Changes to the Check-List of North American Birds have appeared, and
are on the AOU site at
http://www.aou.org/checklist/suppl/AOU_checklist_suppl_48.pdf

        Decisions of interest include:
1) the genus name of belted kingfisher and ringed kingfisher is changed
to Megaceryle;
2) the Cathartidae (vultures, condor) have been moved back, from their
brief stay among the Ciconiiformes (herons, egrets, ibises, storks) to
Falconiformes (raptors) again.
3) The bean goose, an accidental species in N. America, has been split
into two species, both of which have occurred here.
4) A newly-split Cuban Black-Hawk may figure into several Florida records.
5) Rec-footed falcon F. vespertinus is added to the list based on the
2004 occurrence in Massachusetts.
6) Larus michahellis (including atlantis) is split from L. cachinnans,
and involves occurrences of yellow-legged gull in the US and Canada.
7) The Committee offers the opinion that the sacred ibis (Threskiornis
aethiopicus) "seems to be on the way to establishment" in Florida.
8) Among other taxonomic changes considered, but not settled, was
splitting black scoter (Melanitta nigra) and white-winged scoter (M.
fusca) into two species apiece.
Bill Whan
Columbus


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