Changes to ABA Bird Codes

Barnacle Goose is now a regular winter visitor to New England,  a reminder bird codes change with frequency of occurrence in the ABA Area.  The most recent ABA Checklist is found at www.aba.org/checklist/abachecklist.pdf.  If you study the new list, a number of changes have been made to the coding system.  The new paper version of the ABA Checklist should be available from ABA Sales in December, containing gobs of new species information including definitions of the ABA Codes.

A list of ABA Code changes follows.  My understanding is there is group of birders who formed a Code 5 Club.  Congratulations on your potential three gains, but my condolences on your potential 13 losses! 

Code symbols:  E=exotic, N=native breeder, V=native non-breeding visitor, X=extinct, likely extinct, or extirpated from the ABA Area.

Barnacle Goose – from Code 5 to Code 4

Muscovy Duck – add E 2, to recognize established FL population

Eurasian Wigeon – from Code 3 to Code 2

Eastern Spot-billed Duck – from Code 5 to Code 4

Garganey – from Code 3 to Code 4

Steller’s Eider – from Code 2 to Code 3

Spectacled Eider – from Code 2 to Code 3

King Eider – from Code 1 to Code 2

Mottled Petrel - from Code 3 to Code 2

Bermuda Petrel – from Code 4 to Code 3

Galapagos/Hawaiian Petrel – from Code 5 to Code 4

Cook’s Petrel – from Code 2 to Code 3

White-faced Storm-Petrel – from Code 4 to Code 3

European Storm-Petrel – from Code 5 to Code 4

Wedge-rumped Storm-Petrel – from Code 5 to Code 4

Least Storm-Petrel – from Code 2 to Code 3

Great Frigatebird – from Code 4 to Code 5

Jabiru – from Code 5 to Code 4

Roadside Hawk – from Code 5 to Code 4

Aplomado Falcon – from Coe 4 to Code 3

Corn Crake – from Code 5 to Code 4

Little Ringed Plover – from Code 4 to Code 5

Little Curlew – from Code 4 to Code 5

Broad-billed Sandpiper – from Code 5 to Code 4

Jack Snipe – from Code 5 to Code 4

Lesser Black-backed Gull – from V 3 to N 2

Long-billed Murrelet – from Code 4 to Code 3

White-crowned Pigeon – from Code 1 to Code 2

Red-billed Pigeon – from Code 3 to Code 2

Spotted Dove – from Code 1 to Code 2

Short-eared Owl – from Code 2 to Code 1

Antillean Nighthawk – from Code 3 to Code 2

Buff-collared Nightjar – from Code 4 to Code 3

Green Violetear – from Code 4 to Code 3

White-eared Hummingbird – from V to N

La Sagra’s Flycatcher – from Code 4 to Code 3

Piratic Flycatcher – from Code 5 to Code 4

Fork-tailed Flycatcher – from Code 4 to Code 3

Thick-billed Vireo –from Code 5 to Code 4

Sky Lark – from V, E 2 to V3, E 3

Yellow-browed Warbler – from Code 5 to Code 4

Black-capped Gnatcatcher – from Code 4 to Code 3

White-throated Thrush – from Code 5 to Code 4

California Thrasher - from Code 1 to Code 2

European Starling – from V 1 to V 5, E 1

Eastern Yellow Wagtail – from Code 1 to Code 2

White Wagtail – from Code 2 to Code 3

Bohemian Waxwing – from Code 1 to Code 2

Bachman’s Warbler – from N to X

Cerulean Warbler – from Code 1 to Code 2

Crescent-chested Warbler – from Code 5 to Code 4

Kirtland’s Warbler – from Code 3 to Code 2

Rufous-capped Warbler – from V 4 to N 3

Flame-colored Tanager – from V 4 to N 3

Western Spindalis - from Code 4 to Code3

Black-faced Grassquit – from Code 5 to Code 4

Shiny Cowbird- from Code 2 to Code 3

Common Chaffinch – Code 5 to Code 4

Comments

[Rick]

I wasn't asked, sniff sniff, but I'd have bumped Black-capped Gnatcatcher all the way up to Code 2. I've seen a lot more of 'em than King Eiders, that's for sure!
r

[Brent Bomkamp]

Does the addition of the florida population of Muscovy Duck make this population countable?

[Rick]

Dear Brent,
Yes, by definition: see http://aba.org/checklist/codes.html