[jmooney]

Hi All,

I'd like to try and make a database for my list. Is there a listing of bird species available in electronic format somewhere that I could import in to my database? I'v e read several threads where folks have written their own so I'm guessing something like this is out there. Everyone can't be typing all that info in by hand.

Thanks for your help!

Jim

[birdman]

I've got a world list in excel format (Sibley Monroe) that you can have.

Drop me a email via BF (see my profile) and I'll send it to you if you wish.

[jmooney]

Originally Posted by birdman

I've got a world list in excel format (Sibley Monroe) that you can have.

Drop me a email via BF (see my profile) and I'll send it to you if you wish.

e-mail is on the way to you Birdman!

Thank you!

Jim

[Dave B Smith]

Jim,
Since you are in the states, you might also want to consider the AOU list since that is the most common for North American birders. They have a list available on line that you can download from their website.
Good luck,

[lassa8]

I have the AOU list downloaded, but would really like to find an excel sheet that only lists the bird's in the US/Canada (maybe Mexico). Does anyone know where I can find one of those?

[Dave B Smith]

Lassa8,
That would be the ABA checklist. It is listed here but does have a copyright or you can order it from the same site. This just includes birds in the ABA area which is basically the continental USA (excludes Alaska and Hawaii), Canada, and some Caribbean Islands.

I prefer the AOU because it does include Mexico as well as Hawaii and Alaska. The fact that it also includes Central America isn't an inconvenience, if you don't see one of those birds, you don't check it.

[Glen Tepke]

Originally Posted by Dave B Smith

This just includes birds in the ABA area which is basically the continental USA (excludes Alaska and Hawaii), Canada, and some Caribbean Islands.

Just to clarify, the ABA area excludes Hawaii but includes Alaska. The only Caribbean islands included are the Dry Tortugas which are off the end of the Florida Keys. Other islands that are close to the US, such as the Bahamas, are not included.

Hawaii and all of the Caribbean islands except for those very close to South America, such as Trinidad, Tobago and Aruba, are included in the AOU area.

Glen

[Dave B Smith]

Glen,
Thanks for the correction, I wrote my post from memory without checking the specifics. I just went to the ABA site and copied the following for a precise definition of the ABA area:

"The ABA area (sometimes referred to as the ABA Checklist Area) is essentially North America north of Mexico.

Specifically, the area encompassed is the 49 continental United States, Canada, the French islands of St. Pierre et Miquelon, and adjacent waters to a distance of 200 miles from land or half the distance to a neighboring country, whichever is less.

Excluded by these boundaries are Bermuda, the Bahamas, Hawaii, and Greenland.

A subarea of the ABA Checklist Area, or other prescribed area, is as defined by its legal boundaries. If not legally defined otherwise, it includes adjacent water (rivers, lakes, bays, sounds, etc.) out to half the distance to a neighboring area, but not beyond 200 miles.

Birds observed on or over an ocean are counted for the area having jurisdiction over the nearest land, if within 200 miles."

[njlarsen]

A downloadable world-wide list that should be up to date is available at http://www.ornitaxa.com/SM/TaxChanges.html. A checklist of ONE country of your choise is available free of charge from the people behind Birdbase/birdarea (at least they used to), send them an E-mail at sbsp@aol.com .

Niels