2025 Bird Taxonomy Update: New Species and New Lifers for Birders in Québec
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Every fall, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the American Ornithological Society (AOS) update the global bird taxonomy. The 2025 edition brings a few big changes that affect birders across North America, including Québec.
If you’ve been birding locally or traveling abroad, you might now have new species officially added to your life list.
This year, three familiar birds are being split into distinct species: the Yellow Warbler, the Warbling Vireo, and the Whimbrel.
1. Yellow Warbler Split: Two Species Take Flight
Old name: Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia)
New splits:
- Northern Yellow Warbler (Setophaga aestiva) – the migratory population breeding across Canada, the U.S., and northern Mexico.
- Mangrove Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia) – the resident, coastal population in mangroves from Mexico through Central America, the Caribbean, and northern South America.
Why the split:
The two populations differ in habitat (inland shrubs versus mangroves), migration (migratory versus resident), and genetic structure. These consistent differences led taxonomists to officially recognize them as separate species.
What this means for birders in Québec:
- Your regular “Yellow Warbler” sightings in Québec will now count as Northern Yellow Warbler.
- If you’ve traveled to the southern Caribbean, coastal Central America, or northern South America, and seen yellow warblers there, those sightings now qualify as Mangrove Yellow Warbler — a brand-new lifer.
- On eBird and other platforms, your old “Yellow Warbler” entries will automatically migrate to the appropriate species, depending on location.
In short: That Caribbean trip you took? You might already have a new species on your list.
2. Warbling Vireo Split: East and West Go Their Separate Ways
Old name: Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus)
New splits:
- Eastern Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus) – found east of the Rockies, including Québec.
- Western Warbling Vireo (Vireo swainsoni) – found west of the Rockies in mountain and foothill riparian forests.
Why the split:
Researchers confirmed strong differences in song, range, bill shape, and slight plumage features. These differences reflect long-term evolutionary separation between eastern and western populations.
What this means for birders in Québec:
- In Québec, your “Warbling Vireo” records will remain as Eastern Warbling Vireo.
- If you’ve birded in western North America, you may already have a Western Warbling Vireo lifer without realizing it.
- After the update, your lists and eBird checklists will show the correct species automatically based on region.
In short: The species you know in Québec stays the same, but if you’ve birded out west, you might gain one.
3. Whimbrel Split: A Global Shorebird Divide
Old name: Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus)
New splits:
- Hudsonian Whimbrel (Numenius hudsonicus) – the New World population found across North and South America.
- Eurasian Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) – the Old World population breeding in Europe and Asia.
Why the split:
Differences in genetics, migration routes, and plumage patterns show these are distinct evolutionary lineages. What used to be one widespread species is now officially recognized as two.
What this means for birders in Québec:
- All of your Whimbrel sightings in Québec now count as Hudsonian Whimbrel.
- If you’ve birded in Europe or Asia and logged “Whimbrel,” those records are now Eurasian Whimbrel — another new lifer.
- eBird and other list managers will apply the split automatically, but it’s always worth double-checking your records.
In short: One familiar shorebird, two species. And potentially, a new tick on your world list.
Why These Changes Matter
These taxonomy updates are more than just name changes.
They reflect ongoing scientific discoveries about how birds evolve, migrate, and diversify. For birders, they make your lists more accurate, and sometimes, they even give you new species overnight.
For conservation, these splits matter too — recognizing distinct species helps scientists and organizations protect unique populations more effectively.
What to Do Next
- Review your eBird or checklist records after the 2025 taxonomy update goes live (usually late October).
- Update your personal records for the Yellow Warbler, Warbling Vireo, and Whimbrel.
- If you’ve traveled outside Québec, check whether your older sightings now count as new species.
- Share the news with your birding friends and local community — this is an exciting time to update your lists and celebrate new lifers.
Final Word
The 2025 taxonomy update proves once again that birding is always evolving.
Whether you’re birding along Québec’s shores, in a local park, or halfway across the world, the birds you’ve seen may mean more than you realized.
So open your checklist, log back into eBird, and see if your lifelist just grew — without even lifting your binoculars.
For more information, you can consult the article: https://ebird.org/news/2025-taxonomy-update
Alexandre Lajeunesse