The Bird Name Book

Explains the etymological origins of birds' English common names, along with scientific counterparts.

From the monotonous lark to the rough-faced shag, these poor birds have us all asking: ARE ORNITHOLOGISTS OK?

Ready to go birding? Quick! Can you think of a bird whose name begins with X? Jerry Pallotta found one, and also birds for Q and Z and all the other letters of the alphabet. But this isn't a simple "A is for Atlantic Puffin" kind of alphabet book. Find out where these birds live, how they survive, and the unique qualities that make them interesting. Full of facts and fun, this book is sure to intrigue children with its array of feathered friends, from the familiar to the exotic. Take a brilliant tour of the bird world.

More than 900 species of birds are known from North America, an avifauna made up of native year-round residents and seasonal migrants, modestly enhanced by introduced exotics and neighboring vagrants. Bird Is the Word is an unequalled compilation of the names of almost 800 of those birds and the record of how, when, where, and by whom those names were created and became parts of the history and science of North America's avifauna. This book is made up of three parts. Part I provides an introduction to the discovery and recording of North American birds by Europeans and to the scope and structure of avian taxonomy. Part II, which consists of 26 chapters and makes up most of the book, is devoted to the names of the individual species and the historical and cultural context of those names. Part III includes three appendixes, the largest of which introduces more than a hundred naturalists and other persons who participated searching for, finding, recording, naming, describing, or illustrating the birds of North America. Bird Is the Word is a rich, and readily accessible, collection of information about finding and naming the birds of North America. It is much more than a reference book; it is a journey of discovery that will enrich the reader's birding experience.

A marvelously illustrated A-to-Z compendium of bird names from around the globe The Bird Name Book is an alphabetical reference book on the origins and meanings of common group bird names, from “accentor” to “zeledonia.” A cornucopia of engaging facts and anecdotes, this superbly researched compendium presents a wealth of incisive entries alongside stunning photos by the author and beautiful historic prints and watercolors. Myers provides brief biographies of prominent figures in ornithology—such as John Gould, John Latham, Alfred Newton, and Robert Ridgway—and goes on to describe the etymological history of every common group bird name found in standardized English. She interweaves the stories behind the names with quotes from publications dating back to the 1400s, illuminating the shared evolution of language and our relationships with birds, and rooting the names in the history of ornithological discovery. Whether you are a well-traveled birder or have ever wondered how the birds in your backyard got their names, The Bird Name Book is an ideal companion.

Is Bonaparte's Gull named after Napoleon Bonaparte? Is the Pallas' Sandgrouse named for the same individual as the Pallas' Warbler? This entertaining book provides for the first time a mini-biography of every person after whom a bird has been named in the English vernacular--some 1,400 individuals. Featuring 150 illustrations, Whose Bird? is arranged in the style of an encyclopedia with entries indexed both by relevant individual and by bird. The book concentrates on the people--heroes, romantics, fanatics, and many others. Entries explain who the people were, when and where they traveled, what else they did and were famous for, with whom they were connected, what they wrote and published, and how birds came to be named after them. Filled with fascinating stories about the lives and times of naturalists over the centuries, this accessible reference volume will intrigue readers at every level of interest in ornithology.

A marvelously illustrated A-to-Z compendium of bird names from around the globe The Bird Name Book is an alphabetical reference book on the origins and meanings of common group bird names, from “accentor” to “zeledonia.” A cornucopia of engaging facts and anecdotes, this superbly researched compendium presents a wealth of incisive entries alongside stunning photos by the author and beautiful historic prints and watercolors. Myers provides brief biographies of prominent figures in ornithology—such as John Gould, John Latham, Alfred Newton, and Robert Ridgway—and goes on to describe the etymological history of every common group bird name found in standardized English. She interweaves the stories behind the names with quotes from publications dating back to the 1400s, illuminating the shared evolution of language and our relationships with birds, and rooting the names in the history of ornithological discovery. Whether you are a well-traveled birder or have ever wondered how the birds in your backyard got their names, The Bird Name Book is an ideal companion.

Includes "Biographical appendix," bibliography, and Englis/Latin glossary.

Have you ever looked through the names in a bird book and thought It's all Greek to me! ? This entertaining and informative guide to bird names explains the meanings behind the names, many of which have fascinating origins and stories behind them. The universal system of `scientific' names, based largely on Greek and Latin, is used in all good bird books and assists birdwatchers around the world in figuring out exactly what they are looking at. While some of the names are fairly self explanatory- such as Troglodytes for the wrens, meaning `cave-dweller' - others are more mysterious. For example, did you know that the scientific name for the Ruff compares the bird to a jousting horseman - a reference to its spectacular display in the breeding season. Covering 600 bird species from around the world, Birds: What's In A Name? includes explanations for names for everything.