eBird will be retaining Sharp-shinned/Cooper’s but notes that it is a cross-genus split. They will also be replacing Accipiter sp. with “Accipitrine hawk sp. (former Accipiter sp.)”. They “officially” announced this two days ago on their website while summarizing the upcoming taxonomic update (currently set for October 22nd), but it’s been out for a while. Only six species will remaining in Accipiter (well, that is, until they finally get around splitting Sharp-shinned Hawk into more species!).

For those interested in other taxonomic changes that will be “official” in October: Herring Gull will be split into 4 species (American, European, Vega, and Mongolian); the three redpoll species will be lumped into one (Redpoll); House Wren and Barn Owl will be split, with ours becoming Northern House Wren and American Barn Owl, respectively; and, Cory’s Shearwater will finally be split into Cory’s and Scopoli’s shearwaters. This should have a net 0 change on the CT state list as far as I can tell, losing “Hoary Redpoll” but gaining “Vega Gull.” I don’t believe there’s any confirmed “Scopoli’s Shearwaters” for Connecticut, with the term “likely” being used for one candidate that’s been reviewed.

It’s a fun time of the year!

-Matt Bell
Vernon

Thanks Matt, for this excellent taxonomy update!

I'm looking forward to studying gulls again, and do hope that someday, all
shearwaters lose their aversion to CT waters.

Steve Mayo
Bethany

On Thu, Sep 26, 2024 at 8:28 PM Matthew Bell mjbell1214@gmail.com wrote:

Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS

On Thursday, September 26, 2024, 8:29 PM, Matthew Bell via CTBirds ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org wrote:

eBird will be retaining Sharp-shinned/Cooper’s but notes that it is a cross-genus split. They will also be replacing Accipiter sp. with “Accipitrine hawk sp. (former Accipiter sp.)”. They “officially” announced this two days ago on their website while summarizing the upcoming taxonomic update (currently set for October 22nd), but it’s been out for a while. Only six species will remaining in Accipiter (well, that is, until they finally get around splitting Sharp-shinned Hawk into more species!).

For those interested in other taxonomic changes that will be “official” in October: Herring Gull will be split into 4 species (American, European, Vega, and Mongolian); the three redpoll species will be lumped into one (Redpoll); House Wren and Barn Owl will be split, with ours becoming Northern House Wren and American Barn Owl, respectively; and, Cory’s Shearwater will finally be split into Cory’s and Scopoli’s shearwaters. This should have a net 0 change on the CT state list as far as I can tell, losing “Hoary Redpoll” but gaining “Vega Gull.” I don’t believe there’s any confirmed “Scopoli’s Shearwaters” for Connecticut, with the term “likely” being used for one candidate that’s been reviewed.

It’s a fun time of the year!

-Matt Bell
Vernon

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