Wednesday, November 1, 2023

Birds in the Americas ...



... Will No Longer Be Named After People
, by Katina Miller and published in The New York Times today, 11/01/2023.


Swainson's Thrush named for the 19th century English ornithologist and artist William J. Swainson; as were Swainson's warbler and Swainson's hawk.

Just one of many, Swainson's Thrush is a member of genus Catharus and is typical of it in terms of its subdued coloration and beautiful, ascending flute-like voice. 

Chicago Audubon Society board member John Elliott offers his insights in his essay What's In a Name? from September, 2020.


This noteworthy news item has been picked up by just about every news network known by any of us including, but not limited to, the BBC, Fox News, ABC, NBC, CBC ... and many, many more.

The American Birding Association podcast:  The Month in Birding - November 23, 2023.  Discussed in the first segment of the podcast - often amusingly, but also insightfully.
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On a lighter note:  The Merriam-Webster Dictionary website published this charming and enjoyable piece:  10 Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

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