The correct authority for the name Spizaetus philippensis, and the status of its type specimens

Abstract

Summary. From its description in 1863 until the 1920s, the authority for the name Spizaetus philippensis was almost universally agreed to be J. H. Gurney, but from the 1930s it has normally been ascribed to J. Gould. This paper demonstrates that this alteration of the authority was incorrect; it should be J. H. Gurney. The two syntypes of the taxon are currently held by the Natural History Museum at Tring.