And, combining erudition with levity, from a Brit with an international perspective: *Mrs. Moreau's warbler: How birds got their names* (Stephen Moss).
On Sat, Apr 24, 2021 at 9:22 PM Brian Johnson <[email protected]> wrote: > 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 > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/8182d371-7abe-4373-a81b-09b39f5971d8n%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > -- Willem van Vliet-- Professor Emeritus Fellow, Community Engagement, Design and Research Center University of Colorado at Boulder -- -- 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/CAPySxGaBJb_ShA6v321UQeDztKb9DtFBXtokitkSw7GTtORdWw%40mail.gmail.com.
