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.
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).
Title: The Bird Name Book: A History of English Bird Names
Author:
ISBN: 9780691235691
Binding:
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Publication Date: 2022-10-25
Number of Pages: 416
Weight: 1.1933 kg
[A] fascinating combination of etymology and ornithology. ---Nate Swick, American Birding Podcast
If you have ever wondered about the origins of the English words we use to name birds, this book is for you. * BirdWatching *
This is an exceptionally fine book and one that I imagine every bird lover will will wish to have. ---David Gascoigne, Travels with Birds
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
[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