Subject: Fwd: [BIRDCHAT] AOU Checklist 45th Supplement Summary
Date: Jul 22 16:27:20 2004
From: birdbooker at zipcon.net - birdbooker at zipcon.net


HI ALL:
This just in!
MD Osprey / Chatters:

The 45th Supplement to the AOU Checklist is now out. It was published in
the July 2004 issue of the Auk 121(3):985-995. For those not familiar with
the AOU Checklist, it governs taxonomy (including splits/lumps, common
names, scientific names, and order) of North American species. Note that
the ABA Checklist is what governs the publication of the ABA listers
totals; the ABA typically issues their own report subsequent to the release
of AOU supplements.

Highlights (pertaining only to north of the Mexico border):

1. The species Great-winged Petrel has been added to the checklist, based
on west coast pelagic records.

2. Cackling Goose has been split and is now a separate species from Canada
Goose:

a. Cackling Goose (Anser hutchinsii) [the small forms] includes the former
Canada Goose subspecies hutchinsii [Richarson's], asiatica
[Bering-extinct?], leucopareia [Aleutian], taverneri [part of the Lesser
complex], and minima.

b. Canada Goose (Anser canadensis) now includes the subspecies canadensis
[Atlantic], interior [Interior], maxima [Giant], moffitti [Moffit's],
parvipes [the other part of the Lesser complex], fulva [Vancouver], and
occidentalis [Dusky].

The Checklist committee telegraphs that more splits of this complex may be
yet to come. [The separation of the Lesser complex may present a field
challenge.] For a good treatment of Canada Goose subspecies (prior to the
release of this supplement), check Angus Wilson's web site at ...

http://www.oceanwanderers.com/CAGO.Subspecies.html


3. The common name Mongolian Plover is now Lesser Sand-plover, to agree
with modern Old World literature.

4. Greater Sand-plover is added to the main checklist, based on the
record from California.

5. The common name Spoonbill Sandpiper has been changed to Spoon-billed
Sandpiper.

6. The common name Jungle Nightjar has been changed to Gray Nightjar to
agree with modern Old World literature.

7. Willow Warbler has been moved from the Appendix and added to the main
checklist, based on the record from Gambell, AK.

8. Lesser Whitethroat is added to the checklist, based on the record from
Gambell, AK.

9. The common name of Siberian Flycatcher has been changed to Dark-sided
Flycatcher to agree with modern Old World literature.

10. The common name of Gray-spotted Flycatcher has been changed to
Gray-streaked Flycatcher to agree with modern Old World literature.

11. Spotted Flycatcher has been added to the checklist base on the record
from Gambell, AK.

12. The western Alaska subspecies of Yellow Wagtail has been split from the
Yellow Wagtail complex and now appears on the checklist as the Eastern
Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla tschutschensis). (This is the only "yellow"
wagtail on the AOU checklist.)

13. Rufous-tailed Robin has been added to the appendix (not the main
checklist) based on a record from Attu.

14. Blue Rock Thrush has been added to the appendix (not the main
checklist) based on a record from British Columbia.

15. There are numerous changes to scientific names.


Phil


==================================
Phil Davis Davidsonville, Maryland USA
mailto:PDavis at ix.netcom.com
==================================

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--
Ian Paulsen
Bainbridge Island, WA USA
A.K.A.:Birdbooker
Rallidae all the way!