Bird 2025 name and sequence changes

[Stan DeOrsey]

The 2025 changes to bird names and the listing sequence was announced
this week. Here is a link to the ABA summary in English
https://www.aba.org/check-list-redux-2025/ There is a link at the
beginning of this article to the actual AOS 66th supplement but it is
more difficult to read!

In summary, at least for Maine, there are two name changes. The Herring
Gull was split from its European version to be named American Herring
Gull. Actually this was done last fall and is already used in eBird. The
other change was to split the Warbling Vireo into Eastern Warbling-Vireo
and Western Warbling-Vireo (note the hyphen).

As for sequence changes, there were a few small changes Cranes before
Rails and changes within Doves. The largest was to move all the Terns
before all the Gulls, with individual species sequence not changed.

Also most of the Accipiter hawks were given a new genus, except for the
Sharp-shinned which is unchanged.

There are many more changes particularly for tropical birds. But one
change which was not made was renaming birds named for people. There is
a pilot test going on with six species (Inca Dove, Townsend’s Solitaire,
Maui Parrotbill, Bachman’s Sparrow, Scott’s Oriole, Townsend’s Warbler)
but nothing has been said about this pilot for well over a year. There
was a fair amount of push back on this, not sure what impact it has had
but nothing is being said on this. As you all know even Maine Audubon
dropped making a name change!

--
Stan DeOrsey js...@att.net