The American Ornithological Society is renaming dozens of birds and desires the general public’s assist.
A complete flock of birds will get new names within the coming 12 months, and hen lovers of all stripes — from informal yard watchers to critical peepers — may have an opportunity to assist. The American Ornithological Society, the authority on North American hen names and identification, plans to rechristen species named after human beings and embody public enter within the course of.
The society’s governing council made the choice after years of debate on how you can deal with birds whose English names might have dangerous or offensive historic and cultural associations. AOS President Colleen Handel stated that birders ought to be capable to research and revel in species freely with out having to listen to, or use, dangerous and presumably racist names. “There is power in a name, and some English bird names have associations with the past that continue to be exclusionary and harmful today,” Handel stated in a press release. “We need a much more inclusive and engaging scientific process that focuses attention on the unique features and beauty of the birds themselves.”
The AOS English Bird Names Committee in the end determined to revise all eponymous names, not just those linked to violent histories.
“We do expect the names to reflect aspects of the bird’s appearance, distribution, habitat or behavior — essentially names that describe the bird itself,” Jordan Rutter, co-founder of Bird Names for Birds, stated. She hopes that the general public’s involvement will spark creativity within the renaming course of. “These are perspectives we haven’t had before and should allow for memorable and captivating new names.”
For instance, in recent informal public polls to rename the Say’s phoebe, a small long-tailed flycatcher whose feathers shift in shade from grey above to burnt orange on its stomach, hen lovers got here up with such evocative monikers because the mesa phoebe, cinnamon phoebe and sundown phoebe.
Avid birder Steven Hampton, an enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation and a retired deputy administrator on the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, labored on the AOS renaming committee. He finds nice magnificence within the course of.
“Birds evoke. Birds can fly. They evoke freedom and independence, and our dreams and our ambitions because they can fly. And that’s universal, I think, in every culture across the political spectrum. And so that’s something that we hope can be built on.”
Want to take part on this renaming bonanza? Tell us what you suppose these three Western birds must be referred to as.
Steller’s Jay:
Steller’s jays are giant songbirds identified for being daring, inquisitive and noisy. Easily acknowledged by their charcoal-and-blue plumage and distinctive triangular crest, Steller’s jays give a loud and repeated “shook shook shook shook,” however they will additionally vocalize a variety of different calls and even mimic different species. The hen is commonly discovered within the coniferous and combined mountain forests of Western North America.
Reader recommendations:
| Mohawk indigo jay | Blue booty jay | Crested Western Jay |
Lewis’ woodpecker:
Despite its title, this hen acts extra like a flycatcher than a woodpecker; its aerial acrobatics are sometimes beautiful. Its pink stomach, grey collar and darkish inexperienced again differentiate it from the remainder of its household, and it resides in open ponderosa pine forests and burned woodlands. Normally quiet, the hen emits harsh churrs in fast succession.
Reader recommendations:
| Rosy-bellied, masked woodpecker |
Collared Woodpecker | Cloaked Pine Woodpecker |
Lawrence’s goldfinch:
This North American songbird is a hermit that primarily resides within the arid areas of California and the desert Southwest. This goldfinch is gentle grey with a black face and lemon yellow on its stomach, tail and wings. Its track is a sequence of high-pitched trills and tinkles, and it offers a particular “tink-oo” simply earlier than it takes flight.
Reader recommendations:
| California Gold Nugget Goldfinch | Singing lemonball finch | Calli Desert Goldfinch |
Reader submissions can be up to date by means of Feb. 29, 2024.
Image credit: Steller’s Jay pictures: Steve Valasek, Steve Valasek, Michael Wifall, John Maschak. Lawrence’s Goldfinch pictures: Alan Schmierer, Wendy Miller, Mick Thompson. Lewis’s Woodpecker pictures: Joshua Mayer, Tara Lemezis, Frank D. Lospalluto. All photos are Creative Commons through Flickr.
Ollie Hancock is an editorial intern for High Country News reporting from Portland, Oregon. Email them at [email protected] or submit a letter to the editor. See our letters to the editor coverage.
