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book: The Bird Name Book
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The Bird Name Book

A History of English Bird Names
  • and
Language: English
Published/Copyright: 2022

About this book

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.

Author / Editor information

Susan Myers is a senior leader at WINGS Birding Tours Worldwide and has led birding tours in Asia and other regions for more than twenty years. Her books include Wildlife of Southeast Asia and Birds of Borneo: Brunei, Sabah, Sarawak, and Kalimantan (both Princeton).

Reviews

"This is a book to treasure."---Andrew Lack, IBIS Book Reviews --- "I certainly learnt many interesting facts from the entries that I read through and often couldn’t resist reading just one more entry before I put the book down again."---Stephen Menzie, British Birds --- "[A] valuable reference work for academic and public libraries."---H.T. Armistead, Choice --- "As ever from Princeton this is a book produced to the highest standards of presentation and fit & finish, one which I highly recommend to readers of Another Bird Blog and to birders everywhere. . . . It’s time to get your order in folks."---Phil Slade, Another Bird Blog --- "[Myers] research, painstaking and comprehensive throughout, resulted in production of this fascinating volume which spans alphabetically – from Accentor to Zeledonia – all the bird groups of the world."---Jim Wright, Lincolnshire Bird Club --- "Extensive and well-researched . . . . Each entry goes beyond etymology, weaving in interesting ornithological details."---Penny Sarchet, Wild Wild Lfie --- "Hats off to ornithologist Susan Myers on the exhaustive research and colourful writing style that characterise her latest book. . . Hard to put down."---Jim Wright, The Wryneck --- "This is an exceptionally fine book and one that I imagine every bird lover will will wish to have."---David Gascoigne, Travels with Birds --- "If you have ever wondered about the origins of the English words we use to name birds, this book is for you." --- "I found the answers to many questions in this book, and I am sure you will, too."---John Miles, Birdwatching Magazine --- "[A] fascinating combination of etymology and ornithology."---Nate Swick, American Birding Podcast

Topics

Publishing information
Pages and Images/Illustrations in book
eBook published on:
September 1, 2022
eBook ISBN:
9780691236858
Pages and Images/Illustrations in book
View content
https://doi.org/10.1515/9780691236858
eBook ISBN: 9780691236858
Keywords for this book
Plumage; Ornithology; Thrush (bird); Warbler; Tit (bird); Genus; Pheasant; Gleaning (birds); Lyrebird; Bunting (bird); Woodpecker; Insect; Diglossa (bird); British Birds (magazine); Hummingbird; Pernis (bird); Parrotbill; Tattler (bird); Sparrow; The Birds of America; Ovenbird (family); Tyrant flycatcher; Old World flycatcher; Sunbird; Frigatebird; Bristlebird; Falconry; Tropicbird; Cardinal (bird); Honeyeater; Umbrellabird; Wattlebird; Figbird; Antbird; Little wattlebird; Bird-of-paradise; New Guinea; Leafbird; British Ornithologists' Union; Magpie-robin; Rhea (bird); Mourner (bird); The Owl and the Nightingale; Tree pipit; Oilbird; Song thrush; Finch; Blackpoll warbler; Phasianidae; Bowerbird; Wood warbler; Eurasian sparrowhawk; New World warbler; Birds of New Zealand; Songbird; Mistletoebird; Malleefowl; Jerdon's bush lark; Bearded vulture; Long-eared owl; A Book Of; Magpie-jay; Eurasian woodcock; Kingbird; New World quail; Bluethroat; Vesper sparrow; Eurasian spoonbill; Spinifexbird; Mockingbird
Audience(s) for this book
For a non-specialist adult audience
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