Free Republic

The American Ornithological Society says it will alter the names of North American birds named after humans, starting with up to 80 of them After two years of discussion and debate, the nation’s premier birding organization has decided that birds should not have human names. The American Ornithological Society announced Wednesday that it will remove names given to North American birds in honor of people and replace them with monikers that better describe their plumage and other characteristics. The group said it will prioritize birds whose names trace to enslavers, white supremacists and robbers of Indigenous graves. Among them is...

Social media users are pushing back after the American Ornithological Society (AOS) announced it would rename dozens of North American birds named for people. The AOS said on Wednesday that it would rename all bird species in its jurisdiction that were named for people regardless of the name's history. The announcement came after birdwatchers have debated bird names for years, specifically ones that commemorate historical figures who committed acts of racism. The decision comes as numerous organizations reexamine landmarks, statues and other objects named for controversial figures. "There is power in a name, and some English bird names have associations...