[Heartlander]

Speciation is indeed a real process, but speciation only means that two populations of a particular species can no longer interbreed. The two populations get separated by a geographical barrier such as a mountain range, and after a time they are no longer able to interbreed or to reproduce between themselves.
But all we have really done is split up the gene pool into two different, separate populations; if you want to call them different species, that's fine. But even Darwin's finches, although there are some changes in the shape and size of the bill, are clearly related to one another. Drosophila fruit flies on the Hawaiian Islands-- there are over 300 species--probably originated from one initial species. But they look very much the same. The primary way to distinguish them is by their mating behavior.

You say speciation, I say speculation. Let’s call the whole thing off…

[Dimensio]

That you don't like the definition of speciation is irrelevant.

[AndrewC]

You say speciation, I say speculation. Let’s call the whole thing off.

You don't suppose they are talking about this bird?

Silvereye Zosterops lateralis 12cm

Gray-breasted white-eye found in forest, woodland and heaths in south-western, southern and eastern mainland Australia and Tasmania.

All eastern forms have gray backs, western form has olive back. Several identifiable forms occur; Tasmania form (race lateralis) with rufous flanks, grayish throat and undertail coverts, migrates to south-east north to about Caloundra, Queensland, in autumn; eastern forms (race halmaturina, familiaris and ramsayi) vary form buff-flanked with grayish throat and under tail coverts in South Australia to gray-flanked with yellow throat and undertail coverts in Queensalnd.

As there is autumn migration, different variants can be seen together in winter; Barrier Reef form(race chlorocephala) is larger, has white undertail coverts, confined to islands of Capricorn-Bunker Group of southern Barrier Reef; and western form (race gouldi) with olive-green back, form North-West Cape, Western Australia, to eastern coast of Bight in South Australia and isolated population at Kalgoorlie, Western Australia; intergrading with eastern birds on Eyre Peninsula and Kangaroo I.

Voice: loud "tsee"; pleasant warbling including mimicry; rapid "giggle".

Nesting: compact cup of grass, plant down and hair bound with cobweb, suspended in low fork or in vine; 2-4 pale blue eggs.

Range: common resident, nomad or migrant in south-western, southern and eastern Australia form North-West Cape, Western Australia, to Cape York, Queensland; and Tasmania.