> And we all defer to Pyle (Identification
> Guide to North American Birds) for conflicts like MacGillivray's
> Warbler (MGWA) and Magnolia Warbler (MAWA), since this is not an
> intuitively practical resolution.

Actually, we don't all defer to Pyle, at least on this one. I use MACW and
MAGW. I would never use MAWA, as that would be the default code for both
MacGillivray
s and Magnolia. In cases of conflict, I never use the obvious code for
either species, so that I know immediately when trying to enter my data into
the computer that I haven't got the right code. I think it's much better to
get an invalid code message than to accidentally enter the wrong bird into
my database.

I would love it if the AOU established official 4-letter codes, but only if
they chose the ones I use :)

== Michael Hobbs
== Kirkland, WA
== birdmarymoor at verizon.net