Ah yes I wrote “is believe named for” (should be “believed”) because I thought it was, then looked at the book by Fraser & Gray which indicates a connection
is obscure…And yes it appears that the bowerbird was the first, as the Regent Honeyeater was also called Mock Regent bird.………..
From: Geoffrey Dabb [
Sent: Friday, 29 March, 2019 10:37 AM
To:
Subject: FW: [canberrabirds] Regent Honeyeater
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
