Jobling gives some more information on the name. The genus name
Ptilonorhynchus was erected for the Satin Bowerbird because feathers cover
the base of its bill, incl. the nostrils.
However, violaceus rather means violaceous, or violet-coloured.
Paul Van Gasse
Kruibeke, Belgium
-----Original Message-----
From:
Behalf Of
Sent: Tuesday, June 19, 2001 2:45 PM
To:
Cc: Birding Aus
Subject: Satin Bowerbird
Hi Jenny
One of the many reasons for having a copy of some editions of
Cayley's "What Bird is That?" (as discussed recently on this
list) is that they explain the scientific name of species (if it
is not too new !).
For the Satin Bowerbird he says Ptilonorhynchus violaceus comes
from:
Greek ptilon = feather + Greek rhynchos = bill + Latin violaceus
= blue. So that makes "Blue feather-bill".
I hope someone else will explain why it should be called a
feather-bill !
Michael Norris
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