above, 9.5), order “ Accipitres ”. REFERENCES. — Brisson (1763a: 105 no. 14 and 15); Ray (1713: 19 no. 2), based on Du Tertre; Buffon & Guéneau de Montbeillard (1771a: 142); Catesby (1731: 2, pl. 2).

REMARK. — Latham’s “ Carolina Osprey ”, a variety of the “Osprey” (1781: 46 no. 26A), is based on the same sources as Brisson’s “Faucon pescheur des Antilles” and “Faucon pescheur de la Caroline” (i.e., on Du Tertre and Catesby), as well as on a specimen of the Leverian collection.

MODERN IDENTIFICATION. — See the comment on Brisson; it is * Pandion haliaetus carolinensis (J. F. Gmelin, 1788) in Catesby, probably * Pandion haliaetus carolinensis (J. F. Gmelin, 1788) or * Pandion haliaetus ridgwayi Maynard, 1887 in Du Tertre; Gmelin mostly relies on Catesby’s description.

MODERN NOMENCLATURE. — Falco carolinensis J. F. Gmelin, 1788 , is considered an available and valid name since it respects the articles 10.2 and 45.6.4 of the Code on infraspecific names published before 1961; it is the protonym of the name currently in use for the subspecies.