5/13/2023 0 Comments Birds of Selborne by Gilbert White![]() ![]() ![]() In the letters, White makes astute observations about the flora and fauna visible in different seasons in his local parish of Selbourne in Hampshire. The book, which is compendium of correspondence with other naturalists of his day, was originally published by the parson-naturalist's brother, Benjamin White, in October 1789. Today we understand that numerous species pairs or complexes around the world can only be positively identified by birders on the basis of their songs and call notes. ![]() Today, these birds are known as the willow warbler ( Phylloscopus trochilus), wood warbler ( Phylloscopus sibilatrix) and chiffchaff ( Phylloscopus collybita). In his seminal book The Natural History and Antiquities of Selborne (1789 The Natural History of Selborne for short), Reverend Gilbert White (UK, 1720–93) became the first naturalist to recognize that a common bird of the English countryside then popularly known as the “willow wren” actually comprises three different species, based purely upon the voices/calls of these otherwise extremely similar-looking birds. ![]()
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