Re: The golden age of bird taxonomy

Has anybody reviewed the potential bird list known as the
S.A.M. list available from the tweeters archives ?
If not, you may get a copy of the list by E-mail by sending
mail to listproc at u.washington.edu with no subject heading
and a one line message:
get tweeters samlist
It appears that the "powers that be" plan to split the Eastern
Meadowlark into two species, the warbling Vireo into two species,
Solitary Vireo into three species, The Scrub Jay into a western and Florida
species, etc. while lumping the
Thayer's and Iceland gulls, as well as other changes in
bird names and taxonomy.

I have questions:

* The SAM list contains a bird to be called a Grey Nightjar.
Is this the SW form of the Whip-poor-will ?

* Does the list's Mountain Pygmy Owl represent a split in the
Northern Pygmy Owl, or some strange Mexican species I have not
heard of ?

* Is the Scaly-naped Pigeon the SW form of the Band-tailed Pigeon ?

* Lastly, what are the following birds ? :
_ Azure Gallinule
_ Nutting's Flycatcher
_ Timberline Sparrow
_ Flame-colored Tanager

In any case (this probably gives me away as a "closet lister")
If the list becomes official, it appears that I will gain
about half a dozen lifers without ever leaving my living room !

Neil J. Fergusson ******************
1405 1/2 NE 56th St. * Baffins *
Seattle, WA 98105 * or *
(206) 517-5466 * bust *
cccc at mead.u.washington.edu ******************