Aussie Bird names - the "C's" (1 Viewer)

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pete woodall

Well-known member

• Nov 8, 2006

• #1

A while ago I posted a list of some unusual and informal Aussie bird names and asked for their current names. Here is the next batch, dealing with those starting with C

cape sheep

carpenter-bird

cataract-bird = Rock warbler (Edward)

chattering bee-eater

Christ-bird

cobbler

cocktail = fairy wren (Edward)

country-women-bird or CWA-bird = Apostlebird (Edward)

cranky-fan

I'll give the answers and some explanation after you've tried you luck with them. I don't expect that some will take long to crack but others might be more of a challenge.
Cheers

 

Last edited: Nov 8, 2006

Edward

Umimmak

• Nov 8, 2006

• #2

Christ-bird must be Apostlebird
Cataract-bird - Rock Warbler (?)
CWA bird - also Apostlebird

E

 

Xenospiza

Distracted

• Nov 8, 2006

• #3

Cape Sheep... Short-tailed Shearwater?

 

Edward

Umimmak

• Nov 8, 2006

• #4

cocktail - one of the fairywrens
chattering bee-eater - not Rainbow Bee-eater then?
cranky-fan - most of Australia when England retain the Ashes in January

E

 

P

pete woodall

Well-known member

• Nov 8, 2006

• #5

Hi all

Some interim comments.
Christ bird - no, not Apostle bird
Cataract bird = yes, rock warbler, because it inhabits rocky ground near waterfalls in the Hawksbury sandstone area near Sydney.
CWA bird = yes, Apostlebird from habit of forming "talkative" groups.
Cape Sheep - not shearwater .. but close!
cocktail = yes, one of the fairy-wren species, from their habit of cocking their tails.
chattering bee-eater - no, not the Rainbow Bee-eater, that would be too easy!
cranky fan - no, couldn't be further from the truth!

Cheers
Pete

 

Last edited: Nov 8, 2006

Edward

Umimmak

• Nov 9, 2006

• #6

Cape Sheep - Little Penguin
Christ bird - Night Parrot (from the observer's reaction when he finally sees one crouching in the spinfex outside Birdsville and gets photographic evidence, 'CHRIST!')

E

 

Edward

Umimmak

• Nov 11, 2006

• #7

Cranky fan - Grey Fantail (came across that in HBW 11 this morning).

E

 

P

pete woodall

Well-known member

• Nov 12, 2006

• #8

Little Penguin for "Cape Sheep" is "warm' but not correct, and Night parrot for "Christ Bird" is very "cold".
Cranky fan is correct for the Grey fantail and it is still in use.

A couple of clues: "Carpenter-bird" was in the previous quiz on Aussie bird names; and both "Christ-bird" and "Cobbler" are water-birds in a loose sense.

Cheers

 

Last edited: Nov 12, 2006

P

pete woodall

Well-known member

• Nov 17, 2006

• #9

The attempts on these names seem to be drying up so I'll give answers for the remaining ones:

Cape Sheep = Wandering Alabatross, years ago seamen made their skins into feathered rugs... the birds are white like most sheep.

Carpenter Bird - Long-tailed Nighjar (previously featured as the "Betting bird") because its "chop-chop-" call is like someone working on wood.

Chattering bee-eater = Noisy Miner, from early name given by Latham in 1801 Merops garrulus, garrulus meaning chattering. [I can't think why he thought they were a bee-eater Merops]

Christ-bird = Comb-crested Jacana, from their apparent ability to walk on water.

cobbler = Red-necked Avocet, from long, thin recurved bill.

Cheers