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Wood Warbler Names Done Right

10,000 Birds

For example, the legendary ornithologist Alexander Wilson happened upon in his broad travels a warbler previously undescribed by science. Virginia’s Warbler –which never turns up in Virginia–can be the Big-eyed Warbler. Even worse, such sobriquets obscure insight into the birds themselves. NAMED FOR PLACES.

Rights 113
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National Audubon Society Birds of North America: A Guide Review

10,000 Birds

Interestingly, Chestnut-collared Longspur does appear under its brand-new official name, Thick-billed Longspur, though the description underneath uses the old name. I don’t have a copy of the 1994 Western Audubon Guide, but I bet it would describe Virginia’s Warbler as preferring scrubby brush.