The eBird taxonomy update is essentially COMPLETE. All major changes have occurred, and we have only a small number of minor changes yet to make. This may affect the lists of a very small number of users as we implement these over the next few days. We do this update once each year, taking into account the past 12 months worth of recent taxonomic knowledge on splits, lumps, name changes, and changes in the sequence of the species lists As of this point, all eBird data will be reflecting the new taxonomy. This includes your My eBird lists, range maps, bar charts, region and hotspot lists, and data entry. eBird Mobile should also be updated to the new taxonomy. If you see unfamiliar bird names in the list, please refer to the story below to understand the change and why it happened. In addition, we list a number of new options for data entry (hybrids, spuhs, slashes, etc.), all of which are listed below.

eBirders who do not speak English as their first language will see updated names to reflect the new taxonomy. Remember that the language you choose for bird names needs to be selected separately from the language of the website (read more about common name translations).

IMPORTANT: As with all taxonomic updates, we endeavor to update your records for you, using known range, your checklist comments, and other information to try to assign records to a species when possible. However, we ask that everyone review their lists (made simple by the “my records” links below). With the publication of this story, please do review your records (but note that some species may have a “changes still underway” note).

This year, for the first time, corrections are SUPER EASY to make with our new “Change Species” functionality. If we miss a correction, or you want to assign a record to a certain species, you can do this with a single button now. Since it changes all media and notes, these changes are easier than ever before.

NOTE: If you use eBird Mobile on iPhone or Android hopefully you have the newest versions of each; if not, update those in the App Store and Google Play Store, respectively. Also, please make sure to submit a list from a new location near you (i.e., not one of your stored “recent locations”). This will ensure that the checklist filter is updated to the newest version. If you do not do this, you may accidentally (and unknowingly) submit something like Northern/Hen Harrier on your checklist, instead of the post-split option, Northern Harrier.

2017 eBird Taxonomic Update

This year’s update is v2017 of the eBird/Clements Checklist. The eBird/Clements Checklist is an integrated global taxonomy for the birds of the world, including all species and subspecies, as well as additional taxa useful to field birders to report in eBird. The list of species available in eBird is the eBird Taxonomy (v2017) and includes all species, subspecies groups (which we call identifiable sub-specific forms or ISSF), hybrids, intergrades, spuhs (e.g., scoter sp.), slashes (e.g., Short-billed/Long-billed Dowitcher), domestics, and forms. The Clements Checklist includes only the species and subspecies, along with subspecies groups which are further identified as monotypic (consisting of one subspecies) or polytypic (consisting of more than one subspecies). In this way, the eBird/Clements Checklist is completely integrated, but can also be divided into these two groups. Read more about the eBird Taxonomy.

The Clements Checklist provides two update pages (overview and 2017 updates & corrections) and also provides all three files (eBird/Clements, Clements, and eBird) for download.

The Clements Checklist 2017 updates & corrections provides details (including references) for all species splits and lumps, new species descriptions, revisions to subspecies groups (ISSFs) or subspecies, and other changes relevant to the Clements Checklist. We refer anyone wishing to learn more about these splits to that page.

A list of all the taxonomic changes is below. Most changes for the AOS-NACC Fifty-eighth supplement to the American Ornithological Society’s Check-list of North American Birds are incorporated, as well as AOS-SACC revisions to the South American check-List through 22 April 2017.

This is largely in sync with the above Clements update; references are not listed in full, but are included in the Clements update. Since this is a long article, here is a short index:

Introduction

Languages

Species splits

Subspecies group changes

Species lumps

New species

New subspecies groups

New hybrids and intergrades

New forms

New domestics

New slashes and spuhs

Common name “ambiguation” and subspecies group lumps

Common Name changes

Scientific Name changes

INTRODUCTION

When the taxonomy is updated in eBird, many of the changes are fairly simple to implement. When a common name changes, a scientific name changes, or when the taxonomic sequence is revised, those changes roll through and start appearing in eBird output fairly quickly. Keeping track of name changes is a challenge, and consulting Avibase is one of the best ways to do so. Just type any bird name in Avibase and Avibase will show you the history of that name, and—if it differs from eBird—it will show what the eBird equivalent is for that name. Try it with “Louisiana Heron”, for example.

When species are ‘lumped’ (e.g., two taxonomic entities that used to be considered separate species, but are now one), eBird usually retains the former species as an identifiable group. In these cases, your records may shift to the lumped form and your totals may (or may not) drop by one. The actual entity that you observed and reported has not changed in any way other than being changed from species to subspecies. For example, this year, you’ll notice that your previous reports of Iceland Gull and Thayer’s Gull have changed to Iceland Gull (Iceland) and Iceland Gull (Thayer’s).

When splits occur, the process is more complicated. In many cases, we have had subspecies options available for reporting in anticipation of the split. All these records update automatically to the new species. But when a bird is reported at the broader species level (without a subspecies listed on your entry), and then that species is split, we update the records in eBird to one of the “child” species whenever possible. We try to be very conservative with this. When two species do not overlap in range (i.e., they are allopatric) we go ahead and make the change. When the species do overlap (i.e., are sympatric), and do not have clear seasonal or habitat differences, we usually do not make the change. This results in your records being left as the more conservative “slash” option.

As an example, this year Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus was split into two species, Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus and Northern Harrier Circus hudsonius. This split is fairly easy to understand: Hen Harrier occurs in Eurasia and Northern Harrier occurs in the Americas. A few vagrant Northern Harriers have reached Western Europe and a couple vagrant Hen Harriers have been recorded in the westernmost Aleutian Islands of Alaska, but otherwise they stick to their continents. You’ll note that the rules and norms of nomenclature result in the scientific name staying the same for the Eurasian bird, and the common name staying the same for the North American bird. Sightings that specified the subspecies have been updated automatically (we recommend being specific when possible, but only when you understand the subspecies options you select for data entry and specifically identified it as that form in the field!).

Before this update, if you observed a Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus from Attu Island, Alaska, or other areas right at the contact zone, it would be considered in eBird as Hen/Northern Harrier–the only difference now is that the taxa involved are now considered species instead of subspecies. If you know which one you saw, we encourage you to update your records. If you are not sure (and this is one of the tougher identification issues in the world, so don’t feel bad!), then your observation is best listed as the slash option.

If you want to review your records of “Hen/Northern Harrier” or of “Short-billed/Long-billed Dowitcher”, there are a couple ways to do this through the My eBird tools. If you know the checklist it is on, you can find the list in “Manage My Observations” and edit it as needed. If you can find your checklist on the range map of “Hen/Northern Harrier” then you can just click on the marker for your list and open it from there. But the best option to review your records is to go to My eBird and then click “Download My Data” from the right side. This downloads your entire eBird database as a CSV file that can be opened in Excel or a similar spreadsheet program. From there, you should easily be able to sort by name or search for “Hen/Northern Harrier” to find your records. Then you can scroll to the correct date or just replace the Submission ID in the URL for a checklist view.

LANGUAGES

We provide common names for birds in the eBird taxonomy in cases where a different language is spoken as well as where alternate English names are used in that area. For example, Pluvialis squatorola is known as Black-bellied Plover in our taxonomy, but known by its duller winter dress in some areas such as the United Kingdom, where they call it Grey Plover. You can access these under “Preferences” from most eBird pages, which is also where you can set the names to shows as common names or scientific names. One additional option is English (IOC), which gives a full translation of species names into the IOC World Bird List (v7.3) nomenclature. Note that these names are exact taxonomic matches, so they reflect as slashes when a species is split by IOC and not by eBird; similarly, species split by eBird will appear as subspecies groups for IOC. Our Common Name Translations article explains more about regional common name preferences.

SPECIES SPLITS

The species below were split in eBird. To see a map of the new species, click “map”. To see your personal lists in My eBird, just make sure you are logged in and click “my records”. If you have seen the species but don’t have any records shown, then please enter your sightings! Full details for all below accounts can be seen at the Clements Updates & Corrections page. We encourage all birders to carefully review the below splits and check your personal records and to update them if you think we made an error. Below are the splits for this update:

Gray-breasted Partridge Arborophila orientalis is split into four species: Malaysian Partridge Arborophila campbelli of peninsular Malaysia; Roll’s Partridge Arborophila rolli of western Sumatra; Sumatran Partridge Arborophila sumatrana of eastern Sumatra; and Gray-breasted Partridge Arborophila orientalis of Java.

Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus is split into two species. The widespread Eurasian species, Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus, retains the scientific name and the English name familiar in Europe. It is a species of much conservation concern, especially in the United Kingdom where it continues to be persecuted. The North American species, which has reached northern South America as a winter vagrant, is Northern Harrier Circus hudsonius, retaining the English name familiar in North America. Although both species are vagrants out of rage, with a couple western Alaska records of Hen Harrier and several western Europe records of Northern Harrier. Records in eBird will be converted to the appropriate species for a given continent, unless the subspecies is specified. Although it will be rarely needed, Hen/Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus/hudsonius is retained for records from areas where the species might be ambiguous, but there are very few regions where both forms are rare (e.g., Azores, western Alaska, Central Pacific Islands, etc.).

Glossy Swiftlet Collocalia esculenta is split into eight species, based largely on genetic analyses by Rheindt et al. (2017). Although they are very similar in appearance, each is resident and restricted to its unique range as listed below

Magnificent Hummingbird Eugenes fulgens is split into two allopatric species: Rivoli’s Hummingbird Eugenes fulgens occurs from Arizona and New Mexico to n. Nicaragua, while Talamanca Hummingbird Eugenes spectabilis is found in Costa Rica and western Panama. Talamanca Hummingbird has also been known recently (e.g., by the IOC) as Admirable Hummingbird. No overlap in their ranges is known.

Emerald Toucanet Aulacorhynchus prasinus has a number of populations that some have split into as many as seven species. This year the species is divided into two species, Northern Emerald-Toucanet Aulacorhynchus prasinus, occurring from northwesternmost Colombia (Cerro Tacarcuna) north to northeast Mexico, and Southern Emerald-Toucanet Aulacorhynchus albivitta which occurs throughout the remainder of South America. Subspecies groups and ranges are included as well.

Northern Emerald-Toucanet Aulacorhynchus prasinus [map] [media] [my records] Northern Emerald-Toucanet (Wagler’s) Aulacorhynchus prasinus wagleri RANGE: Sierra Madre del Sur of sw Mexico (Guerrero and sw Oaxaca) Northern Emerald-Toucanet (Emerald) Aulacorhynchus prasinus [prasinus Group] RANGE: SE and s Mexico to n Nicaragua Northern Emerald-Toucanet (Blue-throated) Aulacorhynchus prasinus caeruleogularis/maxillaris RANGE: Highlands of Costa Rica east to highlands of central Panama Northern Emerald-Toucanet (Violet-throated) Aulacorhynchus prasinus cognatus RANGE: Mts. of e Panama (Darién) and adjacent Colombia

Southern Emerald-Toucanet Aulacorhynchus albivitta [map] [media] [my records] Southern Emerald-Toucanet (Santa Marta) Aulacorhynchus albivitta lautus RANGE: Santa Marta Mountains (ne Colombia) Southern Emerald-Toucanet (Gray-throated) Aulacorhynchus albivitta griseigularis RANGE: N end of W Andes and w slope of Central Andes of Colombia Southern Emerald-Toucanet (Andean) Aulacorhynchus albivitta albivitta/phaeolaemus RANGE: Andes of Colombia, e Ecuador and w Venezuela Southern Emerald-Toucanet (Black-throated) Aulacorhynchus albivitta [atrogularis Group] RANGE: Humid Andes from se Ecuador to n Bolivia



Horned Parakaeet Eunymphicus cornutus is split into two species, with Horned Parakeet Eunymphicus cornutus occurring through most of the rage on New Caledonia and Ouvea Parakeet Eunymphicus uvaeensis being restricted to the island of Ouvea off New Caledonia’s north coast.

Cardinal Myzomela Myzomela cardinalis is split into two species, with the recognition of Samoan Myzomela Myzomela nigriventris. The remaining subspecies stay under Cardinal Myzomela Myzomela cardinalis.

Northern Shrike Lanius excubitor is split into two species. As with harriers, the familiar common names are retained for the New World and Old World, with the species of Europe and western Asia referred to as Great Gray Shrike Lanius excubitor and also retaining the scientific name. The species of the New World, Northern Shrike Lanius borealis has a scientific name change but shows no change in English name, retaining the preferred name in the Americas. However, Northern Shrike is very much a species of the Old World too, since it breeds west of central Siberia and northern Mongolia and winters widely in northern China, Japan, and Korea. Exact movements of the two species are complex and not well known, and field identification is very challenging, so Great Gray/Northern Shrike Lanius excubitor/borealis should be used liberally in Siberia, eastern Kazakhstan, and nearby areas. To add to the complexity, Northern Shrike has occurred as a trans-Atlantic vagrant to western Europe (e.g., the Azores) and also as a vagrant or rare winter visitor (Lanius borealis sibiricus) to Ukraine at least. [Note: For those that prefer “grey” over “gray”, just change your eBird language to English (Malaysia), which shows the exact names from Clements with this spelling conversion. Other languages include other local modifications, but also spell it “grey”, such as English (India), English (United Kingdom), or English (Australia). See more in this story) — if you make this change in your preferences, all bird names will be spelled in that way, including the below links. In this text story, we obviously use the American English names (e.g., Great Gray Shrike).

An extinct species Piopio Turnagra capensis is split into two species, each of which was formerly an endemic to each of the two main islands of New Zealand. The North Island Piopio Turnagra tanagra was last seen 1902 and South Island Piopio Turnagra capensis just three years later in 1905. Sadly, with both species extinct, the entire genus was also lost.

Silktail Lamprolia victoriae is split into two species, both endemic to Fiji and each a single island endemic: Taveuni Silktail Lamprolia victoriae and Natewa Silktail Lamprolia klinesmithi.

Superb Bird-of-Paradise is split into three species, including Vogelkop Superb Bird-of-Paradise Lophorina niedda (restricted to far western Papua); Greater Superb Bird-of-Paradise Lophorina superba (of central New Guinea), and a Lesser Superb Bird-of-Paradise Lophorina minor (of easternmost Papua New Guinea). Note also that the name superba, previously applied to the population in the mountains of the Bird’s Head Peninsula, instead should refer to the population of the central highlands of New Guinea.

Magnificent Riflebird Ptiloris magnificus is split into two species, which differ primarily in vocalizations: Magnificent Riflebird Ptiloris magnificus, which occurs in ne. Australia (n Cape York Peninsula) and lowlands of w and w-central New Guinea, and Growling Riflebird Ptiloris intercedens, restricted to lowlands of central and se Papua New Guinea.

Their vocalizations are quite distinct. Compare the Macaulay Library recordings below, beginning with the gruff calls of Growling Riflebird (and be sure to check out the video too!).

Please review your records with care, and if you know which vocal type you heard, make sure your observations are in the correct species. The exact ranges of these two forms is still being resolved:

Buff-vented Bulbul Iole olivacea was formerly considered monotypic, but recent studies show that the Borneo form is unique and should be split. Adding to confusion, the name Iole olivacea was not valid, and the correct name before the split should have been Iole charlottae. After the split, the name Iole charlottae is applied to the Borneo species,Charlotte’s Bulbul Iole charlottae and the species of the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and adjacent islands retains its English name, but uses a new scientific name: Buff-vented Bulbul Iole crypta

Olive Bulbul Iole virescens is split into two species, with the recognition of Cachar Bulbul Iole cacharensis from ne India (Assam) and e Bangladesh. In the rest of the species’s range in Southeast Asia, it is still known Olive Bulbul Iole viridescens.

Each of the two monotypic groups of Black-chinned Laughingthrush Trochalopteron cachinnans is elevated to species rank: Black-chinned Laughingthrush (Banasura) Trochalopteron cachinnans jerdoni becomes Banasura Laughingthrush Montecincla jerdoni and Black-chinned Laughingthrush (Nilgiri) Trochalopteron cachinnans cachinnans becomes Nilgiri Laughingthrush Montecincla cachinnans. Note also that the genus changes from Trochalopteron to Montecincla.

Each of the two monotypic groups of Kerala Laughingthrush Trochalopteron fairbanki is elevated to species rank: Kerala Laughingthrush (Palani) Trochalopteron fairbanki fairbanki becomes Palani Laughingthrush Montecincla fairbanki; and Kerala Laughingthrush (Travancore) Trochalopteron fairbanki meridionale becomes Ashambu Laughingthrush Montecincla meridionale. Note also that the genus changes from Trochalopteron to Montecincla.

Within Blue-throated Flycatcher Cyornis rubeculoides, the monotypic group Blue-throated Flycatcher (Chinese) Cyornis rubeculoides glaucicomans is elevated to species rank as Chinese Blue Flycatcher Cyornis glaucicomans. Although the breeding range of Blue-throated Flycatcher Cyornis rubeculoides and Chinese Blue Flycatcher are largely distinct, the migration and winter ranges overlap broadly in s China (Yunnan), e Myanmar, Thailand, w. Laos, which means that records not identified clearly to subspecies in eBird prior to the split will be treated as Blue-throated/Chinese Blue Flycatcher Cyornis rubeculoides/glaucicomans.

In addition to the above split, Blue-throated Flycatcher Cyornis rubeculoides has another important change, as subspecies klossi, previously classified as a subspecies of Blue-throated Flycatcher Cyornis rubeculoides, is transferred to Hainan Blue Flycatcher Cyornis hainanus. This significantly changes the range for both species, with the birds occurring from e Thailand to s Laos and s Vietnam now being part of Hainan Blue Flycatcher. Apparently they are somewhat polytypic in this area, and there may still be some puzzles to unravel.

White-tailed Rubythroat Calliope pectoralis is split into two species: Himalayan Rubythroat Calliope pectoralis, and Chinese Rubythroat Calliope tschebaiewi. They largely do not overlap, but some winter and migration records will be retained as Himalayan/Chinese Rubythroat (White-tailed Rubythroat) Calliope pectoralis/tschebaiewi, especially in ne India. Adult males are easily identifiable since Chinese Rubythroat has a prominent white whisker between the eye and its eponymous ruby throat.

Gray-brown White-eye Zosterops cinereus is split into two species, each an island endemic: Pohnpei White-eye Zosterops ponapensis and Kosrae White-eye Zosterops cinereus.

Sharp-beaked Ground-Finch Geospiza difficilis is split into three species: Vampire Ground-Finch Geospiza septentrionalis of remote Darwin and Wolf Islands, Genovesa Ground-Finch Geospiza acutirostris of Genovesa Island and Sharp-beaked Ground-Finch Geospiza difficilis of Pinta, Fernandina, and Santiago Islands. Although few birders have seen or reported Geospiza septentrionalis, its unusual English name is discussed in Wikipedia thus: “occasionally feeds by drinking the blood of other birds, chiefly the Nazca and Blue-footed boobies, pecking at their skin with their sharp beaks until blood is drawn”. Be careful if you go seeking this one for your eBird list!

Large Cactus-Finch Geospiza conirostris is split into two species: Española Cactus-Finch Geospiza conirostris, which is restricted to Española Island, and Genovesa Cactus-Finch Geospiza propinqua, which occurs on Genovesa (and possibly Darwin and Wolf Islands). The number of Galapagos finches continues to increase!

Prevost’s Ground-Sparrow Melozone biarcuata is split into two species: White-faced Ground-Sparrow Melozone biarcuata, which occurs from s Mexico to n Nicaragua, and Cabanis’s Ground-Sparrow Melozone cabanisi, which is a Costa Rican endemic. The two species do not overlap in range and look and sound distinctly different from one another.

Formerly considered one of the many call “types” of Red Crossbill Loxia curvirostra, the recently described monotypic group, Red Crossbill (South Hills or type 9) Loxia curvirostra sinesciuris is elevated to species rank as Cassia Crossbill Loxia sinesciuris. This split is based on evidence for premating reproductive isolation in the face of sympatry with Red Crossbill and on genomic differences. This new species is endemic to just two counties in Idaho (its namesake Cassia County, and also Twin Falls County) and is already of high conservation concern. Although this is the predominant crossbill in the South Hills of Idaho, other Red Crossbills occur there as well (especially Type 5) so any identifications should ideally include sound recordings of the flight call to confirm the species. It seems safe to say that more surprises can be expected in the Red Crossbill complex, which is just as diverse in call types and habitats in the Old World as it is in the New World.

Yellow-eyed Junco Junco phaeonotus is split with the recognition of the highly localized Baird’s Junco Junco bairdi as a separate species. Baird’s Junco, which is distinctive in plumage and vocalizations, occurs only in the higher elevations of the Sierra de La Laguna of southernmost Baja California Sur, Mexico, and has a very small global population. Yellow-eyed Junco Junco phaeonotus retains its English and scientific name for the remainder of its range from se Arizona to Guatemala.

LUMPS and INVALID SPECIES

In eBird taxonomic revision, lumps are very easy to deal with. Usually the taxa become subspecies groups, so there is no changing of records necessary, just a recalculation of lists as the species drop to identifiable subspecies. Whenever possible, we encourage birders to continue reporting at the subspecies level, but whenever you select these options, be sure you understand the taxa that you are using; do not try to guess at the subspecies based on the name! This section also includes invalid species descriptions: these are rare but occur when an original description of a species or subspecies is proven to be a hybrid, rare variant, or other form of natural variation that does not represent a species. Full details for can be seen at the Clements Updates & Corrections page. Just two lumps this year.

Thayer’s Gull Larus thayeri is lumped with Iceland Gull Larus glaucoides. These two species have caused identification headaches for decades, so this lump will perhaps make it easier to assign a problem gull to the species level.

Western Olive Sunbird Cyanomitra obscura and Eastern Olive Sunbird Cyanomitra olivacea are lumped as a single species: Olive Sunbird Cyanomitra olivacea. These two taxa were not even considered distinctive enough to retain as subspecies groups, so all records in eBird will now appear as Olive Sunbird.

Olive Sunbird Cyanomitra olivacea [map] [media] [my records]

NEW SPECIES

Each year, a few newly described species or populations newly recognized for their distinctiveness are named and added to the eBird/Clements taxonomy. This just goes to show how much remains to be learned about the birds of the World! Full details for can be seen at the Clements Updates & Corrections page.

Tanna Ground-Dove Alopecoenas ferrugineus [map] [media] [my records] – Tanna Ground-Dove is recognized as a distinct species, but is extinct. It formerly occurred on Tanna Island (Vanuatu), where it was last reported in 1774.

Tanna Ground-Dove is recognized as a distinct species, but is extinct. It formerly occurred on Tanna Island (Vanuatu), where it was last reported in 1774. Norfolk Ground-Dove Alopecoenas norfolkensis [map] [media] [my records] – Norfolk Ground-Dove is recognized as a distinct species. It formerly occurred on Norfolk Island (Australia) but has been extinct since about 1800.

Norfolk Ground-Dove is recognized as a distinct species. It formerly occurred on Norfolk Island (Australia) but has been extinct since about 1800. Tatama Tapaculo Scytalopus alvarezlopezi [map] [media] [my records] – This is a newly recognized species, previously available in eBird under its former, provisional name: Alto Pisones Tapaculo. It occurs on the Pacific slope of Colombian Andes from western Antioquia south to southwestern Valle del Cauca).

SUBSPECIES RESHUFFLES

When subspecies move around between species, this can have effects like splits or lumps. Thus, for a certain population within a species, the movement of the subspecies from one to another has important data quality implications and can significantly change the range of both species.

Indian Scops-Owl and Collared Scops-Owl: Subspecies plumipes, previously classified under Indian Scops-Owl Otus bakkamoena, properly belongs with Collared Scops-Owl Otus lettia. Please review your records to see if they may pertain to plumipes (which occurs in the W Himalayas from n Pakistan to w Nepal). If so, please check to make sure your records are under the correct species.

Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo and Fork-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo: The taxonomy of drongo-cuckoos is extraordinarily vexed. A consensus has emerged, however, on subspecies barussarum which is considered to belong to Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo Surniculus lugubris, not to Fork-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo Surniculus dicruroides. Surniculus lugubris barussarum breeds in northeastern India, northern Myanmar, northern Thailand, northern Indochina, and southeastern China, including Hainan; winters south to Sumatra”, and this subspecies shift essentially restricts Fork-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo to the Indian subcontinent, from the Himalayas south to southern India and Sri Lanka and means that all drongo-cuckoos in Southeast Asia (from Myanmar and Thailand south and east) are Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo.

Eurasian Reed Warbler and African Reed Warbler: Subspecies avicenniae is more closely related to Eurasian Reed Warbler than to other subspecies of African Reed Warbler, although it was previously included in African Reed Warbler. It is transferred to Eurasian Reed Warbler and the scientific name of this monotypic group changes to Acrocephalus scirpaceus avicenniae. The placement of this coastal Red Sea population significantly affects the northeastern limit of African Reed Warbler, and the southeastern limit of Eurasian Reed Warbler.

As if that was not confusing enough, Olsson et al. (2016) documented that reed warblers breeding in northwestern Africa and on the Iberian Peninsula, previously included in Eurasian Reed Warbler (Eurasian) Acrocephalus scirpaceus scirpaceus, are genetically distinct from scirpaceus (with high levels of support), and apparently are closely related to African Reed Warbler Acrocephalus baeticatus (although this relationship is less well established). An available name for these birds is ambiguus Brehm 1857. Therefore we add subspecies ambiguus for African Reed Warbler breeding northwestern Africa (Morocco to Tunisia) and southwestern Europe (Iberian Peninsula). We know the Moroccan population is at least partially resident, and Iberian birds may winter in sub-Saharan Africa, but range is not known in detail.

This reassignment of the breeding reed warblers in Portugal, Spain, and nw Africa, causes a lot of confusion. Most eBird records will be changed to Eurasian Reed/African Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus/baeticatus. Although Eurasian Reed Warbler is a common migrant through the region, it is very difficult to identify any birds to species, with the best piece of evidence being seeing the species outside of the migration period of Eurasian Reed Warbler at known breeding sites. It will take a number of years to bring more clarity to this surprising situation.

Lesser Whitethroat: The Lesser Whitethroat complex involves at least four species–Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca, Desert Whitethroat Sylvia minula, Hume’s Whitethroat Sylvia althaea, and Margelanic Whitethroat Sylvia margelanica–with plenty of ID challenges at the species level. A few subspecies in the complex, mostly Lesser Whitethroat, were revised in the Clements updates, but one of these has important implications for eBird: subspecies Sylvia curruca jaxartica, with range “Plains of s Transcaspia”, is considered to refer to the same population as does Desert Whitethroat Sylvia minula. Therefore this name is no longer used and the range of Desert Whitethroat is revised slightly from “breeds from Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan (and probably Iran) east through northern Afghanistan and Tajikistan to western China; winters to the south” to “breeds from Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and central Iran east through northern Afghanistan and Tajikistan to western China; winters to the south”. Some Lesser Whitethroat records from this region, thus would now refer to Desert Whitethroat.

Olive Bulbul and Gray-eyed Bulbul: A population in Myanmar, previously classified as a subspecies of Olive Bulbul (thus Iole virescens myitkyinensis), instead is embedded within Gray-eyed Bulbul and transferred to that species as Iole propinqua myitkyinensis, which we include under the polytypic group Gray-eyed Bulbul (Gray-eyed) Iole propinqua [propinqua Group]. Two other subspecies of Gray-eyed Bulbul, lekahuni and cinnamomeiventris, in turn are reassigned to Olive Bulbul Iole viridescens. This is all very confusing, so we list the full ranges for each, with all component subspecies below (see Clements Checklist update for more information). The species and subspecies groups, both in boldface, can be entered in eBird, but the component subspecies which are not boldfaced cannot be entered in your eBird records — we only allow data entry for subspecies groups. Please check your records of these two species with care!

Gray-eyed Bulbul Iole propinqua [map] [media] [my records] Gray-eyed Bulbul (Gray-eyed) Iole propinqua [propinqua Group] Iole propinqua myitkyinensis RANGE: northeastern and eastern Myanmar Iole propinqua propinqua RANGE: E Myanmar to sw China, n Thailand, n Laos and n Vietnam Iole propinqua simulator RANGE: SE Thailand to s Laos, Cambodia and n Vietnam Iole propinqua aquilonis RANGE: S China (sw Guangxi) and n Vietnam Gray-eyed Bulbul (innectens) Iole propinqua innectens RANGE: S Vietnam

Olive Bulbul Iole virescens [map] [media] [my records] Olive Bulbul (Olive) Iole viridescens viridescens/lekhakuni Iole viridescens viridescens RANGE: southern Myanmar and southwestern Thailand Iole viridescens lekhakuni RANGE: southern Myanmar to western Thailand Olive Bulbul (Baker’s) Iole viridescens cinnamomeoventris RANGE: Thai-Malay Peninsula (Mergui District and Isthmus of Kra south at least to Songkhla)



SHUFFLES OF OTHER TAXA and SUBSPECIES GROUP LUMPS

Revisions to eBird subspecies groups, and occasionally other taxa (like spuhs or slashes), can happen in our taxonomic update as well. This effectively changes the definition for these taxa and also changes how you should use them in reporting. To review your records of any of the subspecies groups below, simply open your Life List on eBird and use a browser search to search for the species name in question. Click the species to open all reports for that species; your subspecies reports will appear in this list and you can review those for accuracy. Selected revisions are listed below; for a complete listing of these changes see the Clements updates.

Canada Goose: Canada Goose (parvipes) Branta canadensis parvipes, sometimes known as “Lesser” Canada Goose, has long been a controversial taxon. More recently, studies show that size of Canada Geese is driven largely by nutrition as juveniles, raising a legitimate question about whether variation in size is more a result of genetics or nutrition, with birds possibly averaging smaller in the West. Some suggest that parvipes may not be a valid subspecies. Regardless, it seems clear that parvipes is not safely separable from canadensis/interior so we merge it with the latter group. From this point forth, sightings believe to pertain to parvipes should be submitted using the Canada Goose (canadensis Group) Branta canadensis [canadensis Group] [map] [media].

white egret sp.: Intermediate Egret was always intended to be included in the “white egret sp.” group. With this revision Mesophyx (Intermediate Egret) is now considered part of Ardea and because of this, Intermediate and Great Egret should be considered part of white egret sp. Ardea/Egretta/Bubulcus sp.

Sharp-shinned Hawk (Northern): Subspecies madrensis is removed from the polytypic group Sharp-shinned Hawk (Northern) Accipiter striatus [velox Group], and instead is recognized as a separate monotypic group Sharp-shinned Hawk (Madrean) Accipiter striatus madrensis. It is distinctive and beautiful, but rarely seen.

Northern Fantail subspecies groups are revised: the polytypic group Northern Fantail (Plain) Rhipidura rufiventris [rufiventris Group], which included subspecies cinerea, assimilis, and gularis, is partitioned. Subspecies assimilis and subspecies finitima, formerly included in the polytypic group Northern Fantail (Cream-bellied) Rhipidura rufiventris [rufiventris Group], form a new group, Northern Fantail (Kai) Rhipidura assimilis/finitima. Subspecies gularis is transferred, with subspecies vidua (formerly included in the polytypic group Northern Fantail (Slaty) Rhipidura rufiventris vidua/kordensis) to the polytypic group Northern Fantail (Melanesian) Rhipidura rufiventris [setosa Group]. Subspecies cinerea is recognized as a new monotypic group, Northern Fantail (Seram) Rhipidura rufiventris cinerea.

Slaty-capped Flycatcher (superciliaris): In light of vocal differences (e.g., Ridgely and Greenfield 2001), we resurrect subspecies transandinus and recognize it as a monotypic group Slaty-capped Flycatcher (transandinus) Leptopogon superciliaris transandinus, which effectively splits Slaty-capped Flycatcher (superciliaris) Leptopogon superciliaris superciliaris into two taxa. The range of transandius is “highlands of Costa Rica and Panama, and west slope of the Andes of Colombia and Ecuador” with superciliaris found in “coastal mountains and Andes of Venezuela south through Andes of Colombia (except for west slope of Western Andes) and east slope of Andes of Ecuador and Peru (south to the Apurímac Valley in Cuzco)”

Barn Owl: Some authorities (e.g., IOC) have split Barn Owl into Eastern Barn Owl and Western Barn Owl. The eBird group Barn Owl (Eastern) was incorrectly defined since two subspecies properly belong with Barn Owl (Eastern) Tyto alba [delicatula Group], instead of Barn Owl (Eurasian) Tyto alba [alba Group] where they were formerly listed. Thus, subspecies stertens (Indian subcontinent to n Sri Lanka, sw China and s Thailand) and subspecies javanica (Malay Peninsula to Greater Sundas) are moved to Barn Owl (Eastern), resulting in a signifcant change in the range of that form in eBird.

Black-billed Thrush: We remove Turdus ignobilis murinus from Black-billed Thrush (Drab)Turdus ignobilis [ignobilis Group] and recognize it as a new monotypic group, the polytypic group Black-billed Thrush (Drab) changes includes only Black-billed Thrush (Drab) Turdus ignobilis ignobilis/goodfellowi. Thus, any reports from the range of murinus should be reported as that group, not as Black-billed Thrush (Drab).

Eurasian Jay: Subspecies Garrulus glandarius oatesi, of the upper Chindwin and Chin Hills of Myanmar, was previously included in the group Eurasian Jay (Himalayan) Garrulus glandarius [bispecularis Group] , but should be placed in the Eurasian Jay (White-faced) Garrulus glandarius leucotis/oatesi.

Common Chiffchaff: eBird previously provided three groups in Common Chiffchaff: Common Chiffchaff (Siberian) Phylloscopus collybita tristis, Common Chiffchaff (collybita) Phylloscopus collybita collybita, and Common Chiffchaff (abietinus) Phylloscopus collybita abietinus . However, collybita and abietinus are almost identical in plumage and vocalizations, so are merged under a single group: Common Chiffchaff (Common) Phylloscopus collybita [collybita Group]. In addition, three subspecies from the Caucasus and Middle East, Phylloscopus collybita brevirostris, Phylloscopus collybita caucasicus, and Phylloscopus collybita menzbieri are also included in this group.

Grasshopper Sparrow: Grasshopper Sparrow previously had three groups in eBird: Grasshopper Sparrow (Western) Ammodramus savannarum perpallidus/ammolegus, Grasshopper Sparrow (Eastern) Ammodramus savannarum pratensis, and Grasshopper Sparrow (Florida) Ammodramus savannarum floridanus. However, while there are very minor color differences in the subspecies, these are too subtle to be safely used for identification in the field. Thus, these do not meet the requirements for recognition as a subspecies group. Past records will now be treated simply as Grasshopper Sparrow.

NEW SUBSPECIES GROUPS

The following new subspecies groups are now available for data entry. When you are certain you have seen representatives of these groups, and ideally have identified them critically based on their field marks, please report them to eBird. Please do not guess based on the name, such as “Northern” and “Southern” or “African” and “Asian”; make sure you understand the differences being represented before reporting at so specific a level. Many new subspecies groups were added this year, largely because we reviewed the work by Nigel Collar and the Birdlife International team, who assessed a large number of avian taxa based on morphological and acoustic information and scored their relative distinctiveness (also known as the Tobias criteria). While we don’t necessarily follow the species-level splits from Handbook of the Birds of the World, these were useful for helping identify distinctive subspecies groups, resulting in the large number of additions this year.

See appendix A for this list. Since it is so long this year, we are moving it to the bottom of this article.

NEW HYBRIDS and INTERGRADES

eBird has a long list of field identifiable hybrids. These are always listed in taxonomic order (the species that comes first sequentially is listed first) and are always followed by “hybrid”. If you identified a hybrid, especially any of the below, please do report it to eBird (hopefully with photos)! eBird also maintains a much shorter lists of intergrades (hybrids between subspecies groups); these are followed by the phrase “intergrade” and can be identified from the scientific name by the structure of the names which indicates that it is a subspecies. Hybrids and intergrades are unique to the eBird taxonomy; they are not found in the Clements Checklist.

This year, with Change Species, eBirders were able to quickly update their lists. We have added a “ph” to link to a photo of each of these when we know it has already been entered in eBird and wanted to share the photos.

Black-bellied x Fulvous Whistling-Duck (hybrid) Dendrocygna autumnalis x bicolor

Ruddy x Common Shelduck (hybrid) Tadorna ferruginea x tadorna

Wood Duck x American Wigeon (hybrid) Aix sponsa x Mareca americana

Mallard x Brown Teal (hybrid) Anas platyrhynchos x chlorotis

Mallard x Redhead (hybrid) Anas platyrhynchos x Aythya americana

Canvasback x Ring-necked Duck (hybrid) Aythya valisineria x collaris

Mallard x Common Eider (hybrid) Anas platyrhynchos x Somateria mollissima

Surf x White-winged Scoter (hybrid) Melanitta perspicillata x fusca [ph]

Eurasian x Black-faced Spoonbill (hybrid) Platalea leucorodia x minor

Common x Hooded Crane (hybrid) Grus grus x monacha

Blacksmith x White-headed Lapwing (hybrid) Vanellus armatus x albiceps [ph]

Gray-hooded x Hartlaub’s Gull (hybrid) Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus x hartlaubii

Blue-capped x Lesson’s Motmot (hybrid) Momotus coeruliceps x lessonii

Blue-and-yellow x Scarlet Macaw (hybrid) Ara ararauna x macao [ph]

Philadelphia x Red-eyed Vireo (hybrid) Vireo philadelphicus x olivaceus

Warbling x Red-eyed Vireo (hybrid) Vireo gilvus x olivaceus [ph]

Steller’s Jay x Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay (hybrid) Cyanocitta stelleri x Aphelocoma woodhouseii

Cliff x Cave Swallow (hybrid) Petrochelidon pyrrhonota x fulva

Javan x Great Myna (hybrid) Acridotheres javanicus x grandis [ph]

Western Yellow Wagtail (Channel Wagtail intergrade) Motacilla flava flava x flavissima

Bay-breasted x Blackpoll Warbler (hybrid) Setophaga castanea x striata [ph]

Yellow-rumped x Black-throated Gray Warbler (hybrid) Setophaga coronata x nigrescens

Painted x Slate-throated Redstart (hybrid) Myioborus pictus x miniatus

Red-capped x Crimson-fronted Cardinal (hybrid) Paroaria gularis x baeri

Cherrie’s x Crimson-backed Tanager (hybrid) Ramphocelus costaricensis x dimidiatus

Common Diuca-Finch x Yellow Cardinal (hybrid) Diuca diuca x Gubernatrix cristata

White-crowned x Harris’s Sparrow (hybrid) Zonotrichia leucophrys x querula

Black-crowned x Gray-crowned Palm-Tanager (hybrid) Phaenicophilus palmarum x poliocephalus

Varied x Painted Bunting (hybrid) Passerina versicolor x ciris

Bullock’s x Black-backed Oriole (hybrid) Icterus bullockii x abeillei

Red Crossbill x Pine Siskin (hybrid) Loxia curvirostra x Spinus pinus [ph]

Pine Siskin x American Goldfinch (hybrid) Spinus pinus x tristis [ph]

Zebra x Double-barred Finch (hybrid) Taeniopygia guttata x bichenovii

NEW FORMS

Within eBird, we also have forms for taxa that are field identifiable (or likely potential species) and worth tracking, but are not formally described. These include undescribed species and undescribed subspecies groups (both noted with “undescribed form”), slashes at a level between subspecies group and species (e.g., “Whimbrel (White-rumped)” below) and miscellaneous other options. This year’s update includes a number of unique birds from New Guinea (many illustrated in the new field guide), as well as new taxa for Great Cormorant and Subalpine Warbler which will be useful in Eurasia and Africa. Forms are unique to the eBird taxonomy; they are not found in the Clements Checklist.

Great Cormorant (Dark-breasted) Phalacrocorax carbo carbo/sinensis

Principe Scops-Owl (undescribed form) Otus [undescribed form]

Whistling Antbird (undescribed form) Myrmoderus [undescribed form]

Alor Myzomela (undescribed form) Myzomela [undescribed Alor form]

Rote Myzomela (undescribed form) Myzomela [undescribed Rote form]

Taliabu Myzomela (undescribed form) Myzomela [undescribed Taliabu form]

Peleng Fantail (undescribed form) Rhipidura (undescribed form)

Rote Leaf Warbler (undescribed form) Phylloscopus (undescribed Rote form)

Taliabu Grasshopper-Warbler (undescribed form) Locustella [undescribed form]

Subalpine Warbler (cantillans/inornata) Sylvia cantillans cantillans/inornata

Meratus White-eye (undescribed Meratus form) Zosterops [undescribed form]

Wangi-Wangi White-eye (undescribed form) Zosterops [undescribed Wangi-Wangi form]

Obi White-eye (undescribed form) Zosterops [undescribed Obi form]

Meratus Jungle-Flycatcher (undescribed form) Cyornis [undescribed Meratus form]

Togian Jungle-Flycatcher (undescribed form) Cyornis [undescribed Togian form]

NEW DOMESTICS

eBird has certain domesticated species that are regularly seen in a feral or wild state. The distinction between a “Domestic” and a wild type bird of the same species is in its appearance, and domestics are always identifiable as having domestic ancestry, often in their white, yellow, or otherwise abnormal plumage, or less often, in their size or shape (e.g., Graylag Goose (Domestic type) is larger and more pot-bellied than wild Graylag Geese). Domestics are unique to the eBird taxonomy; they are not found in the Clements Checklist. We have not added any domestics for 2017.

No additions for 2017

NEW SLASHES AND SPUHS

As with hybrids, eBird has a long list of “slashes” and “spuhs”. These are useful in the field if you get a good enough look at a bird to know it, for example, a scoter, but not to tell if it was a Common Scoter, Black Scoter, Surf Scoter, or White-winged Scoter. You can use “scoter sp.”, in such instances. If you are able to narrow it down to two (or in rare cases, three or four) species options, we have “slashes”, which mention the full common name (and scientific name) for the species that are potential species for your observation (e.g., Surf/Black Scoter). This list is being regularly updated as observers let us know what field identification problems they encounter. Slashes and spuhs are unique to the eBird taxonomy; they are not found in the Clements Checklist.

Roll’s/Sumatran Partridge Arborophila rolli/sumatrana

Australasian/Hoary-headed Grebe Tachybaptus novaehollandiae/Poliocephalus poliocephalus

Great/Japanese Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo/capillatus

Gray/Purple Heron Ardea cinerea/purpurea

Tawny/Steppe Eagle Aquila rapax/nipalensis

Variable/Brown Goshawk Accipiter hiogaster/fasciatus

Common/Long-legged Buzzard Buteo buteo/rufinus

Rufous-sided/Red-and-white Crake Laterallus melanophaius/leucopyrrhus

Spotted/Little/Baillon’s Crake Porzana porzana/Zapornia parva/pusilla

American/Black Oystercatcher Haematopus palliatus/bachmani

Amboyna/Sultan’s Cuckoo-Dove Macropygia amboinensis/doreya

Scarce/Schouteden’s Swift Schoutedenapus myoptilus/schoutedeni

Lucifer/Beautiful Hummingbird Calothorax lucifer/pulcher

Orange-bellied/Collared Trogon Trogon aurantiiventris/collaris

Wreathed/Plain-pouched Hornbill Rhyticeros undulatus/subruficollis

Blue-capped/Lesson’s Motmot Momotus coeruliceps/lessonii

Streak-breasted/Laced Woodpecker Picus viridanus/vittatus

Rainbow/Scaly-breasted Lorikeet Trichoglossus haematodus/chlorolepidotus

Drymophila sp. Drymophila sp.

spinetail sp. Furnariidae sp. (spinetail sp.)

White-crested/White-bellied Tyrannulet Serpophaga subcristata/munda

Sulphur-rumped/Black-tailed Flycatcher Myiobius sulphureipygius/atricaudus

Whiskered/Black-tailed Flycatcher Myiobius barbatus/atricaudus

Tyrannus sp. Tyrannus sp.

melidectes sp. Melidectes sp.

Melithreptus sp. Melithreptus sp.

pseudo-babbler sp. Pomatostomus sp.

Masked/White-browed Woodswallow Artamus personatus/superciliosus

Great Gray/Southern Gray Shrike Lanius excubitor/meridionalis

Eurasian/African Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus/auratus

Pica sp. Pica sp.

Greater/Sykes’s Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla/dukhunensis

Greater/Lesser Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla/Alaudala rufescens

Velvet-fronted/Yellow-billed Nuthatch Sitta frontalis/solangiae

Iole sp. Iole sp.

Willow Warbler/Common Chiffchaff/Iberian Chiffchaff Phylloscopus trochilus/collybita/ibericus

Marsh/Eurasian Reed/African Reed Warbler Acrocephalus palustris/scirpaceus/baeticatus

Eurasian Reed/African Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus/baeticatus

Desert/Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia minula/curruca

Desert/Hume’s/Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia minula/althaea/curruca

Desert/Margelanic Whitethroat Sylvia minula/margelanica

Pin-striped/Gray-faced Tit-Babbler Mixornis gularis/kelleyi

Alpine/Himalayan/Sichuan Thrush Zoothera mollissima/salimalii/griseiceps

Gray-sided/Eyebrowed Thrush Turdus feae/obscurus

Greater/Lesser Green Leafbird Chloropsis sonnerati/cyanopogon

Ixothraupis sp. (speckled tanager sp.) Ixothraupis sp.

Tangara sp. Tangara sp.

Guira/Rufous-headed Tanager Hemithraupis guira/ruficapilla

Common Chaffinch/Brambling Fringilla coelebs/montifringilla

African seedeater sp. Crithagra sp.

Twite/Eurasian Linnet Linaria flavirostris/cannabina

Red/Cassia Crossbill Loxia curvirostra/sinesciuris

Citril Finch/European Serin Carduelis citrinella/Serinus serinus

European/Fire-fronted/Syrian Serin Serinus pusillus/serinus/syriacus

paradise-whydah sp. Vidua sp. (paradise-whydah sp.)

COMMON NAME “AMBIGUATION” and SUBSPECIES GROUP LUMPS

A persistent problem in eBird is when birders assume a subspecies group without fully understanding the status, occurrence, range, or field marks of the relevant options. While we want to collect carefully identified records of subspecies, and while known status is always a factor in bird identification, making incorrect assumptions is very dangerous for eBird data quality. An example would be Willet (Eastern) Tringa semipalmata semipalmata and Willet (Western) Tringa semipalmata inornata. Incautious observers regularly report Willet (Eastern) because they are standing on the Atlantic coast without understanding the (very subtle!) field identification characteristics or true status of “Western” Willet. In fact, subspecies inornata (which as a breeding bird is the more westerly of the two, breeding in the interior of the USA and southern Canada, and is the only form on the Pacific coast) is also the common wintering Willet in the southeastern USA and Gulf coast and returning migrants may return to the winter range as early as 1 July (and some birds oversummer!). “Eastern” Willet (which breeds exclusively in Gulf coast and East coast saltmarshes) actually winters almost exclusively in South America, and is very rare in Canada, the USA, and Caribbean after 1 September. Thus, while Willets on the East Coast that are obviously breeding can be identified as “Eastern Willet”, and those carefully identified by plumage and/or structure can be identified with care, the mere presence of a Willet on the East Coast does not allow one to identify it to subspecies. For those that do not understand all these nuances, we encourage conservative reporting as simply “Willet”.

This is not a problem unique to Willets. We often see birders assume an identification of a subspecies group with an “Eastern” or “Northern” moniker in the name, or appearing on the eBird filter, can be safely reported. While this is sometimes true, it is always important to understand the status and field marks for the subspecies you report. And since subspecies groups are often subtle, we always encourage adding photos or notes to support your identification.

To help minimize some of the problems of erroneous assumptions of subspecies group in eBird, in our 2015 taxonomic update we undertook an “ambiguation” process. Several subspecies groups that were formerly described with “eastern” and “western”, or similar geographical monikers, had their names changed to use the formal subspecific epithet. For example, Black-bellied Whistling-Duck (Northern) is now Black-bellied Whistling-Duck (fulgens) and Black-bellied Whistling-Duck (Southern) is now Black-bellied Whistling-Duck (autumnalis). This is intended to be a cautionary flag for eBirders: if you see a subspecies group with this name (always in lowercase), it is a very tricky identification issue and one you should only report if you fully understand it. In general, these taxa will not appear on eBird filters and must be intentionally sought in eBird using “Add a species”. This year, we only applied this type of change for one species: Western Yellow Wagtail (also listed in “Common Name changes” below).

Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava These changes are made largely because the various names — Gray-headed, Blue-headed, Ashy-headed etc. — get pretty confusing and also because many birders identify them by their subspecies name anyway:Western Yellow Wagtail (Gray-headed) –> Western Yellow Wagtail (thunbergi) Motacilla flava thunbergi Western Yellow Wagtail (Blue-headed) –> Western Yellow Wagtail (flava/beema) Motacilla flava flava/beema Western Yellow Wagtail (Ashy-headed) Motacilla flava [cinereocapilla Group] –> Western Yellow Wagtail (iberiae/cinereocapilla/pygmaea) Motacilla flava [cinereocapilla Group] Western Yellow Wagtail (Black-headed) Motacilla flava feldegg –> Western Yellow Wagtail (feldegg) Motacilla flava feldegg Western Yellow Wagtail (White-headed) Motacilla flava leucocephala –> Western Yellow Wagtail (leucocephala) Motacilla flava leucocephala

These changes are made largely because the various names — Gray-headed, Blue-headed, Ashy-headed etc. — get pretty confusing and also because many birders identify them by their subspecies name anyway:Western Yellow Wagtail (Gray-headed) –> Western Yellow Wagtail (thunbergi) Motacilla flava thunbergi

COMMON NAME CHANGES

See the Clements Checklist updates (here) of the reasoning behind these name changes. Note that some relate directly to splits discussed above, since some of the taxa that were formerly species may appear here. For example, if a widespread bird that occurs in North America and Eurasia is split into unique species on each continent, the population occurring on both continents might be retained here as a “slash” and appear as a name change (also a downgrade from species to slash). Other name changes maybe be driven by changes in taxonomic sequence (as with hybrids and slashes, where the first-listed species always comes first), an attempt to follow an emerging consensus in local usage, or a taxonomic revision that affects hyphenation rules. Other general changes, including corrections and decisions to use an alternate common name, have been made here.

Southern Brown Kiwi (South Island) –> Southern Brown Kiwi (South I.)

Southern Brown Kiwi (Stewart Island) –> Southern Brown Kiwi (Stewart I.)

Swan x Graylag Goose (Domestic type) (hybrid) –> Graylag x Swan Goose (Domestic type) (hybrid)

Greater White-fronted x Bar-headed Goose (hybrid) –> Bar-headed x Greater White-fronted Goose (hybrid)

Greater White-fronted x Snow Goose (hybrid) –> Snow x Greater White-fronted Goose (hybrid)

Canada Goose (canadensis/interior) –> Canada Goose (canadensis Group)

Northern Shoveler x Garganey (hybrid) –> Garganey x Northern Shoveler (hybrid)

Gadwall x Northern Shoveler (hybrid) –> Northern Shoveler x Gadwall (hybrid)

American Wigeon x Northern Shoveler (hybrid) –> Northern Shoveler x American Wigeon (hybrid)

Mallard x Northern Shoveler (hybrid) –> Northern Shoveler x Mallard (hybrid)

American Black Duck x Mallard (hybrid) –> Mallard x American Black Duck (hybrid)

American Black Duck/Mallard –> Mallard/American Black Duck

Northern Pintail x Baikal Teal (hybrid) –> Baikal Teal x Northern Pintail (hybrid)

Scaled Quail x Northern Bobwhite (hybrid) –> Northern Bobwhite x Scaled Quail (hybrid)

Gray-breasted Partridge (Malayan) –> Malaysian Partridge

Gray-breasted Partridge (Roll’s) –> Roll’s Partridge

Gray-breasted Partridge (Sumatran) –> Sumatran Partridge

Gray-breasted Partridge (Gray-breasted) –> Gray-breasted Partridge

Eurasian Capercaillie –> Western Capercaillie

Eurasian Capercaillie x Black Grouse (hybrid) –> Western Capercaillie x Black Grouse (hybrid)

Jackass Penguin –> African Penguin

White-bellied Storm-Petrel (Rapa Island) –> White-bellied Storm-Petrel (Rapa I.)

Ascension Island Frigatebird –> Ascension Frigatebird

Secretary-bird –> Secretarybird

Lammergeier –> Bearded Vulture

Lammergeier (Eurasian) –> Bearded Vulture (Eurasian)

Lammergeier (African) –> Bearded Vulture (African)

White-backed/Cape Griffon –> White-backed Vulture/Cape Griffon

Northern Harrier (Eurasian) –> Hen Harrier

Northern Harrier (American) –> Northern Harrier

Northern Harrier –> Hen/Northern Harrier

Northern/Montagu’s Harrier –> Hen/Montagu’s Harrier

Ovampo Sparrowhawk –> Ovambo Sparrowhawk

Common Buzzard (Azorean) –> Common Buzzard (Azores)

Common Buzzard (Canary Islands) –> Common Buzzard (Canary Is.)

Houbara Bustard (Canary Islands) –> Houbara Bustard (Canary Is.)

Black-tailed Native-hen –> Black-tailed Nativehen

Tasmanian Native-hen –> Tasmanian Nativehen

Wilson’s/Common Snipe –> Common/Wilson’s Snipe

Crab Plover –> Crab-Plover

Thayer’s/Iceland Gull –> Iceland Gull

Thayer’s Gull –> Iceland Gull (Thayer’s)

Iceland Gull –> Iceland Gull (Iceland)

Thayer’s x Iceland Gull (hybrid) –> Iceland Gull (Thayer’s x Iceland)

Herring x Thayer’s Gull (hybrid) –> Herring x Iceland Gull (hybrid)

Herring/Thayer’s Gull –> Herring/Iceland Gull

Friendly Ground-Dove –> Shy Ground-Dove

Shining Bronze-Cuckoo (Golden) –> Shining Bronze-Cuckoo (Shining)

Shining Bronze-Cuckoo (Shining) –> Shining Bronze-Cuckoo (Golden)

Barn Owl (Canary Islands) –> Barn Owl (Canary Is.)

Barn Owl (Australian) –> Barn Owl (Eastern)

Sjostedt’s Owlet –> Sjöstedt’s Owlet

Speckled Hummingbird (inornata –> Speckled Hummingbird (inornata)

Magnificent Hummingbird (Rivoli’s) –> Rivoli’s Hummingbird

Magnificent Hummingbird (Admirable) –> Talamanca Hummingbird

Magnificent x Berylline Hummingbird (hybrid) –> Rivoli’s x Berylline Hummingbird (hybrid)

Boehm’s Bee-eater –> Böhm’s Bee-eater

Emerald Toucanet (Wagler’s) –> Northern Emerald-Toucanet (Wagler’s)

Emerald Toucanet (Emerald) –> Northern Emerald-Toucanet (Emerald)

Emerald Toucanet (Blue-throated) –> Northern Emerald-Toucanet (Blue-throated)

Emerald Toucanet (Violet-throated) –> Northern Emerald-Toucanet (Violet-throated)

Emerald Toucanet (Santa Marta) –> Southern Emerald-Toucanet (Santa Marta)

Emerald Toucanet (Gray-throated) –> Southern Emerald-Toucanet (Gray-throated)

Emerald Toucanet (Andean) –> Southern Emerald-Toucanet (Andean)

Emerald Toucanet (Black-throated) –> Southern Emerald-Toucanet (Black-throated)

Golden-fronted Woodpecker (Velasquez’s ) –> Golden-fronted Woodpecker (Velasquez’s)

Northern Flicker (Grand Cayman Island) –> Northern Flicker (Grand Cayman I.)

Eurasian Kestrel (Canary Islands) –> Eurasian Kestrel (Canary Is.)

Newton’s Parrot –> Newton’s Parakeet

Horned Parakeet (Horned) –> Horned Parakeet

Horned Parakeet (Ouvea) –> Ouvea Parakeet

Paradise Parakeet –> Paradise Parrot

Psitteuteles/Trichoglossus sp. –> lorikeet sp.

Alto Pisones Tapaculo (undescribed form) –> Tatama Tapaculo

Araguaia River Spinetail (undescribed species) –> Araguaia River Spinetail (undescribed form)

pewee sp. –> pewee sp. (Contopus sp.)

Cardinal Myzomela (Samoan) –> Samoan Myzomela

Myzomela sp. –> myzomela sp.

Gerygone sp. –> gerygone sp.

Luehder’s Bushshrike –> Lühder’s Bushshrike

Fuelleborn’s Boubou –> Fülleborn’s Boubou

Fuelleborn’s Boubou (Usambara) –> Fülleborn’s Boubou (Usambara)

Fuelleborn’s Boubou (Fuelleborn’s) –> Fülleborn’s Boubou (Fülleborn’s)

Mt. Kupe Bushshrike –> Mount Kupe Bushshrike

Gray Whistler (Gray) –> Gray Whistler (Brown)

Northern Shrike (European) –> Great Gray Shrike

Northern Shrike –> Great Gray/Northern Shrike

Silktail (Taveuni) –> Taveuni Silktail

Silktail (Natewa) –> Natewa Silktail

Northern Fantail (Gray-backed) –> Northern Fantail (Obi)

Northern Fantail (Rusty-bellied) –> Northern Fantail (Buru)

Northern Fantail (Plain) –> Northern Fantail (Kai)

Northern Fantail (Speckle-throated) –> Northern Fantail (Rote)

Northern Fantail (Cream-bellied) –> Northern Fantail (Timor)

Eurasian Magpie (African) –> Eurasian Magpie (North African)

Magnificent Riflebird (Magnificent) –> Magnificent Riflebird

Magnificent Riflebird (Growling) –> Growling Riflebird

New Zealand Robin (North Island) –> New Zealand Robin (North I.)

New Zealand Robin (South Island) –> New Zealand Robin (South I.)

Syke’s Short-toed Lark –> Sykes’s Short-toed Lark

Thekla Lark –> Thekla’s Lark

martin sp. –> martin sp. (Progne sp.)

African Blue-Flycatcher –> African Blue Flycatcher

White-tailed Blue-Flycatcher –> White-tailed Blue Flycatcher

Rock Nuthatch –> Western Rock Nuthatch

Persian Nuthatch –> Eastern Rock Nuthatch

Bewick’s Wren (bewickii/altus) –> Bewick’s Wren (bewickii)

Bewick’s Wren (eremophilus Group) –> Bewick’s Wren (mexicanus Group)

Santa Marta Wood-Wren –> Hermit Wood-Wren

Sjostedt’s Greenbul –> Sjöstedt’s Greenbul

Plain Greenbul (leoninus) –> Plain Greenbul (leonina)

Pale-footed Bush-Warbler –> Pale-footed Bush Warbler

Chestnut-crowned Bush-Warbler –> Chestnut-crowned Bush Warbler

Gray-sided Bush-Warbler –> Gray-sided Bush Warbler

Philippine Bush-Warbler –> Philippine Bush Warbler

Japanese Bush-Warbler –> Japanese Bush Warbler

Manchurian Bush-Warbler –> Manchurian Bush Warbler

Japanese/Manchurian Bush-Warbler –> Japanese/Manchurian Bush Warbler

Palau Bush-Warbler –> Palau Bush Warbler

Tanimbar Bush-Warbler –> Tanimbar Bush Warbler

Fiji Bush-Warbler –> Fiji Bush Warbler

Brownish-flanked Bush-Warbler –> Brownish-flanked Bush Warbler

Hume’s Bush-Warbler –> Hume’s Bush Warbler

Yellowish-bellied Bush-Warbler –> Yellowish-bellied Bush Warbler

Brownish-flanked/Yellowish-bellied Bush-Warbler –> Brownish-flanked/Yellowish-bellied Bush Warbler

Sunda Bush-Warbler –> Sunda Bush Warbler

Aberrant Bush-Warbler –> Aberrant Bush Warbler

bush-warbler sp. –> bush warbler sp.

Common Chiffchaff (collybita) –> Common Chiffchaff (Common)

Western Crowned Leaf Warbler –> Western Crowned Warbler

Eastern Crowned Leaf Warbler –> Eastern Crowned Warbler

Lemon-throated Warbler –> Lemon-throated Leaf Warbler

Mountain Warbler –> Mountain Leaf Warbler

Mountain Warbler (Mountain) –> Mountain Leaf Warbler (Mountain)

Mountain Warbler (Philippines) –> Mountain Leaf Warbler (Philippines)

Island Leaf Warbler (Taliabu) (undescribed form) –> Taliabu Leaf Warbler (undescribed form)

Island Leaf Warbler (Banggai) (undescribed form) –> Banggai Leaf Warbler (undescribed form)

Black-browed Reed-Warbler –> Black-browed Reed Warbler

Streaked Reed-Warbler –> Streaked Reed Warbler

Manchurian Reed-Warbler –> Manchurian Reed Warbler

Blyth’s Reed-Warbler –> Blyth’s Reed Warbler

Paddyfield/Blyth’s Reed-Warbler –> Paddyfield/Blyth’s Reed Warbler

Large-billed Reed-Warbler –> Large-billed Reed Warbler

Eurasian Reed-Warbler –> Eurasian Reed Warbler

Eurasian Reed-Warbler (Eurasian) –> Eurasian Reed Warbler (Eurasian)

Eurasian Reed-Warbler (Caspian) –> Eurasian Reed Warbler (Caspian)

African Reed-Warbler (Mangrove) –> Eurasian Reed Warbler (Mangrove)

Marsh Warbler/Eurasian Reed-Warbler –> Marsh Warbler/Eurasian Reed Warbler

African Reed-Warbler –> African Reed Warbler

Basra Reed-Warbler –> Basra Reed Warbler

Lesser Swamp-Warbler –> Lesser Swamp Warbler

Greater Swamp-Warbler –> Greater Swamp Warbler

Cape Verde Swamp-Warbler –> Cape Verde Swamp Warbler

Madagascar Swamp-Warbler –> Madagascar Swamp Warbler

Great Reed-Warbler –> Great Reed Warbler

Eurasian/Great Reed-Warbler –> Eurasian/Great Reed Warbler

Oriental Reed-Warbler –> Oriental Reed Warbler

Clamorous Reed-Warbler –> Clamorous Reed Warbler

Clamorous Reed-Warbler (Clamorous) –> Clamorous Reed Warbler (Clamorous)

Clamorous Reed-Warbler (Brown) –> Clamorous Reed Warbler (Brown)

Great/Oriental/Clamorous Reed-Warbler –> Great/Oriental/Clamorous Reed Warbler

Nightingale Reed-Warbler –> Nightingale Reed Warbler

Saipan Reed-Warbler –> Saipan Reed Warbler

Australian Reed-Warbler –> Australian Reed Warbler

Caroline Reed-Warbler –> Caroline Reed Warbler

Aguiguan Reed-Warbler –> Aguiguan Reed Warbler

Kiritimati Reed-Warbler –> Kiritimati Reed Warbler

Southern Marquesan Reed-Warbler –> Southern Marquesan Reed Warbler

Pagan Reed-Warbler –> Pagan Reed Warbler

Nauru Reed-Warbler –> Nauru Reed Warbler

Pitcairn Reed-Warbler –> Pitcairn Reed Warbler

Henderson Island Reed-Warbler –> Henderson Island Reed Warbler

Cook Islands Reed-Warbler –> Cook Islands Reed Warbler

Rimitara Reed-Warbler –> Rimitara Reed Warbler

Society Islands Reed-Warbler –> Society Islands Reed Warbler

Tahiti Reed-Warbler –> Tahiti Reed Warbler

Moorea Reed-Warbler –> Moorea Reed Warbler

Northern Marquesan Reed-Warbler –> Northern Marquesan Reed Warbler

Tuamotu Reed-Warbler –> Tuamotu Reed Warbler

Mangareva Reed-Warbler –> Mangareva Reed Warbler

Spinifex-bird –> Spinifexbird

Brown Emu-tail –> Brown Emutail

Grauer’s Swamp-Warbler –> Grauer’s Swamp Warbler

Dja River Swamp-Warbler –> Dja River Swamp Warbler

White-winged Swamp-Warbler –> White-winged Swamp Warbler

Brown Bush-Warbler –> Brown Bush Warbler

Chinese Bush-Warbler –> Chinese Bush Warbler

Long-billed Bush-Warbler –> Long-billed Bush Warbler

Long-tailed Bush-Warbler –> Long-tailed Bush Warbler

Chestnut-backed Bush-Warbler –> Chestnut-backed Bush Warbler

Baikal Bush-Warbler –> Baikal Bush Warbler

Chinese/Baikal Bush-Warbler –> Chinese/Baikal Bush Warbler

West Himalayan Bush-Warbler –> West Himalayan Bush Warbler

Spotted Bush-Warbler –> Spotted Bush Warbler

Baikal/Spotted Bush-Warbler –> Baikal/Spotted Bush Warbler

Taiwan Bush-Warbler –> Taiwan Bush Warbler

Friendly Bush-Warbler –> Friendly Bush Warbler

Russet Bush-Warbler –> Russet Bush Warbler

Brown/Russet Bush-Warbler –> Brown/Russet Bush Warbler

Sichuan Bush-Warbler –> Sichuan Bush Warbler

Benguet Bush-Warbler –> Benguet Bush Warbler

Javan Bush-Warbler –> Javan Bush Warbler

Timor Bush-Warbler –> Timor Bush Warbler

Sri Lanka Bush-Warbler –> Sri Lanka Bush Warbler

Gray Emu-tail –> Gray Emutail

Japanese White-eye (simplex/haianus) –> Japanese White-eye (simplex/hainanus)

Chinese Babax (Mount Victoria) –> Chinese Babax (Mt. Victoria)

Black-chinned Laughingthrush (Banasura) –> Banasura Laughingthrush

Black-chinned Laughingthrush (Nilgiri) –> Nilgiri Laughingthrush

Kerala Laughingthrush (Palani) –> Palani Laughingthrush

Kerala Laughingthrush (Travancore) –> Ashambu Laughingthrush

Gray-chested Illadopsis –> Gray-chested Babbler

Boehm’s Flycatcher –> Böhm’s Flycatcher

Nilgiri Shortwing –> Nilgiri Blue Robin

White-bellied Shortwing –> White-bellied Blue Robin

Timor Blue-Flycatcher –> Timor Blue Flycatcher

Rueck’s Blue-Flycatcher –> Rück’s Blue Flycatcher

Hainan Blue-Flycatcher –> Hainan Blue Flycatcher

White-bellied Blue-Flycatcher –> White-bellied Blue Flycatcher

Pale-chinned Blue-Flycatcher –> Pale-chinned Blue Flycatcher

Pale Blue-Flycatcher –> Pale Blue Flycatcher

Blue-throated Flycatcher (Blue-throated) –> Blue-throated Flycatcher

Blue-throated Flycatcher (Chinese) –> Chinese Blue Flycatcher

Blue-throated Flycatcher –> Blue-throated/Chinese Blue Flycatcher

Large Blue-Flycatcher –> Large Blue Flycatcher

Hill Blue-Flycatcher –> Hill Blue Flycatcher

Long-billed Blue-Flycatcher –> Sunda Blue Flycatcher

Malaysian Blue-Flycatcher –> Malaysian Blue Flycatcher

Palawan Blue-Flycatcher –> Palawan Blue Flycatcher

Bornean Blue-Flycatcher –> Bornean Blue Flycatcher

Tickell’s Blue-Flycatcher –> Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher

Mangrove Blue-Flycatcher –> Mangrove Blue Flycatcher

Mangrove Blue-Flycatcher (Mangrove) –> Mangrove Blue Flycatcher (Mangrove)

Mangrove Blue-Flycatcher (Philippine) –> Mangrove Blue Flycatcher (Philippine)

Sulawesi Blue-Flycatcher –> Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher

Sulawesi Blue-Flycatcher (Sulawesi) –> Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher (Sulawesi)

Sulawesi Blue-Flycatcher (Tanahjampea) –> Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher (Tanahjampea)

blue-flycatcher sp. –> blue flycatcher sp.

Island Flycatcher –> Turquoise Flycatcher

Chestnut-winged Whistling-Thrush –> Sumatran Whistling-Thrush

White-tailed Rubythroat –> Himalayan/Chinese Rubythroat (White-tailed Rubythroat)

Pygmy Blue-Flycatcher –> Pygmy Flycatcher

Russet-tailed Flycatcher –> Cryptic Flycatcher

Blue Rock-Thrush (solitarius Group) –> Blue Rock-Thrush (solitarius/longirostris)

Island Thrush (Norfolk Island) –> Island Thrush (Norfolk I.)

Island Thrush (Lord Howe Island) –> Island Thrush (Lord Howe I.)

Le Conte’s Thrasher –> LeConte’s Thrasher

Le Conte’s Thrasher (Le Conte’s) –> LeConte’s Thrasher (LeConte’s)

Le Conte’s Thrasher (Vizcaino) –> LeConte’s Thrasher (Vizcaino)

Eastern Olive Sunbird –> Olive Sunbird

Western Yellow Wagtail (Gray-headed) –> Western Yellow Wagtail (thunbergi)

Western Yellow Wagtail (Blue-headed) –> Western Yellow Wagtail (flava/beema)

Western Yellow Wagtail (Ashy-headed) –> Western Yellow Wagtail (iberiae/cinereocapilla/pygmaea)

Western Yellow Wagtail (Black-headed) –> Western Yellow Wagtail (feldegg)

Western Yellow Wagtail (White-headed) –> Western Yellow Wagtail (leucocephala)

Fuelleborn’s Longclaw –> Fülleborn’s Longclaw

Tangara sp. –> Tangara/Ixothraupis sp.

Nightingale Finch (Inaccessible Island) –> Nightingale Finch (Inaccessible I.)

Nightingale Finch (Nightingale) –> Nightingale Finch (Nightingale I.)

Wilkins’s Finch (Inaccessible Island) –> Wilkins’s Finch (Inaccessible I.)

Wilkins’s Finch (Nightingale Island) –> Wilkins’s Finch (Nightingale I.)

Sharp-beaked Ground-Finch (septentrionalis) –> Vampire Ground-Finch

Sharp-beaked Ground-Finch (acutirostris) –> Genovesa Ground-Finch

Sharp-beaked Ground-Finch (difficilis) –> Sharp-beaked Ground-Finch

Large Cactus-Finch (conirostris) –> Española Cactus-Finch

Le Conte’s Sparrow –> LeConte’s Sparrow

Yellow-eyed Junco (Baird’s) –> Baird’s Junco

Prevost’s Ground-Sparrow (Prevost’s) –> White-faced Ground-Sparrow

Prevost’s Ground-Sparrow (Cabanis’s) –> Cabanis’s Ground-Sparrow

Gray-hooded Bunting –> Gray-necked Bunting

Red Crossbill (South Hills or type 9) –> Cassia Crossbill

Abyssinian Siskin –> Ethiopian Siskin

canary sp. –> Serinus sp.

Shelley’s Crimson-wing –> Shelley’s Crimsonwing

Dusky Crimson-wing –> Dusky Crimsonwing

Abyssinian Crimson-wing –> Abyssinian Crimsonwing

Red-faced Crimson-wing –> Red-faced Crimsonwing

Red-faced Crimson-wing (Western) –> Red-faced Crimsonwing (Western)

Red-faced Crimson-wing (Eastern) –> Red-faced Crimsonwing (Eastern)

Timor Parrotfinch (undescribed form) –> Mount Mutis Parrotfinch (undescribed form)

SCIENTIFIC NAME CHANGES

See the Clements Checklist updates (to be posted soon here) for full discussion of the reasoning behind these name changes. Note that some relate directly to splits discussed above, since some of the taxa that were formerly species may appear here. For example, if a widespread bird that occurs in North America and Eurasia that is split into unique species on each continent, the population occurring on both continents might be retained here as a “slash” and appear as a name change (also a downgrade from species to slash). We display the primary English name as well, using the 2017 name (thus, the English name would match the revised Scientific Name in instances of a split).

Emperor Goose Chen canagica –> Anser canagicus

Snow Goose Chen caerulescens –> Anser caerulescens

Ross’s Goose Chen rossii –> Anser rossii

Snow x Ross’s Goose (hybrid) Chen caerulescens x rossii –> Anser caerulescens x rossii

Snow/Ross’s Goose Chen caerulescens/rossii –> Anser caerulescens/rossii

Graylag x Swan Goose (Domestic type) (hybrid) Anser cygnoides x anser (Domestic type) –> Anser anser x cygnoides (Domestic type)

Bar-headed x Greater White-fronted Goose (hybrid) Anser albifrons x indicus –> Anser indicus x albifrons

Snow x Greater White-fronted Goose (hybrid) Anser albifrons x Chen caerulescens –> Anser caerulescens x albifrons

Snow Goose x Brant (hybrid) Chen caerulescens x Branta bernicla –> Anser caerulescens x Branta bernicla

Emperor x Cackling Goose (hybrid) Chen canagica x Branta hutchinsii –> Anser canagicus x Branta hutchinsii

Snow x Cackling Goose (hybrid) Chen caerulescens x Branta hutchinsii –> Anser caerulescens x Branta hutchinsii

Ross’s x Cackling Goose (hybrid) Chen rossii x Branta hutchinsii –> Anser rossii x Branta hutchinsii

Canada Goose (canadensis Group) Branta canadensis canadensis/interior –> Branta canadensis [canadensis Group]

Snow x Canada Goose (hybrid) Chen caerulescens x Branta canadensis –> Anser caerulescens x Branta canadensis

Ross’s x Canada Goose (hybrid) Chen rossii x Branta canadensis –> Anser rossii x Branta canadensis

Snow/Ross’s x Cackling/Canada Goose (hybrid) Chen caerulescens/rossii x Branta hutchinsii/canadensis –> Anser caerulescens/rossii x Branta hutchinsii/canadensis

goose sp. Anser/Chen/Branta sp. –> Anser/Branta sp.

Baikal Teal Anas formosa –> Sibirionetta formosa

Garganey Anas querquedula –> Spatula querquedula

Hottentot Teal Anas hottentota –> Spatula hottentota

Silver Teal Anas versicolor –> Spatula versicolor

Puna Teal Anas puna –> Spatula puna

Blue-winged Teal Anas discors –> Spatula discors

Cinnamon Teal Anas cyanoptera –> Spatula cyanoptera

Blue-winged x Cinnamon Teal (hybrid) Anas discors x cyanoptera –> Spatula discors x cyanoptera

Blue-winged/Cinnamon Teal Anas discors/cyanoptera –> Spatula discors/cyanoptera

Red Shoveler Anas platalea –> Spatula platalea

Cape Shoveler Anas smithii –> Spatula smithii

Australian Shoveler Anas rhynchotis –> Spatula rhynchotis

Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata –> Spatula clypeata

Garganey x Northern Shoveler (hybrid) Anas clypeata x querquedula –> Spatula querquedula x clypeata

Blue-winged Teal x Northern Shoveler (hybrid) Anas discors x clypeata –> Spatula discors x clypeata

Cinnamon Teal x Northern Shoveler (hybrid) Anas cyanoptera x clypeata –> Spatula cyanoptera x clypeata

Gadwall Anas strepera –> Mareca strepera

Gadwall (Common) Anas strepera strepera –> Mareca strepera strepera

Gadwall (Coues’s) Anas strepera couesi –> Mareca strepera couesi

Northern Shoveler x Gadwall (hybrid) Anas strepera x clypeata –> Spatula clypeata x Mareca strepera

Falcated Duck Anas falcata –> Mareca falcata

Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope –> Mareca penelope

Gadwall x Eurasian Wigeon (hybrid) Anas strepera x penelope –> Mareca strepera x penelope

American Wigeon Anas americana –> Mareca americana

Northern Shoveler x American Wigeon (hybrid) Anas americana x clypeata –> Spatula clypeata x Mareca americana

Gadwall x American Wigeon (hybrid) Anas strepera x americana –> Mareca strepera x americana

Eurasian x American Wigeon (hybrid) Anas penelope x americana –> Mareca penelope x americana

Eurasian/American Wigeon Anas penelope/americana –> Mareca penelope/americana

Chiloe Wigeon Anas sibilatrix –> Mareca sibilatrix

Northern Shoveler x Mallard (hybrid) Anas platyrhynchos x clypeata –> Spatula clypeata x Anas platyrhynchos

Gadwall x Mallard (hybrid) Anas strepera x platyrhynchos –> Mareca strepera x Anas platyrhynchos

Eurasian Wigeon x Mallard (hybrid) Anas penelope x platyrhynchos –> Mareca penelope x Anas platyrhynchos

American Wigeon x Mallard (hybrid) Anas americana x platyrhynchos –> Mareca americana x Anas platyrhynchos

Mallard x American Black Duck (hybrid) Anas rubripes x platyrhynchos –> Anas platyrhynchos x rubripes

Mallard/American Black Duck Anas rubripes/platyrhynchos –> Anas platyrhynchos/rubripes

Baikal Teal x Northern Pintail (hybrid) Anas acuta x formosa –> Sibirionetta formosa x Anas acuta

Gadwall x Northern Pintail (hybrid) Anas strepera x acuta –> Mareca strepera x Anas acuta

Eurasian Wigeon x Northern Pintail (hybrid) Anas penelope x acuta –> Mareca penelope x Anas acuta

American Wigeon x Northern Pintail (hybrid) Anas americana x acuta –> Mareca americana x Anas acuta

Garganey/Green-winged Teal Anas querquedula/crecca –> Spatula querquedula/Anas crecca

Blue-winged x Green-winged Teal (hybrid) Anas discors x crecca –> Spatula discors x Anas crecca

Cinnamon x Green-winged Teal (hybrid) Anas cyanoptera x crecca –> Spatula cyanoptera x Anas crecca

Gadwall x Green-winged Teal (hybrid) Anas strepera x crecca –> Mareca strepera x Anas crecca

American Wigeon x Green-winged Teal (hybrid) Anas americana x crecca –> Mareca americana x Anas crecca

Northern Bobwhite x Scaled Quail (hybrid) Callipepla squamata x Colinus virginianus –> Colinus virginianus x Callipepla squamata

Malaysian Partridge Arborophila orientalis campbelli –> Arborophila campbelli

Roll’s Partridge Arborophila orientalis rolli –> Arborophila rolli

Sumatran Partridge Arborophila orientalis sumatrana –> Arborophila sumatrana

Gray-breasted Partridge Arborophila orientalis orientalis –> Arborophila orientalis

Rock Partridge (European) Alectoris graeca graeca/saxatilis –> Alectoris graeca [graeca Group]

Crested Francolin Francolinus sephaena –> Dendroperdix sephaena

Crested Francolin (Kirk’s) Francolinus sephaena rovuma –> Dendroperdix sephaena rovuma

Crested Francolin (Crested) Francolinus sephaena [sephaena Group] –> Dendroperdix sephaena [sephaena Group]

Hazel Grouse Bonasa bonasia –> Tetrastes bonasia

Severtzov’s Grouse Bonasa sewerzowi –> Tetrastes sewerzowi

Intermediate Egret Mesophoyx intermedia –> Ardea intermedia

Intermediate Egret (Intermediate) Mesophoyx intermedia intermedia –> Ardea intermedia intermedia

Intermediate Egret (Plumed) Mesophoyx intermedia plumifera –> Ardea intermedia plumifera

Intermediate Egret (Yellow-billed) Mesophoyx intermedia brachyrhyncha –> Ardea intermedia brachyrhyncha

Great/Intermediate Egret Ardea alba/Mesophoyx intermedia –> Ardea alba/intermedia

white egret sp. Egretta/Bubulcus sp. –> Ardea/Egretta/Bubulcus sp.

Australian Ibis Threskiornis moluccus –> Threskiornis molucca

Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus cyaneus –> Circus cyaneus

Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus hudsonius –> Circus hudsonius

Hen/Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus –> Circus cyaneus/hudsonius

Lesser Fish-Eagle Ichthyophaga humilis –> Haliaeetus humilis

Gray-headed Fish-Eagle Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus –> Haliaeetus ichthyaetus

Lesser/Gray-headed Fish-Eagle Ichthyophaga humilis/ichthyaetus –> Haliaeetus humilis/ichthyaetus

Purple Gallinule Porphyrio martinicus –> Porphyrio martinica

Common/Wilson’s Snipe Gallinago delicata/gallinago –> Gallinago gallinago/delicata

Iceland Gull Larus thayeri/glaucoides –> Larus glaucoides

Iceland Gull (Thayer’s) Larus thayeri –> Larus glaucoides thayeri

Iceland Gull (Iceland) Larus glaucoides –> Larus glaucoides glaucoides/kumlieni

Iceland Gull (Thayer’s x Iceland) Larus thayeri x glaucoides –> Larus glaucoides thayeri x glaucoides/kumlieni

Herring x Iceland Gull (hybrid) Larus argentatus x thayeri –> Larus argentatus x glaucoides

Herring/Iceland Gull Larus argentatus/thayeri –> Larus argentatus/glaucoides

Gray Noddy Procelsterna albivitta –> Anous albivitta

Blue-gray Noddy Procelsterna cerulea –> Anous ceruleus

Wetar Ground-Dove Gallicolumba hoedtii –> Alopecoenas hoedtii

Shy Ground-Dove Gallicolumba stairi –> Alopecoenas stairi

Santa Cruz Ground-Dove Gallicolumba sanctaecrucis –> Alopecoenas sanctaecrucis

Thick-billed Ground-Dove Gallicolumba salamonis –> Alopecoenas salamonis

Bronze Ground-Dove Gallicolumba beccarii –> Alopecoenas beccarii

Palau Ground-Dove Gallicolumba canifrons –> Alopecoenas canifrons

White-bibbed Ground-Dove Gallicolumba jobiensis –> Alopecoenas jobiensis

Marquesas Ground-Dove Gallicolumba rubescens –> Alopecoenas rubescens

Caroline Islands Ground-Dove Gallicolumba kubaryi –> Alopecoenas kubaryi

Polynesian Ground-Dove Gallicolumba erythroptera –> Alopecoenas erythropterus

White-throated Ground-Dove Gallicolumba xanthonura –> Alopecoenas xanthonurus

Pinon’s Imperial-Pigeon (Gray-headed) Ducula pinon [pinon Group] –> Ducula pinon pinon/jobiensis

Striped Owl Pseudoscops clamator –> Asio clamator

Rivoli’s Hummingbird Eugenes fulgens fulgens –> Eugenes fulgens

Talamanca Hummingbird Eugenes fulgens spectabilis –> Eugenes spectabilis

Violet-bellied Hummingbird Damophila julie –> Juliamyia julie

Sooty Barbet Calorhamphus hayii –> Caloramphus hayii

Brown Barbet Calorhamphus fuliginosus –> Caloramphus fuliginosus

Southern Emerald-Toucanet (Santa Marta) Aulacorhynchus prasinus lautus –> Aulacorhynchus albivitta lautus

Southern Emerald-Toucanet (Gray-throated) Aulacorhynchus prasinus griseigularis –> Aulacorhynchus albivitta griseigularis

Southern Emerald-Toucanet (Andean) Aulacorhynchus prasinus albivitta/phaeolaemus –> Aulacorhynchus albivitta albivitta/phaeolaemus

Southern Emerald-Toucanet (Black-throated) Aulacorhynchus prasinus [atrogularis Group] –> Aulacorhynchus albivitta [atrogularis Group]

Golden-spangled Piculet (Buffon’s) Picumnus exilis buffoni –> Picumnus exilis buffonii

Horned Parakeet Eunymphicus cornutus cornutus –> Eunymphicus cornutus

Ouvea Parakeet Eunymphicus cornutus uvaeensis –> Eunymphicus uvaeensis

lorikeet sp. Psitteuteles/Trichoglossus sp. –> Psittaculidae sp. (lorikeet sp.)

Golden Parakeet Guaruba guaruba –> Guaruba guarouba

Common Scale-backed Antbird (Buff-breasted) Willisornis poecilinotus lepidonotus/duidae –> Willisornis poecilinotus lepidonota/duidae

Tatama Tapaculo Scytalopus [undescribed Choco form] –> Scytalopus alvarezlopezi

Araguaia River Spinetail (undescribed form) Certhiaxis [undescribed species] –> Certhiaxis [undescribed form]

White-bellied Spinetail Synallaxis propinqua –> Mazaria propinqua

Samoan Myzomela Myzomela cardinalis nigriventris –> Myzomela nigriventris

Northern Wattled-Honeyeater Foulehaio taviuensis –> Foulehaio taviunensis

Gray Whistler (Brown) Pachycephala simplex simplex/dubia –> Pachycephala simplex simplex/brunnescens

Great Gray Shrike Lanius excubitor [excubitor Group] –> Lanius excubitor

Northern Shrike (Asian) Lanius excubitor [mollis Group] –> Lanius borealis [mollis Group]

Northern Shrike (American) Lanius excubitor borealis/invictus –> Lanius borealis borealis

Loggerhead/Northern Shrike Lanius ludovicianus/excubitor –> Lanius ludovicianus/borealis

Great Gray/Northern Shrike Lanius excubitor –> Lanius excubitor/borealis

Cassin’s Vireo (San Lucas) Vireo cassinii lucasanas –> Vireo cassinii lucasanus

Taveuni Silktail Lamprolia victoriae victoriae –> Lamprolia victoriae

Natewa Silktail Lamprolia victoriae klinesmithi –> Lamprolia klinesmithi

Northern Fantail (Kai) Rhipidura rufiventris [gularis Group] –> Rhipidura rufiventris assimilis/finitima

Northern Fantail (Timor) Rhipidura rufiventris [rufiventris Group] –> Rhipidura rufiventris rufiventris/pallidiceps

Eurasian Jay (White-faced) Garrulus glandarius leucotis/barringtoni –> Garrulus glandarius leucotis/oatesi

Magnificent Riflebird Ptiloris magnificus magnificus/alberti –> Ptiloris magnificus

Growling Riflebird Ptiloris magnificus intercedens –> Ptiloris intercedens

Blanford’s Lark (eremica/daaroodensis) Calandrella blandfordi eremica/daaroodensis –> Calandrella blanfordi eremica/daaroodensis

Chilean Swallow Tachycineta meyeni –> Tachycineta leucopyga

White-rumped/Chilean Swallow Tachycineta leucorrhoa/meyeni –> Tachycineta leucorrhoa/leucopyga

Bewick’s Wren (bewickii) Thryomanes bewickii bewickii/altus –> Thryomanes bewickii bewickii

Bewick’s Wren (mexicanus Group) Thryomanes bewickii [eremophilus Group] –> Thryomanes bewickii [mexicanus Group]

Plain Greenbul (leonina) Eurillas curvirostris leoninus –> Eurillas curvirostris leonina

Buff-vented Bulbul Iole olivacea –> Iole crypta

Olive Bulbul Iole virescens –> Iole viridescens

Firecrest (European) Regulus ignicapilla ignicapilla/balearica –> Regulus ignicapilla ignicapilla/balearicus

Common Chiffchaff (Common) Phylloscopus collybita collybita –> Phylloscopus collybita [collybita Group]

Taliabu Leaf Warbler (undescribed form) Phylloscopus maforensis [undescribed form 1] –> Phylloscopus [undescribed form 1]

Banggai Leaf Warbler (undescribed form) Phylloscopus maforensis [undescribed form 2] –> Phylloscopus [undescribed form 2]

Eurasian Reed Warbler (Mangrove) Acrocephalus baeticatus avicenniae –> Acrocephalus scirpaceus avicenniae

Anjouan White-eye Zosterops anjouanensis –> Zosterops anjuanensis

Japanese White-eye (simplex/hainanus) Zosterops japonicus simplex/haianus –> Zosterops japonicus simplex/hainanus

Chevron-breasted Babbler Sphenocichla roberti –> Stachyris roberti

Banasura Laughingthrush Trochalopteron cachinnans jerdoni –> Montecincla jerdoni

Nilgiri Laughingthrush Trochalopteron cachinnans cachinnans –> Montecincla cachinnans

Palani Laughingthrush Trochalopteron fairbanki fairbanki –> Montecincla fairbanki

Ashambu Laughingthrush Trochalopteron fairbanki meridionale –> Montecincla meridionale

laughingthrush sp. Garrulax/Ianthocincla/Trochalopteron sp. –> Garrulax/Ianthocincla/Trochalopteron/Montecincla sp.

Madagascar Magpie-Robin (White-bellied) Copsychus albospecularis inexpectatus –> Copsychus albospecularis inexspectatus

Nilgiri Blue Robin Brachypteryx major –> Sholicola major

White-bellied Blue Robin Brachypteryx albiventris –> Sholicola albiventris

Blue-throated Flycatcher Cyornis rubeculoides [rubeculoides Group] –> Cyornis rubeculoides

Chinese Blue Flycatcher Cyornis rubeculoides glaucicomans –> Cyornis glaucicomans

Blue-throated/Chinese Blue Flycatcher Cyornis rubeculoides –> Cyornis rubeculoides/glaucicomans

Himalayan/Chinese Rubythroat (White-tailed Rubythroat) Calliope pectoralis –> Calliope pectoralis/tschebaiewi

White-tailed Robin Cinclidium leucurum –> Myiomela leucura

Sunda Robin Cinclidium diana –> Myiomela diana

Blue Rock-Thrush (solitarius/longirostris) Monticola solitarius [solitarius Group] –> Monticola solitarius solitarius/longirostris

Island Thrush (Ashy) Turdus poliocephalus carbonarius –> Turdus poliocephalus erebus

Dusky/Naumann’s Thrush Turdus eunomus/naumanni –> Turdus eunomus/naumanni

Black-billed Thrush (Drab) Turdus ignobilis [ignobilis Group] –> Turdus ignobilis ignobilis/goodfellowi

Green-headed Sunbird (Blue-headed) Cyanomitra verticalis cyanocephala/boehndorffi –> Cyanomitra verticalis cyanocephala/bohndorffi

Golden-crowned Warbler (Golden-crowned) Basileuterus culicivorus [auricapillus Group] –> Basileuterus culicivorus [auricapilla Group]

Black-capped Hemispingus Hemispingus atropileus –> Kleinothraupis atropileus

Black-capped Hemispingus (Black-capped) Hemispingus atropileus atropileus –> Kleinothraupis atropileus atropileus

Black-capped Hemispingus (White-browed) Hemispingus atropileus auricularis –> Kleinothraupis atropileus auricularis

Orange-browed Hemispingus Hemispingus calophrys –> Kleinothraupis calophrys

Parodi’s Hemispingus Hemispingus parodii –> Kleinothraupis parodii

Gray-capped Hemispingus Hemispingus reyi –> Kleinothraupis reyi

Oleaginous Hemispingus Hemispingus frontalis –> Sphenopsis frontalis

Black-eared Hemispingus Hemispingus melanotis –> Sphenopsis melanotis

Black-eared Hemispingus (Black-eared) Hemispingus melanotis [melanotis Group] –> Sphenopsis melanotis [melanotis Group]

Black-eared Hemispingus (Western) Hemispingus melanotis ochraceus –> Sphenopsis melanotis ochracea

Black-eared Hemispingus (Piura) Hemispingus melanotis piurae/macrophrys –> Sphenopsis melanotis piurae/macrophrys

Chestnut-headed Tanager Pyrrhocoma ruficeps –> Thlypopsis pyrrhocoma

Superciliaried Hemispingus Hemispingus superciliaris –> Thlypopsis superciliaris

Superciliaried Hemispingus (Yellow-browed) Hemispingus superciliaris chrysophrys –> Thlypopsis superciliaris chrysophrys

Superciliaried Hemispingus (Superciliaried) Hemispingus superciliaris [superciliaris Group] –> Thlypopsis superciliaris [superciliaris Group]

Superciliaried Hemispingus (White-bellied) Hemispingus superciliaris leucogastrus/insignis –> Thlypopsis superciliaris leucogastra/insignis

Superciliaried Hemispingus (urubambae) Hemispingus superciliaris urubambae –> Thlypopsis superciliaris urubambae

Plain-tailed Warbling-Finch Poospiza alticola –> Microspingus alticola

Rusty-browed Warbling-Finch Poospiza erythrophrys –> Microspingus erythrophrys

Buff-throated Warbling-Finch Poospiza lateralis –> Microspingus lateralis

Gray-throated Warbling-Finch Poospiza cabanisi –> Microspingus cabanisi

Ringed Warbling-Finch Poospiza torquata –> Microspingus torquatus

Black-capped Warbling-Finch Poospiza melanoleuca –> Microspingus melanoleucus

Cinereous Warbling-Finch Poospiza cinerea –> Microspingus cinereus

Three-striped Hemispingus Hemispingus trifasciatus –> Microspingus trifasciatus

Dotted Tanager Tangara varia –> Ixothraupis varia

Rufous-throated Tanager Tangara rufigula –> Ixothraupis rufigula

Speckled Tanager Tangara guttata –> Ixothraupis guttata

Yellow-bellied Tanager Tangara xanthogastra –> Ixothraupis xanthogastra

Spotted Tanager Tangara punctata –> Ixothraupis punctata

Tangara/Ixothraupis sp. Tangara sp. –> Tangara/Ixothraupis sp.

Giant Conebill Oreomanes fraseri –> Conirostrum binghami

White-winged Diuca-Finch Diuca speculifera –> Idiopsar speculifer

Plumbeous Sierra-Finch Phrygilus unicolor –> Geospizopsis unicolor

Ash-breasted Sierra-Finch Phrygilus plebejus –> Geospizopsis plebejus

Slaty Finch Haplospiza rustica –> Spodiornis rusticus

Black-headed Hemispingus Hemispingus verticalis –> Pseudospingus verticalis

Drab Hemispingus Hemispingus xanthophthalmus –> Pseudospingus xanthophthalmus

Bay-chested Warbling-Finch Poospiza thoracica –> Castanozoster thoracicus

Slaty-backed Hemispingus Hemispingus goeringi –> Poospiza goeringi

Rufous-browed Hemispingus Hemispingus rufosuperciliaris –> Poospiza rufosuperciliaris

Cochabamba Mountain-Finch Compsospiza garleppi –> Poospiza garleppi

Tucuman Mountain-Finch Compsospiza baeri –> Poospiza baeri

warbling-finch sp. Poospiza sp. –> Microspingus/Castanozoster/Poospiza sp.

Vampire Ground-Finch Geospiza difficilis septentrionalis –> Geospiza septentrionalis

Genovesa Ground-Finch Geospiza difficilis acutirostris –> Geospiza acutirostris

Sharp-beaked Ground-Finch Geospiza difficilis difficilis –> Geospiza difficilis

Española Cactus-Finch Geospiza conirostris conirostris –> Geospiza conirostris

Black-throated Saltator Saltator atricollis –> Saltatricula atricollis

Baird’s Junco Junco phaeonotus bairdi –> Junco bairdi

White-faced Ground-Sparrow Melozone biarcuata biarcuata/hartwegi –> Melozone biarcuata

Cabanis’s Ground-Sparrow Melozone biarcuata cabanisi –> Melozone cabanisi

sparrow sp. Emberizidae sp. (sparrow sp.) –> Passerellidae sp. (sparrow sp.)

Blue-black Grosbeak Cyanocompsa cyanoides –> Cyanoloxia cyanoides

Blue-black Grosbeak (Blue-black) Cyanocompsa cyanoides [cyanoides Group] –> Cyanoloxia cyanoides [cyanoides Group]

Blue-black Grosbeak (Amazonian) Cyanocompsa cyanoides rothschildii –> Cyanoloxia cyanoides rothschildii

Ultramarine Grosbeak Cyanocompsa brissonii –> Cyanoloxia brissonii

Cuban Blackbird Dives atroviolaceus –> Ptiloxena atroviolacea

Scarlet Finch Haematospiza sipahi –> Carpodacus sipahi

Bonin Grosbeak Chaunoproctus ferreorostris –> Carpodacus ferreorostris

Long-tailed Rosefinch Uragus sibiricus –> Carpodacus sibiricus

Crimson-browed Finch Pinicola subhimachala –> Carpodacus subhimachalus

Blanford’s Rosefinch Carpodacus rubescens –> Agraphospiza rubescens

Dark-breasted Rosefinch Carpodacus nipalensis –> Procarduelis nipalensis

White-rumped Seedeater Serinus leucopygius –> Crithagra leucopygia

Yellow-fronted Canary Serinus mozambicus –> Crithagra mozambica

African Citril Serinus citrinelloides –> Crithagra citrinelloides

Western Citril Serinus frontalis –> Crithagra frontalis

Southern Citril Serinus hypostictus –> Crithagra hyposticta

Black-faced Canary Serinus capistratus –> Crithagra capistrata

Papyrus Canary Serinus koliensis –> Crithagra koliensis

Forest Canary Serinus scotops –> Crithagra scotops

Olive-rumped Serin Serinus rothschildi –> Crithagra rothschildi

Black-throated Canary Serinus atrogularis –> Crithagra atrogularis

Reichenow’s Seedeater Serinus reichenowi –> Crithagra reichenowi

Yellow-rumped Serin Serinus xanthopygius –> Crithagra xanthopygia

Lemon-breasted Seedeater Serinus citrinipectus –> Crithagra citrinipectus

White-bellied Canary Serinus dorsostriatus –> Crithagra dorsostriata

Yellow-throated Serin Serinus flavigula –> Crithagra flavigula

Salvadori’s Serin Serinus xantholaemus –> Crithagra xantholaema

Northern Grosbeak-Canary Serinus donaldsoni –> Crithagra donaldsoni

Southern Grosbeak-Canary Serinus buchanani –> Crithagra buchanani

Brimstone Canary Serinus sulphuratus –> Crithagra sulphurata

Yellow Canary Serinus flaviventris –> Crithagra flaviventris

White-throated Canary Serinus albogularis –> Crithagra albogularis

Streaky Seedeater Serinus striolatus –> Crithagra striolata

Yellow-browed Seedeater Serinus whytii –> Crithagra whytii

Thick-billed Seedeater Serinus burtoni –> Crithagra burtoni

Tanzania Seedeater Serinus melanochrous –> Crithagra melanochroa

Principe Seedeater Serinus rufobrunneus –> Crithagra rufobrunnea

Sao Tome Grosbeak Neospiza concolor –> Crithagra concolor

Protea Canary Serinus leucopterus –> Crithagra leucoptera

Black-eared Seedeater Serinus mennelli –> Crithagra mennelli

Streaky-headed Seedeater Serinus gularis –> Crithagra gularis

Streaky-headed Seedeater (West African) Serinus gularis [canicapilla Group] –> Crithagra gularis [canicapilla Group]

Streaky-headed Seedeater (Streaky-headed) Serinus gularis [gularis Group] –> Crithagra gularis [gularis Group]

Reichard’s Seedeater Serinus reichardi –> Crithagra reichardi

Brown-rumped Seedeater Serinus tristriatus –> Crithagra tristriata

Yemen Serin Serinus menachensis –> Crithagra menachensis

Ankober Serin Carduelis ankoberensis –> Crithagra ankoberensis

Cape Siskin Pseudochloroptila totta –> Crithagra totta

Drakensberg Siskin Pseudochloroptila symonsi –> Crithagra symonsi

Twite Carduelis flavirostris –> Linaria flavirostris

Eurasian Linnet Carduelis cannabina –> Linaria cannabina

Yemen Linnet Carduelis yemenensis –> Linaria yemenensis

Warsangli Linnet Carduelis johannis –> Linaria johannis

Cassia Crossbill Loxia curvirostra sinesciuris –> Loxia sinesciuris

Mountain Serin Serinus estherae –> Chrysocorythus estherae

Citril Finch Serinus citrinella –> Carduelis citrinella

Corsican Finch Serinus corsicanus –> Carduelis corsicana

Black-headed Canary Alario alario –> Serinus alario

Damara Canary Alario leucolaemus –> Serinus leucolaemus

Tibetan Serin Serinus thibetanus –> Spinus thibetanus

MISC TOPICS

Each year there are a few quirks of the process that are worth explaining.

Iceland Gull taxa: With the lump of Thayer’s Gull, there were some unusual effects on other gull taxa in the eBird taxonomy. Below are the English name changes from the above list:

Thayer’s/Iceland Gull –> Iceland Gull

Thayer’s Gull –> Iceland Gull (Thayer’s)

Iceland Gull –> Iceland Gull (Iceland)

Thayer’s x Iceland Gull (hybrid) –> Iceland Gull (Thayer’s x Iceland)

Herring x Thayer’s Gull (hybrid) –> Herring x Iceland Gull (hybrid)

Herring/Thayer’s Gull –> Herring/Iceland Gull

Note first that Thayer’s/Iceland Gull in eBird’s 2016 taxonomy is exactly equivalent to the species Iceland Gull now. In both cases, the subspecies thayeri, kumlieni, and glaucoides could have been involved. Since thayeri and kumlieni are the darker-winged taxa, many birders have used this in the past to refer to thayeri/kumlieni, but this is not true in all cases. Please do add Species Comments in your observations of Iceland Gull if this is the reason you do not specify your sightings more specifically. Note also that Iceland Gull (Iceland) involves only glaucoides and kumlieni, and is thus an exact match for birds identified as Iceland Gull prior to the 2017 lump. Many of your eBird records will appear this way, so it is important to understand.

Finally, two hybrids and a slash also change their names. The former hybrid Thayer’s x Iceland Gull is now an intergrade, since this is now considered a hybrid between two subspecies. We generally don’t recommend using this, since conclusive identification of this hybrid is nearly impossible. The other two that change, Herring x Thayer’s Gull (hybrid) and Herring/Thayer’s Gull, also change definitions slightly since they are expanded to include glaucoides and kumlieni. We don’t generally have slash and hybrid taxa that refer to a specific subspecies. These gulls have always been a headache, and this is no less true even after they have been lumped!

Desert Whitethroat on the Arabian Peninsula: It has long been believed that Desert Whitethroat occurs on the Arabian Peninsula (e.g., Oman, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates) as an uncommon wintering bird, and birders have routinely identified Desert Whitethroat Sylvia minula by looking for paler birds among Lesser Whitethroats Sylvia curruca. Recent genetic evidence however has revealed that these paler birds in fact seem to pertain (entirely?) to Sylvia curruca halimodendri. Because of this, we now add a subspecies group for halimodendri, which appears to be field identifiable in some circumstances by its paler plumage. We also change all Arabian records of Desert Whitethroat to Lesser Whitethroat (halimodendri) Sylvia curruca halimodendri to match current understanding. We also therefore have anotger subspecies group for “normal” Lesser Whitethroat, which is Lesser Whitethroat (curruca/blythi) Sylvia curruca curruca/blythi. Please also see above for revisions in the subspecies of Desert Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat.

Sykes’s Short-toed Lark and Greater Short-toed Lark in India: With last year’s update, we split Sykes’s Short-toed Lark Calandrella dukhunensis and Greater Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla. Although these two species are very distinct genetically, they are one of the toughest field identification problems on the planet and we are still learning about their ranges and field marks. Please document your records as best you can with photos and audio recordings.

Last year’s records from India were converted to Sykes’s based on range assumptions, but this year we are reassessing them and being more conservative with how records are being assigned. Our India editors believe it is safe to assume the identification is Sykes’s Short-toed Lark only in the extreme south (states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Goa, Puducherry, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh) and extreme east (Assam) of the country. Thus, we have changed all records reported as Greater Short-toed or Sykes’s Short-toed Lark to G