Snow Bunting

SCI Name:  Plectrophenax nivalis
Protonym:  Emberiza nivalis Syst.Nat.ed.10 p.176
Taxonomy:  Passeriformes / Calcariidae / Plectrophenax
Taxonomy Code:  snobun
Type Locality:  Lapland.
Author:  Linnaeus
Publish Year:  1758
IUCN Status:  Least Concern

DEFINITIONS

PLECTROPHENAX
(Calcariidae; Ϯ Snow Bunting P. nivalis) Genus Plectrophanes Meyer, 1815, bunting; Gr. φεναξ phenax, φενακος phenakos  imposter (i.e. replacement); “(1) BECHSTEIN’S Calcarius is the oldest name;  (2) the type of this is Fr. lapponica LIN.;  (3) MEYER’S Plectrophanes is merely a synonym of Calcarius, having the same type;  (4) the same is the case with KAUP’S Centrophanes;  (5) his Plectrophanes cannot be used for the genus having E. nivalis for type, because preoccupied as synonymous with Calcarius;  (6) the genus which has E. nivalis for its type should be supplied with a new name, as no later name has been given.  In order to make as little change as possible, I propose for it the name Plectrophenax.*  ...  †  πληκτρον = spur; φεναξ = impostor.” (Stejneger 1882). 
Synon. Hortulanus, Passerina.

nivalis
L. nivalis snowy, snow-white < nix, nivis snow.
● ex “Pinçon de Neige” and “Niverolle” of Brisson 1760 (Montifringilla).
● ex “Avis ignota piperini” of Gessner 1555, “Fringilla albicans” of Aldrovandus 1599, “Avis nivis” of Martens 1675, “Montifringilla calcaribus alaudae” of Willughby 1676, “Great Pied Mountain Finch”, “Brambling” or “Sea-Lark” of Ray 1713, “Miliaria nivis” of Frisch 1733, “Pied-Chaffinch” and “Lesser Pied Mountain Finch” of Albin 1738, “Alauda remigibus albis: primoribus extrorsum nigris, rectricibus nigris: lateralibus tribus albis” of Linnaeus 1740, and “Snow-bird” of Edwards 1750 (Plectrophenax).

SUBSPECIES

Snow Bunting (townsendi)
SCI Name: Plectrophenax nivalis townsendi
townsendi / townsendii
● John Kirk Townsend (1809-1851) US ornithologist, explorer, collector (syn. Aphriza virgata, syn. Brachyramphus marmoratus, syn. Cinclus mexicanus unicolor, syn. Haematopus ater, Myadestes, subsp. Passerella unalaschcensis, syn. Phalacrocorax penicillatus, Setophaga, ‡Spiza).
● Charles Haskins Townsend (1859-1944) US naturalist, Fisheries Commission 1883, Director of New York Aquarium 1902-1937 (subsp. Aerodramus spodiopygius, subsp. Ducula oceanica, syn. Geospiza psittacula, syn. Hydrobates melania, subsp. Junco hyemalis, syn. Lagopus muta, subsp. Myiagra vanikorensis, subsp. Plectrophenax nivalis).
● Dr Charles Wendell Townsend (1859-1934) US obstetrician, field ornithologist, world-wide traveller, collector 1906-1932 (subsp. Cardinalis cardinalis, subsp. Spindalis zena, subsp. Thalurania colombica).

Snow Bunting (nivalis)
SCI Name: Plectrophenax nivalis nivalis
nivalis
L. nivalis snowy, snow-white < nix, nivis snow.
● ex “Pinçon de Neige” and “Niverolle” of Brisson 1760 (Montifringilla).
● ex “Avis ignota piperini” of Gessner 1555, “Fringilla albicans” of Aldrovandus 1599, “Avis nivis” of Martens 1675, “Montifringilla calcaribus alaudae” of Willughby 1676, “Great Pied Mountain Finch”, “Brambling” or “Sea-Lark” of Ray 1713, “Miliaria nivis” of Frisch 1733, “Pied-Chaffinch” and “Lesser Pied Mountain Finch” of Albin 1738, “Alauda remigibus albis: primoribus extrorsum nigris, rectricibus nigris: lateralibus tribus albis” of Linnaeus 1740, and “Snow-bird” of Edwards 1750 (Plectrophenax).

Snow Bunting (insulae)
SCI Name: Plectrophenax nivalis insulae
insulae
L. insula, insulae island, isle.

Snow Bunting (vlasowae)
SCI Name: Plectrophenax nivalis vlasowae
vlasowae
Varvara Feoktistovna Vlasova (fl. 1930) Russian collector on Wrangel I., Siberia (Laurent Raty in litt.) (subsp. Plectrophenax nivalis).