NOMENCLATURE
In 1973 the American Ornithologists Union (A.O.U.) published a supplement to its Checklist of North American Birds. This changed the current names and taxonomic status of many species. A number of birders have been in an uproar ever since, because many former species are dropped to sub-specific rank. The A.O.U. has further revised the checklist, with the promise of even more changes in the future. In addition, the American Birding Association published its own A.B.A. Checklist (Birds of Continental United States and Canada) in 1975. This follows the taxonomic order used by the A.O.U. but incorporates some entirely different names. Because the A.B.A. is the official “listing” organization, its nomenclature is followed in this book. However, some of the field guides currently in use do not yet reflect these name changes. The old names affecting North Dakota birds are included parenthetically below to avoid confusion for the beginner.
American White Pelican (White Pelican) Great Egret (Common Egret) Greater White-fronted Goose (White-fronted) Snow Goose (both Snow and Blue) American Black Duck (Black Duck) Common Pintail (Pintail) Eurasian Wigeon (European) American Wigeon (Widgeon) Northern Shoveler (Shoveler) Black Scoter (Common Scoter) Red-tailed Hawk (includes Harlan’s Hawk) Northern Harrier (Marsh Hawk) Merlin (Pigeon Hawk) American Kestrel (Sparrow Hawk) Lesser Golden Plover (American Golden Plover) Upland Sandpiper (Upland Plover) Red Knot (Knot) Little Tern (Least Tern) Common Screech-Owl (Screech Owl) Common Flicker (combines Gilded, Yellow-shafted, and Red-shafted) Willow Flycatcher (Traill’s, FITZ-bew race) Alder Flycatcher (Traill’s, fee-BEE-o-race) Eastern Pewee (Eastern Wood Pewee) Western Pewee (Western Wood Pewee) American Crow (Common Crow) Marsh Wren (Long-billed Marsh Wren) Sedge Wren (Short-billed Marsh Wren) Gray Catbird (Catbird) American Robin (Robin) European Starling (Starling) Northern Parula (Parula Warbler) Yellow-rumped Warbler (combines Audubon’s and Myrtle) Common Yellowthroat (Yellowthroat) Northern Oriole (combines Baltimore and Bullock’s) Northern Cardinal (Cardinal) Northern Junco (combines Oregon, Slate-colored, and White-winged) American Tree Sparrow (Tree Sparrow)