The admirably open process of the American Ornithologists' Union's
Check-list Committee permits us to look ahead to some changes. See
http://www.aou.org/committees/nacc/proposals/pending.php  .
        These decisions are probably not final till the publication of next
month's issue of the Auk, but some name changes are in the offing. These
are especially important if you're working on a checklist, or a
publication, and one of them at least will be an immediate relief to
ordinary birders.
        That one is the simplification of some of the English names of
Ammodramus sparrows:
        "Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow" is now "Saltmarsh Sparrow", and
        "Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow" is now "Nelson's Sparrow."
Hurray.
        The old genus Carduelis is being split up, with these changes in
scientific names for Ohio species:
        common redpoll is now Acanthis flammea
        hoary redpoll is now Acanthis hornemanni
        American goldfinch is now Spinus tristis
        pine siskin is now Spinus pinus

        Finally, the Ohio "tanagers" (summer, scarlet, western), as well as the
hepatic tanager, in the genus Piranga are leaving the tanager family to
join the Cardinalidae. Their scientific names will remain the same, but
maybe the English name "tanager" will be changed...I'd guess not, after
reading the comments...
Bill Whan
Columbus

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