American Ornithological Society and eBird Announce Significant Bird Species Splits and Name Changes for 2026
The American Ornithological Society (AOS) and eBird have released their 2026 updates, introducing several significant bird species splits and name changes that will impact North American birders. The Willet, a widespread sandpiper, has been formally split into two distinct species: the Prairie Willet (Tringa inornata) and the Saltmarsh Willet (Tringa semipalmata), based on differences in range, size, and bill shape. Similarly, the Marsh Wren has been divided into the Western Marsh Wren (Cistothorus paludicola) and Eastern Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris), following over 40 years of research revealing genetic and song pattern differences. The Whimbrel is now separated into the Hudsonian Whimbrel (Numenius hudsonicus) in the Americas and the Eurasian Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) in the Old World. The Yellow Warbler's range has been halved, with the Northern Yellow Warbler (Setophaga aestiva) in North America and the Mangrove Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia) along coastlines from Mexico to South America....
