Regarding naming of birds (1 Viewer)

I am interested in some of the aspects of naming some of the birds.

For example: For example: the -poll in Redpoll and Blackpoll
apparently means cap.

I also would like to know something about the people who originally
named birds. I don't know if there is some sort of database in this area.

Any suggestions?

Many names are derived from standardisation of a local English dialect name - different regions in Britain had different names for the same bird, but only one of them 'stuck'. And this is then subject to corruption over time. An example is Wheatear, which is derived from a a local dialect name 'White Arse', which was then cleaned up and standardised. British Goldfinches were called Red Pates in Yorkshire, 'pate' meaning 'top of the head', so similar to Redpoll. Some people still call Great Tits by the dialect name Blackcap, despite Blackcap also being a British warbler. There are a few books on this, such as this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dictionary-...1_10?ie=UTF8&s=gateway&qid=1201538297&sr=8-10

or, if you have a lot of cash:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Thesaurus-B...r_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=gateway&qid=1201538297&sr=8-3