I just received my copy of the Auk and noticed some changes to three common
names. No spilts in the ABA area and only one change concerning Va.
1. To conform to British usage, Rock Dove is now Rock Pigeon. Of course, Bob
Abrams will still insist on "feral" pigeon.
2. Band-tailed Gull is now Belcher's Gull
3. The North American version of the Three-toed Woodpecker has been split from
the Old World populations based on mitochondrial DNA studies. The ABA bird is
now called, not surprisingly, the American Three-toed Woodpecker.
There is some taxonomic changes too- Snowy Owl is in the same genus as Great
Horned (Nyctea merged with Bubo) and all other sorts of fascinating stuff!
Check the Auk, Vol. 120, No. 3, July 2003, pp. 923- 931. So update those life
lists!
As for me, I'm off to Arizona despite gas shortages and flash floods. I hope
to reach 600 ABA lifebirds this trip! Whoo Hooo!
Larry Cartwright
prowarbler@xxxxxxxxx
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