It was way back in 1973 that the AOU lumped together the Myrtle Warbler and Audubon’s Warbler, creating the Yellow-rumped Warbler, or, more affectionately, good ol’ Butterbutts, much to the dismay of listers everywhere who lost a species from their various and sundry lists. Now, as Nate of The Drinking Bird reports, the lump might be undone – we may have a split coming! Listers, rejoice!
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The big problem with the “lump” was the abandonment of two pretty names for one of those descriptive but too-many-syllables, does-not-roll-off-the-tongue names. I am a fairly recent birding convert, but was educated by long-time birders who never abandoned the Myrtle.
You had me thinking ‘oh no, another bird species with crashing populations…’
@Nick – Or another winter species heading north…
Hahaha – I didn’t think of that. Palm and Yellow-rumped Warblers are still in great numbers here in central Florida (and Pine, but they are resident), but I did realize the other day that I need to start taking more notice of the big flocks, because they are going to disappear soon.