STANDARD ABBREVIATIONS
 
"Words" in a species name are those parts of the name separated   
by spaces or hyphens.  Ex.:  "Bay-breasted Warbler" has three     
words.                                                            
 
 ¤ ONE-WORD NAMES   Use the first six letters, or use the entire  
   name if it is less than six letters in length.                 
   Ex.: Canvasback = CANVAS, Sora = SORA                          

 ¤ TWO-WORD NAMES   Use the first three letters of each word.     
   Ex.: Pectoral Sandpiper = PECSAN, Fish Crow = FISCRO           

 ¤ THREE-WORD NAMES   Use the first two letters of each word.     
   Ex.: Great Gray Owl = GRGROW, Broad-tailed Hummingbird = BRTAHU

 ¤ FOUR-WORD NAMES   Use the first letter of each of the first    
   two words and the first two letters of each of the last two    
   words.  Ex. Black-and-white Warbler = BAWHWA, Black-crowned    
   Night-Heron = BCNIHE                                           

Because nine instances of duplicate abbreviations result when the above rules are applied to the 969 species names in the American Birding Association (ABA) Checklist for the Birds of North America, special-case abbreviations are necessary for the 18 species listed below:

SPECIAL CASE ABBREVIATIONS

Barn Owl               BARNOW       Leach's Storm-Petrel     LEACSP
Barred Owl             BARROW       Least Storm-Petrel       LEASSP
                                                                    
Blackburnian Warbler   BLBUWA       Palm Warbler             PALMWA
Blackpoll Warbler      BLPOWA       Pallas's Warbler         PALLWA
                                                                    
Black-throated Gray Warbler  BTGYWA    Wilson's Warbler      WILSWA
Black-throated Green Warbler BTGNWA    Willow Warbler        WILLWA
                                                                    
Common Redpoll         COREDP       Yellow-breasted Bunting  YBREBU
Common Redshank        COREDS       Yellow-browed Bunting    YBROBU

Green-breasted Mango   GNBRMA                                      
Gray-breasted Martin   GYBRMA                                      

Note that in each case of duplicate codes the duplicate code is used for neither of the special-case species. For example, BAROWL is used for neither Barn Owl nor Barred Owl. This lessens confusion and decreases errors.

These special cases are easily remembered. In any case they are minimal compared with the approximately 100 species that require special-case abbreviations in four-letter systems. There, a standard abbreviation in the BBL system, for example, uses two letters from each word of a two-word name (Canada Warbler=CAWA) or one, one, and two letters from three-word names like Red-eyed Vireo (REVI) but two, one, and one from three-word names with a different pattern for hyphens, like Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl (FEPO). In the four-letter system these 100+ species come from over 50 codes that are "shared" by two or three species--mostly doubles but also a few triples (e.g., the double RNPH=Ring-necked Pheasant=Red-necked Phalarope, and the triple BASW=Bank Swallow=Barn Swallow=Bahama Swallow). In a four-letter system over 10 percent of species in the ABA list need special-case abbreviations!

The ABA checklist below has 969 species and is up to date through November 2010. The species names and ordering agree with the AOU Check-list 7th Edition, 51st Supplement. See my checklists with and without scientific names (and without six-letter codes) in the links at the bottom of this document.

SIX-LETTER CODES FOR ABA CHECKLIST SPECIES

DUCKS, GEESE, and SWANS

BBWHDU    Black-bellied Whistling-Duck
FUWHDU    Fulvous Whistling-Duck
TABEGO    Taiga Bean-Goose
TUBEGO    Tundra Bean-Goose
PIFOGO    Pink-footed Goose
GRAGOO    Graylag Goose
GWFRGO    Greater White-fronted Goose
LWFRGO    Lesser White-fronted Goose
EMPGOO    Emperor Goose
SNOGOO    Snow Goose
ROSGOO    Ross's Goose
BRANT     Brant 
BARGOO    Barnacle Goose
CACGOO    Cackling Goose
CANGOO    Canada Goose
MUTSWA    Mute Swan
TRUSWA    Trumpeter Swan
TUNSWA    Tundra Swan
WHOSWA    Whooper Swan
MUSDUC    Muscovy Duck
WOODUC    Wood Duck
GADWAL    Gadwall
FALDUC    Falcated Duck
EURWIG    Eurasian Wigeon
AMEWIG    American Wigeon
AMBLDU    American Black Duck
MALLAR    Mallard
MOTDUC    Mottled Duck
ESBIDU    Eastern Spot-billed Duck
BLWITE    Blue-winged Teal
CINTEA    Cinnamon Teal
NORSHO    Northern Shoveler
WHCHPI    White-cheeked Pintail
NORPIN    Northern Pintail
GARGAN    Garganey
BAITEA    Baikal Teal
GRWITE    Green-winged Teal
CANVAS    Canvasback
REDHEA    Redhead
COMPOC    Common Pochard
RINEDU    Ring-necked Duck
TUFDUC    Tufted Duck
GRESCA    Greater Scaup
LESSCA    Lesser Scaup
STEEID    Steller's Eider
SPEEID    Spectacled Eider
KINEID    King Eider
COMEID    Common Eider
HARDUC    Harlequin Duck
LABDUC    Labrador Duck
SURSCO    Surf Scoter
WHWISC    White-winged Scoter
BLASCO    Black Scoter
LOTADU    Long-tailed Duck
BUFFLE    Bufflehead
COMGOL    Common Goldeneye
BARGOL    Barrow's Goldeneye
SMEW      Smew  
HOOMER    Hooded Merganser
COMMER    Common Merganser
REBRME    Red-breasted Merganser
MASDUC    Masked Duck
RUDDUC    Ruddy Duck

CURASSOWS and GUANS

PLACHA    Plain Chachalaca

PARTRIDGES, GROUSE, TURKEYS, and OLD WORLD QUAIL

CHUKAR    Chukar
HIMSNO    Himalayan Snowcock
GRAPAR    Gray Partridge
RINEPH    Ring-necked Pheasant
RUFGRO    Ruffed Grouse
GRSAGR    Greater Sage-Grouse
GUSAGR    Gunnison Sage-Grouse
SPRGRO    Spruce Grouse
WILPTA    Willow Ptarmigan
ROCPTA    Rock Ptarmigan
WHTAPT    White-tailed Ptarmigan
DUSGRO    Dusky Grouse
SOOGRO    Sooty Grouse
SHTAGR    Sharp-tailed Grouse
GRPRCH    Greater Prairie-Chicken
LEPRCH    Lesser Prairie-Chicken
WILTUR    Wild Turkey

NEW WORLD QUAIL

MOUQUA    Mountain Quail
SCAQUA    Scaled Quail
CALQUA    California Quail
GAMQUA    Gambel's Quail
NORBOB    Northern Bobwhite
MONQUA    Montezuma Quail

LOONS

RETHLO    Red-throated Loon
ARCLOO    Arctic Loon
PACLOO    Pacific Loon
COMLOO    Common Loon
YEBILO    Yellow-billed Loon

GREBES

LEAGRE    Least Grebe
PIBIGR    Pied-billed Grebe
HORGRE    Horned Grebe
RENEGR    Red-necked Grebe
EARGRE    Eared Grebe
WESGRE    Western Grebe
CLAGRE    Clark's Grebe

FLAMINGOS

AMEFLA    American Flamingo

ALBATROSSES

YENOAL    Yellow-nosed Albatross
SHYALB    Shy Albatross
BLBRAL    Black-browed Albatross
LIMAAL    Light-mantled Albatross
WANALB    Wandering Albatross
LAYALB    Laysan Albatross
BLFOAL    Black-footed Albatross
SHTAAL    Short-tailed Albatross
 
SHEARWATERS and PETRELS

NORFUL    Northern Fulmar
GRWIPE    Great-winged Petrel
HERPET    Herald Petrel
MURPET    Murphy's Petrel
MOTPET    Mottled Petrel
BERPET    Bermuda Petrel
BLCAPE    Black-capped Petrel
FEAPET    Fea's/Zino's Petrel
GALPET    Galapagos/Hawaiian Petrel
COOPET    Cook's Petrel
STEPET    Stejneger's Petrel
BULPET    Bulwer's Petrel
WHCHPE    White-chinned Petrel
PARPET    Parkinson's Petrel
STRSHE    Streaked Shearwater
CORSHE    Cory's Shearwater
CAVESH    Cape Verde Shearwater
PIFOSH    Pink-footed Shearwater
FLFOSH    Flesh-footed Shearwater
GRESHE    Great Shearwater
WETASH    Wedge-tailed Shearwater
BULSHE    Buller's Shearwater
SOOSHE    Sooty Shearwater
SHTASH    Short-tailed Shearwater
MANSHE    Manx Shearwater
TOWSHE    Townsend's Shearwater
BLVESH    Black-vented Shearwater
AUDSHE    Audubon's Shearwater
LITSHE    Little Shearwater

STORM-PETRELS

WISTPE    Wilson's Storm-Petrel
WFSTPE    White-faced Storm-Petrel
BBSTPE    Black-bellied Storm-Petrel
EUSTPE    European Storm-Petrel
FTSTPE    Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel
RISTPE    Ringed Storm-Petrel
LEACSP    Leach's Storm-Petrel
ASSTPE    Ashy Storm-Petrel
BRSTPE    Band-rumped Storm-Petrel
SWSTPE    Swinhoe's Storm-Petrel
WRSTPE    Wedge-rumped Storm-Petrel
BLSTPE    Black Storm-Petrel
LEASSP    Least Storm-Petrel
TRSTPE    Tristram's Storm-Petrel

TROPICBIRDS

WHTATR    White-tailed Tropicbird
REBITR    Red-billed Tropicbird
RETATR    Red-tailed Tropicbird

BOOBIES and GANNETS

MASBOO    Masked Booby
BLFOBO    Blue-footed Booby
BROBOO    Brown Booby
REFOBO    Red-footed Booby
NORGAN    Northern Gannet

PELICANS

AMWHPE    American White Pelican
BROPEL    Brown Pelican

CORMORANTS

BRACOR    Brandt's Cormorant
NEOCOR    Neotropic Cormorant
DOCRCO    Double-crested Cormorant
GRECOR    Great Cormorant
REFACO    Red-faced Cormorant
PELCOR    Pelagic Cormorant

DARTERS

ANHING    Anhinga

FRIGATEBIRDS

MAGFRI    Magnificent Frigatebird
GREFRI    Great Frigatebird
LESFRI    Lesser Frigatebird

BITTERNS, HERONS, and ALLIES

AMEBIT    American Bittern
YELBIT    Yellow Bittern
LEABIT    Least Bittern
BTTIHE    Bare-throated Tiger-Heron
GRBLHE    Great Blue Heron
GRAHER    Gray Heron
GREEGR    Great Egret
INTEGR    Intermediate Egret
CHIEGR    Chinese Egret
LITEGR    Little Egret
WEREHE    Western Reef-Heron
SNOEGR    Snowy Egret
LIBLHE    Little Blue Heron
TRIHER    Tricolored Heron
REDEGR    Reddish Egret
CATEGR    Cattle Egret
CHPOHE    Chinese Pond-Heron
GREHER    Green Heron
BCNIHE    Black-crowned Night-Heron
YCNIHE    Yellow-crowned Night-Heron

IBISES and SPOONBILLS

WHIIBI    White Ibis
SCAIBI    Scarlet Ibis
GLOIBI    Glossy Ibis
WHFAIB    White-faced Ibis
ROSSPO    Roseate Spoonbill

STORKS

JABIRU    Jabiru
WOOSTO    Wood Stork

NEW WORLD VULTURES

BLAVUL    Black Vulture
TURVUL    Turkey Vulture
CALCON    California Condor

KITES, HAWKS, EAGLES, and ALLIES

OSPREY    Osprey
HOBIKI    Hook-billed Kite
SWTAKI    Swallow-tailed Kite
WHTAKI    White-tailed Kite
SNAKIT    Snail Kite
MISKIT    Mississippi Kite
BALEAG    Bald Eagle
WHTAEA    White-tailed Eagle
STSEEA    Steller's Sea-Eagle
NORHAR    Northern Harrier
SHSHHA    Sharp-shinned Hawk
COOHAW    Cooper's Hawk
NORGOS    Northern Goshawk
CRAHAW    Crane Hawk
COBLHA    Common Black-Hawk
HARHAW    Harris's Hawk
ROAHAW    Roadside Hawk
RESHHA    Red-shouldered Hawk
BRWIHA    Broad-winged Hawk
GRAHAW    Gray Hawk
SHTAHA    Short-tailed Hawk
SWAHAW    Swainson's Hawk
WHTAHA    White-tailed Hawk
ZOTAHA    Zone-tailed Hawk
RETAHA    Red-tailed Hawk
FERHAW    Ferruginous Hawk
ROLEHA    Rough-legged Hawk
GOLEAG    Golden Eagle

CARACARAS and FALCONS

COFOFA    Collared Forest-Falcon
CRECAR    Crested Caracara
EURKES    Eurasian Kestrel
AMEKES    American Kestrel
MERLIN    Merlin
EURHOB    Eurasian Hobby
REFOFA    Red-footed Falcon
APLFAL    Aplomado Falcon
GYRFAL    Gyrfalcon
PERFAL    Peregrine Falcon
PRAFAL    Prairie Falcon

RAILS, GALLINULES, and COOTS

YELRAI    Yellow Rail
BLARAI    Black Rail
CORCRA    Corn Crake
CLARAI    Clapper Rail
KINRAI    King Rail
VIRRAI    Virginia Rail
SORA      Sora  
PABICR    Paint-billed Crake
SPORAI    Spotted Rail
PURGAL    Purple Gallinule
COMMOO    Common Moorhen
EURCOO    Eurasian Coot
AMECOO    American Coot

LIMPKINS

LIMPKI    Limpkin

CRANES

SANCRA    Sandhill Crane
COMCRA    Common Crane
WHOCRA    Whooping Crane

THICK-KNEES

DSTHKN    Double-striped Thick-knee

PLOVERS and LAPWINGS

NORLAP    Northern Lapwing
BLBEPL    Black-bellied Plover
EUGOPL    European Golden-Plover
AMGOPL    American Golden-Plover
PAGOPL    Pacific Golden-Plover
LESAPL    Lesser Sand-Plover
GRSAPL    Greater Sand-Plover
COLPLO    Collared Plover
SNOPLO    Snowy Plover
WILPLO    Wilson's Plover
CORIPL    Common Ringed Plover
SEMPLO    Semipalmated Plover
PIPPLO    Piping Plover
LIRIPL    Little Ringed Plover
KILLDE    Killdeer
MOUPLO    Mountain Plover
EURDOT    Eurasian Dotterel

OYSTERCATCHERS

EUROYS    Eurasian Oystercatcher
AMEOYS    American Oystercatcher
BLAOYS    Black Oystercatcher

STILTS and AVOCETS

BLWIST    Black-winged Stilt
BLNEST    Black-necked Stilt
AMEAVO    American Avocet

JACANAS

NORJAC    Northern Jacana

SANDPIPERS, PHALAROPES, and ALLIES

TERSAN    Terek Sandpiper
COMSAN    Common Sandpiper
SPOSAN    Spotted Sandpiper
GRESAN    Green Sandpiper
SOLSAN    Solitary Sandpiper
GRTATA    Gray-tailed Tattler
WANTAT    Wandering Tattler
SPORED    Spotted Redshank
GREYEL    Greater Yellowlegs
COMGRE    Common Greenshank
WILLET    Willet
LESYEL    Lesser Yellowlegs
MARSAN    Marsh Sandpiper
WOOSAN    Wood Sandpiper
COREDS    Common Redshank
UPLSAN    Upland Sandpiper
LITCUR    Little Curlew
ESKCUR    Eskimo Curlew
WHIMBR    Whimbrel
BRTHCU    Bristle-thighed Curlew
FAEACU    Far Eastern Curlew
SLBICU    Slender-billed Curlew
EURCUR    Eurasian Curlew
LOBICU    Long-billed Curlew
BLTAGO    Black-tailed Godwit
HUDGOD    Hudsonian Godwit
BATAGO    Bar-tailed Godwit
MARGOD    Marbled Godwit
RUDTUR    Ruddy Turnstone
BLATUR    Black Turnstone
SURFBI    Surfbird
GREKNO    Great Knot
REDKNO    Red Knot
SANDER    Sanderling
SEMSAN    Semipalmated Sandpiper
WESSAN    Western Sandpiper
RENEST    Red-necked Stint
LITSTI    Little Stint
TEMSTI    Temminck's Stint
LOTOST    Long-toed Stint
LEASAN    Least Sandpiper
WHRUSA    White-rumped Sandpiper
BAISAN    Baird's Sandpiper
PECSAN    Pectoral Sandpiper
SHTASA    Sharp-tailed Sandpiper
PURSAN    Purple Sandpiper
ROCSAN    Rock Sandpiper
DUNLIN    Dunlin
CURSAN    Curlew Sandpiper
STISAN    Stilt Sandpiper
SPBISA    Spoon-billed Sandpiper
BRBISA    Broad-billed Sandpiper
BUBRSA    Buff-breasted Sandpiper
RUFF      Ruff  
SHBIDO    Short-billed Dowitcher
LOBIDO    Long-billed Dowitcher
JACSNI    Jack Snipe
SOLSNI    Solitary Snipe
WILSNI    Wilson's Snipe
COMSNI    Common Snipe
PITASN    Pin-tailed Snipe
EURWOO    Eurasian Woodcock
AMEWOO    American Woodcock
WILPHA    Wilson's Phalarope
RENEPH    Red-necked Phalarope
REDPHA    Red Phalarope

PRATINCOLES

ORIPRA    Oriental Pratincole

GULLS, TERNS, and SKIMMERS

SWTAGU    Swallow-tailed Gull
BLLEKI    Black-legged Kittiwake
RELEKI    Red-legged Kittiwake
IVOGUL    Ivory Gull 
SABGUL    Sabine's Gull
BONGUL    Bonaparte's Gull
GRHOGU    Gray-hooded Gull
BLHEGU    Black-headed Gull
LITGUL    Little Gull
ROSGUL    Ross's Gull 
LAUGUL    Laughing Gull
FRAGUL    Franklin's Gull
BELGUL    Belcher's Gull
BLTAGU    Black-tailed Gull
HEEGUL    Heermann's Gull
MEWGUL    Mew Gull
RIBIGU    Ring-billed Gull
WESGUL    Western Gull
YEFOGU    Yellow-footed Gull
CALGUL    California Gull
HERGUL    Herring Gull
YELEGU    Yellow-legged Gull
THAGUL    Thayer's Gull
ICEGUL    Iceland Gull
LBBAGU    Lesser Black-backed Gull
SLBAGU    Slaty-backed Gull
GLWIGU    Glaucous-winged Gull
GLAGUL    Glaucous Gull
GBBAGU    Great Black-backed Gull
KELGUL    Kelp Gull
BRONOD    Brown Noddy
BLANOD    Black Noddy
SOOTER    Sooty Tern
BRITER    Bridled Tern
ALETER    Aleutian Tern
LEATER    Least Tern
LABITE    Large-billed Tern
GUBITE    Gull-billed Tern
CASTER    Caspian Tern
BLATER    Black Tern
WHWITE    White-winged Tern
WHITER    Whiskered Tern
ROSTER    Roseate Tern
COMTER    Common Tern
ARCTER    Arctic Tern
FORTER    Forster's Tern
ROYTER    Royal Tern
SANTER    Sandwich Tern
ELETER    Elegant Tern
BLASKI    Black Skimmer

SKUAS and JAEGERS

GRESKU    Great Skua
SOPOSK    South Polar Skua
POMJAE    Pomarine Jaeger
PARJAE    Parasitic Jaeger
LOTAJA    Long-tailed Jaeger

AUKS, MURRES, and PUFFINS

DOVEKI    Dovekie
COMMUR    Common Murre
THBIMU    Thick-billed Murre
RAZORB    Razorbill
GREAUK    Great Auk
BLAGUI    Black Guillemot
PIGGUI    Pigeon Guillemot
LOBIMU    Long-billed Murrelet
MARMUR    Marbled Murrelet
KITMUR    Kittlitz's Murrelet
XANMUR    Xantus's Murrelet
CRAMUR    Craveri's Murrelet
ANCMUR    Ancient Murrelet
CASAUK    Cassin's Auklet
PARAUK    Parakeet Auklet
LEAAUK    Least Auklet
WHIAUK    Whiskered Auklet
CREAUK    Crested Auklet
RHIAUK    Rhinoceros Auklet
ATLPUF    Atlantic Puffin
HORPUF    Horned Puffin
TUFPUF    Tufted Puffin

PIGEONS and DOVES

ROCPIG    Rock Pigeon
SCNAPI    Scaly-naped Pigeon
WHCRPI    White-crowned Pigeon
REBIPI    Red-billed Pigeon
BATAPI    Band-tailed Pigeon
ORTUDO    Oriental Turtle-Dove
EUTUDO    European Turtle-Dove
EUCODO    Eurasian Collared-Dove
SPODOV    Spotted Dove
WHWIDO    White-winged Dove
ZENDOV    Zenaida Dove
MOUDOV    Mourning Dove
PASPIG    Passenger Pigeon
INCDOV    Inca Dove
COGRDO    Common Ground-Dove
RUGRDO    Ruddy Ground-Dove
WHTIDO    White-tipped Dove
KWQUDO    Key West Quail-Dove
RUQUDO    Ruddy Quail-Dove

LORIES, PARAKEETS, MACAWS, and PARROTS

BUDGER    Budgerigar
MONPAR    Monk Parakeet
CARPAR    Carolina Parakeet
GREPAR    Green Parakeet
THBIPA    Thick-billed Parrot
WHWIPA    White-winged Parakeet
RECRPA    Red-crowned Parrot

CUCKOOS, ROADRUNNERS, and ANIS

COMCUC    Common Cuckoo
ORICUC    Oriental Cuckoo
YEBICU    Yellow-billed Cuckoo
BLBICU    Black-billed Cuckoo
MANCUC    Mangrove Cuckoo
GREROA    Greater Roadrunner
SMBIAN    Smooth-billed Ani
GRBIAN    Groove-billed Ani

BARN OWLS

BARNOW    Barn Owl

TYPICAL OWLS

FLAOWL    Flammulated Owl
ORSCOW    Oriental Scops-Owl
WESCOW    Western Screech-Owl
EASCOW    Eastern Screech-Owl
WHSCOW    Whiskered Screech-Owl
GRHOOW    Great Horned Owl
SNOOWL    Snowy Owl
NOHAOW    Northern Hawk Owl
NOPYOW    Northern Pygmy-Owl
FEPYOW    Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl
ELFOWL    Elf Owl
BUROWL    Burrowing Owl
MOTOWL    Mottled Owl
SPOOWL    Spotted Owl
BARROW    Barred Owl
GRGROW    Great Gray Owl
LOEAOW    Long-eared Owl
STYOWL    Stygian Owl
SHEAOW    Short-eared Owl
BOROWL    Boreal Owl
NSWHOW    Northern Saw-whet Owl
BRHAOW    Brown Hawk-Owl

GOATSUCKERS

LESNIG    Lesser Nighthawk
COMNIG    Common Nighthawk
ANTNIG    Antillean Nighthawk
COMPAU    Common Pauraque
COMPOO    Common Poorwill
CHWIWI    Chuck-will's-widow
BUCONI    Buff-collared Nightjar
EWPOWI    Eastern Whip-poor-will
MWPOWI    Mexican Whip-poor-will
GRANIG    Gray Nightjar

SWIFTS

BLASWI    Black Swift
WHCOSW    White-collared Swift
CHISWI    Chimney Swift
VAUSWI    Vaux's Swift
WHTHNE    White-throated Needletail
COMSWI    Common Swift
FOTASW    Fork-tailed Swift
WHTHSW    White-throated Swift
ANPASW    Antillean Palm-Swift

HUMMINGBIRDS

GREVIO    Green Violetear
GNBRMA    Green-breasted Mango
BRBIHU    Broad-billed Hummingbird
WHEAHU    White-eared Hummingbird
XANHUM    Xantus's Hummingbird
BERHUM    Berylline Hummingbird
BUBEHU    Buff-bellied Hummingbird
CINHUM    Cinnamon Hummingbird
VICRHU    Violet-crowned Hummingbird
BLTHHU    Blue-throated Hummingbird
MAGHUM    Magnificent Hummingbird
PLCAST    Plain-capped Starthroat
BAHWOO    Bahama Woodstar
LUCHUM    Lucifer Hummingbird
RUTHHU    Ruby-throated Hummingbird
BLCHHU    Black-chinned Hummingbird
ANNHUM    Anna's Hummingbird
COSHUM    Costa's Hummingbird
CALHUM    Calliope Hummingbird
BUMHUM    Bumblebee Hummingbird
BRTAHU    Broad-tailed Hummingbird
RUFHUM    Rufous Hummingbird
ALLHUM    Allen's Hummingbird

TROGONS

ELETRO    Elegant Trogon
EARQUE    Eared Quetzal

HOOPOES

EURHOO    Eurasian Hoopoe

KINGFISHERS

RINKIN    Ringed Kingfisher
BELKIN    Belted Kingfisher
AMAKIN    Amazon Kingfisher
GREKIN    Green Kingfisher

WOODPECKERS and ALLIES

EURWRY    Eurasian Wryneck
LEWWOO    Lewis's Woodpecker
REHEWO    Red-headed Woodpecker
ACOWOO    Acorn Woodpecker
GILWOO    Gila Woodpecker
GOFRWO    Golden-fronted Woodpecker
REBEWO    Red-bellied Woodpecker
WILSAP    Williamson's Sapsucker
YEBESA    Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
RENASA    Red-naped Sapsucker
REBRSA    Red-breasted Sapsucker
GRSPWO    Great Spotted Woodpecker
LABAWO    Ladder-backed Woodpecker
NUTWOO    Nuttall's Woodpecker
DOWWOO    Downy Woodpecker
HAIWOO    Hairy Woodpecker
ARIWOO    Arizona Woodpecker
RECOWO    Red-cockaded Woodpecker
WHHEWO    White-headed Woodpecker
ATTOWO    American Three-toed Woodpecker
BLBAWO    Black-backed Woodpecker
NORFLI    Northern Flicker
GILFLI    Gilded Flicker
PILWOO    Pileated Woodpecker
IVBIWO    Ivory-billed Woodpecker

TYRANT FLYCATCHERS

NOBETY    Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet
GREELA    Greenish Elaenia
WHCREL    White-crested Elaenia
TUFFLY    Tufted Flycatcher
OLSIFL    Olive-sided Flycatcher
GREPEW    Greater Pewee
WEWOPE    Western Wood-Pewee
EAWOPE    Eastern Wood-Pewee
CUBPEW    Cuban Pewee
YEBEFL    Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
ACAFLY    Acadian Flycatcher
ALDFLY    Alder Flycatcher
WILFLY    Willow Flycatcher
LEAFLY    Least Flycatcher
HAMFLY    Hammond's Flycatcher
GRAFLY    Gray Flycatcher
DUSFLY    Dusky Flycatcher
PASLFL    Pacific-slope Flycatcher
CORFLY    Cordilleran Flycatcher
BUBRFL    Buff-breasted Flycatcher
BLAPHO    Black Phoebe
EASPHO    Eastern Phoebe
SAYPHO    Say's Phoebe
VERFLY    Vermilion Flycatcher
DUCAFL    Dusky-capped Flycatcher
ASTHFL    Ash-throated Flycatcher
NUTFLY    Nutting's Flycatcher
GRCRFL    Great Crested Flycatcher
BRCRFL    Brown-crested Flycatcher
LASAFL    La Sagra's Flycatcher
GREKIS    Great Kiskadee
SOCFLY    Social Flycatcher
SUBEFL    Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher
PIRFLY    Piratic Flycatcher
VARFLY    Variegated Flycatcher
CRSLFL    Crowned Slaty Flycatcher
TROKIN    Tropical Kingbird
COUKIN    Couch's Kingbird
CASKIN    Cassin's Kingbird
THBIKI    Thick-billed Kingbird
WESKIN    Western Kingbird
EASKIN    Eastern Kingbird
GRAKIN    Gray Kingbird
LOGKIN    Loggerhead Kingbird
SCTAFL    Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
FOTAFL    Fork-tailed Flycatcher
GRCOBE    Gray-collared Becard
ROTHBE    Rose-throated Becard
MASTIT    Masked Tityra

SHRIKES

BROSHR    Brown Shrike
LOGSHR    Loggerhead Shrike
NORSHR    Northern Shrike

VIREOS

WHEYVI    White-eyed Vireo
THBIVI    Thick-billed Vireo
BELVIR    Bell's Vireo
BLCAVI    Black-capped Vireo
GRAVIR    Gray Vireo
YETHVI    Yellow-throated Vireo
PLUVIR    Plumbeous Vireo
CASVIR    Cassin's Vireo
BLHEVI    Blue-headed Vireo
HUTVIR    Hutton's Vireo
WARVIR    Warbling Vireo
PHIVIR    Philadelphia Vireo
REEYVI    Red-eyed Vireo
YEGRVI    Yellow-green Vireo
BLWHVI    Black-whiskered Vireo
YUCVIR    Yucatan Vireo

JAYS, MAGPIES, and CROWS

GRAJAY    Gray Jay
STEJAY    Steller's Jay
BLUJAY    Blue Jay
GREJAY    Green Jay
BROJAY    Brown Jay
FLSCJA    Florida Scrub-Jay
ISSCJA    Island Scrub-Jay
WESCJA    Western Scrub-Jay
MEXJAY    Mexican Jay
PINJAY    Pinyon Jay
CLANUT    Clark's Nutcracker
BLBIMA    Black-billed Magpie
YEBIMA    Yellow-billed Magpie
EURJAC    Eurasian Jackdaw
AMECRO    American Crow
NORCRO    Northwestern Crow
TAMCRO    Tamaulipas Crow
FISCRO    Fish Crow
CHIRAV    Chihuahuan Raven
COMRAV    Common Raven

LARKS

SKYLAR    Sky Lark
HORLAR    Horned Lark

SWALLOWS

PURMAR    Purple Martin
CUBMAR    Cuban Martin
GYBRMA    Gray-breasted Martin
SOUMAR    Southern Martin
BRCHMA    Brown-chested Martin
TRESWA    Tree Swallow
MANSWA    Mangrove Swallow
VIGRSW    Violet-green Swallow
BAHSWA    Bahama Swallow
NRWISW    Northern Rough-winged Swallow
BANSWA    Bank Swallow
CLISWA    Cliff Swallow
CAVSWA    Cave Swallow
BARSWA    Barn Swallow
COHOMA    Common House-Martin

CHICKADEES and TITMICE

CARCHI    Carolina Chickadee
BLCACH    Black-capped Chickadee
MOUCHI    Mountain Chickadee
MEXCHI    Mexican Chickadee
CHBACH    Chestnut-backed Chickadee
BORCHI    Boreal Chickadee
GRHECH    Gray-headed Chickadee
BRITIT    Bridled Titmouse
OAKTIT    Oak Titmouse
JUNTIT    Juniper Titmouse
TUFTIT    Tufted Titmouse
BLCRTI    Black-crested Titmouse

VERDIN

VERDIN    Verdin

BUSHTITS

BUSHTI    Bushtit

NUTHATCHES

REBRNU    Red-breasted Nuthatch
WHBRNU    White-breasted Nuthatch
PYGNUT    Pygmy Nuthatch
BRHENU    Brown-headed Nuthatch

CREEPERS

BROCRE    Brown Creeper

WRENS

CACWRE    Cactus Wren
ROCWRE    Rock Wren
CANWRE    Canyon Wren
SINWRE    Sinaloa Wren
CARWRE    Carolina Wren
BEWWRE    Bewick's Wren
HOUWRE    House Wren
WINWRE    Winter Wren
PACWRE    Pacific Wren
SEDWRE    Sedge Wren
MARWRE    Marsh Wren

DIPPERS

AMEDIP    American Dipper

BULBULS

REWHBU    Red-whiskered Bulbul

KINGLETS

GOCRKI    Golden-crowned Kinglet
RUCRKI    Ruby-crowned Kinglet

OLD WORLD WARBLERS and GNATCATCHERS

MIGRWA    Middendorff's Grasshopper-Warbler
LANWAR    Lanceolated Warbler
SEDWAR    Sedge Warbler
WILLWA    Willow Warbler
WOOWAR    Wood Warbler
DUSWAR    Dusky Warbler
YEBRWA    Yellow-browed Warbler
PALLWA    Pallas's Warbler
ARCWAR    Arctic Warbler
LESWHI    Lesser Whitethroat
BLGRGN    Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
CALGNA    California Gnatcatcher
BLTAGN    Black-tailed Gnatcatcher
BLCAGN    Black-capped Gnatcatcher

OLD WORLD FLYCATCHERS

NARFLY    Narcissus Flycatcher
MUGFLY    Mugimaki Flycatcher
TAIFLY    Taiga Flycatcher
DASIFL    Dark-sided Flycatcher
GRSTFL    Gray-streaked Flycatcher
ASBRFL    Asian Brown Flycatcher
SPOFLY    Spotted Flycatcher

THRUSHES

RUTARO    Rufous-tailed Robin
SIBRUB    Siberian Rubythroat
BLUETH    Bluethroat
SIBLRO    Siberian Blue Robin
REFLBL    Red-flanked Bluetail
NORWHE    Northern Wheatear
STONEC    Stonechat
EASBLU    Eastern Bluebird
WESBLU    Western Bluebird
MOUBLU    Mountain Bluebird
TOWSOL    Townsend's Solitaire
BRBASO    Brown-backed Solitaire
OBNITH    Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush
BHNITH    Black-headed Nightingale-Thrush
VEERY     Veery 
GRCHTH    Gray-cheeked Thrush
BICTHR    Bicknell's Thrush
SWATHR    Swainson's Thrush
HERTHR    Hermit Thrush
WOOTHR    Wood Thrush
EURBLA    Eurasian Blackbird
EYETHR    Eyebrowed Thrush
DUSTHR    Dusky Thrush
FIELDF    Fieldfare
REDWIN    Redwing
SONTHR    Song Thrush
CLCOTH    Clay-colored Thrush
WHTHTH    White-throated Thrush
RUBARO    Rufous-backed Robin
AMEROB    American Robin
RELETH    Red-legged Thrush
VARTHR    Varied Thrush
AZTTHR    Aztec Thrush

WRENTIT

WRENTI    Wrentit

MOCKINGBIRDS, THRASHERS, and ALLIES

GRACAT    Gray Catbird
NORMOC    Northern Mockingbird
BAHMOC    Bahama Mockingbird
SAGTHR    Sage Thrasher
BROTHR    Brown Thrasher
LOBITH    Long-billed Thrasher
BENTHR    Bendire's Thrasher
CUBITH    Curve-billed Thrasher
CALTHR    California Thrasher
CRITHR    Crissal Thrasher
LECOTH    Le Conte's Thrasher
BLUMOC    Blue Mockingbird

STARLINGS and ALLIES

EURSTA    European Starling
COMMYN    Common Myna

ACCENTORS

SIBACC    Siberian Accentor

WAGTAILS and PIPITS

EAYEWA    Eastern Yellow Wagtail
CITWAG    Citrine Wagtail
GRAWAG    Gray Wagtail
WHIWAG    White Wagtail
TREPIP    Tree Pipit
OLBAPI    Olive-backed Pipit
PECPIP    Pechora Pipit
RETHPI    Red-throated Pipit
AMEPIP    American Pipit
SPRPIP    Sprague's Pipit

WAXWINGS

BOHWAX    Bohemian Waxwing
CEDWAX    Cedar Waxwing

SILKY-FLYCATCHERS

GRSIFL    Gray Silky-flycatcher
PHAINO    Phainopepla

OLIVE WARBLER

OLIWAR    Olive Warbler

LONGSPURS and ALLIES

LAPLON    Lapland Longspur
CHCOLO    Chestnut-collared Longspur
SMILON    Smith's Longspur
MCCLON    McCown's Longspur
SNOBUN    Snow Bunting
MCKBUN    McKay's Bunting

WOOD-WARBLERS

BACWAR    Bachman's Warbler
BLWIWA    Blue-winged Warbler
GOWIWA    Golden-winged Warbler
TENWAR    Tennessee Warbler
ORCRWA    Orange-crowned Warbler
NASWAR    Nashville Warbler
VIRWAR    Virginia's Warbler
COLWAR    Colima Warbler
LUCWAR    Lucy's Warbler
CRCHWA    Crescent-chested Warbler
NORPAR    Northern Parula
TROPAR    Tropical Parula
YELWAR    Yellow Warbler
CHSIWA    Chestnut-sided Warbler
MAGWAR    Magnolia Warbler
CAMAWA    Cape May Warbler
BTBLWA    Black-throated Blue Warbler
YERUWA    Yellow-rumped Warbler
BTGYWA    Black-throated Gray Warbler
GOCHWA    Golden-cheeked Warbler
BTGNWA    Black-throated Green Warbler
TOWWAR    Townsend's Warbler
HERWAR    Hermit Warbler
BLBUWA    Blackburnian Warbler
YETHWA    Yellow-throated Warbler
GRAWAR    Grace's Warbler
PINWAR    Pine Warbler
KIRWAR    Kirtland's Warbler
PRAWAR    Prairie Warbler
PALMWA    Palm Warbler
BABRWA    Bay-breasted Warbler
BLPOWA    Blackpoll Warbler
CERWAR    Cerulean Warbler
BAWHWA    Black-and-white Warbler
AMERED    American Redstart
PROWAR    Prothonotary Warbler
WOEAWA    Worm-eating Warbler
SWAWAR    Swainson's Warbler
OVENBI    Ovenbird
NORWAT    Northern Waterthrush
LOUWAT    Louisiana Waterthrush
KENWAR    Kentucky Warbler
CONWAR    Connecticut Warbler
MOUWAR    Mourning Warbler
MACWAR    MacGillivray's Warbler
COMYEL    Common Yellowthroat
GRCRYE    Gray-crowned Yellowthroat
HOOWAR    Hooded Warbler
WILSWA    Wilson's Warbler
CANWAR    Canada Warbler
REFAWA    Red-faced Warbler
PAIRED    Painted Redstart
SLTHRE    Slate-throated Redstart
FATAWA    Fan-tailed Warbler
GOCRWA    Golden-crowned Warbler
RUCAWA    Rufous-capped Warbler
YEBRCH    Yellow-breasted Chat

BANANAQUITS

BANANA    Bananaquit

TANAGERS

HEPTAN    Hepatic Tanager
SUMTAN    Summer Tanager
SCATAN    Scarlet Tanager
WESTAN    Western Tanager
FLCOTA    Flame-colored Tanager
WESSPI    Western Spindalis

NEW WORLD SPARROWS and ALLIES

WHCOSE    White-collared Seedeater
YEFAGR    Yellow-faced Grassquit
BLFAGR    Black-faced Grassquit
OLISPA    Olive Sparrow
GRTATO    Green-tailed Towhee
SPOTOW    Spotted Towhee
EASTOW    Eastern Towhee
RUCRSP    Rufous-crowned Sparrow
CANTOW    Canyon Towhee
CALTOW    California Towhee
ABETOW    Abert's Towhee
RUWISP    Rufous-winged Sparrow
BOTSPA    Botteri's Sparrow
CASSPA    Cassin's Sparrow
BACSPA    Bachman's Sparrow
AMTRSP    American Tree Sparrow
CHISPA    Chipping Sparrow
CLCOSP    Clay-colored Sparrow
BRESPA    Brewer's Sparrow
FIESPA    Field Sparrow
WORSPA    Worthen's Sparrow
BLCHSP    Black-chinned Sparrow
VESSPA    Vesper Sparrow
LARSPA    Lark Sparrow
FISTSP    Five-striped Sparrow
BLTHSP    Black-throated Sparrow
SAGSPA    Sage Sparrow
LARBUN    Lark Bunting
SAVSPA    Savannah Sparrow
GRASPA    Grasshopper Sparrow
BAISPA    Baird's Sparrow
HENSPA    Henslow's Sparrow
LECOSP    Le Conte's Sparrow
NELSPA    Nelson's Sparrow
SALSPA    Saltmarsh Sparrow
SEASPA    Seaside Sparrow
FOXSPA    Fox Sparrow
SONSPA    Song Sparrow
LINSPA    Lincoln's Sparrow
SWASPA    Swamp Sparrow
WHTHSP    White-throated Sparrow
HARSPA    Harris's Sparrow
WHCRSP    White-crowned Sparrow
GOCRSP    Golden-crowned Sparrow
DAEYJU    Dark-eyed Junco
YEEYJU    Yellow-eyed Junco
PINBUN    Pine Bunting
LITBUN    Little Bunting
YBROBU    Yellow-browed Bunting
RUSBUN    Rustic Bunting
YETHBU    Yellow-throated Bunting
YBREBU    Yellow-breasted Bunting
GRABUN    Gray Bunting
PALBUN    Pallas's Bunting
REEBUN    Reed Bunting

CARDINALS and ALLIES

CRCOGR    Crimson-collared Grosbeak
NORCAR    Northern Cardinal
PYRRHU    Pyrrhuloxia
YELGRO    Yellow Grosbeak
ROBRGR    Rose-breasted Grosbeak
BLHEGR    Black-headed Grosbeak
BLUBUN    Blue Bunting
BLUGRO    Blue Grosbeak
LAZBUN    Lazuli Bunting
INDBUN    Indigo Bunting
VARBUN    Varied Bunting
PAIBUN    Painted Bunting
DICKCI    Dickcissel

BLACKBIRDS and ALLIES

BOBOLI    Bobolink
REWIBL    Red-winged Blackbird
TRIBLA    Tricolored Blackbird
TASHBL    Tawny-shouldered Blackbird
EASMEA    Eastern Meadowlark
WESMEA    Western Meadowlark
YEHEBL    Yellow-headed Blackbird
RUSBLA    Rusty Blackbird
BREBLA    Brewer's Blackbird
COMGRA    Common Grackle
BOTAGR    Boat-tailed Grackle
GRTAGR    Great-tailed Grackle
SHICOW    Shiny Cowbird
BROCOW    Bronzed Cowbird
BRHECO    Brown-headed Cowbird
BLVEOR    Black-vented Oriole
ORCORI    Orchard Oriole
HOOORI    Hooded Oriole
STBAOR    Streak-backed Oriole
BULORI    Bullock's Oriole
SPBROR    Spot-breasted Oriole
ALTORI    Altamira Oriole
AUDORI    Audubon's Oriole
BALORI    Baltimore Oriole
SCOORI    Scott's Oriole

FINCHES and ALLIES

COMCHA    Common Chaffinch
BRAMBL    Brambling
GCROFI    Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch
BLROFI    Black Rosy-Finch
BCROFI    Brown-capped Rosy-Finch
PINGRO    Pine Grosbeak
COMROS    Common Rosefinch
PURFIN    Purple Finch
CASFIN    Cassin's Finch
HOUFIN    House Finch
REDCRO    Red Crossbill
WHWICR    White-winged Crossbill
COREDP    Common Redpoll
HOARED    Hoary Redpoll
EURSIS    Eurasian Siskin
PINSIS    Pine Siskin
LESGOL    Lesser Goldfinch
LAWGOL    Lawrence's Goldfinch
AMEGOL    American Goldfinch
ORIGRE    Oriental Greenfinch
EURBUL    Eurasian Bullfinch
EVEGRO    Evening Grosbeak
HAWFIN    Hawfinch

OLD WORLD SPARROWS

HOUSPA    House Sparrow
EUTRSP    Eurasian Tree Sparrow

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   Links

     ABA checklist (969 species) without scientific names
     ABA checklist (969 species) with scientific names
     Six-letter system for encoding ABA bird names
     Overview of systems for encoding bird names
     Six-letter system for encoding AOU bird names
     American Birding Association (ABA)
     American Ornithologists' Union (AOU)

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   Six-letter Code for ABA Bird Checklist Species               Return to Bowman's Bird Stuff

   By:   Bruce M. Bowman  bbowman@umich.edu
   Assistance from/thanks to:   Gary Bowman

   last modified: November 23, 2010

   This page has been visited times since December 28, 2004.

  URL: http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/sixlettercode.html

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