Species with the most names (1 Viewer)

[Andy Adcock]

With names being a hot topic at the moment, it made me wonder, which species has the most, regularly used 'English' common names over lets say, the past fifty - sixty years

Off the top of my head I can come up with Dinopium benghalense which is variously called Lesser Golden Backed Woodpecker, Lesser Flameback or Black-rumped Flameback.

 

[delia todd]

Lonchura atricapilla: Chestnut Munia, Black-headed Munia; Southern Black-headed Munia; Chestnut Mannikin; Black-headed Mannikin

But I'm sure there's some more with more names; partly because the spelling is different

 

[Farnboro John]

Per Wikipedia:

northern lapwing (Vanellus vanellus), also known as the peewit or pewit, tuit or tewit, green plover, or (in Ireland and Great Britain) pyewipe or just lapwing.

Lapwing, peewit, green plover were previously known to me but tewit and pyewipe do not surprise me. Northern Lapwing doesn't really count because the British "Lapwing" is the original in English and consequently does not require a modifier: only other birds trying to be lapwings do.

John

John

 

[01101001]

7:

Birds Of Gujarat, Large no of bird collection and species in gujarat

Birds Of Gujarat,Gujarat bird species list,gujrat bird collection,

birdsofgujarat.co.in

6:

Yellow-spotted Bush Sparrow - BirdForum Opus

www.birdforum.net

6:

Sahel Bush Sparrow - BirdForum Opus

www.birdforum.net

 

[delia todd]

7:

Birds Of Gujarat, Large no of bird collection and species in gujarat

Birds Of Gujarat,Gujarat bird species list,gujrat bird collection,

birdsofgujarat.co.in

Actually, think the count should be 9 if you take into account that there are two previous scientific names

6:

Yellow-spotted Bush Sparrow - BirdForum Opus

www.birdforum.net

6:

Sahel Bush Sparrow - BirdForum Opus

www.birdforum.net

Both of these have a previous scientific name too. So count should be 7 for each.

:

 

[Andy Adcock]

Per Wikipedia:

northern lapwing (Vanellus vanellus), also known as the peewit or pewit, tuit or tewit, green plover, or (in Ireland and Great Britain) pyewipe or just lapwing.

Lapwing, peewit, green plover were previously known to me but tewit and pyewipe do not surprise me. Northern Lapwing doesn't really count because the British "Lapwing" is the original in English and consequently does not require a modifier: only other birds trying to be lapwings do.

John

John

John,
I was thinking of names that have occured in relatively modern, field guide type literature. In regard to Peewit, Green Plover, Pyewipe (!), we've all seen them referenced but they've never been used as regular names in a field guide to my knowledge?

 

[Andy Adcock]

Lonchura atricapilla: Chestnut Munia, Black-headed Munia; Southern Black-headed Munia; Chestnut Mannikin; Black-headed Mannikin

But I'm sure there's some more with more names; partly because the spelling is different

This group is a nightmare in terms of nomenclature, mainly because of shifting or alternative taxonomy.

 

[Farnboro John]

John,
I was thinking of names that have occured in relatively modern, field guide type literature. In regard to Peewit, Green Plover, Pyewipe (!), we've all seen them referenced but they've never been used as regular names in a field guide to my knowledge?

I shouldn't be surprised if Peewit has sneaked in once or twice, and "Green plover" actually does sound like the same sort of crass invented name that the Yanks are currently seeking to cripple themselves with, so I should think that like "Bearded Reedling" some nit has sought to impose it on common English usage, happily without long-term success.

John