Forty-fourth supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union Check-List of North American Birds

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This is the third Supplement since publication of the 7th edition of the Check-list of North American Birds (American Ornithologists' Union [AOU] 1998). It summarizes decisions made by the AOU's Committee on Classification and Nomenclature between 1 January 2002 and 31 December 2002. The Committee has continued to operate in the manner outlined in the 42nd Supplement (AOU 2000) but will now publish Supplements annually so that changes accepted by the Committee may be publicized more quickly. Changes in this Supplement fall into the following categories: (1) one species is added to the main list because of splitting of a species previously on the list (Loxia megaplaga); (2) one species replaces another pres ently on the list because of splitting of an extralimital form (Picoides dorsalis); (3) two genera (Euphonia and Chlorophonia), with their 16 species in our area, are moved from the family Thraupidae and placed in the subfamily Euphoniinae in the Fringillidae; (4) three new generic names are inserted in the list because of splitting of genera previously included (Patagioenas, Megascops, and Gymnoglaux), with the consequent change in generic names of 21 species; (5) one genus is removed from the list (Nyctea) because of its merger with another on the list (Bubo), with the consequent change of the scientific name of one species; (6) two English names are changed without change in scientific name (Belcher's Gull and Rock Pigeon); (7) the distribution of one species is changed because of the merger with it of an extralimital form (Butorides striatus); (8) one species is added to part 2 of the Appendix (Oenoenas chiriquensis); and (9) changes are made in the endings of 9 species names to bring them into conformity with the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (see David and Gosselin 2002). In addition, several minor changes are made to correct citations of generic names or other errors. The addition to the main list brings the number of species recognized as occurring in the Check-list area (main list) to 2,031. Literature that provides the basis for the Committee's decisions is cited at the end of the Supplement, and citations not already in the Literature Cited of the 7th edition (with Supplements) become additions to it. An updated list of the bird species known from the AOU Check-list area may be accessed at http:// www.AOU.org/aou/birdlist.html. A significant decision by the Committee reflected in the list of species posted on the AOU web site but not yet in the text of the Check-list is the recognition of a major grouping of birds generally known as the Galloanseres and comprising the orders Anseriformes and Galliformes.

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ELECTRONIC FILE - Zoology

SWAP (2/19/2016) citation [corrected]:
Banks RC, Cicero C, Dunn JL, Kratter AW, Rasmussen PC, Remsen JV Jr., Rising JD, Stotz DF. 2003. Forty-fourth supplement to the American Ornithologists’ Union Check-list of North American Birds. Auk. 120(3):923–931. [with Check-list of North American Birds italicized and capitalized]