Squabbles Over Names of the Ortolan and Reed Bird

Concerning the "Ortolan"

To the Editor of The Evening Star:

It seems odd that in a city containing a national museum and many good libraries that a little water fowl by the name of "water rail" or "sora," should be so generally called "ortolan"? — a bird that it resembles about as much as a robin does a wren. All the market gunners and all the restaurant keepers fall into this mistake is is shown by the bills of fare.

The Star of to-day, under the caption of "Gunning in the Marshes," after naming over a number of men who ought to be sportsmen enough to know the names of the game they kill, says: "The majority brought home less than a dozen ortolan, and a few reed birds." Now, as the ortolan and the reed are one and the name bird, the information is rather uncertain for sportsmen and those who haven't always lived in a City where "gudgeons" are called smelt." The small yellow and brown bird known in different sections of the country under the names of ortolan, reed-bird or rice-bird, is a bunting the male of which changes its color in the spring to black and yellow, and then called Bob-o-link (Bob Lincoln.) It feeds as often on the uplands as on the marshes. Many country people sow an acre in millet or buckwheat, and they draw to it by hundreds. A pick up of thirty or forty at a shot is often made over this attraction. Now the "water rail" or "sora" is a solitary bird, and never found away from a river or stream. It, resembles somewhat the snipe, except it has a short bill and is web-footed. Its flight is slow and short. Whence they come and where they go after the first heavy frost is a mystery that future ornithologists will have to rise and explain. Audubon, Wilson and others having failed to do so satisfactorily. I wrote a card last year to one of our locals relative to this popular error, and I hope you will again remind the gunning fraternity that water quails or sora are not ortolans, and reed-birds rice-birds, ortolans and bob-o-links, according to all authorities, are birds of a feather.

"G. T. A."

September 8, 1883. Washington D.C. Evening Star 62(9479): 2.

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Concerning the Carolina Rail.

To the Editor of The Evening Star:

A communication from "G.T.A." In last Saturday's Star, evidently from a gentleman interested in the uniformity of the nomenclature of our birds, is so full of positive error, and tainted with superstition, that a correction of some of his statements will not be out of order. The so-called "Ortolan" is the Carolina Rail (Parzana Carolina), known also by the names of Common Rail and Sora, the latter being the general term applied throughout Maryland and Virginia. It is the most abundant and familiar of our marsh birds during the migrations, and the most ruthlessly hunted by the sportsman. Habitually skulking and hiding rather than seeking safety in open flight is a characteristic of the bird that has prevented its observation even in localities where it occurs in considerable numbers. Its habitat includes the whole of temperate North America, but it is far more abundant in the Atlantic than in the Pacific states. The bird is not web-footed, but is provided with very long toes, which enable it to tread the mazes of the marshes without sinking in the soft mud or vegetation. It travels through the tall reeds with surprising swiftness at low tide and at high tide, when the marshes are submerged, clings to the reeds. Notwithstanding the absence or webbed feet it swims with ease, and never hesitates to navigate in that manner from one clump of reeds to another when occasion requires rattier than take wing. The wings are short and rounded, and the flight appears so feeble that many sportsmen persist in doubting its ability to perform extensive migrations, nevertheless such is the fact, as they often board vessels at sea between the southern states and the West India Islands, where many of them pass the winter. Although not truly gregarious, it is far from "a solitary bird," as is evidenced by their sudden and plentiful arrival and departure. In the migrations favorable winds are taken advantage of. They breed in must of the northern states and British America, laying four or five eggs of a dark drab color, with brownish spots, in a nest rudely constructed of coarse grasses. The young are covered with a blackish down, and, like the quail, are active as soon as out or the shell. "G.T.A." says, "From whence they come or where they go after the first heavy frost is a mystery that future ornithologists will have to rise and explain." This is a remnant of the absurd superstitions that prevailed in the minds of the colored people before the war, and even now many can be found on the banks of the Potomac or Patuxent rivers firm in the belief that the rails hibernate in the mud of the marshes or turn into frogs. Wilson records an old man who claimed to have captured a specimen in which the transformation was but half accomplished, and it lived three days — but Wilson didn't believe the story. The real fact of the case is that the Rail performs its migrations only at night, which is the case with most migrants, and consequently its arrival and departure are seldom observed. Moreover the nature of its feeding grounds and haunts precludes the possibility of its being detected as readily as land birds. Hence many theories have been invented to account for their seemingly inexplicable advent. The same writer has also somewhat mixed up the common names of the Reed Bird, (Dolichonyx Orizyvorous) in the northern states this bird is the familiar Bobolink, in the middle states the Reed Bird, in the southern states the Rice Bird, and in the West India Islands the Butter Bird.

W. F. R.

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Are the Reed Bird and Ortolan the Same Bird?

To the Editor of The Evening Star:

Washington, D. C., Sept. 8, 1883.

Will your correspondent, "G.T.A," give some of his authorities, to sustain his assertion that the "Reed bird" and "Ortolan" are the same bird? In Coues' "Birds of the Northwest, p. 178," is found the following heading: "Dolichonyx oryzivorus, Bobolink; Reed bird; Rice bird." And on page 538 is found "Porzana Carolina, Carolina rail; Sora; 'Ortolan,'". On the last mentioned page the name of Prof. Baird is cited as the authority for the technical name, given as belonging to" the "Ortolan," and this name, Dr. Coues adds, is adopted by "all late U S. writers." It looks very much as if "G.T.A." were the only authority who considers the Reed bird and Ortolan to be identical; but the nearest way to a solution of the question is to ask Prof. Ridgway or Dr. Coues to give the answer.

Hugh M. Smith.

September 12, 1883. Washington D.C. Evening Start 62(9482): 2.

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The Ortolan Question.

To the Editor of The Evening Star:

I am glad to see that "W. F. R." and Hugh M. Smith, esq., have in The Star of Wednesday further agitated the ortolan question, because I should like the attention of the sporting fraternity drawn to the subject. If Dr. Coues contends that the rail and ortolan are the same, then the District people have some authority for misapplying the word ortolan; but where does Dr. Coues get his authority? For it is not to be supposed that he ventures to make his own classification. As Mr. "S." doubts the source or my information, and asks for it, I shall presently accommodate him. Wishing to make these remarks as brief as possible, I confine myself closely to the point in question: Can the rail be called ortolan?

Strictly speaking we have no ortolan. Our smaller American brother bears about the same resemblance to it that the English quail does to our partridge, or the English hare to our rabbit. But if the name must be used — and it seems so — then for heaven's sake let it be applied to a land bird that is nearly identical, and not to a waterfowl totally unlike it.

"Audubon" does not consider the ortolan an American bird; neither does "Swainson." "Wilson," page 48., vol. 2: Eurberza, Oryzivora, Le Ortolan de la Caroline, L Agripeum on L Ortolan. "This is the Bob O Link of eastern Pennsylvania and the northern states, and Rice bird and Reed bird of Pennsylvania." Again, "Supposed by some to be equal to the famous Ortolan of Europe." Thus classing him with the rice bird, but nowhere with the rail, which he describes as "wild, solitary and shy." "Wood," page 481: Ortolan or Garden Bunting. "Jasper," page 47: The Bob O Link or Rice bird is also known as the American Ortolan. "Gosse," in his Birds of Jamaica, says: "Butter bird, Ortolan, Rice bird." Appleton's American Enc.: "Ortolan, a Bunting." American Universal Enc.: "Ortolan, a species of Bunting." Chambers' Enc.: "Ortolan, a Bunting, &c." Zell's Enc.: "Ortolan, a Bunting." Webster's Dic.: "Ortolan (Garden) a Singing bird; the Eurberza hortulana." Worcester's Dic., under a wood cut of the Rice bird, says it belongs to the family Fringilildae (Finches.)

Here are a few of my authorities (I could give more), not one of whom mentions the Ortolan among the Rails (Rallus). He is in ever}' case spoken of as a Bunting or Fringilla. I come now to the only exception to this rule. Mr. Smith and "W.F.R." in selecting Dr. Coues for their sole authority are rather unfortunate, as that ornithologist not only contradicts all of hers, but contradicts himself. In several of his works I find. Carolina Rail, Sora, "Ortolan," (quotation marks not over Ortolan in his "Key to American Birds.") In his general treatise, page 155, he says: "The name Ortolan applied by some to the Rice bird and by others to the Carolina Rail is a strange misnomer, the Ortolan being a fringilline bird of Europe."

The Rice bunting is a genus of the family Fringillidae. Audubon shows the slight subdivision when he writes: "The buntings scarcely differ from the finches in any other character than the knob on the palate." Dr. Coues should not think it strange that some people call the rice bird Ortolan, but it is passing strange for an ornithologist, who furnishes texts books for schools and taxidermists, to call a rail a finch. Mr. H.M. Smith also says: The name of Prof. Baird 1s cited as the authority for the technical name given as belonging to the ortolan, and this name, Dr. Coues adds, is adopted by all United States writers. Mr. S. should not quote from a scientific work unless he knows how to read it. In this instance he does injury to Prof. B. and all late United States writers. Dr. Coues in writing upon the rail, gives below the names of writers or works he has consulted as references to the reader, among them Prof. B. and C., &c. None of them may have mentioned the ortolan (and I have read many of them that do not), and yet Mr. Smith makes it appear as if Dr. Coues cites Prof. B. and all late United States writers,. &c., as authorities for this name.

September 14, 1883. "G. T. A."

September 19, 1883. Washington D.C. Evening Star 62(9488): 2.

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Where the Sora is Found.

To the Editor of The Evening Star:

In your issue of September 8, 1883, which has just come to hand, G. T. A. says the sora or rail is "never found away from a river or stream." I have killed them on the prairies. In Missouri, ten miles from any stream, and a mile or more from water of any kind. I know the bird, as I have shot them on the flats of the Potomac. Again, G. T. A. says, "it resembles a snipe," about as much as a crow does an eagle. I am afraid G. T. A. is not a sportsman.

B. L. O., Emporia, Missouri.

September 22, 1883. Washington D.C. Evening Star 62(9491): 2.

Newspaper Syntactical and Ornithological Display

Editor Star — I have observed of late in sundry journals in their reference to the autumnal return of the bobolinks such an expression as this: "Reedbirds and ortolans." I have seen this expression in papers that are apt to exercise a sort of censorship and critical correctorship over articles contributed to their columns.

Now as to the nomenclature of the birds mentioned in the foregoing. In the north they are called bobolinks, sometimes, in localities, however, they are named from the peculiar Dolly Varden or calico colored backs of the males, skunk-blackbirds. Leaving their summer haunts early in autumn, wending their way south, they are called usually in the middle or more northern of the southern states, reedbirds. In the Carolinas and George they become the rice-birds, or as they are locally called, the ortolans. In Cuba and Jamaica they are known as "butter birds." The term ortolan is a corruption of ortulan from ("emberuza") "hortulana," their scientific designation. The ortolan or ortulan is a bird belonging more especially to Europe than this country. However, we may name our birds to suit ourselves and taking their name ortulan, appropriate it to our own use. The words "reedbirds and ortolans" is equivalent to saying the reedbirds and reedbirds, or bobolinks and bobolinks, or ortolans and ortolans, & c. As the old darkie said, it is "tau-tauc-i-logy" and ridiculously so at that.

Plain Common Sense.

September 12, 1872. Washington D.C. Evening Star 40(6081): 1.

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Ornithology

In your issue of the 12th inst. "Plain Common Sense" undertakes to correct "sundry journals" that are in the habit of speaking of "Reed-birds and Ortolans," and endeavors to show that they are one and the same bird. If "Plain Common Sense" will look in Webster's Dictionary, and any work on Ornithology will tell him the same, he will find "Bobolink" (Dolichony ovizyvoras); the rice-bird, rice bunting, or reed birds." "Ortolan; a singing bird," "Emberiza hortulana," about the size of a lark, with black wings. It is found in Europe, and is esteemed delicious food. The American species is the American Rail, Rallus or (Porzana) Carolineusis—" Rail a bird of the genus Rallus (or Porzana) Carolinensis of a general brown color above, and ashy blue with white markings below, found in the United States.

Then comes "Reed-bird the same as the Rice-bird of the United States. The bobolink of the north is the Reed-bird of the middle states and the rice bird of the southern states. The bird called in this vicinity the Ortolan, is the Rail (Rallus Carolinus). If "Plain Common Sense" will go to our marshes, east or west of the city, most any morning or evening about this time, he can find among the sportsmen birds enough to show him the difference between an Ortolan and a Reed-bird.

F.

September 14, 1872. Washington D.C. Evening Star 40(6083): 4.

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More Upon the Ortolan Question.

Editor Star — In your issue of yesterday, "Plain Common Sense" undertakes to discourse learnedly, the bird question. This ornithologist tells us that a reed-bird is an ortolan, and an ortolan is a reed-bird; or, in other words, that there is no distinction between them. It will be quite evident to the sportsmen of this community, especially those fond of marsh gunning, that this gent has never "covered" many birds in this latitude. There is as much distinction between a reed-bird or rice-bird (Amandina oryzivora) and what we call an ortolan as there is between the sparrow and the snipe. We acknowledge hat the fat, lazy birds, which rises from the marsh, flies sluggishly a short distance, drops suddenly, and then secretes itself so effectually in the wild oats as often to preclude the possibility of finding it, is not the ortolan, (Emberiza hortulana). Our ortolan, or rail, as it is sometimes called, is very much larger than the reed or rice-bird, and of different flesh and plumage. It is positively asserted by those who have watched its habits that it is not migratory; and its slow flight seems to warrant the assumption. Hence the mystery of its disappearance with the appearance of frost. If "Plain Common Sense" will examine one of these birds and give us its proper ornithological term, he will settle a question which has been mooted in the region since our boyhood, and can sign himself "Plain Uncommon Sense."

Old Man.

September 14, 1872. Washington D.C. Evening Star 40(6083): 4.

Smithsonian Scientist Investigates Original Nomenclature of a Warbler

In an investigation worthy of a detective novel, Storrs L. Olson has thoroughly considered the origin of the historic name attributed to the warbler now known as the Common Yellowthroat.

He wrote two articles which describe in detail some historical confusion regarding the type locality, and subsequent identification and naming of this species, and thoroughly discusses the misidentification leading to the application of the name "yellowthroat" to the species now carrying that name.

Storrs - a Curator Emeritus of the Divison of Birds at the Smithsonian Institution - had "been digging into the the original descriptions of various North American birds, and started off by tracking down a few sparrows and warblers."

His first article - published in 2009 - defines where the first known specimen originated, and which provided the basis for any subsequent recognition regarding type locality and origin of specimens, which is an important aspect for each species which occurs in North America.

Storrs indicates that the type specimen for the "Mary-Land Yellow-throat" came from Carolina, and further refines the locality as likely being Charleston.

In a second article published this year, Storrs explains in detail how the now well-recognized Common Yellowthroat was first named.

It was designated the "Mary-Land Yellow-Throat" in 1702 by James Petiver, a British enthusiast and collector of natural history specimens from throughout the known world, in his publication Gazohpylacii Naturae & Artis, issued at London. The species was illustrated based upon a specimen sent from Maryland by a Rev. Hugh Jones. Storrs also notes that Petiver depicted two other species from North America, the Northern Cardinal and Ruby-throated Hummingbird, the latter also from Maryland and collected by Jones.

Storrs' analysis of characteristics of the plumage shown in Petiver’s illustration, indicate that it was actually a Yellow-throated Warbler, although the specimen has long ago disappeared. The article includes the historic depiction and makes a side-by-side comparison with a similarly prepared skin of this species, noting which features match.

Yellow-throated Warbler illustration in Petiver's work.

When George Edwards published his "Gleanings of Natural History" in 1758, the species illustrated - based on a specimen from Carolina - was clearly what is now known as the Common Yellowthroat, and he used the name Maryland Yellowthroat, thinking, as Storrs points out, mistakenly, that his yellowthroat was the same species as Petiver's yellowthroat. The French ornithologist Brisson also referred to this species as "Figuier de Mariland" in 1760.

In 1766, Carl Linneaus, whose works constitute the beginnings of scientific nomenclature, applied the name Turdus trichas to the birds described by Petiver, Edwards, and Brisson. At that point, his species name was a composite, being based, as we know now from Olson’s papers, on two species, the Common Yellowthroat and the Yellow-throated Warbler. Therefore, Olson designated Edward’s description as what is known as the "lectotype" of the species, in order to preserved the scientific name trichas for the Common Yellowthroat.

Petiver's designation - Maryland Yellowthroat - was the English name list used for Geothlypis trichas in the first checklist of North American birds, issued by the American Ornithologists' Union, in 1886. And even though the original use of the term "Yellowthroat" actually applied to the Yellow-throated Warbler, it is now used for an entirely different group of species.

The findings of this research "will result in some minor adjustments in future checklists but otherwise is only an interesting historical aside," Storr said. He also noted that the Smithsonian Institution Library is "one of the best in the world for resolving issues concerning the nomenclature of birds."

"Cape-Cardinal" as illustrated in 1702 in Petiver's work.

Update of World Bird Names Released

A new version of the list of names for world birds has been released and continues to present prominant advances in understanding the taxonomic relationship for the earths avifauna.

"World Bird List 2.2 contains 10,347 species classified in 39 Orders, 224 Families (+6 Incertae sedis) and 2197 Genera," according to the website of the International Ornithological Committee. Thirteen species had been added, and six deleted as they were determined to be extinct.

The "alignments of New Guinea bird names with the preferences of the working group of experts," Gill noted as being one of the more significant changes in the update. Phil Gregory, was especially helpful with doing changes for the new version, with contributions on "a master list of the birds of New Guinea and Bismarck Archipeligo."

The biggest challenge: "Restructuring the classification of babblers including Sylviidae babblers and white-eyes based on major DNA papers, but only to a provisional working list that is now getting helpful feedback," Gill said in an email. The bird list presents a provisional classification of these species, with further features needing to be considered in their taxonomy.

And, the taxonomy of the trogons was resequenced in the manner typical to the regular updates of classification, released by any ornithological authority.

As for the next list of the proper names for world birds, "Lots to go!!," Gill said in reference to the need to be adding new species.

Gunners' Name Gamebirds on the Historic North Atlantic Coast

A couple of lists giving common names of birds used during the mid-1800s along the north Atlantic coast, convey particularly interesting and pertinent details important for any consideration of historic ornithology.

One list is from a locale prominent in the first history of the eastern seaboard, as hearty pilgrim's did establish a settlement centuries ago. The contributed list being considered is from the renowned Clark's Island - where hearty pilgrims from a small boat called Mayflower had settled - was for 1852, though submitted by F.C. Browne more than two decades after his observations based on a gathering of details during a single season of residence. And the list was published again, a few years later as if to convey again, the details to make certain they were known to the readers of Forest and Stream.

"It is interesting to see how the mind in many cases seizes the striking point about the bird and names it from that salient feature," according to comments made by the editor who prepared the published list. It has a number of unique and interesting attributions, with the identity of the species possible since a scientific name is given. Here are the details published in an issue of Forest and Stream, a sportsman's journal.

Fulix marila, Troop fowl.

Melanetta velvetina. White-wing.

Pelionetta perspicillata. Surfer.

Oidemia americana. Coppernose.

Somateria mollissima. Sea duck.

Bucephala americana. Whistler.

Harelda glacialis. Quandle.

Bucephala albeola. Dipper or dopper.

Dafila acuta. Sprigtail, English duck.

Spatula clypeata. Spoonbill.

Mergus serrator. Sheldrake.

Colymbus torquatus. Adult, Pond loon; young, sheep loon.

C. arcticus. Grayback loon.

[C.] Ceptrionalis. Pegging awl or pegmonk.

Podiceps. All varities [sic.]. Water-witch.

Graculus carbo. Shag.

Mergulus alle. Pine knot.

Sterna. All varieties. Mackerel gulls.

Chroicocephalus philadelphia. Square-tail gull.

Rissa tridactylus. Square-tail, also bay.

Larus marinus. Daniel gull.

L. argentatus. Adult, white; young, gray gull.

Botaurus lentiginosus. Plunkett.

Charadrius virginicus. Squealer.

Squatarola helvetica. Bottle head.

Aegialitis melodus. Beach bird.

Haematopus palliatus? Brant bird.

Limosa? Humility.

Strepslias [sic.; = Strepsilas] interpres. Chicaric.

Tringa canutus. Adult, red-breast; young, gray-back.

T. alpina. Stile.

T. Bonapartei. White-tailed stile.

T. maculata. Marsh plover.

Ereunetes petrificatus. Oxeye.

Calidris arenaria. Skinner.

Gambetta melanoleuca. Large cucu.

G. flavipes. Small cucu.

Numenius longirostris. Sickle bill.

N. borealis. Doe bird.

Macrorhamphus griseus. Driver.

Some of these names are consistent with recognized attributions presented by other historic sources, though some of are obscure names not previously known for the lexicon of common names of the era.

Within the month of this first issuance on local people naming birds, a second informative article had been submitted by Robert T. Morris. He sent "the names of the same class of birds for the Connecticut shore, along which I have shot for a number of years, hoping that it may prove of interest to other gunners."

Anas obscura. Black duck; dusky duck.

Fulix marila. Scaup; big black-head; blue-bill; broad-bill.

Fulix affinis. Little black-head; scaup; blue-bill; broad-bill.

Pelionetta perspicillata. Surf duck; skunk-head.

Pelionetta perspicillata. Female and young of the year; gray coot.

Melanetta velvetina. White wing; bell tongue.

Oidemia americana. Scoter; butter bill.

Somateria mollissima. Eider; sea coot.

Bucephala americana. Golden eye; whistler.

Bucephala albeola. Buffel head; butter ball.

Harelda glacialis. Old squaw; south southerly; old wife; long tail.

Spatula clypeata. Shoveller; spoonbill.

Mergus merganser, Mergus serrator; Sheldrake; saw bill; merganser.

Colymbus torquatus, Colymbus arcticus, Colymbus septentrionalis. Loon.

Podiceps. All varieties. Devil diver.

Graculus carbo. Cormorant. shag.

Sterna. All varieties. Mackerel gull.

Larus marinus. Black-backed gull.

Larus. All other varieties. Gull. (Young) grey gull.

A few of the common names given are new, with details certainly helpful in presenting another published perspective for a time many decades in the past.

Both articles have particular details on historic bird names, each identities pertinent to the overall understanding of this subject. These little bits add to the original sources that help identify the variety of many names formerly used for different species for a limited area of interest. Such local contributions are so pertinent to adequately addressing the larger challenges to clarify applicable names used worldwide for times more than 125 years in the past.

Avian nomenclature has always been consistent in the views of the people that prepare some list or another. But is has never been stable, with no single authority. Changes have been and are consistent and constant, making it difficult to attribute accurate contemporary names. Its an obvious problem to follow naming schemes in a historic sense, even with the certainly appreciated and particular attention by authoritative writers that have issued articles focused on clarifying acceptable names and known synonyms.

Avian Nomenclature for North America Needs Certainty and Stability

An incessant and certainly endless change that causes constant and ongoing consternation to denote bird occurrence records for North American and elsewhere is an always changing nomenclature. Constant changes mean endless revisions in common names and taxonomic order.

It is questionable whether there is anyone's bird list which matches what is now supposedly the accepted nomenclature of the proper common name, listed in a nomenclature order that some self-appointed authorities convey as being correct.

It is now spring 2009, and more changes will need to be considered, again, based on published citations issued in recent and pending months.

One particular foreign species, for example, a starling, is now not the European Starling, but is rendered as the Common Starling, with the A.O.U. group now in synch with the I.O.C. group.

How many bird watchers on the continent have matching records? There has been some discussion about the abbreviated code for the species on an online forum, so there is some attention being given to the change, though when this discussion ends is not readily apparent. Who will update each of the historic designations, as it won't just happen without some apparent effort!

Which list is authoritative and should be a given attention for presenting a valid list of species for some place? Acceptable common names have been revised by groups of apparent authorities that obviously change names and taxonomy based on their understanding of bird characteristics. This view is valid but continually problematic, again and again.

The changes require constant and ongoing revisions that require changes again and again. Some dedicated few working for free and providing the amazingly valuable results online, document and present the historic record for ornithology for a particular expanse, whether worldwide or local, have to deal with these changes.

The views of an authoritative group recognized via a limited perspective, apparently, seem to be indifferent to what may be wrought onto others. What they present is what shall be accepted and used to be correct, without some consideration of the revisionary effort needed to make changes to fit their decisions.

The changes are incessant whatever the source. The self-designated authorities issue more changes in the manner how bird species are identified and listed. The species don't change, but their interpretation always does.

As changes in nomenclature have been unending for centuries, the revisions are based on some perspective of records during several millennium for North America.

Historic ornithologists that have actually spent so much time rectifying the changes in accepted bird names need stability in order to summarize and present a valid list of species in some accepted manner, rather than again and again making another change based on some groups view.

Changes cannot be easily ignored as nomenclature is based on something that is supposedly consistent for a period of time. Yet, it always changes every year, based on opinions that are based in some seemingly obtuse sense of reality. How many of the people that prefer to change common or scientific names have actually had to deal with the records of historic ornithology and the obscure terms presented by people that issued important notices of bird occurrence.

There are probably very few modern ornithologists that have a valid view of the submissions freely given by so many watchers that thought their sightings were important enough for then to write it down and send it on to some publication.

Records need to presented with validity, but since the continually endless, and ongoing changes can't be ignored because some people prefer to continually change nomenclature cannot present a list that provides stability for more than a year's time.

How outdated is the list of species for the multiple thousands of records for collected specimens at the Smithsonian Institution with its hundreds of thousands of carcasses? According to their presentation, the taxonomy is more than an decade out of date, as their bird names are based on information from the mid-1990s.

How can a valid list be presented with endless changes in taxonomic order and approved names?

When will the endless changes be finished and allow the common bird watcher and historic ornithologist to present a list of species of some sort that is not outdated?

Since bird nomenclature cannot be readily presented in an acceptable manner to allow easy edits for record keepers, perhaps the given strictures should just be ignored?

Will this mean chaos and uncertainty? Probably over the long term. Personally, a list presented using archaic terminology is just as accurate as anything using the most recent terms. And such a list has some special appreciation and proven value forged through time beyond one year after another.

Developing an International Standard for English Bird Names

Having a standard set of names for birds has been constantly changing ever since Carl Linnaeus of Sweden placed animals into groups in his Systema Naturae issued by the volume in the 1750s.

Revisions in nomenclature are continuous and ongoing. Proper names are introduced and changed as new species get discovered, and various authorities attributed names, and scientific attributions.

In 1810 Alexander Wilson published a list of species for a growing America, based on a review of what was then known for names: common, proper, scientific and otherwise. More articles, books and general history spread the history of avian taxonomy and nomenclature.

With the mid-1880s, the newly established American Ornithologists Union (AOU) published a list of species, with an intent for giving people that watched birds and published their observations, a standard list of names to use. Their principles for a standard nomenclature and taxonomy, used a set of names that follows a particular, essential tenet: each species would have only one name which is different from any other name, and this would include a scientific name. At this time, the more important consideration was recognizing who had first named a species and the name they used.

An emphasis for naming changed, and a very basic proposition noted a few decades later in 1920, in the Auk, the journal of the AOU was that: "Each species shall be given a name which shall be distinct and applicable to the species as a whole." Other items given in correspondence by Harrison F. Lewis, asked that "clumsy descriptive names shall not be introduced," with three others related to providing names based on a geographic locale, not using a person's name in a birds' name, and avoiding the use of modifiers for a species in a particular geographic range. Of course, there was a response provided by Witmer Stone, presenting an alternative view with his primary comment being: "Fortunately we have not and cannot have a code covering the use of popular names."

Dr. Frank B. Gill, residing in Pennsylvania U.S.A., has been a leader in issuing updates of a standardized list of English names for birds around the world, under the auspices of the International Ornithological Congress.

"Walter Bock then Secretary General and later President of the I.O.C. asked me in 1994 to take over the I.O.C. English Names Project started by Charles Sibley in 1990 but which then faltered after the death of Burt Monroe Jr. Initial partners in the project included Dr. Robert S. Ridgely and Minturn T. Wright III," Dr. Gill said.

"It was and still is our belief that a standardized and simplified scheme of English names would help communication in world ornithology and world bird conservation. It would also save everyone a lot of time and headaches trying to equate one list (or field guide) with another."

There are lists developed by several references, including Howard and Moore, Sibley and Monroe, Clements, the American Ornithologists' Union committee, the British Ornithologists' Union, and the Handbook of Birds of the World. There are also regional guides which convey bird names in the local language.

"We responded to the call of world leaders to help fill a need, if not a void," on a standard list, Gill said. "If we have done a good job, people will use it simply out of convenience. But there is a natural, strong and sometimes tribal reaction to anything that smacks of external authority and no one can legislate 'names' or even classifications."

The original I.O.C. list was based on participation, consensus, and compromise of leading ornithologists in different regions of the world, Dr. Gill said, commenting on the variety in bird names.

"The six editions of The Clements Checklist of the Birds of the World were one man's (excellent) presentation of a working world list for birders. It also includes subspecies, which the current versions of I.O.C. list do not. Clements also maintains a bias to the Americas and the views of the American Birding Association, whose members have been its primary sales market. The I.O.C. strives to a global perspective with regional expertise and is deliberately separate from Sibley and Monroe’s seminal list, which is not popular on some continents outside the Americas. If all goes as planned the I.O.C. will be updated more frequently and strive to be more current with latest changes in classification than will other lists."

Dr. Frank B. Gill, ornithologist. Courtesy of Wikipedia.

Dr. Gill has the background to tackle the nomenclature problem, as a retired professional ornithologist, with experience dating back to when he received a Doctorate in Zoology in 1969 from the University of Michigan, after which he chaired the ornithology department of the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia. He was there from 1969 to 1995, and two particular notable efforts included creating VIREO (Visual Resources for Ornithology) and completing the encyclopedia on "The Birds of North America," which presents a detailed account for each species of the continent.

His interest in birdlife has taken him around the world to study and observe different species in their native habitats around the world, with a trip to the Pacific pending. During 1998-2000, he was president of the American Ornithologists' Union. In 1978 he was elected as a lifetime member of the prestigious International Ornithological Committee. Dr. Gill's efforts have been recognized with his receiving the William Brewster medal, the highest honor bestowed by the AOU.

"I have a weakness for launching or managing large scale projects," citing examples such as the encyclopedia on "The Birds of North America," three editions of Ornithology, "the principal textbook for college students on this topic," and eBird, the online bird record repository now provided by the Laboratory of Ornithology, at Cornell University, and the National Audubon Society.

The English Names Committee of the International Ornithological Committee, released their most recent version - version 2.0 - in January 2009.

"The IOC World Bird List 2.0 contains 10,331 species classified in 39 Orders, 224 Families and 2199 Genera.  This is a major update that includes revisions of the family classification as well as species taxonomy." - IOC World Bird List

Their English names were devised from ten principles to "guide the choice of recommended English names of birds." The list includes newly discovered species and splits of previous lumped species that are newly recognized as distinct species due to further studies or a newly available technique, DNA analysis.

"The I.O.C. list differs from the A.O.U. list only modestly, mostly no hyphenation of compound group names, except for bird-bird names," Dr. Gill said. "The first editions of the I.O.C. closely followed the A.O.U. species taxonomy, but changed a few English names in the spirit of compromise with other world committees. Recent versions of the I.O.C. list are deliberately more progressive with respect to splits than is the proudly conservative A.O.U. list. But looking ahead we are eager to align the two as closely as possible.

"The I.O.C. list has more traction and momentum outside the Americas than here in the United States, partly because of the very conservative nature and independent styles of American ornithologists."

One item not acceptable to the Committee on Classification and Nomenclature of Birds of American Ornithologists' Union, was a proposal submitted for eliminating the use of hyphens, with the English names for 126 species. Their reasoning, given in a note published in the Auk in 2007, was: "Hyphens in compound group names indicate relationships and separate the members of the groups from less closely related forms (e.g., Whistling-Ducks from other ducks and Storm-Petrels from petrels in the Procellariidae)."

The group working on the world bird names nomenclature published their response in the Auk in latter 2008, basically urging the acceptance of a standard list.

The IOC World Bird List content by Dr. Gill and his collaborators, receives "roughly 4000 unique visitors each month, which is encouraging as is the increasing number of formal adoptions, uses in new websites etc. And beyond birders, we know that editors welcome standardization of names and simplification of orthography. In the end publishers of field guides may hold sway in a united way?"

This effort has been a learning process for Dr. Gill, and he mentioned two notable items:

"#1 How strongly some people feel about their favorite bird names and how emotionally resistant are some colleagues to seemingly minor changes.

"#2 How divided people are to the concept of working together to agree on bird names."

Developing the I.O.C. list has been "a big group effort - a long and growing list of colleagues (acknowledged in Gill and Wright 2006, and now on the website) devoted countless hours to discussions and technical applications of guidelines that they adopted.

"Minturn Wright and I were the coordinators and arbiters of the project," Dr. Gill said. "The chairs of the regional committees were the true champs. I hope that we have acknowledged their efforts sufficiently. And now David Donsker leads the compilation of taxonomic updates from the world literature and discussions.

"The broad and constructive participation by colleagues worldwide has been truly heartening and invaluable with constructive feedback growing weekly. I'm thrilled by their interest, enthusiasm and above all their critical scholarship. Nothing is better than to have dozens (hundreds?) of critical eyes all devoted to catching errors and improving the quality of this big work."

Though the most current list has 10,331 species of extant bird species, Dr. Gill expects the number of species on the list to increase as "we recognize deserving allospecies." Other expected changes are pending, including a revision of the taxonomic relationships of babblers and white-eyes, Gill said. Also pending is "a resorting of the taxonomic boundaries of New World buntings, tanagers, warblers, finches, and grosbeaks."

"We are just going do the best job that we can and hope that world ornithology finds value in the product, which we believe they will."