Yellow-Breasted Chat (Icteria virens) USGS

“The wild beasts of the desert shall also meet with the wild beasts of the island, and the satyr shall cry to his fellow; the screech owl also shall rest there, and find for herself a place of rest.” (Isaiah 34:14 KJV)

The I.O.C. Version 8.1 Update is finally completed on this blog. After issues with my Excel spreadsheet, all the pages are now current. It must have been some feathers from that family of birds they through up in the air. :) See: Hang On To Your Hat – I.O.C. 8.1 Update Underway the Thamnophilidae – Antbirds Family).

There actually was so many changes that I am only going to mention some of them. Here are the new families. The birds were taken from various families and given new places to dwell. Listed are the families at the end of the Passeriformes Order. Some were divided and others had avian wonders pulled from families and placed in these new ones. DNA research is the reason for Most of this shuffling.

Western Chat-Tanager (Calyptophilus tertius) ©Flickr Rafy Rodriguez

Emberizidae – Buntings – Split of New World Sparrows
Passerellidae – New World Sparrows – New
Calyptophilidae – Chat-tanagers – New
Phaenicophilidae – Hispaniolan Tanagers – New
Nesospingidae – Puerto Rican Tanager – New
Spindalidae – Spindalises – New
Zeledoniidae – Wrenthrush – New
Teretistridae – Cuban Warblers – New
Icteriidae – Yellow-breasted Chat – New
Icteridae – Oropendolas, Orioles and Blackbirds – Same
Parulidae – New World Warblers – Gave up birds
Mitrospingidae – Mitrospingid Tanagers – New
Cardinalidae – Cardinals, Grosbeaks and allies – Same
Thraupidae – Tanagers and allies – Gave up birds

“The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted; Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house.” (Psalms 104:16-17 KJV)

I realize that for most casual birdwatchers, this means very little. Yet, some birders take photos, myself included, and we like to put the correct name on the birds. Also, my photos are stored by families. This helps when writing articles or just trying to find a photo. The desire is that these updates also assist those reading and using the blog.

There are other changes and the best way to find them is by going to these pages from the I.O.C.:

• Species Updates
• English Name Changes
• Taxonomy Changes

Be sure to check out the Birds of the World pages:

• ORDER
• Families – Alphabetical (Scientific)
• Families – Alphabetical (English)
• Families – Taxonomic (Scientific – English)
• Families – Taxonomic (English – Scientific)
• First Name of Bird – 8.1
• Last Name of Bird – 8.1

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