I think I conducted the first serious research on this. The name ‘Regent Bowerbird’ was given to honour the then Prince Regent, later George IV. The folklore that gold and black are the colours
of the office of a regent, or had any connection with the then Prince Regent, has no basis. The name of parrot and honeyeater came from the perceived similarity to the gold and black of the bowerbird, perhaps with some of the emerging folklore woven in to
the story.
From: Philip Veerman <>
Sent: Friday, 29 March 2019 9:49 AM
To: 'Bill Hall' <>;
Subject: RE: [canberrabirds] Regent Honeyeater
Thanks for sending that link. Just a correction though (to stop it going forward). It is
Regent Honeyeater
(there is no apostrophe s), as it (and the bowerbird) is believe named for the colour resemblance to the prince regent, not as possessive of someone named Regent. The book by
Fraser & Gray has a lot about that connection.
Philip
From: Bill Hall
Sent: Friday, 29 March, 2019 7:23 AM
To:
Subject: [canberrabirds] Regent's Honeyeater
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-29/push-to-protect-critically-endangered-regent-honeyeaters/10934296
