t is now 11 years since the list of English bird names adopted for use in British Birds was fully reviewed and updated (see Brit. Birds 86: 1-2), although a small number of alterations were made in 1997 (see Brit. Birds 90: 343). The English names of birds has been a highly controversial topic during the past decade or so, and though it is not one which we wish to use up large chunks of BB in debating, there are several good reasons why it is now appropriate to examine our practices and publish an updated list. Taxonomic developments have necessitated the creation of a number of new names in recent years, as a result of species `splits', and this is one key factor driving the changes we propose. We also feel that it is appropriate to review some `new' English names which have simply not become widely used at any level of ornithology in Britain. Names such as `Tundra Swan' (Cygnus columbianus), `Hedge Accentor' (Prunella modularis) and `Rufous Nightingale' (Luscinia megarhynchos) have been almost completely shunned, and we feel that there is now little point in persisting with them. Furthermore, the BOU has recently proposed a new taxonomic order (www.bou.org.uk/ recbrlst1dna.html), in which Anseriformes and Galliformes are placed at the start of the list. It seems that this order is likely to become widely adopted in the coming years and, since no other changes are envisaged in the foreseeable future, we propose to replace the Voous order currently used