Charles Vaurie
Encyclopedia
Charles Vaurie was a French-born
American
ornithologist
. He was born in France, but moved to Trenton, New Jersey
as a youth. He studied at New York University
and then qualified as a dentist at the University of Pennsylvania
in 1928.
An interest in painting bird
s developed, and after marrying his entomologist
wife, Patricia Wilson, in 1934, the two shared numerous field trips. Vaurie became associated with the American Museum of Natural History
and by 1946 he was a Research Associate. He went on to produce more than 150 ornithological publications. His most important work was a systematic review of Palearctic
birds. By 1956, he was a full time ornithologist at AMNH, and rose to Curator by 1967. At the time of his death he was a member of the Standing Committee on Ornithological Nomenclature of the International Ornithological Congress
.
He described for the first time the Cryptic Flycatcher
, Ficedula crypta, Vilcabamba Thistletail
, Schizoeaca vilcabambae, and Vaurie's Nightjar
, Caprimulgus centralasicus.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
ornithologist
Ornithology
Ornithology is a branch of zoology that concerns the study of birds. Several aspects of ornithology differ from related disciplines, due partly to the high visibility and the aesthetic appeal of birds...
. He was born in France, but moved to Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
as a youth. He studied at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
and then qualified as a dentist at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
in 1928.
An interest in painting bird
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
s developed, and after marrying his entomologist
Entomology
Entomology is the scientific study of insects, a branch of arthropodology...
wife, Patricia Wilson, in 1934, the two shared numerous field trips. Vaurie became associated with the American Museum of Natural History
American Museum of Natural History
The American Museum of Natural History , located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City, United States, is one of the largest and most celebrated museums in the world...
and by 1946 he was a Research Associate. He went on to produce more than 150 ornithological publications. His most important work was a systematic review of Palearctic
Palearctic
The Palearctic or Palaearctic is one of the eight ecozones dividing the Earth's surface.Physically, the Palearctic is the largest ecozone...
birds. By 1956, he was a full time ornithologist at AMNH, and rose to Curator by 1967. At the time of his death he was a member of the Standing Committee on Ornithological Nomenclature of the International Ornithological Congress
International Ornithological Congress
The International Ornithological Congress series forms the oldest and largest international series of meetings of ornithologists. It is organised by the International Ornithological Committee, a group of about 200 ornithologists...
.
He described for the first time the Cryptic Flycatcher
Cryptic Flycatcher
The Cryptic Flycatcher is a species of bird in the Muscicapidae family.It is endemic to the Philippines.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.-References:...
, Ficedula crypta, Vilcabamba Thistletail
Vilcabamba Thistletail
The Vilcabamba Thistletail is a species of bird in the Furnariidae family. It is endemic to Peru.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montanes and subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland....
, Schizoeaca vilcabambae, and Vaurie's Nightjar
Vaurie's Nightjar
The Vaurie's Nightjar is a species of nightjar in the Caprimulgidae family.It is endemic to China.Its natural habitat is cold desert.It is threatened by habitat loss....
, Caprimulgus centralasicus.
Partial bibliography
- A Revision of the bird family Dicruridae. N.Y., 1949.
- "Systematic notes on Palearctic birds". N.Y. 1956 (American Museum of Natural History, American Museum Novitates)
- A generic revision of Fly-catchers of the tribe Muscicapini. N.Y., 1953.
- "Notes on some Ploceidae from Western Asia"; "Notes on some Asiatic Finches"; "Notes on the bird genus Oenanthe in Persia, Afghanistan, and India;" and several other articles all published in the American Museum Novitates. N.Y., 1949-1952.
- "A generic revision of Flycatchers of the tribe Muscicapini". N.Y., 1953. pp.27 figs & 7 tables. Wrapp. Bulletin American Museum of Natural History - Vol. 100: Art. 4).
- The Birds of the Palearctic Fauna: a Systematic Reference (2 Vols. )1959
- Classification of the Ovenbirds (Furnariidae). London, 1971.
- Tibet and its birds. 1972