Cooper’s hawk, Blackburnian warbler to get new names
PROVIDENCE – If you’re into birds and you’ve heard about a new effort to rename species now named after historical figures, the good news is that you’ll have to learn new names for only two birds that breed in Rhode Island.
They’re the Cooper’s hawk and the Blackburnian warbler. And while the Cooper’s hawk is commonly found throughout the state, the Blackburnian warbler is much rarer. Its calls were reported when researchers were compiling Rhode Island’s first bird atlas in the 1980s, but no signs of the species were found during work on the atlas update that wrapped up in 2020.
So on a practical level, you’ll really have to remember only one new name when it comes to birds that you could come across on a daily basis.
What about birds that migrate through Rhode Island?
But then there are the birds that migrate through Rhode Island, stopping over on their way to other places. That’s a longer list, with 36 species, but don’t get too worried just yet.
“You’re not going to wake up tomorrow and have all the names change,” said Sam Miller, a bird biologist with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management.
The American Ornithological Society announced the renaming project earlier this month in an effort to be more inclusive of people of different races and backgrounds who are interested in birds. While it’s being driven by a desire to remove names linked to figures of the past with racist or genocidal histories, the work is encompassing all birds that are attached to names of human beings to avoid any future controversies and to give species more descriptive names.
More:The Audubon Society of RI released a report on birds in the state. The results aren’t good.
The DEM supports the intent of the project, saying it could have a wider impact on the birding world.
“We believe that birds deserve their own names based on field study, taxonomy and physical traits,” spokesman Michael Healey said. “This will allow the public to better understand, connect with or capture the essence of a species. To reverse the alarming declines in so many species, we need to activate more people to become birders. Renaming birds based on scientific principles may help expand the entryway into the world of birds for a whole new generation of ecological champions.”
Charles Clarkson, director of avian research at the Audubon Society of Rhode Island, agrees that the change is a good thing.
“The fact is, several bird species are named after individuals who have exacted injustices throughout our past, and by associating birds with these individuals, we are keeping obstacles in the way of our efforts to increase inclusion and equity within the disciplines of ornithology and, more broadly, within the birding community,” he said.
Changing bird names isn’t all that novel. Clarkson pointed to the Thick-billed longspur, which had its name changed from McCown’s longspur in 2020, removing its connection to Confederate general John Porter McCown. But making similar case-by-case changes is time-consuming and can be subjective, said Clarkson. A blanket policy to remove names linked to people standardizes the process.
Miller, too, applauded the decision.
“It shouldn’t dismay people,” he said. “It’s exciting to learn a new name for a familiar bird.”
What birds seen in Rhode Island will get new names?
Here are some of the birds that can be spotted in Rhode Island on the list for name changes:
Cooper’s hawk: A common medium-sized hawk named after American naturalist William Cooper. A skilled and speedy flier, it can often be seen hunting for an easy meal around backyard bird feeders.
Blackburnian warbler: Named after English naturalist Anna Blackburne, this treetop denizen is known for the male’s bright orange throat.
Wilson’s snipe: A long-billed shorebird commonly found in fresh and salt marshes, this snipe is one of several species named for famed ornithologist Alexander Wilson.
Nelson’s sparrow: With its dusky orange face, this bird was considered the same species as the saltmarsh sparrow until the two birds got separate names a quarter century ago. Named after American naturalist Edward William Nelson.
