The American Ornithological Society (AOS) has announced a policy to stop naming birds after people. The decision was shared on the society’s official website.
Starting next year, AOS plans to rename roughly 80 bird species found in the United States and Canada to reflect a more inclusive and historically respectful approach.
Among the birds slated for new names are Wilson’s warbler and Wilson’s sandpiper, both named for the 19th‑century naturalist Alexander Wilson. Audubon’s bird, a seabird named after the renowned American naturalist and artist John James Audubon, is also set to receive a new designation.
AOS said that each proposed rename would be considered through a consistent guiding principle rather than on a case‑by‑case basis.
“There is power in a name, and some English bird names still carry a problematic history today. The goal is that everyone who loves and studies birds should be able to enjoy them freely,” stated AOS President Colleen Handel.
The move to rename and to avoid birds bearing human names stems from a broader examination of the biographies behind the names. Some researchers who identified certain species in the 18th and 19th centuries were connected to troubling historical contexts. In several cases, the lives of the people commemorated and their actions are now viewed through a contemporary ethical lens, which prompts reconsideration of the naming conventions.
In other fields of science and botany, naming reforms have occurred when a term reflected discriminatory heritage. For example, adjustments have been made to plant names to remove racist associations. These shifts illustrate a wider commitment across disciplines to align language with current values and inclusive principles.