"Breaking up is so hard to do"....

It is out.....July 6th....the ABA has announced their 2017 Check List Supplement and yes, there are some splits. Always so hard to see or be part of a break-up within a family but the ABA has their motives.....Now, when 'breaking up' (Written by Neil Sedaka) was sung by the Carpenters, it didn't seem so hard to do, but now, ...well....

So what does that mean for you, me...us..? 

Well, it could mean a new lifer for you. For instance, the Red Crossbill has been split up into the Red Crossbill and the Cassia Crossbill. If you have ever been to Burley, Idaho and on down to  Utah, you might be able to add a new bird to your list. Now, I have traveled that road often....and even 'applied' for a teaching job in Burley, Idaho in my 'youthier' days, but I know for a fact that I haven't seen a Crossbill of sorts in my travels on those roads. But perhaps you? If so, lucky you...a lifer now for you. How can you tell the difference? Well, the Cassia's song is more complex. Is that good enough? Well, how about the bill is shorter and thicker? That help? .....I have a feeling it might be tough to find a Cassia. 

So a question....if you came across the species image above, can you tell if this is a Red Crossbill or a Cassia Crossbill? I even gave you a few hints now:-) 

Fascinating 'read' on Crossbills in general....click here.

Or how about a 'loss' of a family member...? I am now one 'lifer down'...as the Thayer's Gull is now just a mere 'sub-species' of the Iceland Gull...Drats...minus one for me in 2017 but no, I am even since I found the Kirtland's Warbler in Michigan so I am even-steven...Yousers! 

Onwards to seek our more as I have a goal in Arizona now...the split of the Magnificent Hummingbird into two species; the Rivoli's and Talamanca. Now, I know I have seen at least one of those, maybe two down in Patagonia, Arizona and Madera Mountains but which one have I seen? No idea....it all depends on the throat color' turquoise or peridot-colored. Were you even aware that Peridot was color? 

Have you seen a Le Conte's...Thrasher or Sparrow? I haven't... but in in case you have, you are still okay, but now it is just one word---LeContes. Why? because it has now been unearthed that 19th century Entomologist John Lawrence LeConte spelled his name without a hyphen so, the ABA will follow. 

The Yellow-breasted Chat is no longer a Warbler...Now hear this, the Yellow-breasted Chat is not longer a Warbler...it is now a Chat. 

Oh...a new one for me, so I guess I am still 'up' for the year. The Yellow-eyed Junco is now two species, ....the Yellow-eyed and now the Baird's Junco. I believe Baird's used to be split but joined and are now split again. Baird's found in Baja, California Sur and Yellow-eyed are abundant around the Catalina Mountains of Tucson...so I can count that one....

Lots of genus changes, sequencing....way too many to be named. Why do they do this man? I don't use an electronic list or program anymore so it is not easy to now have to look at my 'printed' book (which I went back to a few years ago) and change or add or subtract or whatever. .....go figure. 

Hey, want to view the complete list? ...view here AOS Supplement 2017