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As
of 2025, 463 species of birds have officially been recorded in Kern County.
County birders have documented new species almost year since the late 19th
century. The A.O.S. (American Ornithological Society) taxonomy committee
formerly the AOU (American Ornithological Union) deliberates and applies
changes each year based on the latest advancements and understanding of the
taxonomic relationship of birds. Each summer, birders review the supplement
to the official Check-list of North American Birds,
Seventh Edition, I adjust the official Kern County list based on these
revisions. Below find the chronological list of
changes relevant only to Kern County.
Recent
American Ornithologist's Union checklists and supplements 36th through 66th
editions yield the following changes relevant for Kern County birders.
Changes to taxonomic nomenclature and sequence current as of August 2025.
Highlighted text consists of name changes.
AOS 66th Supplement, 2025 These are the
following changes pertinent to birds seen in Kern County only.
Changes
include:
Splits
Warbling
Vireo, Vireo gilvus – now two species
Western Warbling-Vireo (Vireo swainsoni)
Eastern
Warbling-Vireo (Vireo gilvus, sensu stricto)
Eurasian
Collared-Dove, Streptopelia decaocto – now
two species.
Eurasian
Collared-Dove
(Streptopelia decaocto, sensu stricto)
Burmese
Collared-Dove** (Streptopelia xanthocycla)
The
southeast Asian population of Eurasian Collared-Dove has been split off as
Burmese Collared-Dove which doesn’t affect Kern County at all.
Spotted
Dove
genus change from Streptopelia chinensis ➛ Spilopelia chinensis
Bank
Swallow, Riparia riparia – now two species.
Bank
Swallow
(Riparia riparia, sensu stricto)
Pale
Martin (Riparia diluta)
Bank
Swallow, known as Sand Martin in the Old World, was split. Pale Martin is found central and eastern Asia.
Of
course, the obligatory sequence changes which only affects people who write
lists like me!
The
following families in Gruiformes are now placed in this sequence:
Gruidae
(cranes)
Rallidae
(rails)
The
following subfamilies of Laridae are now placed in this sequence:
Gyginae (white-terns)
Sterninae (terns)
Rhynchopinae
(skimmers)
Larinae (gulls)
The
following families in Pelicaniformes are now
placed in this sequence:
Threskiornithidae
(ibises and spoonbills)
Pelicanidae (pelicans)
Ardeidae
(herons)
Columbidae
(pigeons and doves)
are rearranged as follows:
Claravinae (American
ground-doves)
Inca
Dove
Common
Ground Dove
Ruddy
Ground Dove
Columbinae (typical doves)
White-winged
Dove
Mourning
Dove
Band-tailed
Pigeon
Spotted
Dove
Eurasian
Collared-Dove
Rock
Pigeon
AOS 65th Supplement, 2024 These are the following
changes pertinent to birds seen in Kern County only.
Cattle
Egret split New World and Old World
Night-Herons
lose the hyphen
Black-crowned
Night-Heron becomes Black-crowned
Night Heron
Barn
Owl Split New World and Old World
Barn
Owl - Tyto alba gets split with US birds now called American Barn Owl - Tyto furcata
House
Wren split into 7 species, but USA has only one, Northern House Wren - Troglodytes aedon
Scientific
name changes in genus
Mountain
and Snowy Plovers
Mountain
Plover - Charadrius montanus becomes Anarhynchus montanus
Snowy
Plover - Charadrius nivosus becomes Anarhynchus nivosus
Least
Bittern - Ixobrychus exilis becomes Botaurus exilis
Cattle
Egret - Bubulcus ibis becomes Western Cattle Egret - Ardea ibis
AOS 64th Supplement, 2023 These are the
following changes pertinent to birds seen in Kern County only.
Species
Lumps and Splits
(Re)lumping of Cordilleran Flycatcher and Pacific-slope
Flycatcher as Western Flycatcher
Western Flycatcher – Empidonax difficilis replaces Pacific-slope and Cordilleran
Flycatcher.
In
1989, the Western Flycatcher (Empidonax difficilis)
was split into the Pacific-slope Flycatcher (E. difficilis)
and the Cordilleran Flycatcher (E. occidentalis), mainly because of
differences in vocalizations and range. It has been studied further by
finding morphology, vocalizations, and genetics of the Cordilleran Flycatcher
and Pacific-slope Flycatcher are not that different across their range.
Therefore, lumping them back into one species is warranted scientifically.
Species
Split for Northern Goshawk
American Goshawk – Accipiter atricapillus
“The
Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) was split into two species. A
proposal (Proposal 2023-B-11) from NACC member Shawn M. Billerman of the
Cornell Lab of Ornithology highlights key vocal and genetic differences
between what had been treated as two subspecies groups within Northern Goshawk,
the Palearctic gentilis and Nearctic atricapillus groups.” The
Eurasian Goshawk (A. gentilis) has been recorded in extreme eastern
and western North America. “Two different subspecies of the Eurasian Goshawk
have been recorded in North America, two individuals of the Asian subspecies albidus
have turned up in Alaska, and an old museum specimen of the European
subspecies gentilis in Labrador.”
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
it 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)
AOU 56th supplement, 2015. These are the
following changes pertinent to Kern County only.
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.
AOU 55th supplement, 2014. These are the
following changes pertinent to Kern County only.
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
AOU 54th supplement, 2013. These are the
following changes pertinent to Kern County only.
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
AOU 52nd supplement, 2011. These are the
following changes pertinent to Kern County only.
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
AOU 51st supplement, 2010. These are the
following changes pertinent to Kern County only.
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
AOU 50th supplement, 2009. These are the
following changes pertinent to Kern County only.
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).
AOU 49th supplement, 2008. These are the
following changes pertinent to Kern County only.
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).
AOU 48th supplement, 2007. These are the
following changes pertinent to Kern County only.
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.
AOU 47th supplement, 2006. These are the
following changes pertinent to Kern County only.
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.
AOU 46th supplement, 2005. No changes
relevant to Kern County.
AOU 45th supplement, 2004. These are the
following changes pertinent to Kern County only.
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.
AOU 44th supplement, 2003. These are the
following changes pertinent to Kern County only.
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.
AOU 43rd supplement, 2002. These are the
following changes pertinent to Kern County only.
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 42nd supplement, 2000. These are the
following changes pertinent to Kern County only.
Oldsquaw common name
changed to Long-tailed Duck. Black-billed Magpie specific epithet changed to Pica
hudsonia. Juniper Titmouse specific epithet
changed to Baeolophus ridgwayi
(42nd).
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.
AOU 39th supplement, 1994. These are the
following changes pertinent to Kern County only.
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 38th supplement, 1991. no changes
relevant to Kern County.
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.
AOU 36th supplement, 1987. These are the
following changes pertinent to Kern County only.
Red-eyed
Vireo
was split, with Yellow-green Vireo, Vireo flavoviridus
recognized as a full species.
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