The Evolution of the Checklist of the Birds of Thunder Bay District
358 Species of birds have been recorded in the Thunder Bay District to date. The Checklist of the Birds of Thunder Bay District, Ontario, was first made available in booklet form with the printing of the First Edition in 1986.
The list comprised of 306 species of birds which had been recorded within the Thunder Bay District of Ontario as of August 1986.
The 1991 Second Edition contained 9 more species for a total of 315 recorded in the District as of January 1991.
The new species added were Snowy Egret, Brant, Burrowing Owl, Carolina Wren, Sage Thrasher, White-eyed Vireo, Blue Grosbeak, Golden-crowned Sparrow and Orchard Oriole.
The 1998 Third Edition saw the addition of another 18 species (listed below) for a total of 333. This checklist was up-to-date through the end of April 1998. Ivory Gull was added on the basis of a historical record from Schreiber.
The 2004 Fourth Edition includes noticeable sequence changes, some name changes and 13 new species. Cackling Goose was split from Canada Goose just after the new Checklist went to the printers. New species documented in the District (see below) brought the total to 346 species. The status and rarity codes were changed for a large number of species based on recent sighting information.
The following is a chronological list of recent additions and changes to the Checklist of the Birds of Thunder Bay District.
New Species Added to the Checklist
Snowy Plover May 22-23, 2009
Observed at the Wolf River mouth
Trumpeter Swan October 16, 2008
Nesting pair found at Arrow Lake
Townsend's Warbler August 3, 2008
Banded at Thunder Cape Bird Observatory
Eurasian Collared-Dove November 4-9, 2007
Observed at Pass Lake
Bell's Vireo September 21, 2007
Banded at Thunder Cape Bird Observatory
Long-tailed Jaeger September 1, 2007
Observed on Fraser Lake north of Nipigon
Sabine's Gull October 20, 2006
Observed at Thunder Cape Bird Observatory
Yellow-billed Loon October 14, 2006
Observed flying past at Thunder Cape Bird Observatory
Green-tailed Towhee June 10, 2006
Banded at Thunder Cape Bird Observatory
Ash-throated Flycatcher April 26, 2006
Thunder Cape Bird Observatory
Barn Owl November 30, 2005
Injured bird on logging truck between Thunder Bay and Terrace Bay
Cackling Goose July 2004.
New species split from Canada Goose
Kentucky Warbler May 29, 2003.
Male banded at the Thunder Cape Bird Observatory.
Brewer's Sparrow May 27, 2003.
Banded at the Thunder Cape Bird Observatory.
Lesser Black-backed Gull May 5, 2003.
An adult observed at Mission Island, Thunder Bay.
Lazuli Bunting June 6, 2002.
TBFN field trip near Dorion.
Pomarine Jaeger October 9, 2001.
Thunder Cape Bird Observatory.
Virginia's Warbler August 29, 2001.
Thunder Cape Bird Observatory.
Yellow-throated Warbler October 28, 2000.
Fort William
Red Phalarope October 22, 1999.
Thunder Cape Bird Observatory.
Little Gull October 14, 1999.
Thunder Cape Bird Observatory.
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper October 13, 1999.
Mission Island
Tropical/Couch's Kingbird September 27, 1998
Hurkett
Sprague's Pipit May 29, 1998.
Thunder Cape Bird Observatory.
Painted Bunting May 15, 1998.
A male at Thunder Cape Bird Observatory.
Bewick's Wren May 2, 1998.
Banded at Thunder Cape Bird Observatory.
Grasshopper Sparrow June 4, 1997.
Banded at Thunder Cape Bird Observatory.
Tufted Duck October 7, 1995.
Chippewa landfill site, Thunder Bay.
Eared Grebe May 19, 1995.
Thunder Bay Correctional Centre ponds.
Garganey May 6, 1995.
Thunder Bay.
Rufous Hummingbird July 21, 1994.
Dog Lake Road, Lappe.
Prairie Warbler September 26, 1993.
Female banded at Thunder Cape Bird Observatory.
Say's Phoebe September 16, 1993.
Crooks Township.
Dusky Flycatcher September 13, 1993.
Point Porphyry (Lake Superior).
Swainson's Hawk September 7, 1993.
Thunder Cape Bird Observatory.
Forster's Tern May 22, 1993.
Mouth of Wolf River.
Violet-green Swallow October 28, 1992.
Thunder Cape Bird Observatory.
Black-throated Sparrow October 3, 1992.
Silver Silet.
Ross's Goose September 23, 1991.
Thunder Bay Correctional Centre ponds.
Green Violet-ear June 30, 1991.
O'Connor Township, 1st Sideroad.
Changes in Taxonomy and Nomenclature by the American Ornithologists' Union (AOU)
Note: Only changes affecting the Checklist of the Birds of Thunder Bay District are included. Changes in Latin names (species or genus) are not included.
The current standard is the 7th Edition of the American Ornithologists' Union Checklist of North American Birds and it's supplements, first published in 1998. The 7th Edition contained major sequence changes from the previous edition.
Forty-Ninth Supplement, 2008
- Green Violet-ear was renamed Green Violetear.
Forty-Fifth Supplement, 2004
- Cackling Goose became a separate species instead of being a subspecies of Canada Goose. Major sequence changes were made based mainly on DNA evidence.
Forty-Fourth Supplement, 2003
- Rock Dove was changed to Rock Pigeon.
- Three-toed Woodpecker became American Tree-toed Woodpecker
Forty-Third Supplement, 2002
- Common Snipe was split into Wilson's Snipe and Common Snipe, Wilson's being the species found in the Thunder Bay District. Common Snipe is found in the old world.
Forty-Second Supplement, 2000
- Oldsquaw was changed to Long-tailed Duck to concur with world-wide usage.
- Bullock's Oriole was moved ahead of Baltimore Oriole on the list.
Various supplements to the 6th Edition of the American Ornithologists' Union Checklist of North American Birds (published in 1983) have included the following changes:
Forty-First Supplement, 1997
- Harris' Sparrow was renamed Harris's Sparrow.
Fortieth Supplement, 1995
- Rufous-sided Towhee was split into Eastern Towhee and Spotted Towhee, both of which are considered rare in the Thunder Bay District.
- Sharp-tailed Sparrow was split into Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow and Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow. (Nelson's is on the District list).
- Northern Oriole was split back to Baltimore Oriole and Bullock's Oriole, both of which are considered rare in the Thunder Bay District.
- Bullock's Oriole is added to the list based on a photographic record from 1977.
Thirty-Ninth Supplement, 1994
- Green-backed Heron was renamed Green Heron.
- Rosy Finch reverted back to three species, of which the Gray-crowned Rosy Finch is on the District list.
Thirty-Seventh Supplement, 1989
- Northern Hawk-Owl was renamed Northern Hawk Owl.
- Water Pipit was renamed American Pipit.
