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CHANGES IN THE COMMON NAMES OF 
ILLINOIS BIRDS 
The latest issue of the Auk.-Vol. 90, No. 2, April 1973 p 411-419 contains 
a supplement to the A.O.U. Check-list of North American Birds (1957, 
fifth edition). Some of these changes have been required by changes in the 
International Code of Zoological Nomenclature and involve Latin names 
only. The remainder are for taxonomic reasons based on findings published 
in the last sixteen years or to In some way improve the common names. 
Many of these include changes in common names and are covered insofar 
as they apply to species occurring in Illinois, They are listed in checklist 
order and should be noted before submitting materials to the Illinois Audu- 
bon Society for publication. The name found in the 1957 checklist is listed 
first for each species and the reason for the change is included. 
Common Earet is now Great Earet to substitute for the modifier “common” 
a short but more meaningful modifier already widely used. 
Blue Goose is now Snow Goose as the two geese have been found to be 
color morphs of the same species which interbreed regularly. 
American Widgeon is now American Wigeon to agree with the British 
spelling. 
Shoveler is now Northern Shoveler to provide a specific modifier when 
the same group name is used for another Western Hemisphere species. 
Common Scoter is now Black Scoter for the same reason as the egret name 
change. 
Harlans Hawk is eliminated as a species, being now considered a sub-species 
of the Red-tailed Hawk. 
Pigeon Hawk is now Merlin to facilitate conformity with international usage. 
Sparrow Hawk is now American Kestrel for the same reason as the former 
species. 
Upland Plover is now Upland Sandpiper to avoid a misleading taxonomic 
implication (the bird is not a plover). 
Yellow-shafted and Red-shafted Flicker both become Common Flicker since 
they interbreed regularly. 
Traill’'s Flycatcher is split into two species on the basis of call. Breeding 
birds in Illinois, which have the “fitz-brew” call, are now called 
Willow Flycatcher, while birds breeding in the alder thickets which 
migrate through and have the call “fee-bee-o” are called Alder 
Flycatcher. 
Catbird is now Gray Catbird for the same reason as the Shoveler. 
Robin is now American Robin for the same reason as the Shoveler. 
Parula Warbler is now Northern Parula for the same reason again. 
Myrtle Warbler and Audubon’s Warbler are now Yellow-rumped Warbler 
as they regularly interbreed. 
Yellowthroat is now Common Yellowthroat for the same reason as the 
Shoveler. 
Baltimore Oriole and Bullock’s Oriole are now Northern Oriole as they 
regularly interbreed. 
Slate-colored Junco and Oregon Junco, along with several other juncos, 
are now Dark-eyed Junco due to interbreeding. 
