T

his is the 21st published report of the ABA

Checklist Committee (hereafter, ABA CLC),

covering the period August 2009Septem-

ber 2010. Since our previous report (Pranty et al.

2009), Heinl, Kratter, and Mactavish cycled off the
committee after having served two consecutive
four-year terms. Those members were replaced by
Gibson, Iliff, and Pittaway. Gibson returns to the
ABA CLC after a 19-year absence, while Iliff and
Pittaway are new to the committee. Pranty was reelected to serve as chair for a fifth year, and Lockwood was selected to assist Pranty as needed.
During the preceding 14 months, the ABA CLC
finalized votes on seven species, of which all were
accepted and added to the ABA Checklist. Those
records come from Alaska, Arizona, Texas (two
species each), and Florida (one species). Additionally, taxonomic changes made by the Committee on
Classification and Nomenclature (North and Middle America) of the American Ornithologists Union
(hereafter, AOU) resulted in the addition of two
new species as the result of taxonomic splitting
(Chesser et al. 2010). The number of accepted
species on the ABA Checklist is increased to 969. Ancillary numbers are provided for all additions to
allow for their proper placement on the seventh edition of the ABA Checklist (Pranty et al. 2008).

New Species Accepted

Bare-throated Tiger-Heron (Tigrisoma mexicanum). ABA CLC Record #2010-02. One thought
to be in second-basic plumage at BentsenRio
Grande Valley State Park, Hidalgo County, Texas,
from 21 December 2009 to 20 January 2010. Dis-

30

BIRDING NOVEMBER 2010

covered and photographed by Rick

urement data, the cold plumage lacking
Nirschl and Rick Snider, and observed by
buffy tones, white face and belly, white
hundreds during its month-long stay
braces on the mantle, and extensive dark
(Nirschl and Snider 2010). Distinguished
barring on the breast and flanks. Accepted
from the extralimital Rufescent Tigerunanimously by the Alaska Checklist ComHeron (T. lineatum) and Fasciated Tigermittee (AKCLC) and by the ABA CLC. A
Heron (T. fasciatum) by its unfeathered
previous report of a Solitary Snipe degreenish-yellow throat, gray legs and
scribed and distantly photographed at
feet, and black crown contrasting
St. Paul Island, Alaska, on 10 Sepwith a gray face. Bare-throated
tember 2008 (Bieber and
Tiger-Heron is not known to be
Schuette 2009) was relegated
kept in captivity (ISIS 2010).
by the AKCLC to its UnsubAccepted unanimously by the
stantiated List because the
Texas Bird Records Committee
identification was regarded as
(TBRC) and by the ABA CLC.
probably correct but not satisThe Bare-throated Tiger-Heron
factorily substantiated by a photois resident from northern Mexico
graph or specimen.
The Solitary Snipe breeds in mountains
(southern Sonora and southern Tamaulifrom south of Lake Baikal and northwestpas, about 240 kilometers south of
ern Mongolia south and west to northBrownsville) to Panama and northwestern
western China and in much of the
Colombia (Howell and Webb 1995, AOU
Himalayas from western Kashmir east at
1998). A small, isolated population was
least to Sikkim and probably southern
discovered in Peru in 1999 (Nirschl and
Tibet (Vaurie 1965), and has recently
Snider 2010).
been detected breeding as far east as the
Bare-throated Tiger-Heron (173.1) is
western Chukotski Peninsula (Tomkovich
placed on the ABA Checklist as a Code 5
2008). It is mainly an altispecies. Following AOU, it
tudinal migrant, but there
is placed between Least BitCHANGES IN BRIEF
is some longer migration as
tern (173) and Great Blue
well. The species winters
Heron (174).
New Species Accepted
from northeastern Iran and
Based on Distributional
Records
Solitary Snipe (Gallinago
Pakistan to eastern China,
q
Bare-throated Tiger-Heron
solitaria). ABA CLC Record
Korea, and Japan (Hayman
q Solitary Snipe
#2010-06. One near Alexai
et al. 1986, Tomkovich
q Amazon Kingfisher
Point, Attu Island, Alaska,
2008). Reports of more
q Gray-collared Becard
on 24 May 2010. Discovdistant vagrant Solitary
q Brown-backed Solitaire
ered and photographed by
Snipes from eastern India
q Rufous-tailed Robin
and from Hong Kong cited
a group from Zugunruhe
q Red-legged Thrush
by Bieber and Schuette
Birding Tours led by John
(2009) were questioned by
Puschock, then collected by
New Species Accepted
Rasmussen and Anderton
Jack J. Withrow and David
Based on Taxonomic
Splits
(2005) and not accepted
W. Sonneborn (Withrow
q Eastern Whip-poor-will
by Carey et al. (2001), reand Sonneborn in preparaand Mexican Whip-poor-will
spectively.
tion) and determined to be
(split from Whip-poor-will)
Solitary Snipe (337.1) is
an adult male and thought
q Winter Wren and
Pacific
Wren
placed on the ABA Checklist
to be of the subspecies
(split from Winter Wren)
as a Code 5 species. FolG. s. japonica. Distinguished
lowing Dickinson (2003),
from other snipes by meas-

WWW.ABA.ORG

Bill Pranty
Bayonet Point, Florida
billpranty@gmail.com

Jon L. Dunn
Bishop, California
cerwa@earthlink.net

Daniel D. Gibson
Ester, Alaska
avesalaska@gmail.com

Steven C. Heinl
Ketchikan, Alaska
steve.heinl@alaska.gov

Marshall J. Iliff
West Roxbury, Massachusetts
miliff@aol.com

Andrew W. Kratter
Gainesville, Florida
kratter@flmnh.ufl.edu

Paul E. Lehman
San Diego, California
lehman.paul1@verizon.net

Mark W. Lockwood
Alpine, Texas
mark.lockwood@tpwd.state.tx.us

Bruce Mactavish
St. Johns, Newfoundland
wingingitone@yahoo.ca

Ron Pittaway
Minden, Ontario
jeaniron@sympatico.ca

Kevin J. Zimmer
Atascadero, California
kjzimmer@charter.net

31

A B A

C H E C K L I ST

Record #2010-03. One female along the Rio Grande at

Laredo, Webb County, Texas, from 24 January to 3 February
2010. Although the bird was stated in the
documentation submitted to the TBRC to be
an adult, we are not aware of the characters
that were used to age the bird. Discovered and
photographed by Robert Epstein and Alan
Wormington, and observed by hundreds during its stay (Wormington and Epstein 2010).
Distinguished from Green Kingfisher by its
larger size, heavy bill, and minimal white
spotting on the wings. Accepted unanimously
by the TBRC and by the ABA CLC. A report of
two Amazon Kingfishers near Rangerville,
Cameron County, Texas, 21 October23 November 1996 (Lasley et al. 1997) was rejected
by the TBRC (Lockwood 1998).
The Amazon Kingfisher is resident from
northern Mexico (southern Sinaloa and
southern Tamaulipas) to northern Argentina
and Uruguay; it ranges to northern Sinaloa
during the winter (AOU 1998).
The first of two species recently added to the ABA Checklist from Texas was this
Amazon Kingfisher (526.1) is placed on the
Bare-throated Tiger-Heron that lingered one month after its discovery. Resident
ABA Checklist as a Code 5 species. Following
north to southern Tamaulipas, Mexico, about 240 kilometers south of Brownsville,
AOU, it is placed between Belted Kingfisher
this species had been expected to stray to the ABA Area. BentsenRio Grande Valley
(526) and Green Kingfisher (527).
State Park, Hidalgo County, Texas; 21 December 2009. Photo by Rick Snider.

it is provisionally placed first in Gallinago, thus between Jack

Snipe (337) and Wilsons Snipe (338), pending acceptance
and placement by the AOU.
Amazon Kingfisher (Chloroceryle amazona). ABA CLC

Gray-collared Becard (Pachyramphus major). ABA CLC

Record #2010-05. One second-calendar-year male attaining
adult plumage at Cave Creek Canyon, Cochise County, Arizona, on 5 June 2009. Discovered and photographed by
Anne Pellegrini, Jillian Johnston, and Ryan Davis, and ob-

New ABA CLC Members

Daniel D. Gibson has studied the status, distribution, abundance, and geographic variation of Alaskas birds for 45 years. Long associated with the University of Alaska Museum at Fairbanks, he recently retired as the bird collection manager and now continues as a research associate. He has authored numerous publications, most recently Birds of the Aleutian Islands, Alaska with G. Vernon Byrd. Gibson
has been a member of the Alaska Checklist Committee since its inception.
Marshall J. Iliff is a project leader for eBird. Formerly a guide for Victor Emanuel Nature Tours, he has actively birded throughout the ABA
Area for more than 20 years. Iliff is a past regional editor for the Mid-Atlantic and Baja California regions for North American Birds, and has
authored or coauthored a number of articles and book chapters. He has long had a special interest in rare and vagrant birds. Iliff has served
on records committees in Maryland and California, and is the current chairman of the Massachusetts Avian Records Committee.
Ron Pittaway is a life member of both the ABA and Ontario Field Ornithologists. He served on the Ontario Bird Records Committee
for 12 years during the period 19842003, including three years as chairman and one as secretary. He was coeditor of the provincial
journal Ontario Birds from 1991 to 2006. Pittaway has authored more than 130 articles about birds, focusing on field identification, subspecies, morphs, molts and plumages, and conservation.

32

BIRDING NOVEMBER 2010

served by others later that

ers, and audio-recorded by Chris Benesh
day (Johnston et al. 2010).
and Dave Stejskal. Distinguished from other
Distinguished from other
Myadestes solitaires by its brown upperparts
becards by its combination
and unique song. Accepted 71 in secondof brown cap and mantle,
round voting by the ABC, with the dissenting
broad white collar (gray in
vote concerning provenance; accepted unaniadults), black wings with
mously by the ABA CLC. A previous ABA Area
broad white feather edgphotographic record, at Madera Canyon, Pima
ings, and very pale underCounty, Arizona, on 4 October 1996 was reparts. Determined to be of
jected by the ABC on the grounds of uncertain
the western subspecies P. m. This Solitary Snipe was discovered, photographed,
provenance (Rosenberg et al. 2007). However,
uropygialis by the pale col- and then collected at Attu Island, Alaska. An Asian
the ABC is reevaluating this record (G. Rosenoration of the nape and un- species, Solitary Snipe was recently discovered to
berg, personal communication). Brownbreed on the western Chukotski Peninsula of the
derparts, along with the Russian Far East. Alexai Point, Attu Island, Aleutian Isbacked Solitaire is frequently found caged in
brown cap bordered by lands, Alaska; 24 May 2010. Photo by John Puschock. Mexico because of its striking song, which is
black. Accepted unanisung year round. Nonetheless, the ABA CLC
mously (after second-round voting) by the Arizona Bird
was satisfied that the records pertained to a wild individual
Committee (ABC), and unanimously by the ABA CLC. The
due to their rather remote locations and the seasonality of the
noticeable abrasion to the remiges and the molt in the recoccurrences.
trices caused minor concern among some ABC and ABA
The Brown-backed Solitaire is resident from northern
CLC members that the bird may have been kept captive.
Mexico (southern Sonora and Nuevo Leon, and from the
The Gray-collared Becard is resident from northwestern
central interior) to northern El Salvador and central HonMexico (eastern Sonora) to El Salvador and central Nicaduras (Howell and Webb 1995, AOU 1998), generally reragua, and it is a pronounced altitudinal migrant (Howell
maining in highland breeding areas. More recently, breeding
and Webb 1995, AOU 1998, Johnston et al. 2010). A report
was observed in the Sierra Huachinera, Sonora, in 2006, 130
from El Tabacote, Sonora (256 kilometers south of Arizona)
kilometers south of the U.S. border and 192 kilometers from
on 17 March 1984 (Monson 1986) previously suggested this
Miller Canyon (Van Doren 2010). There is one report from
species potential to reach the ABA Area.
Belize (Howell and Webb 1995).
Gray-collared Becard (597.1) is placed on the ABA CheckBrown-backed Solitaire (718.1) is placed on the ABA
list as a Code 5 species. Following AOU, it is placed between
Checklist as a Code 5 species. Following AOU, it is placed
Fork-tailed Flycatcher (597) and Rose-throated Becard
between Townsends Solitaire (718) and Orange-billed
(598).
Nightingale-Thrush (719).

Brown-backed Solitaire (Myadestes

occidentalis). ABA CLC Record
#2010-04. Two records thought to
refer to the same individual. One
male at Miller Canyon, Cochise
County, Arizona, was discovered
and photographed by Benjamin Van
Doren, Dave Jasper, and other participants in Camp Chiricahua on 16
July 2009 (Van Doren 2010). Presumably the same individual then
traveled 2.7 miles to Ramsey Canyon,
Cochise County, Arizona, where it
was present 18 July1 August 2009
(Van Doren 2010). Discovered by
Sandy Kunzer and Rick Romea, photographed by Joe Woodley and oth-

WWW.ABA.ORG

3
Looking like a large Green Kingfisher with a massive bill, this
Amazon Kingfisher was the second species recently added
to the ABA Checklist from Texas. Like the Bare-throated
Tiger-Heron found five weeks earlier, this kingfisher was
observed by hundreds during its stay. Laredo, Webb County,
Texas; 24 January 2010. Photo by Alan Wormington.

Rufous-tailed Robin (Luscinia sibilans). ABA CLC

Record #2009-04. Two singles. One second-year female
at West Massacre Valley, Attu
Island, Alaska, on 4 June
2008. Discovered and collected by David Sonneborn
and Jack Withrow, the specimen was deposited in the collection at the University of
Alaska Museum of the North
(UAM 24600), where the
identification was confirmed
by Daniel Gibson (DeCicco et
al. 2009). Another secondyear bird was found four days

33

A B A

C H E C K L I ST

3
later, at Northeast Point, St. Paul Island, Alaska, on 89 June
2008. Discovered by Lucas DeCicco, and observed and photographed by several others the following day (DeCicco et al.
2009). Distinguished from other thrushes by the combination of whitish underparts with scaly gray breast and flanks,
and brown upperparts contrasting with the rusty tail and uppertail coverts. Both records were accepted unanimously by
the AKCLC and the ABA CLC. An earlier report (ABA CLC
Record #2002-05), relegated by the AKCLC to the Alaska
Unsubstantiated List and not accepted by the ABA CLC (Robbins et al. 2003), was a bird distantly photographed at Attu
Island on 4 June 2000 (DeCicco et al. 2009).
The Rufous-tailed Robin breeds in eastern Russia, northeastern China, and northern Korea. It winters mostly in
southern China, with some also in Vietnam, Laos, and central-eastern Thailand. It is a rare and irregular migrant to
Japan (Brazil 1991, DeCicco et al. 2009).
Rufous-tailed Robin (708.1) is placed on the ABA Checklist as a Code 5 species. Following AOU, it is placed first in
Luscinia, thus appearing between Spotted Flycatcher (708)
and Siberian Rubythroat (709). The species is widely considered to be monotypic (e.g., Dickinson 2003).

Except for last years Sinaloa Wrens, no species had been added to
the ABA Checklist from Arizona since Blue Mockingbird in 1996
based on records in 19911992 and 1995. As if to compensate, two
species are added to the ABA Checklist from that state in this report.
The first of these, Gray-collared Becard, was a one-day wonder. The
species ranges north to eastern Sonora. Cave Creek Canyon, Cochise
County, Arizona; 5 June 2009. Photo by Jillian Johnston.

unanimously by the Florida Ornithological Society Records

Committee and by the ABA CLC.
Red-legged Thrush (Turdus plumbeus). ABA CLC Record
The Red-legged Thrush is resident in
#2010-07. One adult at Maritime
the northern Bahamas, Cuba, the Isle of
Hammock Sanctuary, Melbourne
Youth, the Cayman Islands, Hispaniola,
Beach, Brevard County, Florida, on
Puerto Rico, and Dominica (Raffaele et al.
31 May 2010. Discovered and pho1998, Hallett 2006). It is absent from Jatographed by Marcus Ponce and
maica and from the Lesser Antilles other
not observed again (Anderson and
than Dominica.
Ponce in preparation). DistinRed-legged Thrush (736.1) is placed on
guished from other thrushes by its
the ABA Checklist as a Code 5 species. Foluniform slate-gray body with no
lowing AOU, it is placed last in Turdus,
buffy tones on the belly, white chin,
thus falling between American Robin
black throat, red orbital ring, and
(736) and Varied Thrush (737).
orange-red legs and feet. More
specifically, the unicolored underVotes in Progress
parts and restricted white on the

face identify the individual as beThe ABA CLC voted on one other species
longing to the nominate subspecies
during the period but did not reach conT. p. plumbeus, which is restricted to
sensus. Members did not agree on the
the northern Bahamas (Clement Two records of Brown-backed Solitaire
identity of a putative Solanders Petrel
2000, Dickinson 2003) and is the less than three miles and two days apart are
(Pterodroma solandri) photographed apsubspecies most likely to reach thought to pertain to the same individual.
proximately 59 kilometers west-southwest
east-central Florida. Red-legged The bird was first found at Miller Canyon,
Arizona, for one day; then it reappeared at
of
Tofino, British Columbia, on 6 October
Thrushes are not known to be kept Ramsey
Canyon, Arizona, where it remained
2009. The ABA CLC voted 53 on the
captive (ISIS 2010, Anderson and for two weeks. Ramsey Canyon, Arizona;
record, which will undergo external rePonce in preparation). Accepted 30 July 2009. Photo by Christopher H. Taylor.

34

BIRDING NOVEMBER 2010

view and then a second round of

Votes Anticipated
voting. There is currently no British

Columbia bird records committee

Within the next 12 months, the ABA CLC will vote
to assist the ABA CLC with review
on the following records if they pass local-commitof this record.
tee review: Common Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna)
Two species mentioned in our
in Massachusetts (a recent record from Newfoundprevious report (Pranty et al. 2009)
land will not be reviewed because of questions of
are still under consideration. First,
provenance), Sungrebe (Heliornis fulica) in New
with regard to reports of Feas PeMexico (Williams et al. 2009), Cuban Black-Hawk
trels photographed off North Car(Buteogallus gundlachii) in Georgia, Purple
olina, the ABA CLC was awaiting
Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio) in Florida (estabpublication of a major paper (Shirlished exotic), and Rosy-faced Lovebird (Agapornis
ihai et al. 2010) that discusses the Two recent records of Rufousroseicollis) in Arizona (established exotic). Addiidentification and distribution of tailed Robin were obtained from
tionally, the ABA CLC may re-review the evidence
Feas, Desertas, and Zinos petrels islands off western Alaska within
of potential establishment of Black-hooded Parabefore voting to add Feas Petrel to four days of each other. The first
keets (Nandayus nenday) in Florida; it has been five
was of a bird collected at Attu Isthe ABA Checklist. Second, with re- land on 4 June 2008. The second
years since the previous ABA CLC review.
gard to a putative Gray Gull pho- was of a bird at St. Paul Island 89
Recent ABA CLC reports had indicated that the
tographed in Louisiana in 1987, the June 2008. Northeast Point, St. Paul
committee would eventually review on a formal
ABA CLC has decided that addi- Island, Pribilof Islands, Alaska; 9 June
basis recent claims of persistence of Ivory-billed
2008. Photo by Gary Rosenberg.
tional evidence purported to exist
Woodpeckers in the southern U.S. (e.g., Fitzpatrick
will likely never be located. This record was not accepted by
et al. 2005, Hill et al. 2006). In discussing the matter recently,
the Louisiana Bird Records Committee (Dittmann and
members of the ABA CLC agreed to maintain the status quo
Cardiff 2003), because the bird may have been a melanistic
(as per the seventh edition of the ABA Checklist), whereby the
Laughing Gull.
Ivory-billed Woodpecker is listed as a Code 6 species, meaning that it is probably or definitely extinct. This
status will be maintained unless a record is obtained with less problematic evidence than has
been put forth in recent years.

AOU Taxonomic and Nomenclatorial

Changes Affecting the ABA Checklist

3
This Red-legged Thrush represents the only species added to the ABA Checklist from
east of the Mississippi River in this report. Photographed along the Atlantic coast of
Florida, the bird was not seen after its discovery. The species occurs on Grand Bahama
Island, less than 70 miles east of Florida. Maritime Hammock Sanctuary, Melbourne
Beach, Brevard County, Florida; 31 May 2010. Photo by Marcus Ponce.

WWW.ABA.ORG

The 51st supplement to the AOUs Check-list

of North American Birds (Chesser et al. 2010)
was published in August 2010, and all
changes affecting avian taxonomy and
nomenclature within the ABA Area are automatically accepted by the ABA CLC. Many
changes made by the AOU affect the ABA
Checklist, especially in the sequence of some
passerine groups (e.g., moving the longspurs
to precede the wood-warblers). The changes
in sequence are so dramatic that the numbering sequence of the seventh edition of the ABA
Checklist requires rather substantial changes,
more so than are included here. The 51st supplement to the AOU Check-list results in the
following changes to the seventh edition of
the ABA Checklist:

35

A B A

C H E C K L I ST

Black Scoter (53) is split into two species, one

found in the western Palearctic and the other in
the eastern Palearctic and the New World. The
English names of both species published in the
51st supplementAmerican Scoter and Black
Scoter, respectivelyare erroneous and have
been corrected in the September/October 2010
Auk (A. Kratter, personal communication). The
corrected English names are Black Scoter
(Melanitta americana) for our species and Common Scoter (M. nigra) for the western Palearctic
species. Although currently extralimital, Common Scoter breeds in Iceland and occurs casually in Greenland (Boertmann 1994)where
interestingly it is the only taxon recordedso it
seems a possible stray to the ABA Area.
Greater Shearwater (128) becomes Great Shearwater.

Populations of exotic birds often appear to fluctuate greatly, which prevents many
exotic species from being added to the ABA Checklist. One species that seems destined
for ratification is the Purple Swamphen in Florida, which was discovered around
December 1996. A state-sponsored eradication attempt resulted in the shooting of
more than 3,100 swamphens between October 2006 and March 2009. The effort was
cancelled in April 2009 because an additional 2,000+ swamphens were thought to have
survived, they are prolific breeders, and they already occupied millions of acres of wetlands. In November 2009, a Purple Swamphen photographed at Glennville, Georgia,
had probably dispersed from the Florida population. Wakodahatchee Wetlands,
Delray Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida; 15 November 2007. Photo by Bill Pranty.

36

This putative
Solanders Petrel
off British Columbia
was first thought to
be a Murphys Petrel,
and it may yet be
determined to be
that species. British
Columbia is one of
very few states or
provinces to lack a
local bird records
committee, and the
lack of local review
prior to its examination by the ABA CLC
resulted in a mixed
vote. The record will
now undergo external review before the
second round of ABA
CLC voting. Clayoquot
Canyon, off Tofino,
British Columbia; 6
October 2009. Photo
by Sharon Toochin.

Whip-poor-will (488) is split into an eastern North American species and a northern Middle American species: Eastern
Whip-poor-will (Caprimulgus vociferus;
488) and Mexican Whip-poor-will (C. arizonae; 488.1).
Crowned Slaty-Flycatcher (587.1) is
changed to Crowned Slaty Flycatcher,
without a hyphen.
The genus of Brown Jay (623) is changed
from Cyanocorax to Psilorhinus.
Winter Wren (681) is split into three
species. The Old World species, thought
likely to form four distinct groups, becomes the Eurasian Wren (T. troglodytes)
and is extralimital. Of the two newly split
North American species, the eastern birds
(breeding west to Alberta) remain the
Winter Wren (681.1) while the species
breeding from Alaska to the Pacific region
(some breeding sparingly elsewhere in the
mountain ranges of western North America) becomes the Pacific Wren (T. pacificus;
681).
The scientific name of Blue-winged Warbler (771) is changed from Vermivora pinus
to Vermivora cyanoptera.
The genus of Tennessee Warbler (773) is

BIRDING NOVEMBER 2010

changed from Vermivora to Oreothlypis.

The genus of Orange-crowned Warbler
(774) is changed from Vermivora to Oreothlypis.
The genus of Nashville Warbler (775) is
changed from Vermivora to Oreothlypis.
The genus of Virginias Warbler (776) is
changed from Vermivora to Oreothlypis.
The genus of Colima Warbler (777) is
changed from Vermivora to Oreothlypis.
The genus of Lucys Warbler (778) is
changed from Vermivora to Oreothlypis.
The genus of Northern Waterthrush (809)
is changed from Seiurus to Parkesia.
The genus of Louisiana Waterthrush (810)
is changed from Seiurus to Parkesia.
The scientific name of Canyon Towhee
(841) is changed from Pipilo fuscus to
Melozone fusca.
The genus of California Towhee (842) is
changed from Pipilo to Melozone.
The genus of Aberts Towhee (843) is
changed from Pipilo to Melozone.
The genus of Rufous-winged Sparrow
(844) is changed from Aimophila to Peucaea.
The genus of Cassins Sparrow (845) is
changed from Aimophila to Peucaea.
The genus of Bachmans Sparrow (846) is
changed from Aimophila to Peucaea.
The genus of Botteris Sparrow (847) is
changed from Aimophila to Peucaea.
Rufous-crowned Sparrow (848) is retained
within Aimophila, which also includes two Another exotic that may be added to the ABA Checklist is the Rosy-faced
Middle American species, but the genus is Lovebird (known as Peach-faced Lovebird in North American field guides).
now placed in between the Pipilo and Although breeding at Phoenix, Arizona, was first noted in 1987, information on
population size and status had been lacking. On the morning of 25 February 2010,
Melozone towhees.
a lovebird survey was undertaken by 60 observers throughout the greater Phoenix
The sequence of the Peucaea sparrows fol- area. More than 900 birds were found, and thousands of others are thought to have
lowing Rufous-winged Sparrow is been overlooked (K. Radamaker, personal communication). A publication of the
changed to Botteris (845), Cassins (846), survey results is in preparation. Phoenix, Arizona; 19 June 2007. Photo by Bill Pranty.
and Bachmans (847) sparrows.
Literature Cited
The genus of Five-striped Sparrow (849) reverts from

Aimophila to Amphispiza, and the species is moved to preAnderson, B.H. and M.S. Ponce. In preparation. First verified United
cede Black-throated Sparrow (859).
States record of Red-legged Thrush (Turdus plumbeus). Submitted to
The longspurs and Plectrophenax buntings are moved to folNorth American Birds.
low Olive Warbler (769), and the sequence is changed to
AOU [American Ornithologists Union]. 1998. Check-list of North AmeriLapland, Chestnut-collared, Smiths, and McCowns
can Birds, 7th edition. American Ornithologists Union, Washington.
longspurs, and Snow and McKays buntings.
Bieber, G. and S. Schuette. 2009. First record of Solitary Snipe (Gallinago
The genus of McCowns Longspur (formerly 880) reverts
solitaria) for North America on Saint Paul Island, Alaska. North Amerfrom Calcarius to Rhynchophanes.

WWW.ABA.ORG

37

A B A

C H E C K L I ST

3
ican Birds 63:178181.
Boertmann, D. 1994. An annotated checklist to the birds of Greenland.
Meddelelser om GrnlandBioscience 38:163.
Brazil, M.A. 1991. The Birds of Japan. Smithsonian Institution Press,
Washington.
Carey, G.L., M.L. Chalmers, D.A. Diskin, P.R. Kennerley, P.J. Leader, M.R.
Leven, R.W. Lewthwaite, D.S. Melville, M. Turnbull, and L. Young. 2001.
The Avifauna of Hong Kong. Hong Kong Bird Watching Society, Hong
Kong.
Chesser, R.T., R.C. Banks, F.K. Barker, C. Cicero, J.L. Dunn, A.W. Kratter, I.J.
Lovette, P.C. Rasmussen, J.V. Remsen, J.D. Rising, D.F. Stotz, and K.
Winker. 2010. Fifty-first supplement to the American Ornithologists
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DeCicco, L.H., S.C. Heinl, and D.W. Sonneborn. 2009. First North American records of the Rufous-tailed Robin (Luscinia sibilans). Western

3
A complex of species formerly known as the Winter Wren is widespread in the holarctic region. In 2010, the AOU split the complex
into three species, one of these (Eurasian Wren) being restricted to
the Old World. The two New World species are Winter Wren, which
breeds from Alberta to the Atlantic Ocean, and Pacific Wren, pictured here, which breeds from Alaska to California and sparingly
elsewhere in western mountain ranges. Vancouver Island, British
Columbia; March 2010. Photo by Glenn Bartley.

38

It had long been suspected that two non-overlapping breeding

populations of whip-poor-wills, with different songs, morphology,
and egg color, represented separate species. A paper published in
2010 proved that the two populations show strong genetic differences. Those differences, combined with the above characters, led
the AOU to separate the populations into separate species. The population formerly treated as the nominate eastern subspecies is now
known as Eastern Whip-poor-will. The population formerly treated
as the arizonae subspecies, pictured here, which occurs in the southwest, is known along with four Middle and South American subspecies (Dickinson 2003) as Mexican Whip-poor-will. Cochise
County, Arizona; May 2004. Photo by Brian E. Small.
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Birds of the World, 3rd edition. Princeton University Press, Princeton.
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Records Committee. Journal of Louisiana Ornithology 6:41101.
Fitzpatrick, J.W., M. Lammertink, M.D. Luneau, T.W. Gallagher, B.R. Harrison, G.M. Sparling, K.V. Rosenberg, R.W. Rohrbaugh, E.C.H.
Swarthout, P.H. Wrege, S.B. Swarthout, M.S. Dantzker, R.A. Charif, T.R.
Barksdale, J.V. Remsen, S.D. Simon, and D. Zollner. 2005. Ivory-billed
Woodpecker (Campephilus principalis) persists in continental North
America. Science 308:14601462.
Hallett, B. 2006. Birds of the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands.
Macmillan, Oxford.
Hayman, P., J. Marchant, and T. Prater. 1986. Shorebirds: An Identification
Guide. Houghton Mifflin, Boston.
Hill, G.E., D.J. Mennill, B.W. Rolek, T.L. Hicks, and K.A. Swiston. 2006. Evidence suggesting that Ivory-billed Woodpeckers (Campephilus principalis) exist in Florida. Avian Ecology and Conservationcologie et
Conservation des Oiseaux 1(3):2 <tinyurl.com/3xnqvsv>.
Howell, S.N.G. and S. Webb. 1995. A Guide to the Birds of Mexico and
Northern Central America. Oxford University Press, New York.
ISIS [International Species Information System]. 2010. ISIS species holdings: Aves <tinyurl.com/396cyk3>.
Johnston, J., A. Pellegrini, and R. Davis. 2010. First record of Gray-collared Becard (Pachyramphus major) for the United States. North

BIRDING NOVEMBER 2010

American Birds 64:180182.

Lasley, G.W., C. Sexton, M. Lockwood, W. Sekula, and C. Shackelford.
1997. Texas region [Fall 1997 report]. Field Notes 51:8287.
Lockwood, M.W. 1998. Texas Bird Records Committee report for 1997.
Bulletin of the Texas Ornithological Society 31:5062.
Monson, G. 1986. Gray-collared Becard in Sonora. American Birds
40:562563.
Nirschl, R. and R. Snider. 2010. First record of Bare-throated Tiger-Heron
(Tigrisoma mexicanus) for the United States. North American Birds 64:
347349.
Pranty, B., J.L. Dunn, S.C. Heinl, A.W. Kratter, P.E. Lehman, M.W. Lockwood, B. Mactavish, and K.J. Zimmer. 2008. ABA Checklist: Birds of the
Continental United States and Canada, 7th edition. American Birding
Association, Colorado Springs.
Pranty, B., J.L. Dunn, S.C. Heinl, A.W. Kratter, P.E. Lehman, M.W. Lockwood, B. Mactavish, and K.J. Zimmer. 2009. Annual report of the ABA
Checklist Committee, 20082009. Birding 41(6):3843.
Raffaele, H., J. Wiley, O. Garrido, A. Keith, and J. Raffaele. 1998. A Guide
to the Birds of the West Indies. Princeton University Press, Princeton.
Rasmussen, P.C. and J.C. Anderton. 2005. Birds of South Asia, The Ripley
Guide, Volumes 1 and 2. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, and
Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.

WWW.ABA.ORG

Robbins, M.B., D.L. Dittman, J.L. Dunn, K.L. Garrett, S. Heinl, A.W. Kratter,
G. Lasley, and B. Mactavish. 2003. ABA Checklist Committee: 2002
annual report. Birding 35:138144.
Rosenberg, G.H., K. Radamaker, and M.M. Stevenson. 2007. Arizona Bird
Committee report, 20002004 records. Western Birds 38:74101.
Shirihai, H., V. Bretagnolle, and F. Zino. 2010. Identification of Feas, Desertas, and Zinos petrels at sea. Birding World 23:239275.
Tomkovich, P.S. 2008. Birds of the upper Anadyr River (Chukotka Autonomous Area). Archives of the Zoological Museum of Moscow State
University 49:101158.
Van Doren, B. 2010. A Brown-backed Solitaire (Myadestes occidentalis)
in Arizona. North American Birds 64:176179.
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& G. Witherby Limited, London.
Williams, S.O., S.A. King, S.M. Fettig, J.R. Oldenettel, and J.E. Parmeter.
2009. A Sungrebe (Heliornis fulica) in New Mexico: A first for the
United States. North American Birds 63:49.
Withrow, J.J. and D.W. Sonneborn. In preparation. Important recent bird
records from Attu Island, Alaska. To be submitted to Western Birds.
Wormington, A. and R.M. Epstein. 2010. Amazon Kingfisher (Chloroceryle amazona): New to Texas and to North America north of Mexico. North American Birds 64:208210.

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