Saltmarsh Sparrow

SCI Name:  Ammospiza caudacuta
Protonym:  Oriolus caudacutus Syst.Nat. 1 pt1 p.394
Taxonomy:  Passeriformes / Passerellidae / Ammospiza
Taxonomy Code:  sstspa
Type Locality:  New York.
Author:  Gmelin, JF
Publish Year:  1788
IUCN Status:  Endangered

DEFINITIONS

AMMOSPIZA
(Passerellidae; † Saltmarsh Sparrow A. caudacuta) Gr. αμμος ammos  sand; σπιζα spiza  finch  < σπιζω spizō  to chirp; "Since the term Ammodramus Swainson belongs to Coturniculus, as already shown, another name is required for the group to which the former has been applied, and as there is none such available, it may be called Ammospiza, from αμ,μος [sic] harena, and σπιζα, fringilla,  with Oriolus caudacutus Gmelin as the type." (Oberholser 1905); "Ammospiza Oberholser, Smiths. Misc. Coll., 48, p. 68, May 13, 1905—new name for Ammodramus Swainson, Dec., 1827, preoccupied." (Hellmayr, 1938, Cat. Birds Americas, Pt. XI, p. 504) (see Ammodramus).
Synon. Ammodramus, Passerina.

caudacuta / caudacutus
L. cauda  tail; acutus  sharp-pointed  < acuere  to sharpen to a point.
● ex “Sharp-tailed Oriole” of Latham 1782, and Pennant 1785 (Ammospiza).
● ex “Cola de agujas” of de Azara 1802-1805, no. 227 (Culicivora).

SUBSPECIES

Saltmarsh Sparrow (caudacuta)
SCI Name: Ammospiza caudacuta caudacuta
caudacuta / caudacutus
L. cauda  tail; acutus  sharp-pointed  < acuere  to sharpen to a point.
● ex “Sharp-tailed Oriole” of Latham 1782, and Pennant 1785 (Ammospiza).
● ex “Cola de agujas” of de Azara 1802-1805, no. 227 (Culicivora).

Saltmarsh Sparrow (diversa)
SCI Name: Ammospiza caudacuta diversa
diversa
L. diversus  different, diverse  < divertere  to differ.
• "Arborophila diversa, sp. nov.  ...  Only the type was taken.  No specimens of Arborophila cambodiana are available for comparison, but the present bird does not agree with the description of that species, though evidently closely allied." (Riley 1930) (subsp. Arborophila cambodiana).
• "Across the Western Andes of Perú, on the eastern side of the cordillera a little to the southward, the greater extent of the light coronal patch becomes a regular feature, combined with certain other characters, and it appears desirable to recognize a separate subspecies for the birds of this region.  This form may be known as follows.   Elaenia albiceps diversa, new subspecies   TYPE from Cajabamba, northern Perú" (J. Zimmer 1941) (subsp. Elaenia albiceps).
• "To present a clearer discussion of the geographical variation of the species, I propose here as follows:   Ficedula tricolor diversa Vaurie, new subspecies   ...   Differs very distinctly from F. t. cerviniventris from Manipur and Chin Hills by lacking in both sexes the dull orange coloration of the under parts, including the throat, characteristic of these populations, and by being larger (table 1).  Similar to nominate tricolor from eastern Nepal (see discussion below) and Sikkim to northeastern Assam, but darker, more saturated." (Vaurie 1953) (subsp. Ficedula tricolor).
• "Frederickena unduligera diversa, new subspecies   ...   Similar to F. u. unduligera of the Rio Negro, Brazil, but females with under parts more brightly colored (orange-ochraceous instead of near buckthorn brown), anteriorly marked with blackish spots and crescents but not "barred," and posteriorly largely unmarked (not barred throughout).  Male not certainly different from unduligera but possibly with a greater extension of unmarked black on the breast." (J. Zimmer 1944) (subsp. Frederickena unduligera).