Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) ©WikiC

Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge? (Job 37:16 KJV)

This latest I.O.C. list of World Bird Names is quite an undertaking. As these ornithologists from around the world gain information from the DNA studies, their thinking of Bird Families change. When the Lord created the world and the birds, He placed the DNA in living creatures and man, knowing that one day it would be discovered. With that said, they keep arranging birds different families.

The New World Sparrows and the Buntings were placed in one family called Emberizidae. Now the 44 Buntings own that family – Emberizidae – Buntings and the 136 New World Sparrows have been pulled out and are now in the new Passerellidae – New World Sparrows Family.

Sudan Golden Sparrow (Passer luteus) by Dan

I realize many casual birdwatchers do well to put a name on a bird, let alone know what family to which they belong. Yet, when you look in a Bird Guide to find the name of the bird, it helps to know that they are divided into families.

This is just one of the new pages that have been adding to this site with the newest IOC update. Stay tuned, I’m still building pages. I have 8 or 9 more I am in the process of completing.

Emberizidae – Buntings

Passerellidae – New World Sparrows

New World Sparrows (Passerellidae) | HBW Alive

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