The order in which you find birds in identification books or checklists has been changed.
Recent work on genetics is periodically reviewed by a committee of the American Ornnithologists' Union. It makes changes. The order in which birds are listed is based on genetics. Name changes are based on discussion.
New books and lists will show Dickcissel as the last bird. Previously at the end of this line were House Sparrow and its far-less common relative the Eurasian Tree Sparrow (less common in North America).
Sparrows now come ahead of the blackbird family. Warblers are placed ahead of blackbirds. Cardinals and tanagers precede Dickcissel.
Thayer's Gull is no more. The identification problems often associated with that bird are gone. Thayer's has been merged with the Iceland Gull. If you list, erase Thayer's. If you count, subtract one.
Rivoli's is the new name for what was the Magnificent Hummingbird. In a very minor change Le Conte's Sparrow now is LeConte's Sparrow.
This information comes from a post made by David Cahlander to the web site and email list of the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union. Thank you, Dave.
