diff --git a/birdnames/converter.py b/birdnames/converter.py
index 94d4cdd..b1422f9 100644
--- a/birdnames/converter.py
+++ b/birdnames/converter.py
@@ -3,11 +3,12 @@
 """
 
 import warnings
-import pandas as pd
-from pathlib import Path
-from typing import Tuple, Union, List, Optional
+from typing import List, Optional, Tuple, Union
+
 import numpy as np
-from .utils import fuzzy_match, TAXONOMIES, load_taxonomy, normalize_string
+import pandas as pd
+
+from .utils import TAXONOMIES, fuzzy_match, load_taxonomy, normalize_string
 
 
 def _get_column_name(name_type: str, authority: str) -> str:
@@ -83,10 +84,15 @@ def __init__(
         # create pd.Series for mapping from one name type to another
         source_taxonomy = load_taxonomy(from_authority, from_year)
         same_taxonomy = to_authority == from_authority and to_year == from_year
+        # if converting to the same type, create identity mapping
+        if from_col == to_col:
+            self.lookup = source_taxonomy[[from_col]].copy()
+            # Create a new column with different name temporarily for the identity mapping
+            self.lookup["_temp_col"] = self.lookup[from_col]
         # if within a taxonomy: simply index=from and values=to
         # if converting to scientific name, we don't need to cross taxonomies
-        if to_col == "scientific_name" or same_taxonomy:
-            self.lookup = source_taxonomy[[from_col, to_col]]
+        elif to_col == "scientific_name" or same_taxonomy:
+            self.lookup = source_taxonomy[[from_col, to_col]].copy()
         else:
             # dest_cols = [to_col] if to_col != "scientific_name" else []
             dest_taxonomy = load_taxonomy(to_authority, to_year).set_index(
@@ -97,7 +103,7 @@ def __init__(
             self.lookup = source_taxonomy.set_index("scientific_name")[
                 source_cols
             ].join(dest_taxonomy)
-            self.lookup = self.lookup.reset_index(drop=False)[[from_col, to_col]]
+            self.lookup = self.lookup.reset_index(drop=False)[[from_col, to_col]].copy()
 
         # if soft matching, apply normalization to source column
         if soft_matching:
@@ -110,7 +116,9 @@ def __init__(
         self.lookup = self.lookup.drop_duplicates(subset=[from_col])
 
         # convert to a pd.Series for fast lookup
-        self.lookup = self.lookup.set_index(from_col)[to_col]
+        # Use '_temp_col' if it exists (identity mapping case), otherwise use to_col
+        value_col = "_temp_col" if "_temp_col" in self.lookup.columns else to_col
+        self.lookup = self.lookup.set_index(from_col)[value_col]
 
     def _get_most_recent_year(self, authority: str) -> str:
         """Get the most recent year available for an authority.
@@ -443,7 +451,7 @@ def common(
     authorities_with_common_name = set(
         TAXONOMIES[TAXONOMIES["common_name"] == True]["authority"].values
     )
-    if not common_name_authority in authorities_with_common_name:
+    if common_name_authority not in authorities_with_common_name:
         raise ValueError(
             f"`common_name_authority` must be one of {authorities_with_common_name}. Got {common_name_authority}."
         )
diff --git a/tests/test_converter.py b/tests/test_converter.py
index 5c5d7af..f824fd0 100644
--- a/tests/test_converter.py
+++ b/tests/test_converter.py
@@ -2,17 +2,18 @@
 Comprehensive tests for the Converter class.
 """
 
-import pytest
-import pandas as pd
-import numpy as np
-from pathlib import Path
 import sys
+from pathlib import Path
+
+import numpy as np
+import pandas as pd
+import pytest
 
 # Add src to path for imports
 sys.path.insert(0, str(Path(__file__).parent.parent))
 
-from birdnames import Converter
 import birdnames
+from birdnames import Converter
 
 
 class TestConverter:
@@ -395,6 +396,34 @@ def test_bbl_cross_authority_conversion(self):
         # Just ensure it doesn't crash and returns something reasonable
         assert result is None or isinstance(result, str)
 
+    def test_identity_conversion(self):
+        """Test converting from a type to the same type (identity mapping)."""
+        # Test scientific name to scientific name
+        converter = Converter(
+            from_type="scientific_name",
+            to_type="scientific_name",
+            from_authority="avilist",
+            to_authority="avilist",
+        )
+
+        result = converter.convert("Struthio camelus")
+        assert result == "Struthio camelus"
+
+        # Test with list
+        result_list = converter.convert(["Struthio camelus", "Struthio molybdophanes"])
+        assert result_list == ["Struthio camelus", "Struthio molybdophanes"]
+
+        # Test common name to common name
+        converter_common = Converter(
+            from_type="common_name",
+            to_type="common_name",
+            from_authority="avilist",
+            to_authority="avilist",
+        )
+
+        result = converter_common.convert("Common Ostrich")
+        assert result == "Common Ostrich"
+
 
 def test_determine_name_type():
     """Test automatic detection of name type and authority."""
@@ -461,6 +490,15 @@ def test_scientific():
     # test with ebird codes
     assert birdnames.scientific(["norcar"]) == ["Cardinalis cardinalis"]
 
+    # test with scientific names (issue fix: should return input as-is)
+    scientific_names = ["Struthio camelus", "Struthio molybdophanes"]
+    result = birdnames.scientific(scientific_names)
+    assert result == ["Struthio camelus", "Struthio molybdophanes"]
+
+    # test with single scientific name
+    result = birdnames.scientific("Struthio camelus")
+    assert result == "Struthio camelus"
+
 
 def test_common():
     """Test the convenience function for common name conversion."""