Three Waterfowl Species Subject to be Renamed

North American birds that were named after people will be given new monikers

The American Ornithological Society plans in 2024 to begin renaming up to 80 bird species, and three waterfowl species. Delta Waterfowl works to protect these and other fowl for generations to come.

By Paul Wait

The American Ornithological Society plans in 2024 to begin renaming up to 80 bird species, and three waterfowl species—Ross’s goose, Barrow’s goldeneyes, and Steller’s eiders—are likely to be among the birds that are given new names.

AOS, the recognized authority on bird naming in North America, plans to rename all species that are named after people. In a Nov. 1 press release, the AOS announced the changes are being made “in an effort to address past wrongs and engage far more people in the enjoyment, protection, and study of birds.”

Many bird species were named centuries ago to honor explorers and other prominent people, some of whom have ties to slavery and racism.

“There is power in a name, and some English bird names have associations with the past that continue to be exclusionary and harmful today,” said Dr. Colleen Handel, AOS president and research wildlife biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey in Alaska. “We need a much more inclusive and engaging scientific process that focuses attention on the unique features and beauty of the birds themselves.”

AOS will begin the process by forming a committee in 2024 to oversee a pilot project for a first set of birds to be renamed, possibly about 10 species, according to Handel. As of now, the initial birds have not been determined.

Of the three waterfowl species, Ross’s goose is the most likely to change names soonest because the species occurs predominantly in North America, where the AOS has naming jurisdiction. Barrow’s goldeneyes also breed in Iceland, while the population of Steller’s eiders extends well into Russia.

“The AOS will consult with other ornithological organizations for species that occur outside the U.S. and Canada before considering those name changes,” Handel said.

The Ross’s goose (Anser rossii) is named in honor of naturalist and fur trader Bernard Rogan Ross in 1861. According to the Dictionary of Canadian Biography, Ross was a native of Ireland who immigrated in 1843 to Canada to work for the Hudson’s Bay Company, where he ascended to the post of chief trader in 1856. A well-educated man, Ross served as a correspondent for several historical societies and wrote several scientific papers.

“Ross’s primary significance is in the field of natural history rather than the fur trade. Like many company men he contributed much to the early scientific knowledge of the northwest. While at Fort Simpson he made valuable collections of mammalia, insects, and birds, forwarding specimens to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, the Royal Scottish Museum in Edinburgh, and the British Museum in London.”

Before taking the name Ross’s goose, the species was known as “horned wavey,” a descriptive name ascribed by English explorer Samuel Hearne in 1781. Ross’s goose, a small, white goose with black wingtips and a short, warty beak, breeds in Canada’s central arctic regions. They migrate south each fall primarily down the Central and Pacific flyways, wintering in strong numbers in California, Kansas, and Texas, with spillover into southern states of the Mississippi Flyway. The continental population is estimated at 1.5 million to 2.0 million.

Barrow’s goldeneye (Bucephala islandica) is named for Sir John Barrow, an English geographer and writer who lived from 1764 to 1848. Barrow is regarded by some historians as a humanitarian, while others view him as an imperialist. Notably, the northernmost U.S. city formerly known as Barrow, Alaska, officially changed its name to the indigenous Utqiagvik in 2016. Barrow’s goldeneye are cavity nesters that breed primarily in Alaska and British Columbia, and winter mostly in Washington, Alaska, and British Columbia. A small population of Barrow’s goldeneye breed in eastern arctic regions of Canada and Iceland. Adult drakes feature a dark purplish head with a stark white crescent patch near their black bill, with a signature gold colored eye.

Steller’s eider (Polysticta stelleri) is named in honor of Georg Wilhelm Steller, an 18th-century German botanist, zoologist, and explorer who sailed with Russian Vitus Bering’s expeditions to explore the waters later named after him (Bering Sea). Steller described a remarkable number of plants, birds, and animals on his island journeys. Several species took his name, including Steller’s eider, Steller’s jay, and Steller’s sea eagle. Steller’s eider, a 2-pound sea duck found mostly in Russia, are listed as a threatened species in the United States. The worldwide population is estimated at 150,000 to 200,000 ducks, with only about 100 breeding pairs in Alaska. Legal hunting of Steller’s eiders was stopped in 1991.

Under the renaming initiative, AOS does not plan to change the scientific names of bird species.

AOS points out that bird name changes occur frequently. For instance, long-tailed ducks were renamed in 2000 to shed a racially offensive name and to align with a long-standing name used is Eurasia.

The AOS aims to solicit public input in the process of determining new names for species. For more information, visit americanornithology.org.