This has been an interesting thread. I have had an interest in the names behind the bird names. I know of two books that might be of interest for anyone. *Who's Bird: Common Bird Names and the People they commemorate* by Bob Boelens and Micheal Watkins This book covers the world and includes names up to the time of publishing, 2004, as we know things have changed since then. It is an encyclopedia so the entries are brief. Also goes over extinct bird names if it honors someone. There is also an explanation for how to name birds. One more local in interest *Audubon to Xantus: The Lives of those Commemorated in North American Bird Names* by Barabara Means Published in 1992 so some bird names have changed, Xantus Murelet has since been split and is not longer a name for any bird (but Xantus still has a Hummingbird in Baja California) it has longer entries for the people, it however only covers birds north of the border. Their is an appendix that covers birds that are subspecies and birds that were once considered spices but are now subspecies. This author also has Biographies for Birdwatchers, which covers the Western Paleartic and includes overlap from the other book, such as Alexander Wilson, who was from Scotland. Anyway, I am a librarian so I wanted to offer some books. Both are out of print however but you can get them used or from your library. Good reading, good birding Brian Johnson, Englewood CO
On Saturday, April 24, 2021 at 6:57:16 AM UTC-6 [email protected] wrote: > Really entertaining dialogue on naming birds, often named for the least > conspicuous feature. I also love bird names that might be longer than the > actual bird...like Northern Beardless Tyrannulet. (Curious....Is there a > Tyrannult with a beard?...My mind is picturing this!!) Along with Hugh's > disdain for Least (which I agree) would be the boastful and judgement > laddened "Greater"....like Greater Yellowlegs. > > John Rawinski > Monte Vista, CO > > On Thursday, April 15, 2021 at 12:30:12 PM UTC-6 [email protected] > wrote: > >> >> Peter the Great,Tsar of all of Russia, invited Georg W. Steller, a German >> scientist to come to Russia and help explore and catalogue it’s natural >> history. In 1741 Steller joined the Vitus Bering Expedition in sailing east >> to discover what was out there. After several weeks they bumped into new >> land now known as Alaska. Steller discovered a jay, now known as Steller’s >> Jay. The expedition sailed west exploring the Aleutians. Out of many of >> Steller’s new discoveries was a new eagle, now known as Steller’s Sea Eagle. >> >> Doesn’t the eponymic name Steller’s Jay evoke more romance, interest, and >> wonder than if it was just called, for convenience, say “Mountain” Jay? >> >> Bob Righter >> Denver, CO >> > -- -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en * All posts should be signed with the poster's full name and city. Include bird species and location in the subject line when appropriate * Join Colorado Field Ornithologists https://cobirds.org/CFO/Membership/ --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/8182d371-7abe-4373-a81b-09b39f5971d8n%40googlegroups.com.
