US equivalent of Tit family? (1 Viewer)

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florall

Well-known member

• Mar 5, 2009

• #1

It's driving me round the bend, I have known this, can anyone help? What is the name of the bird family in the US that is similar to our tit family here in the UK?

 

bitterntwisted

Graham Howard Shortt

• Mar 5, 2009

• #2

It's the same family but they call them Chickadees.

Graham

 

Pete Mella

Getting there...

• Mar 5, 2009

• #3

I think you mean chickadees.

 

robinm

Registered User

• Mar 5, 2009

• #4

Do you mean the Chickadees?

 

F

florall

Well-known member

• Mar 5, 2009

• #5

I do mean chickadees. Thank you so much.

 

ovenbird43

Well-known member

• Mar 5, 2009

• #6

We have one species in common, I believe called the Siberian Tit in Europe/Asia but here called the Gray-headed Chickadee.

 

david kelly

Drive-by Birder

• Mar 5, 2009

• #7

Bill Bryson in "Made in America" explains that they are called "chickadees" because "tits "was considered too rude by the puritans. Similarly our own Victorian ancestors changed "white-arse" to "wheatear".

David

 

F

fugl

Well-known member

• Mar 5, 2009

• #8

david kelly said:

Bill Bryson in "Made in America" explains that they are called "chickadees" because "tits "was considered too rude by the puritans.David

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I wonder what his evidence for this is? Sounds like folk etymology to me.

david kelly said:

Similarly our own Victorian ancestors changed "white-arse" to "wheatear".David

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I would have thought that "tit" would bother the average Victorian even more than "arse".

 

M

maersk

Well-known member

• Mar 6, 2009

• #9

titmice too.

 

S

shrike69

Member

• Mar 6, 2009

• #10

Not the Bush family?

 

S

Simon Wates

Well-known member

• Mar 6, 2009

• #11

david kelly said:

Bill Bryson in "Made in America" explains that they are called "chickadees" because "tits "was considered too rude by the puritans. Similarly our own Victorian ancestors changed "white-arse" to "wheatear".

David

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Damned Victorians! Should have called them Blackears or Whiterumps really. Since when did arses hurt ears - mind boggles - I suppose it may have something to do with ears being an anagram for arse - but on the other hand, what has wheat got to do with white - or Wheatears for that matter - they normally shun cereals!|:S|

Simon