Although I never got real habituated to the use of the terms
"breeding" and "non-breeding" (so many of the birds we see
here during the birdiest time of the year are (basically)
breeding...) I also tend to draw a short blank when I hear
the words "basic" and "alternate." They may eliminate
inaccuracies and confusions, but they don't give quite
enough information on their own.

If I were helping new birders learn shorebirds, for example,
I would feel I had to give an explanation every time I used
the terms "basic" and "alternate." People would pick up
on "breeding" and "non-breeding" right away and could
start learning the exceptions to the rule as they get more
into it.

Admittedly, this is partly laziness.

P.S. Richard, send us your great long posts on your
seawatch - using any terminology.

Chris Maack
Anchorage, AK
CMaack at compuserve.com