Every year, birders look forward to the check-list supplement from the American Ornithological Society (formerly the American Ornithologists’ Union), and this year is no exception. In fact, 2017 offers a bounty of potential splits for your armchair ticks, as well as some very compelling lumps. In this episode, I break down some of those taxonomic decision with Nick Block, professor of Biology at Stonehill College and member of the ABA’s Recording Standards and Ethics Committee. We talk Yellow-rumped Warblers, redpolls, Willets and more!

And Greg Neise and Ted Floyd return with guest and gull expert Amar Ayyash to talk about one of the most fascinating proposals in this year’s batch, the lump of Thayer’s and Iceland Gulls. Clines and hybrid swarms are on the agenda!

Subscribe to the podcast at iTunes, Stitcher, and Google Play, and please leave a review if you are so inclined! It definitely helps people find us.

The American Birding Podcast brings together staff and friends of the American Birding Association as we talk about birds, birding, travel and conservation in North America and beyond.

Join host Nate Swick every other Thursday for news and happenings, recent rarities, guests from around the birding world, and features of interest to every birder.