On Nov 18, 2021, at 10:26 PM, Pamela Zevit via groups.io <pamela.zevit@...> wrote:

The 2020 genetic analysis spurred some interesting discussion on this, and it has influenced how Pacific Northwest crows have been ID’d by the public on platforms like iNaturalist (not sure about eBird?). So interesting to see this recent discussion spurred by Rob Butler’s work.

nkdawe posted: "Currently there is a proposal to The North American Classification Committee to consider re-splitting Northwestern Crow from American Crow. This proposal has garnered interest in a recent article by Robert W. Butler, published in British Columbia Birds,"
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Taxonomy of the Northwestern Crow Corvus caurinus
by nkdawe


Currently there is a proposal to The North American Classification Committee to consider re-splitting Northwestern Crow from American Crow. This proposal has garnered interest in a recent article by Robert W. Butler, published in British Columbia Birds, so we have decided to make the article generally available rather than having it confined to the Members Only pages of the British Columbia Birds website. You can download the paper here.

nkdawe | November 18, 2021 at 1:17 pm | Categories: Uncategorized | URL:
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On Nov 18, 2021, at 10:26 PM, Pamela Zevit via groups.io <pamela.zevit@...> wrote:

The 2020 genetic analysis spurred some interesting discussion on this, and it has influenced how Pacific Northwest crows have been ID’d by the public on platforms like iNaturalist (not sure about eBird?). So interesting to see this recent discussion spurred by Rob Butler’s work.

nkdawe posted: "Currently there is a proposal to The North American Classification Committee to consider re-splitting Northwestern Crow from American Crow. This proposal has garnered interest in a recent article by Robert W. Butler, published in British Columbia Birds,"
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New post on




Taxonomy of the Northwestern Crow Corvus caurinus
by nkdawe


Currently there is a proposal to The North American Classification Committee to consider re-splitting Northwestern Crow from American Crow. This proposal has garnered interest in a recent article by Robert W. Butler, published in British Columbia Birds, so we have decided to make the article generally available rather than having it confined to the Members Only pages of the British Columbia Birds website. You can download the paper here.

nkdawe | November 18, 2021 at 1:17 pm | Categories: Uncategorized | URL:
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On 2021. Nov 20., at 9:05, Wayne Weber <contopus@...> wrote:

?Daniel and Vancouver Birders,

Don't forget about the questionable lumping of Thayer's Gull with Iceland Gull, which cost us another species.

Despite the fact that "splitters" are winning the war on a worldwide basis, the "lumpers" seem to be winning in North America at the moment. Phooey!!

There have been numerous serious proposals to split several North American bird species which have not yet been accepted. This includes Spruce Grouse, Warbling Vireo, Canada Jay, White-breasted Nuthatch, Red Crossbill, Fox Sparrow, Nashville Warbler, and Yellow-rumped Warbler. Some of these are almost certain to be accepted in future. However, the North American Checklist Committee (NACC) is apparently waiting for stronger evidence for some of these splits. With luck, it will come soon.

Long live the splitters!

Wayne Weber
contopus@...



-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Daniel Bastaja
Sent: Friday, November 19, 2021 7:59 AM
To: Vanbirds
Subject: Re: [vanbcbirds] Taxonomy of the Northwestern Crow Corvus caurinus

Thanks for sharing that Pamela. Interesting.

I think it was only in June 2020 that it lost its species status, was it not? Wouldn’t reversing it so soon after lumping be tantamount to admitting a mistake? That’s why I think the AOS may be in no rush to act on this. :) I guess we’ll see.

This is the second ding for hardcore lister in Vancouver. First they lost Crested Myna and now Northwestern Crow. :D

Daniel Bastaja
danielbastaja@...

On Nov 18, 2021, at 10:26 PM, Pamela Zevit via groups.io <pamela.zevit@...> wrote:

The 2020 genetic analysis spurred some interesting discussion on this, and it has influenced how Pacific Northwest crows have been ID’d by the public on platforms like iNaturalist (not sure about eBird?). So interesting to see this recent discussion spurred by Rob Butler’s work.

nkdawe posted: "Currently there is a proposal to The North American Classification Committee to consider re-splitting Northwestern Crow from American Crow. This proposal has garnered interest in a recent article by Robert W. Butler, published in British Columbia Birds,"
Respond to this post by replying above this line

New post on




Taxonomy of the Northwestern Crow Corvus caurinus
by nkdawe


Currently there is a proposal to The North American Classification Committee to consider re-splitting Northwestern Crow from American Crow. This proposal has garnered interest in a recent article by Robert W. Butler, published in British Columbia Birds, so we have decided to make the article generally available rather than having it confined to the Members Only pages of the British Columbia Birds website. You can download the paper here.

nkdawe | November 18, 2021 at 1:17 pm | Categories: Uncategorized | URL:
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On Nov 20, 2021, at 7:36 PM, Daniel Bastaja <danielbastaja@...> wrote:

Yes… I forgot about the Thayers Gull.

You are absolutely right Wayne that the splitters have the upper hand right now. I don’t know about NA but in the Western Palearctic they are split-happy! And tick obsessed! :D

Daniel Bastaja
danielbastaja@...

Sent from my iPhone

On 2021. Nov 20., at 9:05, Wayne Weber <contopus@...> wrote:

?Daniel and Vancouver Birders,

Don't forget about the questionable lumping of Thayer's Gull with Iceland Gull, which cost us another species.

Despite the fact that "splitters" are winning the war on a worldwide basis, the "lumpers" seem to be winning in North America at the moment. Phooey!!

There have been numerous serious proposals to split several North American bird species which have not yet been accepted. This includes Spruce Grouse, Warbling Vireo, Canada Jay, White-breasted Nuthatch, Red Crossbill, Fox Sparrow, Nashville Warbler, and Yellow-rumped Warbler. Some of these are almost certain to be accepted in future. However, the North American Checklist Committee (NACC) is apparently waiting for stronger evidence for some of these splits. With luck, it will come soon.

Long live the splitters!

Wayne Weber
contopus@...



-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Daniel Bastaja
Sent: Friday, November 19, 2021 7:59 AM
To: Vanbirds
Subject: Re: [vanbcbirds] Taxonomy of the Northwestern Crow Corvus caurinus

Thanks for sharing that Pamela. Interesting.

I think it was only in June 2020 that it lost its species status, was it not? Wouldn’t reversing it so soon after lumping be tantamount to admitting a mistake? That’s why I think the AOS may be in no rush to act on this. :) I guess we’ll see.

This is the second ding for hardcore lister in Vancouver. First they lost Crested Myna and now Northwestern Crow. :D

Daniel Bastaja
danielbastaja@...

On Nov 18, 2021, at 10:26 PM, Pamela Zevit via groups.io <pamela.zevit@...> wrote:

The 2020 genetic analysis spurred some interesting discussion on this, and it has influenced how Pacific Northwest crows have been ID’d by the public on platforms like iNaturalist (not sure about eBird?). So interesting to see this recent discussion spurred by Rob Butler’s work.

nkdawe posted: "Currently there is a proposal to The North American Classification Committee to consider re-splitting Northwestern Crow from American Crow. This proposal has garnered interest in a recent article by Robert W. Butler, published in British Columbia Birds,"
Respond to this post by replying above this line

New post on




Taxonomy of the Northwestern Crow Corvus caurinus
by nkdawe


Currently there is a proposal to The North American Classification Committee to consider re-splitting Northwestern Crow from American Crow. This proposal has garnered interest in a recent article by Robert W. Butler, published in British Columbia Birds, so we have decided to make the article generally available rather than having it confined to the Members Only pages of the British Columbia Birds website. You can download the paper here.

nkdawe | November 18, 2021 at 1:17 pm | Categories: Uncategorized | URL:
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