Bird Names & Taxonomy

A gull in flight in a cloudy blue sky.
More Gulls, More Vireos: Latest Shakeup of North American Bird Names Splits Familiar Species
August 20, 2025 — Audubon field editor Kenn Kaufman breaks down this year’s checklist changes from the American Ornithological Society.
A grid of six colorful hummingbirds.
Quiz: How Well Do You Know Your Western Hummingbirds?
July 10, 2025 — Think you can tell a Calliope from a Costa's? Let's find out.
Bird News
A Redpoll perches on a pink plant eating its fuzzy white flowers.
Lumping Redpolls and Splitting Seabirds: This Year's Updates to North American Bird Names
August 07, 2024 — The American Ornithological Society recently announced its checklist changes for 2024—and there’s quite a bit for birders to catch up on.
The ‘Kill Bill Tanager,’ a Species New to Science, Finally Has a Real Name
November 16, 2021 — A bird sighting on Kosñipata road in southeastern Peru led to a 20-year quest to confirm the new species: the gloriously yellow Inti Tanager.
Bird News
Ask Kenn: Egret, Ibis, Flamingo, Heron, Stork—What's the Difference?
July 30, 2021 — Wading birds may appear similar, but looks can often be deceiving, explains Kenn Kaufman in this month's Ask Kenn!
Bird Questions and Facts