HIGHTLIGHTS OF CHANGES in this 17th edition

I make only one family change in this 17th edition: Fuchs et al. (2019) opined, based on molecular evidence, that "Eurocephalus does not belong to the Laniidae family. Instead it is more closely related to . . . Crested Jay (Platylophus galericulatus). The genus Eurocephalus should probably be placed in its own family." According, I add the White-crowned Shrikes [Eurocephaliidae] between the Platylophidae and the Laniidae. Another move involved Eutrichomyias rowleyi (Cerulean "Paradise-flycatcher"), endemic to Sangihe I., Indonesia, which becomes the newest member of the Silktail family [Lamproliidae].

Net result: + 1 family from 16th edition

HIGHTLIGHTS OF CHANGES in the prior 16th edition (versions A & B)

There has been a trend towards higher numbers of Families in recent years — welcomed by some, criticized by others — and that has played havoc with longterm travel plans of some birders (like me). With recent decisions by the AOS-NACC, IOC, Clements, and Winkler et al. (2015), I finally accepted as a fait accompli the acceptance all the New World nine-primaried passerine families first proposed in Barker et al. (2013). This is with some reluctance, as I had hoped ornithologists could reach some reasonable standard by which families could be measured, perhaps something like a divergence date of 18-20 million years ago (mya), ad least for passerine families. This didn't happen. Puerto Rican Tanager [Nesospingidae] was split from the Spindalises, becoming a very young family. Then Yellow-breasted Chat [Icteriidae] was moved near the Icterids and elevated to Family level, making it the youngest family of all bird families: only about 11 mya. It also created a formal Family name [Icteriidae] that will be confused with that of the Orioles and allies [Icteridae].

Another new family was derived from the Winkler et al. (2015) book on bird families: " Crested Jay" Platylophus galericulatus of southeast Asia is renamed and elevated to its own family Shrikejay [Platylophidae]. Recent genetic evidence suggested it is related to shrikes, not jays; Clements and others have adopted this split.

The Skimmer family [Rynchopidae] was resurrected because the current SACC retain the Skimmers as a family, and do not merge them with the Laridae (Gulls and Terns). Some data suggest that noddies and White Tern are not within the traditional Terns (and might be entitled to Family status), so it is wisest to retain the Rynchopidae as a Family awaiting more research. In this way my list of bird families includes all the families currently accepted by either AOS or SACC.

The AOS added a family in their July 2018 supplement, the Royal-flycatchers [Onychorhynchidae], following Ohlson et al. (2013). This group of six flycatchers in 3 genera are, along with Sharpbill, a sister taxa to all the rest of the tyrant-flycatchers. The AOS elevates this family now, although a number of world checklists are holding off until the results of a large project currently underway is published. There will probably be other families split off from the current Tyrannidae. I've also used the sequence of families adopted by AOS for the New World suboscines.

The final new family was proposed by Cai et al. (2019), splitting the babbler genus Alcippe from the Ground-Babbler family [Pellorneidae] on molecular evidence. All the members of the genus are currently called "fulvettas," but there are other fulvettas in two other families, so this will cause confusion. For the moment I'll call them the Alcippe Fulvettas [Alcippeidae] but I hope taxonomists coin a better English names. When the Pnoepygidae was proposed a decade ago for a genus of birds then-called "wren-babblers," several authors (included me) suggested we adopt the name Cupwings (a translations of the generic name) and most world lists (e.g., Clements) did so. I'd like something better than "Alcippe Fulvettas" for these mostly southeast Asian small babblers.

I adopted the Clements/eBird sequence for the Bird Families of the World, except I adopt the AOS sequence of families in the New World suboscines. Overall, this places the nine-primaried passerines last (ending with Tanagers) and resequences the Passeroidea and the Corvoidea to follow the 2019–2021 Clements. This also brings this listing close to that in the AOU and SACC checklists.

Net result: + 7 families from 15th edition

The newest Bird Families book [Winkler et al. 2015] has 243 families, and I now accept all of those. My list in this edition has 260 families, 17 more than the Bird Families book: Skimmers [split by SACC], Ground-Hornbills [also split by Clements, IOC], Old World Parrots & Lories [Psittaculidae; also split by Clements, IOC, AOU, SACC], Sharpbill [Oxyruncidae; split by SACC, Clements], Royal Flycatchers [split by AOU], Butcherbirds [Cracticidae split from Artamidae Woodswallows, adopted by Clements 2018], Shrike-babblers and Silktails [both splits recommended by Jønsson et al. (2016) on evidence of ancient divergences], Erpornis, Bristle-flycatchers [Erythrocercidae; also split by IOC], White-crowned Shrikes (Fuchs et al. 2019), the Alcippe Fulvettas (Cai et al. 2019), Hylias, Wallcreeper [Tichodromidae; also split by Clements, IOC], Parrotbills & allies [Paradoxornithidae; also split by Clements 2018], Cinnamon Ibon, and the Alcippe Fulvettas. In short, this list incorporates all of the extant families adopted by Clements, AOU, SACC, or IOC [except Bananaquit and/or Scrub Warbler].