You can also read more about the taxonomic upheavals coming down the pike at the Birder's World Field Of View blog here: http://tinyurl.com/6msvfm Besides the falcons/parrots relationship, there's also the indication that the Accipter family shares a common ancestry with New World Vultures. So we're talking some major reorganizations here. I say it's all a plot to sell new field guides... Andy Sewell Columbus, Ohio ________________________________ This mailbox protected from junk email by MailFrontier Desktop from MailFrontier, Inc. http://info.mailfrontier.com -----Original Message----- From: Ohio birds [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Bill Whan Sent: Friday, June 27, 2008 8:45 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: [Ohio-birds] Falcons closely related to Parrots? I read about an interesting story in the Chicago Tribune, available at http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/lifestyle/green/chi-birds-web-jun27,0 ,7133429.story One of the items involves taxonomic studies that suggest falcons are more closely related to parrots than to hawks & other raptors. I was reminded of a conversation we had on this list trying to identify the species of bird represented in a Hopewell effigy: some of were sure it was a Carolina parakeet, and the establishment was betting on peregrine falcon. Might not be such a big disagreement after all. The Tribune story mentions this in the course of describing some major realignments in bird taxonomy, to be announced soon in Science magazine. A quote from AOU Checklist Committee member Carla Cicero was intriguing as well. The Committee will publish changes in the official North American list in a few weeks, and Cicero is quoted as saying, "There are going to be a lot of changes, I can tell you that." As in years past, I'll pass along a summary of these decisions to ohio-birds, so we can trash our checklists all over again. Bill Whan Columbus ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask] ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]