Worlds Funniest Bird Name? (2 Viewers)

[davebenj]

Oleaginous Hemispingus.

Is that the name of a bird?
Or were you just clearing your throat?

 

[TonyC]

Bronzy Hermit - a sun tanned bearded guy sat on a pillar ?
Spectacled Spiderhunter - a Victorian eccentric explorer ?
White-vented Plumeleteer - an extra in a 3 Musketeers movie ?

 

[halftwo]

Senegal thick knee - soon to be eradicated tropical disease
Caucasian snowcock - blackened extremity due to mountaineering without adequate clothing
Red-necked nightjar - some tart's been at your pint!
Woodpecker - lets not go there !!
Dupont's lark - toff's wizard wheeze.
Crag martin - soon to be appearing as 007.
Grey hypocolius - needs urgent liver transplant.....oh this could go on forever!!

 

[Edward]

Edward, I agree with you about the Spangled Drongo, in fact, I was going to mention it if you hadn't. But...are you sure somebody with 'a good strong Australian accent' hasn't been pulling your leg? The false antechinus and wongai ningaui are both pouched mammals, or marsupials, not birds.

Oh, and...if you really want to hear something funny, just get somebody from a country other than this one to attempt to speak with 'a good strong Australian accent'. 3

Hi Rose,

I wasn't really suggesting that Spangled Drongo is a commonly used insult but I've been called a drongo a few times in Australia, a Galah more than once and a dag (another animal related word) more times than I care to remember. Wongai Ningaui and Ningbing False Antechinus are indeed mammals, the lack of feathers and presence of fur are a dead give away, as is the fact that are in my Australian mammal field guide but nowhere to be found in my bird guide ;-)

Wing-snapping Cisticola sounds like an aggressive bully, Rock-loving Cisticola locks itself in its bedroom to play air guitar?

E

 

[Mynydd Merlin]

Senegal thick knee - soon to be eradicated tropical disease
Caucasian snowcock - blackened extremity due to mountaineering without adequate clothing
Red-necked nightjar - some tart's been at your pint!
Woodpecker - lets not go there !!
Dupont's lark - toff's wizard wheeze.
Crag martin - soon to be appearing as 007.
Grey hypocolius - needs urgent liver transplant.....oh this could go on forever!!

This just gets better and better - keep it coming guys!

 

[Rose Fletcher]

You're right Edward, drongo is a common insult, as is galah, but they are usually used in a friendly way...'friendly' insults being acceptable social interaction here. If an Australian is serious about the insult, it's quite likely that the chosen term would not be printable in the forum.

I've always thought that the name of the Australian Arctic Warbler was somewhat humorous, given that this is a bird of the far northern tropical regions and Indonesia. Gibberbird springs to mind, but one of my favourites has always been Violaceous Trogon. Who said this thread could go on forever? I fear they were right. 3

 

[Rob McA]

Ha , all brilliant but dont forget the BOBOLINK ! :flyaway:

 

[jocateme]

Always liked Cock-of-the-Rock, Antpitta, Potoo. Also some Brazilians:
Caatinga Cacholote
Amazonian Umbrellabird
Hyacinth Visorbearer
Cipo Canastero
Zigzag Heron
Dinelli's Doradito
Capuchinbird
Festive Coquette
Lark-like Brushrunner

 

[halftwo]

I had a packet of Dinelli's Doraditos in the pub last night- chilli flavour.

 

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

ERM!

No ones mentioned any of the BOOBIES!

 

[tominadel]

I've always liked "Goatsucker", an old term used for Nightjars and Night Hawks. Birds with prurient thoughts? ehm.

 

[halftwo]

ERM!

No ones mentioned any of the BOOBIES!

Not on this thread but check out the Across the pond... thread.

 

[DJW]

How about

"Bare-Faced Go-Away Bird"

Bizarre.

Dave

 

[mandi.c]

ok guys im pretty new to this birding trying 2 learn stuff here you must b pulling my leg
northern screamer yeh ok but yellow bellied sapsucker ha ha ha thats got 2 b the best.

 

[jurek]

I heard that official American name of one bird (Crested Honeycreeper) means "pubic hair" in Hawaiian.
American ornithologists were so keen to be politically correct that they overlooked it.

 

[Xenospiza]

Like tapaculo, ‘akohekohe is apparently a funny onomatopaeic name: http://www.birdinghawaii.co.uk/Hawaiianbirdnames2.htm

 

[Cornell75]

Upupa epops has always struck me as funny, and the common name, hoopoe, is a bit odd, too.

 

[jurek]

‘akohekohe
http://www.birdinghawaii.co.uk/Hawaiianbirdnames2.htm

"Refers to the short crest feathers which were deemed reminiscent of pubic hair by the ancient Hawaiians."

Ehm... :eek!:

 

[James Lowther]

Upupa epops has always struck me as funny, and the common name, hoopoe, is a bit odd, too.

you need to hear one mate!!

the name will become crystal clear then

 

[James Eaton]

A pair of Great Tits.