The A to Z of Birding Terms
A is for all rounder. Birders with an all round knowledge of some or all Natural History Subjects.
B. Is for Birder. Someone who actively looks for, studies & records birds & usually submits his or her records to the County Recorder
C. Is for Cosmic Mind Blower. A rare or uncommon bird that is exceptionally pretty. Ie Siberian Ruby Throat or A Bluethroat.
D. Is for Dipper. A birder who consistently fails to see rare birds at a twitch, to Dip. To fail to see a particular bird you have come to see.
E. Expert. A revered Birdwatcher who on arrival is awed by others. He is usually looked upon as the Bees Knees & everyone is very respectable towards him. Often he or she has the last word on the identification of a rare bird.
F. Is for Flush. A Systematic walk through undergrowth to flush a bird (usually a rarity) so that it can be seen well. Not one that should be encouraged.
G. Is for Grip. To Grip or be gripped off is for another birder to see a bird you have not.
H. Is for Hat. In the 1950’s the finder of a rare bird would wear a Bowler hat, until another birder found a rarity where it would then be passed on. It still happens today. Also
Host. The finder of a rare bird on his local patch is often referred to as the host.
I is for indiscreet. A birder who is given confidential information about rare nesting birds, who then goes & tells everyone else.
J. Is for Jumper, A band wagon jumper who joins in with an argument on an identification of a bird usually at a twitch. He knows nothing about the subject but wants to be one of the crowd
Jewel. A small pretty bird like a Firecrest or Pallas’s Warbler.
K. Kill Joy. A birder who makes fun of other peoples birds or derises their comments about identification criteria.
L. Is for Lifer. A bird added to your Life List.
M. is for Meal. A birders meal is usually Cheese & Pickle Sandwiches, Polo mints & Mars Bars, Coca Cola or if In Suffolk Adnams.
N. is for Nomark. A birder ignored by others because of his incompetence or is a stringer.
O. Ornithologist, A professional birder. Or one that studies birds for a living.
P. is for. Professional Birder. One who makes his living from Birdwatching. Usually a birdline employee or Writer.Similar to Ornithologist.
Q. Is for Queuing. Many birders at Twitches will queue for many hours to see a rare bird from a hide
R. Is for Ringer. A very competent birder who without we would not understand bird migration.
S. Is for Stringer. Someone who sees a bird no one else does, usually something rare. He or she believes it is this bird & cannot be moved on the subject.
T is for Twitcher. A birder who only looks at rare birds & will travel many miles in order to see it.
U. is for Unbelievable. A common phrase used by birders when viewing a rare or uncommon bird usually something very pretty like a Red flanked Bluetail.
V. is for Vanishing tricks. Many birds can seemingly vanish without trace especially when looking for migrans in undergrowth.
W. is for weeping. At the Winspit Red Flanked Blue tail Twitch many birders who dipped out came away from the hide crying. Some birders get emotional when viewing a Cosmic Mind Blower.
X. Is for Xylaphone player. An excited birder plays an imaginary Xylaphone when he has seen something good (No it is not me)
Y. is for Yellow Belly. A term used by Birders when a Host will not admit he may have made a mistake with his rare bird find.
Z. Is for Zoo. A derogatory name for RSPB reserves like Minsmere & Titchwell
Disclaimer. This is just a bit of fun & is from 25 years of observing birders
Please do not take offence.
Colin J.
A is for all rounder. Birders with an all round knowledge of some or all Natural History Subjects.
B. Is for Birder. Someone who actively looks for, studies & records birds & usually submits his or her records to the County Recorder
C. Is for Cosmic Mind Blower. A rare or uncommon bird that is exceptionally pretty. Ie Siberian Ruby Throat or A Bluethroat.
D. Is for Dipper. A birder who consistently fails to see rare birds at a twitch, to Dip. To fail to see a particular bird you have come to see.
E. Expert. A revered Birdwatcher who on arrival is awed by others. He is usually looked upon as the Bees Knees & everyone is very respectable towards him. Often he or she has the last word on the identification of a rare bird.
F. Is for Flush. A Systematic walk through undergrowth to flush a bird (usually a rarity) so that it can be seen well. Not one that should be encouraged.
G. Is for Grip. To Grip or be gripped off is for another birder to see a bird you have not.
H. Is for Hat. In the 1950’s the finder of a rare bird would wear a Bowler hat, until another birder found a rarity where it would then be passed on. It still happens today. Also
Host. The finder of a rare bird on his local patch is often referred to as the host.
I is for indiscreet. A birder who is given confidential information about rare nesting birds, who then goes & tells everyone else.
J. Is for Jumper, A band wagon jumper who joins in with an argument on an identification of a bird usually at a twitch. He knows nothing about the subject but wants to be one of the crowd
Jewel. A small pretty bird like a Firecrest or Pallas’s Warbler.
K. Kill Joy. A birder who makes fun of other peoples birds or derises their comments about identification criteria.
L. Is for Lifer. A bird added to your Life List.
M. is for Meal. A birders meal is usually Cheese & Pickle Sandwiches, Polo mints & Mars Bars, Coca Cola or if In Suffolk Adnams.
N. is for Nomark. A birder ignored by others because of his incompetence or is a stringer.
O. Ornithologist, A professional birder. Or one that studies birds for a living.
P. is for. Professional Birder. One who makes his living from Birdwatching. Usually a birdline employee or Writer.Similar to Ornithologist.
Q. Is for Queuing. Many birders at Twitches will queue for many hours to see a rare bird from a hide
R. Is for Ringer. A very competent birder who without we would not understand bird migration.
S. Is for Stringer. Someone who sees a bird no one else does, usually something rare. He or she believes it is this bird & cannot be moved on the subject.
T is for Twitcher. A birder who only looks at rare birds & will travel many miles in order to see it.
U. is for Unbelievable. A common phrase used by birders when viewing a rare or uncommon bird usually something very pretty like a Red flanked Bluetail.
V. is for Vanishing tricks. Many birds can seemingly vanish without trace especially when looking for migrans in undergrowth.
W. is for weeping. At the Winspit Red Flanked Blue tail Twitch many birders who dipped out came away from the hide crying. Some birders get emotional when viewing a Cosmic Mind Blower.
X. Is for Xylaphone player. An excited birder plays an imaginary Xylaphone when he has seen something good (No it is not me)
Y. is for Yellow Belly. A term used by Birders when a Host will not admit he may have made a mistake with his rare bird find.
Z. Is for Zoo. A derogatory name for RSPB reserves like Minsmere & Titchwell
Disclaimer. This is just a bit of fun & is from 25 years of observing birders
Please do not take offence.
Colin J.
