Indian Peafowl, Great Black Hawk, Red-backed Shrike, Thick-billed Warbler, River Warbler, European Robin, Pied Wheatear, Mistle Thrush, and Black...
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Indian Peafowl, Great Black Hawk,
Red-backed Shrike, Thick-billed Warbler,
River Warbler, European Robin, Pied
Wheatear, Mistle Thrush, and Black-
backed Oriole added to the Checklist
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
T
his is the 29th published report of the ABA
Checklist Committee (hereafter, ABA-CLC),
covering deliberations during 2018. The pri-
mary role of the ABA-CLC is to consider the addi-
tion of new species to (and, in rare cases, the removal
of species from) the ABA Checklist. A secondary role
includes reviewing and revising ABA Codes covering
ease of observation in the ABA Area.
The ABA-CLC consists of eight voting members
who serve staggered four-year terms; each year, two
members typically cycle off and are replaced by new
or reelected members. Members may be reelected af-
ter their first four-year term, but must take at least
one year off after two consecutive terms. Since our
previous report (Pyle et al. 2017), the term of Ron Pit-
taway expired at the end of 2017 following his second
consecutive term (eight years) of service. This vacancy
was filled by Kristie Nelson. The first four-year terms
of Tom Johnson, Aaron Lang, and Peter Pyle will ex-
pire at the end of 2018; all three are eligible for, and
were reelected to, second four-year terms. As such, the
2018 ABA-CLC membership will remain unchanged
in 2019. The “two-on-two-off” membership rotation
was disrupted in 2014–2015 due to a retirement. In
order to resume this rotation, one of the three current-
ly reelected members (to be decided later) will serve a
three-year, rather than a four-year, term.
For each record under consideration, members vote
to accept or not accept a species to the ABA Checklist
based on evidence from one or more records in the
ABA Area (Pranty et al. 2008). A tally of 8–0 for ac-
ceptance of a record automatically results in its ad-
dition to the Checklist, whereas a tally of 0–8 results
in automatic non-acceptance. Intermediate vote tal-
30 BIRDING • DECEMBER 2018
lies result in automatic recirculation (if
6–2, 5–3, or 4–4) or recirculation at
particularly in California, that have
not yet been added to the ABA Check-
Peter Pyle*
the request of the dissenting (if 7–1) or list. Lack of data on populations of Chairman,
any accepting (if 3–5, 2–6, 1–7) mem- Japanese Quail and Lavender Waxbill ABA Checklist Committee
ber. Records can circulate for occurring on private lands in Ha-
San Francisco, California
up to three rounds, at which waii was also a concern. With
point an 8–0 or 7–1 tally is additional information, all ppyle@birdpop.org
needed for acceptance to three of these species may be
the Checklist. eligible for addition to the
ABA Checklist in the future.
Mary Gustafson
Addition of Hawaiian Japanese Quail and Lavender Mission, Texas
Species to the ABA Checklist Waxbill (but not Red-masked live4birds@aol.com
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Parakeet) are currently accepted to
In 2017, a major undertaking of the the American Ornithologists’ Union’s
ABA-CLC was to add species to the Check-list (AOU 1998), including revi- Tom Johnson
ABA Checklist reported from the Ha- sions by the American Ornithological Cape May, New Jersey
waiian Islands but not from the ABA Society (AOS) to its Birds of North and tbj4@cornell.edu
Continental Area prior to Novem- Middle America Checklist through 2018
ber 2016, when ABA members voted (Chesser et al. 2018), as based on
to add Hawaii to the ABA Area (Pyle populations in Hawaii. See also Pyle Andrew W. Kratter
2017). As of publication of the previ- (2017) for more information on the Gainesville, Florida
ous (28th) ABA-CLC report, 105 spe- acceptance of established populations
cies recorded in Hawaii were added to of exotic species in Hawaii. kratter@flmnh.ufl.edu
the ABA Checklist (Pyle et al. 2017).
At that time, the ABA-CLC was still Aaron Lang
considering whether populations of CHANGES IN BRIEF
four exotic species in Hawaii, the Japa-
Homer, Alaska
–––––––––––––––––––––––––
nese Quail (Coturnix japonica), Indian Species Added Based on
aaron@wildernessbirding.com
Peafowl (Pavo cristatus), Red-masked Established Populations or
Parakeet (Psittacara erythrogenys), and
Lavender Waxbill (Estrilda caerules-
New Distributional Records Kristie Nelson
q Indian Peafowl
cens), had been adequately established Lee Vining, California
(Pavo cristatus), Code 3
according to ABA criteria (Pranty et al. q Great Black Hawk storm_petrel@hotmail.com
2008). After three circulations (ABA- (Buteogallus urubitinga), Code 5
CLC record 2017–9), the final (third-
round) votes on these four species were
q Red-backed Shrike
(Lanius collurio), Code 5
Mark W. Lockwood
6–2, 7–1, 5–3, and 6–2, respectively. q Thick-billed Warbler Alpine, Texas
As an 8–0 or 7–1 vote is required for (Iduna aedon), Code 5 mark.lockwood@tpwd.texas.gov
acceptance after three rounds, Indi- q River Warbler
an Peafowl was accepted to the ABA (Locustella fluviatilis), Code 5
Checklist (see below), whereas the oth- q European Robin David Sibley
er three species were not accepted. (Erithacus rubecula), Code 5 Deerfield, Massachusetts
Concerns regarding the addition q Pied Wheatear
of these three non-accepted species sibleyguides@gmail.com
(Oenanthe pleschanka), Code 5
included declining (Japanese Quail) q Mistle Thrush
and/or low (Lavender Waxbill) popu- (Turdus viscivorus), Code 5
*
Pyle is with The Institute
lations and, for Red-masked Parakeet, q Black-backed Oriole for Bird Populations,
a comparison of the population sizes (Icterus abeillei), Code 5
in Hawaii with greater population sizes Point Reyes Station,
of other Psittacids in North America, California.
ABA.ORG/M
B IAR GD AI N
Z IGN E 31
A B A C H E C K LI ST R E P O RT
ABA Checklist convention, all taxo-
nomic and nomenclatorial decisions of
the AOS are automatically recognized
3 by the ABA-CLC. This year, decisions
by the North American Classification
Committee of the AOS (Chesser et al.
2018) resulted in no additions or re-
movals of species to the ABA Checklist
on taxonomic grounds (due to splits or
lumps); however, the common names
of two species and scientific names of
21 species on the ABA Checklist have
been revised, and linear sequences
among and within several families
were re-ordered, as discussed later in
this report. The addition of nine spe-
cies reported here has increased the
ABA Checklist to 1,011 species.
Fig. 1. After three rounds of deliberation, the ABA-CLC considered populations of Indian
Peafowl in Hawaii to be established in the wild and added it to the ABA Checklist. Kailua- New Species Accepted
Kona, Hawaii Island, Hawaii; September 14, 2018. Photo by © Drew Weber. to the ABA Area
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Additional Records were accepted and added to the ABA Indian Peafowl (Pavo cristatus)—
Reviewed by the ABA-CLC Checklist and two were not accepted ABA-CLC Record #2018–09 (6–2,
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– on the grounds of questionable ability 5–3, 7–1; March 2018; see above). The
In 2018, the ABA-CLC voted on re- to reach the ABA Area naturally. Ac- Indian Peafowl (Fig. 1) was introduced
cords of 10 additional species from the counts for all 10 species are provided to Hawaii as early as 1860, primarily
ABA Continental Area, of which eight below. In addition, and according to as an aesthetic garden bird, and it has
2a 2b
3
32 BIRDING • DECEMBER 2018
subsequently escaped to form feral tographed on South Padre Island, Tex- graphed in Biddeford, Maine, August
populations on several islands (Pyle as, April 24, 2018 (Fig. 2a) and accep- 7–9, 2018 (Fig. 2b), and then again on
and Pyle 2017). The issue is whether tance by the Texas Bird Records Com- October 29, 2018, was confirmed as
wild populations are sustainable. With mittee. Neither the Texas Bird Records the same bird by plumage similarities
additional input from the Hawaii Bird Committee nor the ABA-CLC had any and notches to primary tips (Figs. 2c,
Records Committee (which had accept- issues with identification or prove- 2d). That the bird was relocated north
ed the species to the Hawaii state list), nance for this individual. The species of Texas strengthened some members’
the ABA-CLC accepted Indian Peafowl is known to wander from its closest view that this was a wild vagrant. One
to the ABA Checklist on the third round breeding area, in southern Tamaulipas, or more Great Black Hawks observed
of voting. The ABA-CLC agreed for the Mexico, some 200 miles south of South on Virginia Key, Florida, in 1972–2015
most part that populations on Kauai, Padre Island. Following acceptance, have been identified as pertaining to
Maui, Hawaii, and possibly Niihau a first-year Great Black Hawk photo- the nominate South American subspe-
meet all eight of the ABA acceptance
criteria detailed by Pranty et al. (2008)
for established populations, several of Fig. 2. Expected to occur in the ABA Area, this Great Black Hawk in Texas (Fig. 2a), near the
which are found in remote areas or Mexican border, provided the first record and the basis for addition to the ABA Checklist; here
it is being mobbed by Great-tailed Grackles. Remarkably, the same Great Black Hawk was spot-
private lands not surveyed frequently
ted in Maine 3½ months later, heavily molting (Fig. 2b). Deciding whether a record involves
by birders or ornithologists (Scott et the “same bird” as another record is an important function of records committees. Concluding
al. 1986). Following the AOS Check- that a single bird had moved around is often better and more conservative than assuming
list, Indian Peafowl is placed between that two or more individuals of a rare species were involved. Recently, detailed analyses of
Ring-necked Pheasant and Ruffed feather patterns and condition have been used to confirm that bird records, sometimes hun-
Grouse on the ABA Checklist. dreds of miles apart, in fact pertain to a single bird (Pyle and Sullivan 2010, Nelson and Pyle
2013). Note in the inset panels that the underwing primary coverts show identical bar patterns
(yellow circles) and that similar notches are present on p4 and p5 (yellow arrows), confirming
Great Black Hawk (Buteogallus uru-
that the Texas (Fig. 2c) and Maine (Fig. 2d) Great Black Hawks were the same individual. How
bitinga)—ABA-CLC Record #2018–06 many states and provinces did this bird pass through between these two observations? Fig.
(8–0; August 2018). The ABA-CLC ac- 2a: South Padre Island, Texas; April 24, 2018. Photo by © Javier Gonzales. Fig. 2b: Biddeford, Maine;
cepted Great Black Hawk to the ABA August 9, 2018. Photo by © Knut Hansen. Fig. 2c: South Padre Island, Texas; April 24, 2018. Photo by
Checklist on the basis of a juvenile pho- © Alex Lamoreaux. Fig. 2d: Biddeford, Maine; August 9, 2018. Photo by © Francis Morello.
2c
2c inset 2d
2d
inset
ABA.ORG/MAGAZINE 33
A B A C H E C K LI ST R E P O RT
3 3
cies rather than that found in Central
America and Mexico (Diaz 2009), and
these records have not been accepted
by the Florida Ornithological Society
Records Committee or previously con-
sidered by the ABA-CLC. Following
the AOS Check-list, Great Black Hawk
is placed between Common Black
Hawk and Roadside Hawk on the ABA Fig. 3. The plumage and wing morphology
Checklist. of this bird are consistent with those of a
juvenile Red-backed Shrike, and combine Fig. 4. The plain brown plumage, pale lores,
to suggest a pure individual of this species, long and graduated tail, and thick bill help
Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collu- not influenced by genetic introgression to confirm this bird as the first ABA Area re-
rio)—ABA-CLC Record #2018–07 with Brown or Turkestan shrikes. Gambell, cord of the Thick-billed Warbler. Gambell,
(8–0; August 2018). An individual St. Lawrence Island, Alaska; October 10, 2017. St. Lawrence Island, Alaska; October 9, 2017.
of the Red-backed/Brown/Isabelline/ Photo by © Sue Bryer. Photo by © Greg Scyphers.
Turkestan shrike complex was pres-
ent at Gambell, St. Lawrence Island, hybrid Red-backed x Turkestan shrike (within family Laniidae) in the ABA
Alaska, October 3–22, 2017 (Fig. 3). It from California (Pyle et al. 2015). Checklist sequence.
was a first-fall bird in mostly juvenile In the absence of any suggestions of
plumage with a few replaced formative hybridism for the Gambell bird, the Thick-billed Warbler (Iduna aedon)—
feathers. The plumage and wing and ABA-CLC was content to add Red- ABA-CLC Record #2018–02 (8–0;
tail morphology were consistent with backed Shrike to the ABA Checklist, May 2018). Following unanimous ac-
those of a juvenile Red-backed Shrike, following acceptance by the Alaska ceptance by the Alaska Checklist Com-
and combined to rule out the three Checklist Committee. One ABA-CLC mittee, the ABA-CLC also voted unani-
contending species. The primary ques- member pointed out that not accept- mously to add Thick-billed Warbler to
tion for this record was whether ge- ing this record due to possible genetic the ABA Checklist based on the record
netic influence from one of three other impurity could call into question all of a formative-plumage bird present at
shrike species could be ruled out. Hy- records of Brown Shrikes in the ABA Gambell, St. Lawrence Island, Alaska,
bridization is frequent in this complex Area. Details of the Alaska bird are September 8–13, 2017 (Fig. 4). There
in central Eurasia, and accounts for presented by Lehman et al. (2018). were no identification issues with this
the only other record involving Red- Following Clements et al. (2018), Red- well-documented record of a distinc-
backed Shrike in the ABA Area, of a backed Shrike precedes Brown Shrike tive, migratory Asian species (Rosen-
berg et al. 2018). Following Clements
Fig. 5. This River et al. (2018), Thick-billed Warbler
3
Warbler was one precedes Millerbird (within family Ac-
of three new spe- rocephalidae) in the sequence of the
cies added to
ABA Checklist.
the ABA Checklist
based on records at
Gambell, Alaska, in River Warbler (Locustella fluviatilis)—
fall 2017. It is also ABA-CLC Record #2018–03 (8–0;
one of three spe- May 2018). Lehman (2018) detailed
cies that may have the observation of a formative-plum-
reached Alaska by age River Warbler at Gambell, St. Law-
crossing over polar rence Island, Alaska, October 7, 2017
regions. Gambell,
St. Lawrence Island,
(Fig. 5); this record was unanimously
Alaska; October 7, accepted by both the Alaska Check-
2017. Photo by list Committee and the ABA-CLC. The
© Sue Bryer. River Warbler, the Red-backed Shrike
34 BIRDING • DECEMBER 2018
3
(above), and to some extent the Pied their second round of voting.
Wheatear (below) have similar breed- The abundance and long-dis-
ing and wintering ranges to those of tance migratory habits of this
several other central Eurasian species European species, a number
that have reached western Alaska, pre- of records from Iceland the
sumably through 180° mis-orientation previous fall (tinyurl.com/
over polar regions (Lehman 2018, EuRo-ABA-CLC), and the lack
Lehman et al. 2018; see also Howell of evidence for much, if any,
et al. 2014, Pyle et al. 2015). We fol- human-assisted importation
low most ornithologists in using the of European Robins to North
common name “River Warbler,” as America helped convince the
opposed to “Eurasian River Warbler” Pennsylvania Ornithological Fig. 6. The European Robin was added to the ABA
used by Clements et al. (2018), al- Records Committee and ABA- Checklist on the basis of this bird, present in Pennsylva-
nia during February–March 2015; this followed a num-
though we follow Clements in placing CLC of acceptance. A first-
ber of European Robin records from Iceland during the
River Warbler between Middendorff’s round concern was the lati- fall of 2014. North Wales, Bucks County, Pennsylvania;
Grasshopper-Warbler and Lanceolated tude of wintering in Pennsyl- February 21, 2015. Photo by © Pamela Newitt.
Warbler on the ABA Checklist. vania, which is slightly north
of regular wintering ranges in
European Robin (Erithacus rubec-
ula)—ABA-CLC Record #2017–12
(6–2, 8–0; March 2018). The record of
Spain and North Africa. Fol-
lowing Clements et al. (2018),
we place European Robin be-
3
a formative-plumage European Robin, tween White-rumped Shama
present in North Wales, Bucks County, and Rufous-tailed Robin on the
Pennsylvania, February 21–March 7, ABA Checklist.
2015 (Fig. 6), was unanimously ac-
cepted by the ABA-CLC on the second Pied Wheatear (Oenanthe ple-
round of voting. This followed accep- schanka)—ABA-CLC Record
tance by the Pennsylvania Ornitho- #2018–01 (7–1; June 2018).
logical Records Committee, also on The ABA-CLC accepted the
record of a Pied Wheat-
3
ear from Cape Nome,
Alaska, July 4–August
4, 2018 (Fig. 7), by a
7–1 vote. The dissent- Fig. 8. This confiding Mistle Thrush, wintering in New
ing member believed Brunswick, was observed by hundreds of ABA mem-
the identification of Pied bers, thanks to the hospitality of the original finders
and homeowners of the nearby property, Peter and
Wheatear was likely Deana Gadd. Miramichi, New Brunswick; December 20,
correct, but was con- 2017. Photo by © David W. Nelson.
cerned that not enough
information was presented to (one-year-old) male that had not re-
the Alaska Checklist Commit- placed many head feathers during the
tee (which accepted the record prealternate molt, obscuring diagnos-
unanimously) to eliminate oth- tic head-plumage differences among
er dark or contending Oenanthe these species. Because images of Vari-
Fig. 7. Several species of dark or blackish wheatears
wheatears such as Variable (O. able Wheatear at the Oriental Bird
occur in central Eurasia, but the combination of
long primary projection, details of rump and tail picata), Mourning (O. lugens), Club image database (for example, ti-
patterns, and likelihood of occurrence led the ABA- Black-eared (O. hispanica), nyurl.com/OBC-Oenanthe) otherwise
CLC to accept the Pied Wheatear to the ABA Check- Finch’s (O. finschii), and Cy- matched the Alaska bird in features
list based on this record from Alaska. Nome, Alaska; prus (O. cypriaca). The plum- such as rump and tail patterns, photo-
July 8, 2017. Photo by © James Levison. age suggested a first-summer graphs were sent to Eurasian experts P.
ABA.ORG/MAGAZINE 35
A B A C H E C K LI ST R E P O RT
3
Alström, L. Svensson, and H. Shirihai.
All agreed that the Alaska bird was ac-
ceptable as a worn adult or first-spring
9a
female Pied Wheatear. Also cited in
support of the record were the Alaska
bird’s long primary projection and Al-
ström’s remark that Pied is “a thousand
times more likely in Alaska than Vari-
able Wheatear.” Based on these opin-
ions, the dissenting ABA-CLC member
chose not to request the record go to a
second round. Following Clements et
al. (2018), Pied Wheatear is placed af-
ter Northern Wheatear (within Family
9a
Muscicapidae) in the sequence of the
ABA Checklist. 9b inset
4
3
Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus)—
ABA-CLC Record #2018–05 (8–0; July 2
2018). A well-documented record of
a formative-plumage Mistle Thrush, 1
present in Miramichi, New Brunswick,
December 9, 2017 to March 21, 2018
(Fig. 8), was accepted unanimously by
both the New Brunswick Bird Records
9b 4
inset
Committee and the ABA-CLC. There 3
were no issues concerning identifica-
tion or provenance of this distinctive
and migratory European species. Cle-
2
ments et al. (2018) and the AOS dif-
fer in their linear sequences for Turdus
1
thrushes, preventing an unequivocal
placement of Mistle Thrush on the
Fig. 9. An adult male Black-backed Oriole observed by many in Pennsylvania (Fig. 9a) was
ABA Checklist; we have thus chosen for
later confirmed to be the same as one photographed in Massachusetts (Fig. 9b); four of many
now to place it between Redwing and corresponding plumage marks are indicated by yellow arrows. For both the Great Black Hawk
Song Thrush. (Fig. 2) and this Black-backed Oriole, documented movements helped sway ABA-CLC mem-
bers that these wandering individuals were naturally occurring vagrants (see also Fig. 10).
Black-backed Oriole (Icterus abeil- Fig. 9a: Reading, Pennsylvania; February 5, 2017. Photo by © Susan Schmoyer. Fig. 9b: Sutton,
lei)—ABA-CLC Record #2018–04 (6– Massachusetts; May 7, 2018. Photo by © Margaret Bowden.
2, 7–1; August 2018). An adult male
Black-backed Oriole was present at a on this bird by the Pennsylvania Orni- neither the Massachusetts Avian Re-
feeder in Reading, Pennsylvania, Janu- thological Records Committee and the cords Committee nor the California
ary 26–April 10, 2017 (Slater 2018); Massachusetts Avian Records Commit- Bird Records Committee accepted their
the same individual was photographed tee, along with those accumulated by respective records, the ABA-CLC fol-
in Sutton, Massachusetts, May 7–8, the California Bird Records Committee lowed the Pennsylvania Ornithological
2017 (Figs. 9a, 9b); and what was concerning another adult male Black- Records Committee in accepting the
likely the same bird was reported again backed Oriole observed near San Di- species to the ABA Checklist, in both
from Stamford, Connecticut, May 14, ego, California, in 2000–2002, were cases after a second round of voting.
2017. Documentation and comments circulated to the ABA-CLC. Although Dissenting comments on the record
36 BIRDING • DECEMBER 2017
Hentze (2017). Most ABA-CLC mem-
bers were gratified to learn more about
this species’ vagrancy potential to the
ABA Area and thought natural oc-
currence was possible. However, one
member noticed in photographs that
the bird appeared to be missing a right
hind toe, a sign of captivity. A previous
record from Homer Spit, Alaska, June
1–6, 1998, furthermore, was thought
to have come in on a wood-chip ship
from Japan and was not reviewed by
the Alaska Checklist Committee. This
record generated some debate on the
thorny issue of ship-assisted vagrants;
see tinyurl.com/ABA-ship-assist for a
recap of the ABA Recording Standards
and Ethics Committee’s positions on
the matter. For most members, the
likelihood of the White-cheeked Star-
Fig. 10. Depicted here are proposed flight paths of a Black-backed Oriole from its normal ling’s being restrained and/or fed dur-
range in Durango to Reading, Pennsylvania, and Sutton, Massachusetts. That the oriole may
have maintained a similar heading during two legs of its journey could indicate natural
vagrancy. The ABA-CLC routinely relies on insights and analyses such as presented here.
Map by Tom Johnson.
included unlikelihood of a mostly resi- ing both the California and Pennsyl-
7
dent central Mexican species getting as vania records indicate that first-year
far as New England, and the proclivity Black-backed Orioles are very similar
of the bird to visit feeders, a possible to first year Bullock’s and Baltimore
sign of previous captivity. However, orioles, and would be difficult to de-
several ABA-CLC members pointed to tect among these and hybrids between
records of other supposedly resident the species in the ABA Area. Follow-
Mexican orioles and other land birds ing the AOS, Black-backed Oriole is
far north of expected ranges, including placed between Baltimore and Scott’s
Streak-backed Oriole in Wisconsin, orioles on the ABA Checklist.
Amethyst-throated Hummingbird in
Québec, and Orange-billed Nightin- Species Not Accepted
gale-Thrush in South Dakota. A map to the ABA Area
produced by ABA-CLC member Tom –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Johnson, showing that a track between White-cheeked Starling (Euplectes fran-
the Pennsylvania and Massachusetts ciscanus)—ABA-CLC Record #2018– Fig. 11. This White-cheeked Starling was
locations was in direct alignment with 08 (3–5; August 2018). At the request found on a golf course along the western
a potential track from Durango, Mex- of an ABA-CLC member, a record of coast of Vancouver Island. A lack of other
ico (the closest breeding area), and this species from Tofino, British Co- substantiated records in North America and
Pennsylvania (Fig. 10), helped per- lumbia, April 27–29, 2016 (Fig. 11), the possibility that it was missing a hind toe
(a sign of captivity) resulted in both the Brit-
suade one dissenting member to ac- was reviewed by the ABA-CLC, but it
ish Columbia Bird Records Committee and
cept the record on the second round. was not accepted after the first round the ABA-CLC not accepting this record due to
Although adult males are generally less of voting. This record was also not ac- the possibility that it came to North America
expected than first-year birds to turn cepted by the British Columbia Bird restrained on a ship. Tofino, British Columbia;
up as vagrants, comments accompany- Records Committee, as detailed by April 27, 2016. Photo by © Adrian Dorst.
ABA.ORG/MAGAZINE 37
A B A C H E C K LI ST R E P O RT
7
changes are as follows:
• The scientific name for Gray Night-
jar is changed to Caprimulgus jokata
(from C. indicus).
• The scientific name for Tahiti Petrel
is changed to Pseudobulweria rostrata
(from Pterodroma rostrata).
• The genus for seven species of wood-
peckers (Ladder-backed, Nuttall’s,
Downy, Hairy, Arizona, Red-cockad-
ed, and White-headed) is changed to
Dryobates (from Picoides).
• The common name for Gray Jay is
changed to Canada Jay (Perisoreus
canadensis).
• The scientific name for Japanese
Bush-Warbler is changed to Horornis
diphone (from Cettia diphone).
Fig. 12. The white cheeks and scarlet plumage of this adult Red Warbler indicate it to be
• The genus for Siberian Blue Robin
of the central Mexican subspecies, rather than the northwestern Mexican subspecies found and Rufous-tailed Robin is changed
closer to the ABA Area. This, the lack of extralimital records of this species or subspecies, and to Larvivora, that of Bluethroat is
the bird’s age caused the Arizona Bird Committee and the ABA-CLC to withhold acceptance changed to Cyanecula, and that of
on the possibility of cage transport to North America. Rose Canyon Campground, Pima Coun- Siberian Rubythroat is changed to
ty, Arizona; April 9, 2016. Photo by © Dave Stejskal. Calliope, all from Luscinia.
• The genus for Baird’s and Henslow’s
ing passage prevented them from ac- species rubra in the populated Mexico sparrows is changed to Centronyx,
cepting the records as pertaining to a City region resulted in the unanimous and that of LeConte’s, Seaside, Nel-
natural vagrant. decision of the Arizona Bird Commit- son’s, and Saltmarsh sparrows to
tee that the warbler was not a wild Ammospiza, all from Ammodramus.
Red Warbler (Cardellina rubra)— vagrant. Nevertheless, an ABA-CLC The species names of Seaside and
ABA-CLC Record #2018–09 (2–6; member requested that the record be Saltmarsh sparrows also change gen-
September 2018). An adult Red War- reviewed, given the acceptance of oth- der, to maritima and caudacuta, re-
bler was photographed near Rose Can- er apparently resident Mexican species spectively.
yon Lake, Pima County, Arizona, April well out of range—for example, Black- • White-collared Seedeater (Sporophila
9, 2018 (Fig. 12). The white auriculars backed Oriole, above. Most ABA-CLC torqueola) is changed to Morelet’s
and scarlet (rather than ruby) plumage members agreed with the comments Seedeater (S. morelleti).
of this individual indicated that it was of the Arizona Bird Committee and • The species sequences within the
of the central Mexican subspecies ru- would prefer to see more extralimital Hydrobatidae (storm-petrels), Ac-
bra, which occurs primarily in Jalisco records in Mexico before adding Red cipitridae (hawks), Picidae (wood-
through Veracuz; rubra is found south Warbler to the ABA Checklist. peckers), Tityridae (becards and
of the perhaps more-expected north- tityras), Tyrannidae (New World fly-
western subspecies melanauris, which AOS Taxonomic and catchers), Muscicapidae (Old World
ranges north to southern Chihuahua Nomenclatorial Changes flycatchers), and Passerellidae (New
(Howell and Webb 1995). The lack of Affecting the ABA Checklist World sparrows) are rearranged fol-
any extralimital records of this species, ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– lowing Chesser et al. (2018).
the bird’s age as an adult, the existence The 59th supplement to the AOS For additional details on AOS taxonom-
of a specimen procured from captiv- Check-list of North and Middle Ameri- ic and nomenclatorial changes as they
ity (Museum of Vertebrate Zoology can Birds (Chesser et al. 2018) presents affect the ABA Checklist, see Michael L.
45586, a “caged bird, probably from changes to the naming and placement P. Retter’s “AOS Check-list Redux,” be-
Mexico”), and the occurrence of sub- of species on the ABA Checklist. These ginning on p. 68 of this issue.
38 BIRDING • DECEMBER 2018
ABA Code Updates Four-letter Alpha Codes British Columbia Bird Records Com- ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– mittee considered it plausible that the The ABA has developed a coding sys- In 2017, at the request of ABA mem- swift died on one of the many trans- tem to reflect the abundance of a spe- bers, four-letter alpha codes were add- Pacific container ships that come from cies in the ABA Area and the ease of ed to the ABA Checklist. These alpha Asia and dock at Deltaport—and that detecting it (see Pranty et al. 2008 and codes are abbreviations of avian com- it did so before it had entered North tinyurl.com/ABA-codes). The codes mon names used by ornithologists and American waters. range from 1 (most common and eas- birders as shorthand, allowing quicker ily seen) to 6 (presumed extinct). ABA data recording and entry than full spe- Acknowledgments codes are used by eBird in its algo- cies names. Four-letter alpha codes are We are grateful to Ron Pittaway for rithms for rare bird notifications, relied also now an option for eBird data en- his eight years of excellent service as on by many birders. try, and the codes employed by both an ABA-CLC member. The decisions Changes to ABA codes recently ap- the ABA Checklist and eBird follow of local bird records committees are proved by the ABA-CLC are as fol- those maintained by the Institute for instrumental in ABA-CLC evaluation lows: Steller’s Eider (ABA Code 3 to Bird Populations, which are updated of records, and we thank the follow- ABA Code 2), Spectacled Eider (3 to each year following publication of the ing committees and their correspond- 2), Himalayan Snowcock (3 to 2), Ze- AOS Check-list supplement. Codes for ing members for providing comments naida Dove (5 to 4), Common Swift (5 the six species newly added to the ABA or additional information on species to 4), Bristle-thighed Curlew (3 to 2), Checklist not yet on the AOS Check- considered herein: Alaska Checklist Slender-billed Curlew (6 to 5), Eur- list are as follows: Red-backed Shrike, Committee (ABA-CLC member Aaron asian Curlew (4 to 5), Common Red- RBSH; Thick-billed Warbler, TBWA; Lang), Arizona Bird Committee (Gary shank (5 to 4), Marsh Sandpiper (5 to River Warbler, RIWA; European Rob- Rosenberg), British Columbia Bird 4), Little Gull (3 to 2), Black-browed in, EURO; Pied Wheatear, PIWH; Records Committee (Nathan Hentze), Albatross (5 to 4), Barolo Shearwater and Mistle Thrush, MITH. Changes California Bird Records Committee (5 to 4), Thick-billed Parrot (6 to 5), to codes on the ABA Checklist affected (Tom Benson), Hawaii Bird Records Nutting’s Flycatcher (5 to 4), Variegat- by name changes or species additions Committee (Eric VanderWerf), Mas- ed Flycatcher (5 to 4), Brown-chested by the AOS (Chesser et al. 2018) are sachusetts Avian Records Committee Martin (5 to 4), Willow Warbler (5 to as follows: Cory’s Shearwater, from (Sean Williams), New Brunswick Bird 4), Wood Warbler (5 to 4), Lanceo- COSH to CORS; Short-tailed Shearwa- Records Committee (Jim Wilson, David lated Warbler (5 to 4), Clay-colored ter, from SRTS to STTS; Canada (for- Christie), Pennsylvania Ornithological Thrush (3 to 2), Yellow-breasted Bun- merly Gray) Jay, from GRJA to CAJA; Records Committee (Holly Merker, ting (5 to 4), Pallas’s Bunting (5 to 4), Green Jay, from GREJ to GRJA; and Andy McGann, Dave DeReamus), and Black-vented Oriole (5 to 4), and Co- Morelet’s (formerly White-collared) Texas Ornithological Committee (Eric lima Warbler (3 to 2). Seedeater, from WCSE to MOSE. See Carpenter). Paul Lehman and Gary Many of the revised codes, includ- tinyurl.com/IBP-codes for details. Rosenberg provided early versions of ing those changed from 5 (five or fewer manuscripts cited in this report, and records in the ABA Area) to 4 (casual), Anticipated/Possible Future Per Alström, Alvaro Jaramillo, Ha- are based on the number of verified Votes and Other Decisions doram Shirihai, and Lars Svensson eBird records. A few code inconsisten- ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– provided outside reviews to help the cies remain between the ABA and eBird The ABA-CLC considered a record of ABA-CLC evaluate records. Marshall lists, for practical reasons related to House Swift (Apus nipalensis) found Iliff generously provided suggestions eBird rare bird alerts in the ABA Conti- dead in the Global Container Terminal on ABA codes as based on eBird data. nental Area (including the 13 code up- at Deltaport, Ladner, British Columbia, The ABA-CLC Chair thanks Maureen dates for Hawaiian species listed in the on May 18, 2012 (Szabo et al. 2017). Flannery of the California Academy of 2017 ABA-CLC report), but the above However, following non-acceptance Sciences and Carla Cicero of the Mu- changes result in the two lists largely by the British Columbia Bird Records seum of Vertebrate Zoology for access being aligned. The code changes of 6 Committee (Hentze 2018), no ABA- to specimens relevant to identification to 5 for two species were to ensure that CLC member requested review. This and age determinations of birds cov- all Code 6 species in the ABA Area are species shows little evidence for long- ered in this report. Finally, we thank presumed extinct. distance migration or vagrancy, and the all of the photographers listed in this ABA.ORG/MAGAZINE 39
A B A C H E C K LI ST R E P O RT
thology, Ithaca. can Birds in press.
report for permission to publish their Diaz, R. M. 2009. Virginia Key Great Black Nelson, K., and P. Pyle. 2013. Distribution and
images, and we are grateful to the Hawk (tinyurl.com/FL-GBHa). Tropical movement patterns of individual Crested
many ABA members and other bird- Audubon Society, Miami. Caracaras in California. Western Birds 44:
ers who contributed or posted photo- Hentze, N. T. 2017. British Columbia Field 45–55.
graphs of these birds to help with the Ornithologists Bird Records Committee Pranty, B., J. Dunn, S. C. Heinl, A. W. Kratter, P.
ABA-CLC’s evaluation. report for 2016. British Columbia Birds 27: E. Lehman, M. W. Lockwood, B. Mactavish,
49–51. and K. J. Zimmer. 2008. ABA Checklist: Birds
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40 BIRDING • DECEMBER 2018ABA.ORG/MAGAZINE 41
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