MD checklists
S. Harvey Mudd, MD (shm@codon.nih.gov)
Fri, 31 Jul 1998 14:53:47 -0400
A big vote of thanks to Rick Blom for recently posting his new MD
check-list, rearranged so promptly to conform to the sequence changes in the
newly published 7th edition of the AOU Check-list.
As Rick noted, on his list he included "all the birds accepted as occurring
in Maryland, plus a few that may be, ought to be, or whatever". It may then
be of interest to compare this list with that agreed upon on March 1, 1998
by the Maryland/District of Columbia Records Committee (MD/DCRC).
Incidentally, the MD/DCRC list is now available on the MOS Web Site:
http://www2.ari.net/saunderf/mos/rclist.html.
Since March, six species have been added to the MD/DCRC list, although this
happened so recently there has not yet been time for Phil Davis to notify
the observers officially and to publish an announcement about these
additions in MD Yellowthroat. Phil plans to do so shortly, to reindex the
MD/DCRC database to conform with the new 7th edition of the AOU Check-list,
and to post the updated and reordered list to the MOS Web Site.
The newly added species are the following:
Black-capped Petrel - Pterodroma hasitata
Gyrfalcon - Falco rusticolus
Red-necked Stint - Calidris ruficollis
South Polar Skua - Catharacta maccormicki
Lark Bunting - Calamospiza melanocorys
Black-headed Grosbeak - Pheucticus melanocephalus
Of these, Rick anticipated all but Black-capped Petrel by including them on
his list.
There do, however, remain a few differences between the two lists, with each
including a few species not on the other. These are specified below, with
brief comments about possible reasons for these discrepancies:
Species on the MD/DCRC list, not on Rick's list:
Black-capped Petrel - (see above) - two documented reports, including a
specimen now at NMNH.
Greater Prairie Chicken - Tympanuchus cupido
Passenger Pigeon - Ectopistes migratorius
Carolina Parakeet - Conuropsis carolinensis
The latter three are all carried as extinct or extirpated species by
MD/DCRC, and perhaps for that reason were not included by Rick. In this
connection, it may be noted that Trumpeter Swan Cygnus buccinator is
accepted only as an extirpated species by MD/DCRC, but is included without
qualification on Rick's list.
The species on Rick's list, but not on the MD/DCRC list, fall into several
categories:
a) Most importantly, species for which MD/DCRC is aware of reported
sightings, but for which it has as yet been unable to obtain the full
documentation that may be available with regard to these sightings. The
committee very earnestly requests any observer in possession of such
documentation please to share it with the committee. Of course, reports of
additional sightings of any of these species would be of great interest:
Pacific Loon - Gavia pacifica Documentation from any observer fortunate
enough to get good looks at the Pacific Loon reported in Maryland waters of
the Susquehanna River above Conowingo Dam in late 1997 would be most welcome.
Band-rumped Storm-Petrel - Oceanodroma castro: The committee is still
seeking further documentation of a bird seen over the Atlantic Ocean in
Worchester County on 8/17/1997.
Garganey - Anas querquedula: A reported sighting at Remington Farms, Kent
County, on 5/5 to 5/6/1977 was not accepted. Reports of additional
sightings have not been received.
Black Guillemot - Cepphus grylle. A report from Chesapeake Bay, Anne
Arundel County, 3/11/1993 was accepted, but to genus only, as Cepphus sp.
Green-tailed Towhee - Pipilo chlorurus. In spite of many efforts, the
committee has been unable to locate documentation for the sighting reported
from Liberty Road, Baltimore County, on 1/15/1969. Information as to
possible leads to obtaining such documentation would be very helpful.
b) Species for which no reports have been received. Any such report would
be welcome.
Ringed Turtle Dove - Streptopelia risoria
Eurasian Collared Dove - Streptopelia decaocto
Monk Parakeet - Myiopsitta monachus
c) Species with identification well documented, but for which the committee
has questioned whether the origin is truly wild:
Barnacle Goose - Branta leucopsis
Black-tailed Gull - Larus crassirostris. In view of the occurrence of this
species in a few other areas of North America, the sighting at Sandy Point
SP, Anne Arundel County, 7/4 to 7/7/1984, very well documented as to species
identification, has now been reopened and is currently under re-review.
d) Special cases in which the criteria for identification remain controversial:
Thayer's Gull - Larus thayeri. Until recently, the committee opted to
defer review of the several Thayer's Gull reports it has received, pending a
decision by AOU as to whether this species would be re-lumped; and possible
attainment of agreement among the experts as to what features are required
for indubitable identification of this form. Because we have heard that AOU
is not likely in the near future to alter its current judgement that
Thayer's Gull is a valid species, the Thayer's report that is considered the
most persuasive is now under review in order perhaps to place this species
on the MD/DCRC Maryland list.
Western Wood Pewee - Contopus sordidulus. Several reports are in the hands
of the committee, including that of at least one specimen at NMNH. The
committee is currently seeking expert opinion as to how such a specimen can
be separated with certainty from Eastern Wood Pewee.
To repeat, a major reason for this posting is again to solicit further
information as to sightings of the several species discussed here. Such
information might be invaluable in clarifying the status of some of these
interesting (and perhaps controversial) species in our state.
Harvey Mudd, Chair MD/DCRC
____________________________________
S. Harvey Mudd
NIMH/DIRP/LMB
Building 36, Room 1B-08
36 CONVENT DR MSC 4034
BETHESDA MD 20892-4034
tel: 301-496-0681; fax 301-402-0245
email: shm@codon.nih.gov