Currently 456 birds have officially been seen in Kern County. The current county tally of birds has been added to since the late 19th century. The A.O.S. (American Ornithological Society) formerly the AOU (American Ornithological Union) discusses and implements changes each year based on the latest advancements and understanding of the taxonomic relationship of birds. Each summer, I anxiously await the supplement to the official Check-list of North American Birds, Seventh Edition, to review changes relevant to the birds observed in Kern County. Find those changes listed in the year they came out below.

Recent American Ornithologist's Union checklists and supplements 36th through 63rd editions yield the following changes relevant to Kern County birders. Changes to taxonomic nomenclature and sequence current as of August 2022.

AOS 64th Supplement, 2023 These are the following changes pertinent to birds seen in Kern County only. Cattle Egret split into new and old world. Night-Herons lose the hyphen. Barn Old split into New and Old World species. House Wren gets split into seven species, but USA only has one species still.

Genuses renamed: Mountain Plover - Charadrius montanus becomes Anarhynchus montanus, Snowy Plover - Charadrius nivosus becomes Anarhynchus nivosus, Mountain Plover - Ixobrychus exilis becomes Botaurus exilis, Cattle Egret - Bubulcus ibis becomes Western Cattle Egret - Ardea ibis, Black-crowned Night-Heron becomes Black-crowned Night Heron, Barn Owl - Tyto alba gets split with US birds now called American Barn Owl - Tyto furcata

AOS 63rd Supplement, 2022 These are the following changes pertinent to birds seen in Kern County only. Changes in this supplement include the following: One genus (Ramosomyia) is added for nomenclatural reasons, resulting in the loss of a genus (Leucolia) and changes to the scientific name for Violet-crowned Hummingbird (Ramosomyia violiceps).
A new linear sequence is adopted for genera in the family Troglodytidae, due to new phylogenetic data.

Violet-crowned Hummingbird - Ramosomyia violiceps

Adopt the following linear sequence for genera in the family Troglodytidae:
Salpinctes
Catherpes
Campylorhynchus
Thryomanes
Troglodytes
Cistothorus

AOS 62nd Supplement, 2021 These are the following changes pertinent to birds seen in Kern County only. Changes in this supplement include the following: Reshuffling of the list order as follows with movement of some taxa within groups: This narrative is slightly modified from Michael Retter's great article on the changes found here on the ABA blog: https://www.aba.org/the-2021-aos-supplement-is-out/

Split of Mew Gull
Common Gull (Larus canus) mostly EUROPE
Short-billed Gull (Larus brachyrhynchus) Western NORTH AMERICA
This split has been a long time coming, and because of that, ID criteria are well covered in current field guides. All Old-World-breeding subspecies, including “Kamchatka Gull”, are included within Common Gull, making the Western North American-breeding Short-billed Gull monotypic.

New Genera for Cormorants
The genus Phalacrocorax has been split. While Great Cormorant remains in that Old World genus, Kern County cormorants are now in the genus: Nannopterum. Coastal cormorants are now in the genus: Urile.
Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritum ➛ Nannopterum auritum)
Neotropic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax brasilianum ➛ Nannopterum brasilianum)

Lump of Crested and Southern caracaras
Crested Caracara (Caracara cheriway ➛ Caracara plancus)
Southern Caracara ➛ Crested Caracara (Caracara plancus)**
Twenty years ago this species was split but since the two species meet and hybridize in South America, it was realized although there are some phenotypic differences, this is the same species.

New genus for the monotypic Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula ➛ Corthylio calendula)
Although similar in appearance, it has been realized that Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets are not in the same genus, so introducing Corthylio. The checklist sequence changes too moving the Ruby-crowned to before the Golden-crowned.

Major Passerine Family Reshuffle
The sequence of the passerines has one again been shuffled. With hope, consensus about older portions of the avian evolutionary tree will minimize such upheavals in the future (crossing our fingers - this is confusing). The new sequence is as follows:

Tyrannidae (tyrant flycatchers)
Vireonidae (vireos)
Laniidae (shrikes)
Corvidae (corvids)
Remizidae (penduline tits)
Paridae (tits)
Alaudidae (larks)
Hirundinidae (swallows)
Aegithalidae (bushtits)
Phylloscopidae (leaf warblers)
Sylviidae (true warblers)
Regulidae (kinglets)
Bombycillidae (waxwings)
Ptiliogonatidae (silky-flycatchers)
Sittidae (nuthatches)
Certhiidae (treecreepers)
Polioptilidae (gnatcatchers and gnatwrens)
Trogolodytidae (wrens)
Mimidae (mimids)
Sturnidae (starlings and mynas)
Cinclidae (dippers)
Turdidae (thrushes)
Passeridae (Old World sparrows)
Estrildidae (waxbills)
Motacillidae (pipits and wagtails)
Fringillidae (true finches)
Calcariidae (longspurs and snow buntings)
Emberizidae (true buntings)
Passerellidae (New World sparrows)
Icteriidae (yellow-breasted chats)
Icteridae (icterids)
Parulidae (New World warblers)
Cardinalidae (cardinalids)

Change in sequence for Chaetura swifts
The new sequence is as follows: which does not change the order of Kern County recorded species.
Chimney Swift
Vaux’s Swift

Change in sequence for gnatcatchers and gnatwrens
The new sequence is as follows: which does not affect Kern County species
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Black-tailed Gnatcatcher

Change in sequence for waxbills
The new sequence is as follows: this does not affect the Kern County list as we have only recorded one waxbill in the county.
Scaly-breasted Munia

AOS 61st Supplement, 2020. These are the following changes pertinent to Kern County only. Changes in this supplement include the following: Reshuffling of the list order as follows with movement of some taxa within groups:

Mexican Duck - Anas diazi  is now a full species, split from Mallard. No records yet for Kern County, but it is highly probable that some Mallards are actually Mexican Ducks.

R Terry Chesser, Shawn M Billerman, Kevin J Burns, Carla Cicero, Jon L Dunn, Andrew W Kratter, Irby J Lovette, Nicholas A Mason, Pamela C Rasmussen, J V Remsen, Jr., Douglas F Stotz, Kevin Winker, Sixty-first Supplement to the American Ornithological Society’s Check-list of North American Birds, The Auk, Volume 137, Issue 3, 1 July 2020, ukaa030, https://doi.org/10.1093/auk/ukaa030

"Anas diazi is treated as a species separate from A. platyrhynchos. Change the species account for A. platyrhynchos as follows: delete mention of the diazi group from the habitat and distributional statements and change the Notes to: “The Anas platyrhynchos complex includes 14 closely related species; A. platyrhynchos appears to be most closely related to the New World radiation, which includes A. diazi, A. fulvigula, A. rubripes, A. wyvilliana, and A. laysanensis, and to A. poecilorhyncha J. R. Forster 1781 [Indian Spot-billed Duck] and A. zonorhyncha Swinhoe, 1866 [Eastern Spot-billed Duck] in the Old World (Lavretsky et al. 2014a). In various older treatments, some or even all New World taxa were treated as conspecific under the name A. platyrhynchos (e.g., Johnsgard 1961, 1967). Anas rubripes and A. fulvigula hybridize frequently with A. platyrhynchos in an area of broad overlap, largely as a result of introductions and range expansions of the latter into the range of A. rubripes and A. fulvigula. These 3 forms differ somewhat behaviorally and tend to segregate as species (Brodsky and Weatherhead 1984, Brodsky et al. 1988, Hepp et al. 1988, Ford et al. 2017, Lavretsky et al. 2019b), but early genetic studies found them difficult to differentiate (Ankney et al. 1986, Ankney and Dennis 1988, Avise et al. 1990, McCracken et al. 2001, Lavretsky et al. 2014a, b). More recent genomic studies have found that they are genetically separable (Lavretsky et al. 2015, 2019a,b), with differences likely the result of selection and demographic processes (Kirby et al. 2004, Lavretsky et al. 2019b). Further, genetic evidence suggests that hybridization is not as widespread as previously believed (Ford et al. 2017), and that A. platyrhynchos and A. rubripes do not represent a hybrid swarm (Lavretsky et al. 2019b). See comments under A. diazi.”

Insert the following new species account after the account for A. platyrhynchos:

Anas diazi Ridgway. Mexican Duck.

Anas diazi Ridgway, 1886, Auk 3: 332. (San Ysidro, Puebla, Mexico.)

Habitat.—Freshwater Marshes (0–2500 m).

Distribution.—Breeds from southeastern Arizona, southern New Mexico, and west-central Texas south in the highlands of Mexico to Jalisco, Michoacán, México, Distrito Federal, Tlaxcala, and Puebla.

Winters in the breeding range and east to southern Coahuila, San Luis Potosí, and eastern Tamaulipas.

Nonbreeding birds occur casually throughout the year north through much of Colorado and in Utah north to Great Salt Lake, west to the Lower Colorado River Valley, and east to the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Accidental west to San Luis Obispo County, California, north to Albany County, Wyoming, and east to southwestern Nebraska. Difficulties distinguishing this species from A. fulvigula may be decreasing detection east of its usual range.

Notes.—Formerly (e.g., AOU 1983, 1998) considered conspecific with A. platyrhynchos, although prior to this (until AOU 1973) the 2 were treated as separate species. Newly separated based on assortative mating in the narrow contact zone between these species (Bellrose 1976, Hubbard 1977, Brown 1985) and genomic data that indicate restricted gene flow between them (Lavretsky et al. 2015, 2019a)."

New Latin name for Violet-crowned Hummingbird - Leucolia violiceps

The Phasianidae have been reordered to: Wild Turkey - Meleagris gallopavo, Sooty Grouse - Dendragapus fuliginosus, Ring-necked Pheasant - Phasianus colchicus, Chukar - Alectoris chukar

Reorder of the Selasphorus hummingbirds: Calliope Hummingbird - Selasphorus calliope, Rufous Hummingbird - Selasphorus rufus, Allen's Hummingbird - Selasphorus sasin, Broad-tailed Hummingbird - Selasphorus platycercus

Reorder of Rallidae: Virginia Rail - Rallus limicola, Sora - Porzana carolina, Common Gallinule - Gallinula galeata, American Coot - Fulica americana

Reorder of Charadriidae: Black-bellied Plover - Pluvialis squatarola, American Golden-Plover - Pluvialis dominica, Pacific Golden-Plover - Pluvialis fulva, Killdeer - Charadrius vociferus, Semipalmated Plover - Charadrius semipalmatus, Mountain Plover - Charadrius montanus, Snowy Plover - Charadrius nivosus

Reorder of Cathartidae: California Condor - Gymnogyps californianus, Turkey Vulture - Cathartes aura

Reorder of Hirundinidae: Bank Swallow - Riparia riparia, Tree Swallow - Tachycineta bicolor, Violet-green Swallow - Tachycineta thalassina, Northern Rough-winged Swallow - Stelgidopteryx serripennis, Purple Martin - Progne subis, Barn Swallow - Hirundo rustica, Cliff Swallow - Petrochelidon pyrrhonota

AOS 60th Supplement, 2019. These are the following changes pertinent to Kern County only. Changes in this supplement include the following: Reshuffling of the list order as follows with movement of some taxa within groups but mostly just major reordering of the family groups:

New Latin name for White-winged Scoter due to split with European races. s.

White-winged Scoter (Melanitta deglandi)

Ground-Doves no longer hyphenated

Common Ground-Dove = Common Ground Dove
Ruddy Ground-Dove = Ruddy Ground Dove

Changes to scientific names and the sequence of species on the checklist.

Split of Oreothypis
The warbler genus Oreothlypis has been split. As a result, no species observed in Kern County remain within it.

 

The new Kern County genus is Leiothlypis.

Tennessee Warbler (Oreothlypis peregrina = Leiothlypis peregrina)
Orange-crowned Warbler (Oreothlypis celata = Leiothlypis celata)
Lucy’s Warbler (Oreothlypis luciae = Leiothlypis luciae)
Nashville Warbler (Oreothlypis ruficapilla = Leiothlypis ruficapilla)
Virginia’s Warbler (Oreothlypis Virginia = Leiothlypis virginiae)

 

New cuckoo sequence

Crotophaga (anis)
Geococcyx (roadrunners)
Coccyzus (Yellow-billed Cuckoo, etc.)

 

New Charadrius plover sequence

Killdeer
Semipalmated Plover
Mountain Plover
Snowy Plover

 

New swallow sequence

Bank Swallow
Tree Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Purple Martin
Barn Swallow
Cliff Swallow

 

New New World sparrows (Passerellidae) sequence

Cassin’s Sparrow
Grasshopper Sparrow
Black-throated Sparrow
Lark Sparrow
Lark Bunting
Chipping Sparrow
Clay-colored Sparrow
Black-chinned Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Brewer’s Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
American Tree Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Harris’s Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Sagebrush Sparrow
Bell’s Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
LeConte’s Sparrow
Nelson’s Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Lincoln’s Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
California Towhee
Rufous-crowned Sparrow
Green-tailed Towhee
Spotted Towhee

AOS. 59th Supplement, 2018. These are the following changes pertinent to Kern County only. Changes include the following:

New Classification for the Hawks (Accipitridae)
New subfamilies and sequence have been adopted as follows:
Elaninae
White-tailed Kite
Accipitrinae
Golden Eagle
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk
Northern Goshawk
Bald Eagle
Mississippi Kite
Harris’s Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Broad-winged Hawk
Swainson’s Hawk
Zone-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Rough-legged Hawk
Ferruginous Hawk

 

Split of Picoides
The woodpecker genus Picoides has been split. North American species are now as follows, in this sequence.
Black-backed Woodpecker (Picoides arcticus)
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens = Dryobates pubescens)
Nuttall’s Woodpecker (Picoides nuttallii = Dryobates nuttallii)
Ladder-backed Woodpecker (Picoides scalaris = Dryobates scalaris)
Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus = Dryobates villosus)
White-headed Woodpecker (Picoides albolarvatus = Dryobates albolarvatus)

Suboscine reshuffle
The becard family (Tityridae) now comes before flycatchers (Tyrannidae) in the sequence, and within the latter, subfamilies found in the ABA Area are now in the following sequence:
Elaeniinae (elaenias and tyrannulets)
Tryanninae (kingbirds, kiskadees, Myiarchus)
Fluvicolinae (pewees, empids, phoebes)

Split of Ammodramus
The sparrow genus Ammodramus has been split. As a result, North America now has only one species in the genus, while South America has an additional two.
Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum)
LeConte’s Sparrow (Ammodramus leconteii = Ammospiza leconteii)
Nelson’s Sparrow (Ammodramus nelsoni = Ammospiza nelsoni)

AOS 58th supplement, 2017. These are the following changes pertinent to Kern County only. Changes include the following: *AOU became American Ornithological Society (AOS) in 2017

New sequence and genera changes:

remove Chen as a genus...

Snow Goose (Chen caerulescens = Anser caerulescens)
Ross’s Goose (Chen rossii = Anser rossii)
Graylag Goose (Anser anser) not on official Kern County list : this is the species of domestic goose in most parks
Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons)

 

... add new genera Spatula and Mareca

Garganey (Anas querquedula = Spatula querquedula)
Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors = Spatula discors)
Cinnamon Teal (Anas cyanoptera = Spatula cyanoptera)
Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata = Spatula clypeata)
Gadwall (Anas strepera = Mareca strepera)
Eurasian Wigeon (Anas penelope = Mareca penelope)
American Wigeon (Anas americana = Mareca americana)
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
Northern Pintail (Anas acuta)
Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca)

AOS has reordered of the following families:

Emberizidae - Old World Buntings
Passerellidae - New World Sparrows
Icteriidae - Yellow-breasted Chats
Icteridae - Blackbirds
Parulidae - Wood-Warblers

 

AOS has reordered many species of sandpipers, finches, and blackbirds.

 

Lose a species/gain a species - (add Iceland Gull - subtract Thayer's Gull.) Thayer’s Gull disappeared and is now described as a subspecies of Iceland Gull - Larus glaucoides thayeri
Northern Harrier (epithet change) has been split into two species: the North American species retains its common name but changes its specific epithet. Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius). The Hen Harrier of Eurasia retains the Scientific name.
Hen Harrier* (Circus cyaneus)
Evidence of a difference in the "Northern Shrikes" of Siberian and North America has split them into two species: Northern Shrike (Lanius borealis) and Great Gray Shrike* (Lanius excubitor). This changes the epithet of the species that rarely ventures into Kern County.
LeConte's Thrasher and LeConte's Sparrow lose the space in Le Conte's due to evidence LeConte spelled his name without the space.

The problem of where to place the Yellow-breasted Chat is finally solved albeit a bit awkwardly, the chat is now placed in its very own family Icteriidae just before Icteridae (blackbirds).

AOU 57th supplement, 2016. These are the following changes pertinent to Kern County only. Changes in this supplement include the following: Reshuffling of the list order as follows with movement of some taxa within groups but mostly just major reordering of the family groups:

QUAIL family Reshuffle
New list order for New World Quail, family Odontophoridae is as follows:
Mountain Quail
Northern Bobwhite (introduced in Kern County, not naturalized)
California Quail
Gambel’s Quail

 

Podicipediformes (grebes)
Columbiformes (pigeons)
Cuculiformes (cuckoos)
Caprimulgiformes (goatsuckers and nighthawks)
Apodiformes (swifts and hummingbirds)
Gruiformes (cranes and rails)
    

New Genus for Sandhill Crane
The genus Antigone has been split from Grus. Scientific name for Sandhill Crane has changed from Grus canadensis to Antigone canadensis. Antigone is the name of Oedipus’s daughter/half-sister in Greek mythology.

Charadriiformes (shorebirds, gulls, terns, auks)
Shorebird Subfamily Reshuffle
Relationships among the shorebirds are also now better understood. Below is the new classification scheme, including a change in subfamilies and in sequence. Within each genus, there is no change in sequence of the species.
Numeniinae (curlews)
   Bartramia (Upland Sandpiper)
   Numenius (traditional curlews)
Limosinae (godwits)
Arenariinae (turnstones and Calidrine sandpipers)
   Arenaria (turnstones)
   Calidris (sandpipers, including peeps)
Scolopacinae (dowitchers, snipes, and woodcocks)
   Limnodromus (dowitchers)
   Gallinago (other snipe)
Tringinae (tringines)
   Actitis (Spotted and Common sandpipers)
   Tringa (“legs”, “shanks”, tattlers, Willet, and Solitary, Green, Wood, and Marsh sandpipers)
   Phalaropus (phalaropes)

Gaviiformes (loons)
Ciconiiformes (storks)
Suliformes (gannets and boobies)
Pelecaniformes (pelicans, herons, ibises)
Cathartiformes (New World vultures)
Accipitriformes (hawks)
Strigiformes (owls)

New Sequence for Vireos
White-eyed Vireo
Bell’s Vireo
Gray Vireo
Hutton’s Vireo
Yellow-throated Vireo
Cassin’s Vireo
Blue-headed Vireo
Plumbeous Vireo
Philadelphia Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Yellow-green Vireo

Split of Western Scrub-Jay
California Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma californica)
Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma woodhouseii)
This long-anticipated split has finally happened. Reasons for the split were limited hybridization, consistent differences in voice, habitat, behavior, and morphology.
California Scrub-Jay is the more coastal species, and, predictably, it is darker in overall color. It lives in oak woodlands, which likely has led to its having a larger bill than Woodhouse’s. Woodhouse’s occurs in the Great Basin, mostly in piñon-juniper habitat. The Woodhouse's may split again but it will not affect Kern County.

A reshuffle of Old World groups of passerine families caused a move in sequence to immediately follow Ptiliogonatidae (Silky-flycatchers) and precede Calcariidae (longspurs). The following taxonomic order for species recorded in Kern County follows.
Passeridae (Old World sparrows)
Motacillidae (pipits and wagtails)
Fringillidae (true finches)

Calcariidae (longspurs)

Parulidae (Wood-Warblers)
Emberizidae (Emberizids)
Cardinalidae (Cardinals and Allies)
Icteridae (Blackbirds)

Changes in this supplement include the following: Changes in taxonomic order: Rough-legged Hawk - Buteo lagopus is now placed before Ferruginous Hawk - Buteo regalis The description for the Family PSITTACULIDAE changes to: Lories, Lovebirds, and Indomalayan and Papua-Australian Parrots. The Subfamily Psittacinae is replaced by PSITTACULINAE: Indomalayan and Papua-Australian Parrots Name changes: American Tree Sparrow genus changes from Spizella to Spizelloides arborea.

Changes in this supplement include the following: Arctic Warbler was split into three species but the only recorded bird in Kern is the one that retains both the common and scientific name therefore this split does not change our list: Arctic Warbler (Phylloscopus borealis)  Changes to common  names: Common Black-Hawk loses the hyphen between black and hawk becoming Common Black Hawk.
Changes to generic names: none of note for Kern County Birders.
Species split

Arctic Warbler is split into the following species

Arctic Warbler - Phylloscopus borealis - the only species that has wandered to California
Kamchatka Leaf Warbler - Phylloscopus examinandus
Japanese Leaf Warbler* - Phylloscopus xanthodryas

Checklist sequence changes: The only consequence for Kern County birders is a reshuffling of the sequence of some of the doves.
Old Order:

Spotted Dove
White-winged Dove
Mourning Dove
Inca Dove
Common Ground-Dove
Ruddy Ground-Dove
New checklist sequence
Spotted Dove

Inca Dove
Common Ground-Dove
Ruddy Ground-Dove
White-winged Dove
Mourning Dove

Changes in this supplement include the following: Checklist reordering: Removed monotypic genuses Tryngites and Philomachus thus reordering all of the Calidris genus. Reordered family sequences: Suborder Charadrii --> Family Recurvirostridae
(avocets and stilts) --> Family Charadriidae (plovers) --> Suborder Scolopaci -->Family Scolopacidae (sandpipers) --> Suborder Lari --> Family Stercorariidae (skuas and jaegers)
Family Laridae (gulls, terns, and skimmers). Reordered mimid (thrasher) family: Gray Catbird,
Brown Thrasher, Bendire’s Thrasher, California Thrasher, Le Conte’s Thrasher,
Sage Thrasher, Northern Mockingbird. Reordered three Haemorhous (formerly Carpodacus) finches: House Finch, Purple Finch, Cassin's Finch. SPECIES SPLIT: Sage Sparrow now becomes Bell's Sparrow - Artemisiospiza belli which breeds in Kern and Sagebrush Sparrow - Artemisiospiza nevadensis which migrates through and possibly winters in Kern County.
Changes to generic names:
Buff-breasted Sandpiper - Calidris subruficollis, Formerly Tryngites subruficollis
Ruff - Calidris pugnax, Formerly Philomachus pugnax

Species split:
Sage Sparrow disappears to be replaced by (http://www.birdingisfun.com/2013/03/splitting-sage-sparrow.html)

Sagebrush Sparrow - Artemisiospiza nevadensis, Formerly Artemisiospiza belli nevadensis
Bell's Sparrow - Artemisiospiza belli, Formerly A. b. belli and A. b. canescens

AOU 53rd supplement, 2012. These are the following changes pertinent to Kern County only.

Changes in this supplement include the following: Major reorder of Falcons and Parrots, inserting Falconiformes (caracaras and falcons) and Psittaciformes (parrots) between Piciformes (woodpeckers) and Passeriformes (songbirds). Significant shuffling of order of hummingbird and wren genera. Change of five genus names plus one common name.
Changes to species names:
Calliope Hummingbird - Selasphorus calliope, Formerly Stellula calliope
Sage Sparrow - Artemisiospiza belli, Formerly Amphispiza belli
Purple Finch - Haemorhous purpureus, Formerly Carpodacus purpureus
Cassin’s Finch - Haemorhous cassinii, Formerly Carpodacus cassinii
House Finch - Haemorhous mexicanus, Formerly Carpodacus mexicanus
Changes to common names:
Indian Peafowl - Pavo cristatus, formerly Common Peafowl

Changes in this supplement include the following: Major reorder of Warblers. Replace genus Dendroica with genus Setophaga. Change of several species names plus one common name. Found some errors in the order of species on this checklist which was brought up to date.
Changes to species names:
* Common Gallinule - Gallinula galeata, Formerly - Common Moorhen, Gallinula chloropus
Snowy Plover - Charadrius nivosus, Formerly - Charadrius alexandrinus
MacGillivray's Warbler - Geothlypis tolmiei, Formerly - Oporornis tolmiei
Mourning Warbler - Geothlypis philadelphia, Formerly - Oporornis philadelphia
Kentucky Warbler - Geothlypis formosa, Formerly - Oporornis formosus
Hooded Warbler - Setophaga citrina, Formerly - Wilsonia citrina
Cape May Warbler - Setophaga tigrina, Formerly - Dendroica tigrina
Cerulean Warbler - Setophaga cerulea, Formerly - Dendroica cerulea
Northern Parula - Setophaga americana, Formerly - Parula americana
Magnolia Warbler - Setophaga magnolia, Formerly - Dendroica magnolia
Bay-breasted Warbler - Setophaga castanea, Formerly - Dendroica castanea
Blackburnian Warbler - Setophaga fusca, Formerly - Dendroica fusca
Yellow Warbler - Setophaga petechia, Formerly - Dendroica petechia
Chestnut-sided Warbler - Setophaga pensylvanica, Formerly - Dendroica pensylvanica
Blackpoll Warbler - Setophaga striata, Formerly - Dendroica striata
Black-throated Blue Warbler - Setophaga caerulescens, Formerly - Dendroica caerulescens
Palm Warbler - Setophaga palmarum, Formerly - Dendroica palmarum
Yellow-rumped Warbler - Setophaga coronata, Formerly - Dendroica coronata
Yellow-throated Warbler - Setophaga dominica, Formerly - Dendroica dominica
Prairie Warbler - Setophaga discolor, Formerly - Dendroica discolor
Black-throated Gray Warbler - Setophaga nigrescens, Formerly - Dendroica nigrescens
Townsend's Warbler - Setophaga townsendi, Formerly - Dendroica townsendi
Hermit Warbler - Setophaga occidentalis, Formerly - Dendroica occidentalis
Black-throated Green Warbler - Setophaga virens, Formerly - Dendroica virens
Canada Warbler - Cardellina canadensis, Formerly - Wilsonia canadensis
Wilson's Warbler - Cardellina pusilla, Formerly - Wilsonia pusilla

Higher-level taxonomic changes include the addition of two new orders that were split from existing orders:
Suliformes (Frigatebirds, boobies, cormorants, darters, and allies)
Accipitriformes (Hawks, kites, eagles, and allies). Two families (Ardeidae and Threskiornithidae) are transferred from the order Ciconiiformes to the order Pelecaniformes. New linear sequences are adopted for species in the genera Cyanolyca, Aimophila, and Pipilo, and the sequences of genera within the Cotingidae and portions of the Corvidae and Emberizidae are rearranged to reflect new findings on relationships. The family placement of one species (Chamaea fasciata) is changed on the basis of new information on its phylogenetic relationships. The English group names of three orders (Pelecaniformes, Ciconiiformes, and Falconiformes), one suborder (Pelecani), and three families (Ramphastidae, Sylviidae, and Cardinalidae) are modified because of changes to the composition of these groups.

* Pacific Wren Troglodytes pacificus, Formerly considered a single species – Winter Wren T. hiemalis – and now two species based on differences in songs and calls, plumage, and lack of hybridization.
Changes to species names:
* Blue-winged Warbler Vermivora cyanoptera - Formerly Vermivora pinus
* Tennessee Warbler Oreothlypis peregrina - Formerly Vermivora peregrina
* Orange-crowned Warbler Oreothlypis celata - Formerly Vermivora celata
* Nashville Warbler Oreothlypis ruficapilla - Formerly Vermivora ruficapilla
* Virginia’s Warbler Oreothlypis virginiae - Formerly Vermivora virginiae
* Lucy’s Warbler Oreothlypis luciae - Formerly Vermivora luciae
* Northern Waterthrush Parkesia noveboracensis - Formerly Seiurus noveboracensis
* Louisiana Waterthrush Parkesia motacilla - Formerly Seiurus motacilla
* California Towhee Melozone crissalis - Formerly Pipilo crissalis
* Cassin’s Sparrow Peucaea cassinii - Formerly Aimophila cassinii* McCown’s Longspur Rhynchophanes mccownii - Formerly Calcarius mccownii

The sequence of families and subfamilies in GALLIFORMES were changed to: ODONTOPHORIDAE, PHASIANIDAE, Phasianinae, Tetraoninae, Meleagridinae: Quail are now before Chukar, Grouse, and Turkey.
The common name of Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow was shortened to Nelson’s Sparrow.
The Genus Piranga (Tanagers) was moved into Cardinalidae in front of the genus Pheucticus.
The genus of all of the goldfinches in Kern changed in the 50th supplement, from Carduelis to Spinus, therefore the following four species are now: Spinus pinus (Pine Siskin), Spinus psaltria (Lesser Goldfinch), Spinus lawrencei (Lawrence’s Goldfinch), Spinus tristis (American Goldfinch).

The order of Laridae changed significantly as a result of the 2008 update to the 7th edition in addition the following generic changes Larus philadelphia changed to Chroicocephalus philadelphia (Bonaparte’s Gull), Larus minutus changed to Hydrocoloeus minutus (Little Gull) Larus atricilla changed to Leucophaeus atricilla (Laughing Gull) Larus pipixcan changed to Leucophaeus pipixcan (Franklin’s Gull).

The family Cathartidae is moved back to the Order FALCONIFORMES just before the Suborder ACCIPITRES under the heading Suborder CATHARTAE: American Vultures. This family was moved to the order Ciconiiformes (AOU 1998) but is now tentatively returned to the order Falconiformes after re-evaluation of the reasons for the earlier change. Further, some genetic studies (Cracraft et al. 2004, Fain and Houde 2004, Ericson et al. 2006) have shown that the New World vultures are not closely related to the storks, although their precise phylogenetic relationship to the Falconiformes is yet undetermined. Genus of Belted Kingfisher changes to Megaceryle alcyon from Ceryle alcyon.

Blue Grouse has been split to coastal populations Sooty Grouse - Dendragapus fuliginosus and interior populations Dusky Grouse Dendragapus obscurus. Kern and Tulare County species now named Sooty Grouse because of the yellow gular sacs and the strong deep hoot. Changed Ringed-turtle Dove - Streptopelia risoria to conform with name from native populations African Collared-Dove - Streptopelia roseogrisea (I). Changed scientific names of Least Tern - Sternula antillarum, Caspian Tern - Hydroprogne caspia, Wandering Tatter - Tringa incana and Willet - Tringa semipalmata.  Rearranged order of some Scolopacidae, and Sterninae.

Cackling Goose has been split and is now a separate species from Canada Goose: Kern County records are for one subspecies of Canada Goose, Branta canadensis moffitti and two subspecies of Cackling Goose,  Branta hutchinsii leucopareia and B. h. minima. See Angus Wilson's explanation of Canada Goose subspecies web site at ... http://www.oceanwanderers.com/CAGO.Subspecies.html. Spotted Sandpiper specific epithet gender changed to match genus Actitis macularius.

Anseriformes and Galliformes move above Gaviiformes due to recent DNA evidence. Columba livia common name changes to Rock Pigeon to conform with British Ornithologists’ Union (1992) usage. Band-tailed Pigeon genus changed to Patagioenas fasciata.  Western Screech-Owl genus changed to Megascops kennicottii. Many changes are anticipated especially within the Passeriformes. Look to the 45th supplement to offer significant changes in order and relationships.

Roseate Spoonbill genus changed to Platalea ajaja. Common Snipe Split--G. galinago delicata becomes Wilson's Snipe, Gallinago delicata. G. galinago galinago becomes Common Snipe, Galinago galinago, our local species is Wilson's Snipe, where Common Snipe distributed in Eurasia. Red Phalarope specific epithet gender changed to match genus Phalaropus fulicarius. Blue Grosbeak genus changed to Passerina caerulea.

AOU 41st supplement, 1997. These are the following changes pertinent to Kern County only.

Ross' Goose spelling changed to Ross's Goose. Harris' Hawk spelling changed to Harris's Hawk. Burrowing Owl changed back to Athene cunicularia. (It was changed in the 38th but reverts in the 41st). Lewis' Woodpecker spelling changed to Lewis's Woodpecker. Olive-sided Flycatcher changed to species cooperi. Cliff Swallow and Cave Swallow changed to genus Petrochelidon. Titmice changed to genus Baeolophus. Plain Titmouse was split into Juniper Titmouse, Baeolophus griseus and Oak Titmouse, Baeolophus inornatus. (Oak Titmouse occurs commonly in our area, in the Sierra Nevada mountains and west and the Juniper Titmouse occurs east of the Sierra Nevada but is exceptionally rare in Kern). Chickadees changed to the genus Poecile. Solitary Vireo was split into Blue-headed Vireo, Vireo solitarius, Plumbeous Vireo, Vireo plumbeus and Cassin's Vireo, Vireo cassini. Harris' Sparrow spelling changed to Harris's Sparrow.

AOU 40th supplement, 1995. These are the following changes pertinent to Kern County only.

Great Egret changed to Ardea alba. Northern Flicker was split into Northern Flicker, Colaptes auratus and Gilded Flicker, Colaptes chrysoides. Scrub Jay was split into Western Scrub-Jay, Aphelocoma californica, Florida Scrub-Jay, Aphelocoma coeruluscens, and Island Scrub-Jay, Aphelocoma insularis. Gray-cheeked Thrush split into Gray-cheeked Thrush, Catharus minimus and Bicknell's Thrush, Catharus bicknelli. Rufous-sided Towhee was (re)split into Eastern Towhee, Pipilo erythrophthalmus and Spotted Towhee, Pipilo maculatus. Sharp-tailed Sparrow was split into Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow, Ammodramus caudacutus and Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow, Ammodramus nelsoni. Northern Oriole was (re)split into Baltimore Oriole, Icterus galbula and Bullock's Oriole, Icterus bullockii.

Green-backed Heron changed to Green Heron, Butorides virescens. Lesser Golden-Plover split into American Golden-Plover, Pluvialis dominica (spelling change in 40th, revised in 41st) and Pacific Golden-Plover, Pluvialis fulva. Herring Gull was split into Herring Gull, Larus argentatus and Yellow-legged Gull, Larus cachinnans. Black-shouldered Kite reverts to White-tailed Kite, Elanus leucurus. Rosy Finch reverts to three separate species. Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, Leucosticte tephrocotis, Black Rosy-Finch, Leucosticte atrata, and Brown-capped Rosy-Finch, Leucosticte australis.

AOU 37th supplement, 1989. These are the following changes pertinent to Kern County only.

Collared Dove changed to Eurasian Collared-Dove. Common Barn Owl changed to Barn Owl. Western Flycatcher was split into Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Empidonax difficilis and Cordilleran Flycatcher, Empidonax occidentalis. (Pacific-slope Flycatcher is found in our area and resides in and to the west of the Sierra Nevada and Cascade mountains, while the Cordilleran species is found to the east). Eye-browed Thrush spelling changed to  Eyebrowed Thrush. Water Pipit changed to American Pipit, Anthus rubescens. Brown Towhee was split into California Towhee, Pipilo crissalis and Canyon Towhee, Pipilo fuscus.

Red-eyed Vireo was split, with Yellow-green Vireo, Vireo flavoviridus recognized as a full species.

References Used:

63rd Supplement: Auk 2022. R Terry Chesser, Shawn M Billerman, Kevin J Burns, Carla Cicero, Jon L Dunn, Blanca E Hernández-Baños, Rosa Alicia Jiménez, Andrew W Kratter, Nicholas A Mason, Pamela C Rasmussen, J V Remsen, Jr., Douglas F Stotz, Kevin Winker, Sixty-third supplement to the American Ornithological Society’s Check-list of North American Birds, Ornithology, Volume 139, Issue 3, 7 July 2022, ukac020, https://doi.org/10.1093/ornithology/ukac020

62nd Supplement: Auk 2021. R Terry Chesser, Shawn M Billerman, Kevin J Burns, Carla Cicero, Jon L Dunn, Blanca E Hernández-Baños, Andrew W Kratter, Irby J Lovette, Nicholas A Mason, Pamela C Rasmussen, J V Remsen, Jr., Douglas F Stotz, Kevin Winker, Sixty-second Supplement to the American Ornithological Society’s Check-list of North American Birds, Ornithology, Volume 138, Issue 3, 1 July 2021, ukab037, https://doi.org/10.1093/ornithology/ukab037

61st Supplement: Auk 2020. R Terry Chesser, Shawn M Billerman, Kevin J Burns, Carla Cicero, Jon L Dunn, Andrew W Kratter, Irby J Lovette, Nicholas A Mason, Pamela C Rasmussen, J V Remsen, Jr., Douglas F Stotz, Kevin Winker, Sixty-first Supplement to the American Ornithological Society’s Check-list of North American Birds, The Auk, Volume 137, Issue 3, 1 July 2020, ukaa030, https://doi.org/10.1093/auk/ukaa030

60th Supplement: Auk 2019, vol. 136:pp. 1–23. R Terry Chesser, Kevin J Burns, Carla Cicero, Jon L Dunn, Andrew W Kratter, Irby J Lovette, Pamela C Rasmussen, J V Remsen, Douglas F Stotz, Kevin Winker, Sixtieth Supplement to the American Ornithological Society’s Check-list of North American Birds, The Auk
EBird records: downloaded - January 20, 2019

59th Supplement: Auk 2018, vol. 135:798-813

58th Supplement: Auk 2017, vol. 134:751-773 R. Terry Chesser, Kevin J. Burns, Carla Cicero, Jon L. Dunn, Andrew W. Kratter, Irby J. Lovette, Pamela C. Rasmussen, J. V. Remsen, Jr., James D. Rising, Douglas F. Stotz, and Kevin Winker (2017) Fifty-eighth supplement to the American Ornithological Society's Check-list of North American Birds. The Auk: July 2017, Vol. 134, No. 3, pp. 751-773. https://doi.org/10.1642/AUK-17-72.1 

57th Supplement: Auk, American Ornithologists’ Union. 2016. "Fifty-seventh supplement to the American Ornithologists’ Union Check-list of North
American Birds," The Auk 133:544-560

56th Supplement: Auk, American Ornithologists’ Union. 2015. "Fifty-sixth supplement to the American Ornithologists’ Union Check-list of North American Birds," The Auk 132:748-764

55th Supplement: Auk, American Ornithologists’ Union. 2014. "Fifty-fifth supplement to the American Ornithologists’ Union Check-list of North American Birds," The Auk 131(4) published online: 30 July 2014

54th Supplement: Auk, American Ornithologists’ Union. 2013. "Fifty-fourth supplement to the American Ornithologists’ Union Check-list of North American Birds," The Auk 130(3):558-572

53rd Supplement: Auk, American Ornithologists’ Union. 2012. "Fifty-third supplement to the American Ornithologists’ Union Check-list of North American Birds," The Auk 129(3):573−588

52nd Supplement: Auk, American Ornithologists’ Union. 2011. "Fifty-second supplement to the American Ornithologists’ Union Check-list of NorthAmerican Birds," Auk 128(3):600−613

51st Supplement: Auk 2010. Chesser, R. Terry, Richard C. Banks, F. Keith Barker, Carla Cicero, Jon L. Dunn, Andrew W. Kratter, Irby J. Lovette, Pamela C. Rasmussen, J. V. Remsen, James D. Rising, Douglas F. Stotz, Kevin Winker. 2010. Fifty-First Supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union Check-List of North American Birds. Auk 127:726-744.

50th Supplement: Auk, American Ornithologist's Union, 2009, "Fiftieth Supplement to the American Ornithologist' Union Check-list of North American Birds," The Auk 126(3):705−714.

American Ornithologist's Union, 2008, "Forty-ninth Supplement to the American Ornithologist' Union Check-list of North American Birds," The Auk 125(3):758–76.

American Ornithologist's Union, 2007, "Forty-eighth Supplement to the American Ornithologist' Union Check-list of North American Birds," Auk 124(3): 1109-1115.

American Ornithologists' Union, 2006, "Forty-seventh Supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union Check-list of North American Birds," Auk 123(3):926–936.

American Ornithologists' Union, 2004, "Forty-fifth Supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union Check-list of North American Birds," Auk 121:985-995.

American Ornithologists' Union, 2003, "Forty-fourth Supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union Check-list of North American Birds," Auk 120:923–932.

American Ornithologists' Union, 2002, "Forty-third Supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union Check-list of North American Birds," Auk 119:897-906.

American Ornithologists' Union, 2000, "Forty-second Supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union Check-list of North American Birds," Auk 117:847-858.

American Ornithologists' Union, 1997, "Forty-first Supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union Check-list of North American Birds," Auk 114:542-552.

American Ornithologists' Union, 1995, "Fortieth Supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union Check-list of North American Birds," Auk 112:819-830.

American Ornithologists' Union, 1994, "Thirty-ninth Supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union Check-list of North American Birds," Auk 110:675-682.

American Ornithologists' Union, 1991, "Thirty-eighth Supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union Check-list of North American Birds," Auk 108:750-754.

American Ornithologists' Union, 1989, "Thirty-seventh Supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union Check-list of North American Birds," Auk 106:532-538.

American Ornithologists' Union, 1987, "Thirty-sixth Supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union Check-list of North American Birds," Auk 104:591-596.

Grinnell, J., and A. H. Miller. 1944. The Distribution of the Birds of California. Cooper Ornithological Club, reprint Artemisia Press 1986.

Heindel, M. T. 2000. Birds of East Kern County, Unpublished Manuscript.
Western Field Ornithologists. California Rare Bird Photos. www.californiabirds.org

Nature Alley is dedicated to protecting natural communities wherever they exist

Copyright 1998-2022
page updated 07-Nov-2024