Talk:List of birds of Alberta

Details of June 2017 revision

In June 2017 I updated this article to the most recent available source list and the 2016 American Ornithological Society (AOS) taxonomy. As created and subsequently revised before now it had a unique format, a list derived from a no-longer-available source, and an outdated and unreferenced taxonomy. Rather than my usual piecemeal update with an explanation of the changes at each step, I replaced it with a wholesale conversion as described here. The changes are:

• Add an introduction which references the sources of the updated list and taxonomy and is in a similar format to the bird lists of Ontario and the individual U.S. states.
• Split up these "families" into their true familial groups
  • Pelicans and cormorants
  • New World vultures, eagles, hawks, osprey, and falcons
  • Rails and cranes
  • Owls
  • Swifts and hummingbirds
  • Songbirds
• Move families to match the AOS sequence.
• Head each family with an English title and the Order and Family names in the most common "List of birds" format.
• Add the standard text to each family section.
• Add and delete species to match the Alberta Bird Records Committee (ABRC) checklist with the net result of adding nine species.
• Resequence species within each family to match AOS.
• Present each species in the most common format: *English name, Scientific name
• Add tags for categories of occurrence per the ABRC checklist.
• Delete the External Links section because its only entry linked to an undated and unsourced list
• Retain the original photos

Craigthebirder (talk)

July 7, 2020 revisions

Because of the large number of changes necessitated by the update to the Check-list of North and Middle American Birds which the American Ornithological Society published on June 30, 2020, the revisions to this article are presented here rather than in a long series of edit summaries. Changes are per the AOS unless otherwise noted.

• Revise the references, counts, and text in the introduction.
• Add 2 species and revise tags per Lepage.
• Revise multiple families' common names per Clements.
• Revise the sequence of species in family Phasiannidae (Pheasants, grouse, and allies).
• Revise the sequence of species in genus Selasphorus (Hummingbirds).
• Revise the sequence of species in family Rallidae (Rails, gallinules, and coots).

Craigthebirder (talk) 16:33, 7 July 2020 (UTC)

August 2021 revision

These are the changes made to update this list to the 2021 Check-list of North and Middle American Birds published by the American Ornithological Society (AOS) on June 29, 2021. In addition, two species were added per Avibase.

• Revise the sequence of families in Order Passeriformes.
• Revise the genus of spruce grouse.
• Split mew gull into common gull and short-billed gull and revise entries accordingly.
• Revise binomials of cormorant species.
• Revise the specific epithet of crested caracara.
• Revise the genus of ruby-crowned kinglet.
• Revise text, counts, and references as appropriate.

Craigthebirder (talk) 02:16, 13 August 2021 (UTC)

Addition of Eastern Yellow Wagtail?

I'm not sure if this has been reversed but I doubt it since the report was made in 2021, however the 13th Alberta bird record committee accepts a record of the Eastern Yellow Wagtail in Alberta from in 2018 near Pincher Creek. If it were to be added it would added as an Accidental.— Preceding unsigned comment added by 2604:3D09:F80:1A00:D02E:A681:2D12:7328 (talk) 01:15, 28 March 2022 (UTC)

The Official List of the Birds of Alberta maintained by the Royal Alberta Museum includes the eastern yellow wagtail. This list is based on Bird Checklists of the World though through Avibase - Bird Checklists of the World: Alberta, which does not include it. Lists can be based on local official lists or Avibase. Local lists are probably better but Avibase is a lot easier to maintain. @Craigthebirder and Pvmoutside: Any suggestions? SchreiberBike | ⌨  02:15, 28 March 2022 (UTC)

I think that Official List was only recently published on line; I didn't find it last summer when I did the AOS taxonomy update. I agree that the local list would be the better source. But I'm no longer updating Canadian provincial lists; perhaps @Pvmoutside: will do so.@SchreiberBike: Craigthebirder (talk) 11:30, 28 March 2022 (UTC)

Unsourced additions

Hi Qwexcxewq - I would like to ask you again that if you intend to add information to this article, please cite sources from a WP:RS. Your additions to the sage thrasher and common poorwill were appropriately sourced - thank you - however your other changes to Lewis' woodpecker and Vaux's swift did not provide a source. If you intend to add them back please add an inline citation.

Please be aware that eBird and iNaturalist are generally not considered reliable sources in this context. Please see the discussion at Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Birds#Is eBird a reliable source. Additionally, please be cautious if you're adding sources which are older than currently accepted lists. Because of climate change and other factors, sources from even 20 years ago may not be representative of actual populations anymore. grungaloo (talk) 05:02, 23 January 2024 (UTC)

Hi when I replied to you on my talkpage I was unaware that you had made this.

I'm a little unsure why it is so important for every edit of mine on this self-proclaimed low-important article having a citation despite me also providing you with my reasoning. Especially when the edits were so small.

Regardless for the Lewis's Woodpecker I have found a citation that I hope you will be happy with (though I'm sorry it might be considered "too old"). As for the Vaux's Swift I will drop this because as much as I have tried to remain somewhat formal I must admit this is getting to be quite frustrating, beside from their dozens of the reports in Alberta, and their suspected breeding by John Acorn, Chris Fisher, and the ABRC that probably isn't enough. Qwexcxewq (talk) 01:44, 28 January 2024 (UTC)

Hi Qwexcxewq, I'm sorry you feel frustrated by our interaction - this was not my intent. The reason I'm pushing for sources is first, it's a Wikipedia policy and can result in blocks if not followed, and second that this article is currently a featured list candidate which has strict requirements for sources. The lead explains that "Unless otherwise noted, the information provided is from the Official List of the Birds of Alberta, produced by the Alberta Bird Record Committee", and so deviations from that source need to be called out. If additions are verifiable (i.e., tagged with a reliable source) and aren't based on original research, they're absolutely welcome.

Your recent edit is a great example of a constructive edit: it's appropriately sourced and adds to the article. Thanks for your efforts in improving this article. grungaloo (talk) 04:25, 28 January 2024 (UTC)

Hi. Sorry if I came off as rude or anything, I was only a little bit frustrated but I'm not the best at tone in written messages. I wasn't aware that this was a feature candidate (and what a good page it would be for one!) or that deviations had to be cited. My main confusion around it was that while I would expect this from regular articles when I had edited this and other bird list articles in the past I had not had this issue (maybe prior to it being a feature candidate?). Have a great day. Qwexcxewq (talk) 22:58, 28 January 2024 (UTC)

No worries, I understand the frustration! I could have mentioned the featured list candidate earlier. For future reference, you can always check the banners at the top of the talk page to see if it's under review for anything (GA, FA, FL). Thanks again for your edits, and have a great day! grungaloo (talk) 00:39, 29 January 2024 (UTC)