Armchair Life Birds in Progress

Eastern Marsh wren doing a split, October 2023 (photo by Steve Gosser) 28 October 2026 eBird’s 2026 taxonomy update is currently in progress for perhaps a couple of weeks. I noticed it was underway when I received a Rare Bird Alert for Allegheny County that listed “Eastern Marsh Wren.” Eastern? I thought there was only one “Marsh Wren” but now there are two. Marsh Wren has become Eastern Marsh Wren (screenshot of eBird Rare Bird Alert, 27 Oct 2026) Here’s eBird’s summary of the process: Our 2026 update includes 39 species gained because of splits, 7 species lost through lumps, and 2 newly-described species, resulting in a net gain of 34 species and a new total of 11,201 species worldwide. — eBird 2026 Taxonomy Update Marsh Wren split: The “marsh wren” became the Eastern Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris) and Western Marsh Wren (Cistothorus paludicola). The two species look the same but their songs are different. Marsh wren, singing, 2011 (photo by Chuck Tague) The screenshot below…