Unsolved or "Mythical" bird names (3 Viewers)

[Tiraya]

The thread on Calandra Lark recently reminded me of a discussion that was common when I started birding, about the fabled "blue quail", "phoenix hawk" or other fake cryptozoological birds used only to tease and lure astray newer birders. I will preface that I'm not usually one to indulge in this section of the forum, as my expertise does not really relate to taxonomy. But this is a question best posed to the regulars of this forum section, I feel.

Simply put, what are the most notorious instances of obsolete bird names, perhaps used widely in their time, but since faded out of use and still remain a mystery as to their identity to this day? Are there any especially intriguing cases that have since been solved, but puzzled modern taxonomists and ornithologists for a considerable amount of time, until one piece of literature or a specimen connection finally solved the case?

To clarify, I don't just mean "obsolete" or old names in general, specifically ones with an interesting past or the aforementioned trials of deciphering what they referred to. Basically, "mythical" bird names in that sense. These sorts of names could be unique inspiration for fictional or creative applications when it comes to naming some sort of sci-fi or fantasy creatures or concepts. I have wondered if a bird taxonomist was writing a story involving say, some sort of interdimensional avian that had never been seen before, and wanted to slip in a cheeky reference to some sort of taxonomic "mythological" bird to name it, what sort of names might they choose?

Assuming this "light" discussion doesn't disobey the rules of this forum section, I do look forward to any insights into this relatively niche subject.

 

[Mono]

There are a whole host of local dialect bird names in the UK. Some are still in use but most have fallen out of use. Many have been catalogued by naturalists and folklorists. This 1913 book has many...

A dictionary of English and folk-names of British birds; with their history, meaning, and first usage, and the folk-lore, weather-lore, legends, etc., relating to the more familiar species : Swann, H. Kirke (Harry Kirke), 1871-1926 : Free Download, B

Bibliography of principal works referred to arranged chronologically: p. [ix]-xii

archive.org

 

[Xenospiza]

I think that for quite a few classical Greek names, we don't really know what is meant.
An example would be "halkyon", which is taken to mean kingfisher (it was a bird that laid its eggs on the sea).

 

[jurek]

'Laros' is another undetermined classical Greek seabird with a mournful voice. Perhaps the alarm call of the Yellow-legged Gull colony?

Multiple birds and other wildlife mentioned in the Bible are not matched to today names.

The Bible and other ancient texts are very interesting. They mention animals extinct today in the whole region and a vegetated environment in the place of today desert.

There was an interesting article about birds of Anglo-Saxon Britain online somewhere. It mentioned several unsolved names. Among others, a 'black curlew' and a large owl, which were likely Glossy Ibis and Eagle Owl breeding in Britain.

 

[Björn Bergenholtz]

The thread on Calandra Lark recently reminded me of a discussion that was common when I started birding, about the fabled "blue quail", "phoenix hawk" or other fake cryptozoological birds used only to tease and lure astray newer birders. I will preface that I'm not usually one to indulge in this section of the forum, as my expertise does not really relate to taxonomy. But this is a question best posed to the regulars of this forum section, I feel.

Simply put, what are the most notorious instances of obsolete bird names, perhaps used widely in their time, but since faded out of use and still remain a mystery as to their identity to this day? Are there any especially intriguing cases that have since been solved, but puzzled modern taxonomists and ornithologists for a considerable amount of time, until one piece of literature or a specimen connection finally solved the case?

To clarify, I don't just mean "obsolete" or old names in general, specifically ones with an interesting past or the aforementioned trials of deciphering what they referred to. Basically, "mythical" bird names in that sense. These sorts of names could be unique inspiration for fictional or creative applications when it comes to naming some sort of sci-fi or fantasy creatures or concepts. I have wondered if a bird taxonomist was writing a story involving say, some sort of interdimensional avian that had never been seen before, and wanted to slip in a cheeky reference to some sort of taxonomic "mythological" bird to name it, what sort of names might they choose?

Assuming this "light" discussion doesn't disobey the rules of this forum section, I do look forward to any insights into this relatively niche subject.

'Tiraya', no worries, 'this "light" discussion' most certainly "doesn't disobey the rules of this forum section", most/any questions related to names/etymologies, are usually welcomed ...

Either way, some (of many, many) mythological Scientific names (alt. ditto names, either in full, or in parts, clearly, or somehow/maybe, connected/linked to various Myths) would be:
Acalanthe, Acanthis, Acis, acis, Acmonorhynchus, acteon, Ada, Aedon, Aegialeus, Aegintha, Aegithina, aeolus, Aerops, Agelastes, Aglaia, Agyrtria, Aiolornis, ajax, akool, alai, Alcedo, Alcippe, Alcippornis, Alcyone, alecto, Alethe, althaea, amaryllis, Amathusia, amathusia, amathusiae, amphitrite, amphitryon, Amytis, andromeda, andromedae, antaios, Antenor, Anthus, Antigone, antigone, aphrodite, Ardea, Arena, (argentinus), Argus, argus, Argusianus, Ariadne, Ariana, arsinoe, artemisiae, artemisiana, Artemisiospiz, arthemisiae, ascalaphus, Athene, atlanticus, atlantis, Atlantisia, Atlapetes, atthis, aurora, awsuree, Aythya, bacchus, Baucis, baucis, Bellona, bennuides, Bias, Biblis, bonasia, borysthenicus, bragi, (californiana, californianus, californica), Callidice, Calligenia, Calliope, calliope, Calypte, canace, canente, (Capricia), Carites, castor, Catreus, celaeno, Celeus, cenchris, ceres, Ceryle, Ceyx, Charitociris, Chilociris, chimaera, Chloris, chloris, Chromatociris, Cinnyris, circe, Circus, circus, Ciridops, ciris, cirris, Cissa, clio, Clotho, cohuatl, coryphaea, coryphoeus, Cryptociris, cupido, Cyclopsitta, Cygnus, cygnus, Daedalion, daedalus, danae, danaoides, daphne, decaocto, Deleornis, deva, Dialis, diana, dido, Diomedea, diomedea, doris, dryas, Dyrinia, eblis, echo, Egolia, empusa, eos, erebus, eriphile, Esacus, Eudosia, Eulidia, euphrosiae, euphrosinae, (europae, europaea, europaeus, europeus), eurynome, euterpe, galatea, galateus, ganeesa, garuda, (Geospiza), Glaucus, glaucus, gordius, govinda, Gygis, hades, Halcyon, Halia, hamadryas, Harpe, harpyja, Hecale, hectoris, helenae, (heliosyla, heliosylus), Helymus, hercules, herculis, Herophilus, Heroprogne, Herse, hesperus, Himalia, horus, Hyas, Hydroprogne, (hymenaica, hymenaicus), Hypargos, Hyreus, Iache, Ianthia, icariotis, idaliae, Idas, Iduna, Ifrita, indranee, Iole, iphigenia, iphis, Irena, irena, iris, isis, Itys, jasijatere, jovis, junonis, Jynx, Lavinia, (legerli?), Leucaria, Leucippus, lingoo, liriope, Lucifer, lucifer, Mareca, Marsyas, (matutina, matutinus), maui, Mauiornis, mavors, meena, (melanaetos, Melanaetus, melanaetus), meleagrides, Melias, melittae, melpomene, memnon, mentor, mentoris, mercuri, mercurialis, mercurius, Merion, Methon, Micropallas, midas, minos, Momus, momus, (monedula), Mormon, morphoeus, Myiagra, myrtha, Naenia, naina, nainus, nais, Nania, napaea, napaeum, narcissina, (narcissus), (neera?), Neisna, neisna, Neophron, neptunus, nereis, nestor, Netta, Niche, (ninus), Niobe, nisicolor, Nisius, (nisoria, nisorium, nisorius), nisus, Nyctimene, Nyctiprogne, Nymphaeus, oberon, (Oceandodroma, oceani, oceanica, oceanicus, Oceanites, Oceanus), Ocyalus, oenone, orion, orphea, Orpheus, orpheus, osiris, Palamedea, Palestre, Pan, Pandion, Panope, Paphosia, Parnopia, Parnopio, pasiphae, pegasus, Penelope, (Perdix), Persa, persa, Phaedrus, Phaeoprogne, Phaethon, Phaetusa, phaon, Philodice, philomela, philomelos, phoebe, phoebei, phoenix, Picumnus, Picus, (Pilonia?), Pilumnus, pincoyae, Pipiscus, pliogryps, pluto, plutonia, pollux, Polymnia, Polyxemus, Procnias, Progne, progne, prometheus, proserpina, proteus, Psalidoprocne, Psamathia, Ptyonoprogne, (pyrenaica, pyrenaicus), quinkan, rama, Rhea, rhea, sabrina, saturnus, simurgh, (smitellus), sphinx, sphynx, stentor, stentorea, stentoreus, Sthenelus, Streptoprocne, stygia, stygiceps, stygium, stygius, Stymphalornis, Surnia, (sylvia), Syma, syrinx, taigoor, tane, (Tantalops), Tantalus, Telamon, (Tersiphone), tethys, thaumantias, Thaumatias, tiphia, titan, titania, Titanis, Titanohierax, Triclaria, (triton), (tsipi?), Tunchiornis, Tychaedon, typhon, tyro, (tzacatl?), Ulysses, Undina, undina, Venilia, (volcanius, vulcani, vulcania, vulcanica, vulcanius, vulcanorum), (vulturna, vulturnus), wotan ... and probably more.

Search Jobling's Key to Scientific Names for either one (here).

A list of Common/Vernacular names, regardless if obsolete, or not, (in various languages, or dialects) would be even longer!

Enjoy!

Björn

PS. For some of the earlier, or still today, "unexplained" ones, use the Search function/button (top right corner of the Screen), and Search for either; unexplained, or unsolved.

 

[Taphrospilus]

Maybe not what you are looking for but there is a myth about Pluvianus aegyptius. See Egyptian plover - Wikipedia

The species is one of several plovers doubtfully associated with the "trochilus" bird mentioned by the Greek historian Herodotus in a supposed cleaning symbiosis with the Nile crocodile.

This lead to fake videos like

or

 

[Tiraya]

I was unsure what reception I'd get from this thread, but it's all interesting regardless.

Generally the focus was known names in taxonomic contexts that were used a long time ago and were never conclusively matched (to us, in modern day) to a specific species. I am certain there's cases out there like this! I'm sure I've seen a couple here before, I just forget what they were.

'Tiraya', no worries, 'this "light" discussion' most certainly "doesn't disobey the rules of this forum section", most/any questions related to names/etymologies, are usually welcomed ...

Oh you'd be surprised how upset people on this forum can get over menial things

 

[Taphrospilus]

May of interest too Sparrow Symbolism: Exploring the Meanings and Myth or The Bird Gods of Ancient Egypt

 

[paranoid numanoid]

Yes , Harry Kirke Swann's "Dictionary of English and Folk-names of British Birds..." (1913) above is your handbook, (5000 names) it's based on Charles Swainson "Provincial Names and Folklore of British Birds" (1885) and it namechecks Charles Hett's long list of 3000 provincial names, and it prefigures Michel Desfayes' massive database at ewatlas/desfayes which gives 100,000 names in various languages and their roots. I suppose for Latinate names you'd have to look to James Jobling.