I picked these up from some other listserves today about interesting genetic work on the evolution of birds and the relationships among currently living birds.

Here is the short description:

http://news.ufl.edu/2008/06/26/bird-evolution/

Here's a longer piece:

http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2008/06/early_birds_shake_up_avian_tre.php

Food for thought and revisions to field guides, nomenclature, and check lists.

Jim Nelson
Bethesda, MD