Why do the same birds have different names? (1 Viewer)

[OwlTalon]

I don't get it. Buteo=Buzzard, Northern Harrier=Hen Harrier, Great Cormarant=Common Cormarant, Rock Pigeon=Feral Pigeon, and so on. Why does it happen..............And does anyone know anymore?

 

[Isurus]

I don't get it. Buteo=Buzzard, Northern Harrier=Hen Harrier, Great Cormarant=Common Cormarant, Rock Pigeon=Feral Pigeon, and so on. Why does it happen..............And does anyone know anymore?

cos people are muppets who like to make things complicated! Its for local language/dialect based reasons the same reason I talk about a car's boot and you probably mention its trunk? also some birds will have counterparts/behaviours in a particular region which make one common name inappropriate.

its why latin names are brilliant (and surprisingly useful).

 

[OwlTalon]

its why latin names are brilliant (and surprisingly useful).

That's why I take the time to learn, memerise, and decipher scientific names.......Wait a minute, scientific names=latin names. See!?! Even there its a language barrier!

Oh well. I still learn the latin. It tends to be a bit more accurate. Except when they change it: i.e. Nyctea scandiaca to Bubo scandiacus and Otus asio to Megascops asio.

 

[OwlTalon]

OK, which came first, hawks called 'buzzards" or vultures called "buzzards"

 

[Docmartin]

.Wait a minute, scientific names=latin names. See!?! Even there its a language barrier!

Where's the latin in Certhia brachydactyla? 'Scientific' = 'Latin, Greek and randy male ornithologists' girlfriends'.

 

[Jacamar]

The differences are mainly regional. Most people on that side of the pond call Circus cyaneus a Hen Harrier, we call it a Northern Harrier. It's just the common name that each region chooses to call it. That's the whole purpose for scientific names (which are usually quite helpful, but can be confusing themselves).

 

[James Lowther]

OK, which came first, hawks called 'buzzards" or vultures called "buzzards"

Come on TCondorOwl92, you must have learnt American history at school... why don't you have a guess... or to put it another way, on which side of the atlantic do you think most english words originated?

 

[James Lowther]

Where's the latin in Certhia brachydactyla? 'Scientific' = 'Latin, Greek and randy male ornithologists' girlfriends'.

did the girlfriend have short toes??

 

[OwlTalon]

No one else I know takes time to learn scientific names. I try to tell them they help, but they don't listen

 

[OwlTalon]

Come on TCondorOwl92, you must have learnt American history at school... why don't you have a guess... or to put it another way, on which side of the atlantic do you think most english words originated?

Oh wait! I remember now! :t: I knew the answer there, just asking you guys. European colonists saw turkey vultures and thought they were hawks, hence "buzzard" (I'm stupid, but not that stupid)

 

[Isurus]

Wait a minute, scientific names=latin names.

yep - even where theres no latin in the origin of the words in the name, the rules applied come from latin. scientific name a is better description but contains more letters and i'm a lazy typer whilst watching the football on a sunday aft'noon

 

[David FG]

yep - even where theres no latin in the origin of the words in the name, the rules applied come from latin. scientific name a is better description but contains more letters and i'm a lazy typer whilst watching the football on a sunday aft'noon

Is that European Football or Common Football?

 

[michaelboustead]

I am going on a birding tour with people all from the UK. I am very concerned that, at the end of the day, if I ask if anyone wants to get a beer, no one will know what I mean.

Mike

 

[Grousemore]

I am going on a birding tour with people all from the UK. I am very concerned that, at the end of the day, if I ask if anyone wants to get a beer, no one will know what I mean.

Mike

As long as you're buying, there won't be a problem... B

 

[Isurus]

I am going on a birding tour with people all from the UK. I am very concerned that, at the end of the day, if I ask if anyone wants to get a beer, no one will know what I mean.

Mike

you should be concerned - I've tasted what americans call "beer" (sorry - cheap shot but couldn't resist)

 

[OwlTalon]

Is that European Football or Common Football?

That's pretty good actualy.

 

[michaelboustead]

you should be concerned - I've tasted what americans call "beer" (sorry - cheap shot but couldn't resist)

I drink Bass Ale, mostly- In North Carolina I get a growler at the Front Street Brewery- their Pale Ale is very nice. LIGHT BEER IS NOT BEER.

Mike

 

[Osprey_watcher]

I drink Bass Ale, mostly- In North Carolina I get a growler at the Front Street Brewery- their Pale Ale is very nice. LIGHT BEER IS NOT BEER.

Mike

Pale Ale. That takes me back. Do they still make it over here?

 

[OwlTalon]

Strange how these threads change topic......

 

[michaelboustead]

Strange how these threads change topic......

Your right- sorry

Mike