Hello Tweeters,

Ian listed some major changes in the latest AOU Check-list Supplement
(Auk 117:847-858). Most of the six changes that affect the
Washington Check-list are subtle. Here is a listing of these:

- Common name of Clangula hyemalis changed from Oldsquaw to Long-tailed Duck.

- As a result of splitting off of Centrocercus minimus (Gunnison
Sage-Grouse), the common name of C. urophasanius (formerly Sage
Grouse) is changed to Greater Sage-Grouse.

- The skuas have been merged into the genus Stercorarius with the
jaegers. As a result, South Polar Skua becomes S. maccormicki.

- The North American Black-billed Magpie, formerly lumped with the
Old World form (Pica pica), is split off as a species in its own
right under the name P. hudsonia.

- The genus Poecile is a feminine noun. Therefore certain specific
names must be changed as follows: P. atricapilla (Black-capped
Chickadee), P. hudsonica (Boreal Chickadee).

- Bullock's Oriole (Icterus bullocki) changes position on the state
check-list to precede Baltimore Oriole (I. galbula) rather than
follow it. This is in recognition of molecular studies that show
Bullock's to be a sister species of the Streak-backed Oriole (I.
pustulatus) and only distantly related to the Baltimore Oriole.

Hal Opperman
Medina, Washington
mailto:halop at accessone.com