Birdwatching Terminology

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Birdwatching Terminology

1perennialreader
kesäkuu 2, 2020, 4:52 pm

So I am somewhat new to birdwatching and I wondered if there is a book about birdwatching terminology. I have started my own list of terms that I have looked up the definitions of below. Just wondered if there is a book that I could check for any new words/terms instead of looking them up myself.

Words/Terms I have found definitions for:
Albino Birds
Birb
Birder
Bird watcher
Butterbutt
Crepuscular
Dipped
Endemic
Fledged bird
FOY
Immature bird
Juvenile/Juvenal bird
Leucism Leucistic
LBJs (little brown jobs)
Lifer
Nemesis bird
Neotropical migratory bird
Nictitating membrane
Nightjars and nighthawks
Patagonia Picnic Table Effect
Pelagic birds
Pish
Purple pooper
Riparian
Siesta time
SOB (spouse of birder)
Spark bird
Twitcher
Vagrant
Yellowhammer

2John5918
Muokkaaja: kesäkuu 3, 2020, 2:23 am

I've found that most of the technical terms you list above are explained in a combination of the various field guides that I have seen. I don't know about the informal or slang terms. Someone tried to explain to me the other day the difference between birder, birdwatcher and twitcher, but it wasn't very convincing.

3perennialreader
kesäkuu 3, 2020, 8:59 am

>2 John5918: Yes, I found most of them by checking all my bird books and Google. I was hoping to find a comprehensive collection all in one place. Agree with the difference between birder, birdwatcher and twitcher. Thanks!

4mnleona
Muokkaaja: kesäkuu 3, 2020, 9:23 am

I get a woodpecker here sometimes.

5John5918
kesäkuu 3, 2020, 10:02 am

>4 mnleona:

Round here I usually see the Nubian woodpecker. Beautiful bird.

6perennialreader
Muokkaaja: kesäkuu 3, 2020, 10:32 am

Viestin kirjoittaja on poistanut viestin.

7perennialreader
kesäkuu 3, 2020, 10:44 am



Red-bellied woodpecker in my backyard

8LeeFSnyder
joulukuu 18, 2020, 9:34 pm

There has been an evolution of the term "albino." In years past, a bird with some white feathers was referred to as a "partial albino." Partial refers to some of the feather tracks showing the albinistic trait. It is not an uncommon feature of some avian families (i.e., Icteridae). "Leucistic" has gained favor in recent years having borrowed the term from the pet trade where reptile breeders used the term.

9LeeFSnyder
joulukuu 18, 2020, 9:40 pm

I enjoy collecting old bird names (i.e., "Derby Flycatcher"= Great Kiskadee;). A great source is Audubon's notes.

10lauriecallen
tammikuu 24, 2021, 11:20 am

I would suggest you look for books by David Sibley and by Pete Dunne. Both authors. Sibley's Birding Basics and The art of Bird Identification are good places to start.

11perennialreader
tammikuu 25, 2021, 11:57 am

Thanks to all. I found what I needed under Glossary of bird terms in Wikipedia. I also started my own glossary. When I find a term/word I am not familiar with, I add it to my own list so I can easily find it when I encounter it again.

I have over 25 field guides including Sibleys and Dunne. Just wanted everything in one place.