WINGBEAT: New chapters open for world of birding
Is your library ready for another field guide? Well, there's another one out there and, I must admit, I'm impressed.
On the one hundred anniversary of Roger Tory Peterson's birth (he passed away in 1996 at the age of 87) the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History (RTPI) located in his birthplace of Jamestown, N.Y. has issued an updated version of both his eastern and western guides in one volume. Using the now famous Peterson system of arrows indicating salient field marks the guide once again hits the mark.
This new guide is not pocket-sized, as the plates have been expanded offering larger and clearer images. The overall format is almost, if not, identical to the well received Sibley guide: i.e. 9x6. The new maps are still in the back but they too are larger and clearer. In addition (and here's a major plus), a smaller version of the same maps sit aside the updated written descriptions which now reflect current knowledge.
Taxonomy has been brought up to date and there have been a number of new bird species added to the plates, for example La Sagra's Flycatcher, Yellow-legged Gull, Fea's Petrel, just to name a few. Some of the artwork also has been enhanced where necessary and the added species were painted by Michael O'Brien.
Of course, the larger size of the book allows for quite a bit more text which is always helpful. But, just having everything in one volume is, in itself, a welcome change. In the very back of the book there is a full checklist, which, in its own right, is an added plus, the only drawback is that these is only room for a checkmark next to each species but no room for a date and place. This, though, is understandable in that it would have added extra pages so we won't hold it against them.
A unique addition is the use of a set of video podcasts which can be accessed by a provided U.R.L. And as the book states: "These supplements to the book cover key individual species, popular groupings of birds, and such topics as how to use the range maps, identification basics, and bird topography."
As I said earlier, I'm impressed. Gosh, even the grackles look good!
As expected, the 49th Supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union Checklist was recently published and well, no major changes, no "splits" to revel in or "lumps" to fret over. The only meaningful changes (and I use the term advisedly) have to do with English common names. And here they are: (drum roll, please)
Green Violet-ear is now spelled Green Violetear (without the hyphen).
Clay-colored Robin is now Clay-colored Thrush.
White-throated Robin is now White-throated Thrush.
Why not Rufous-backed "Thrush" etc? Apparently, it all has to do with the conflict between "historical usage" and the fact that these birds are truly "thrushes". Thusly, some will stay "robins" because of the first reason and others will become "thrushes" because that's what they are.
One more change and it is the result of a "split." Greater Flamingo is divided into "Greater" Flamingo, Phoenicopterus roseus, the Old World species and now "American" Flamingo, P. ruber, which occurs in the New World. The change (split) was warranted because of the differences between plumage color, bill color, displays and vocalizations. Thus, any "Old World" sightings would be suspect as escapees.
Good Birding
