run together more, while the Boreal's notes are more distinctly separated and ennun-

ciated; Snipe's call comes from above, the Boreal from the trees; and the Snipe's call

moves around as it flies, while the Boreal calls from one spot - the problem is these

last three differences are hard or impossible to detect at a distance. Our hearing of this

bird certainly satisfied the characteristic Kim mentions above of the call being given at

regular intervals and separated by regular pauses. Also the call came from one spot the

whole time we were listening. The calls of the Boreal Owl and the winnowing of a Com-

mon Snipe are very similar in nature at a distance, but are really easily separated at close

range. I remember well when we first heard the above mentioned Boreal Owl calling,

that both Ray and I knew it was different and only reminded us of a snipe. Even though

we have had limited experience with hearing Boreal Owls, once you have heard the bird,

the differences between it and the snipe are quite apparent. The call of the Boreal Owl

has been likened to the sound of "dripping water"; where this ever got started is unknown

to me, but it would seem that this sound might apply more closely to the call of the

Northern Saw-whet Owl. One wonders if the "dripping water" Boreal Owl records were

Saw-whets? In conclusion, this summer record leaves a number on unanswered questions:

was this just a stray accidental bird that by luck we happened on to? By July 1, it seems

that Boreal Owls should have passed their peak song period and be fairly silent unless

they are at a nest site. But who knows what Boreal Owls are "supposed" to do on the

fringe of their range. It is possible that the bird we heard was at a nest with young either

in or out of the nest. Does northern Minnesota have a small summer resident population

of Boreal Owls that go largely unnoticed because of their secretive habits and scarcity?

Possibly the only answer to this will come about if more birders stay up all night and

listen in the northern part of the state for night sounds. Robert B. Janssen, 10521 S.

Cedar Lake Road, #212, Minnetonka, MN 55343.

Changes in

Minnesota Bird Names

6th Edition of the

A.O.U. Checklist

In 1982 the American Ornithologists' Union (AOU) completed the long awaited re-

vision of the A.O.U. Checklist. Species were lumped, species were split, many common

names and scientific names were changed and the old Checklist order has been drastically

changed for many species.

These changes have been incorporated into a new and up-to-date revision of the

Minnesota Checklist of Birds. Also, these changes will become effective with this issue

of The Loon and will be used in all forthcoming issues of the magazine or until further

revisions are made by the A.O.U.

Splits- Eight species were added to the U.S. list, but unfortunately none of these af-

fected the Minnesota List. These splits were:

Black-vented Shearwater from Manx Shearwater,Red-breasted Sapsucker from Yel-

low-bellied Sapsucker, the Skua was split into Great Skua and South Polar Skua,

the Screech Owl was split into the Eastern and Western Screech-Owl. The Yel-

low-footed Gull has been split from the Western Gull, the Antillean Nighthawk

was split from the Common Nighthawk. The Black-backed Wagtail is split from

the White Wagtail and finally, the Couch's Kingbird was split from the Tropical

Kingbird.

Spring 1983

39