For the majority of you that don't subscribe to the AZ/NM list, this piece was posted there today:


Hi,

Word has leaked that the AOU Checklist committee has voted to split Winter
Wren into two species when the next supplement is released in July.  The new
species will be Winter Wren (the eastern form) and Pacific Wren (the western
form).  

Both occur in Arizona in winter but their distribution is poorly known.  The
ABC has treated them separately in anticipation of this split for the last
year and there are several records of Winter and Pacific Wren documented on
the AZFO site. You may want to keep this upcoming split in mind when
observing Winter Wrens this winter.

More information on this identification challenge can be found here:

http://www.azfo.org/gallery/2009/html1/WIWR_Mesa_Moore_20090124.html 

No word on the other two splits being considered (Inland and Coastal Western
Scrub-Jays; South Hills and Red Crossbill).

Mike Moore