birding-aus

Common Names Discussion

To: Birding-Aus <>
Subject: Common Names Discussion
From: L&L Knight <>
Date: Tue, 22 Jul 2008 16:54:00 +1000
There is no problem with the use of the name "Spurwinged Plover" if one is referring to Vanellus miles novaeollandiae. It would be a problem if one were using it for the nominate race, but when used correctly, Spurwinged Plover provides more specific information than Masked Lapwing.

In any case, it's in the index of P&K, so a novice can easily work out what it is.

Regards, Laurie.

On 22/07/2008, at 10:09 AM, Chris Baxter wrote:

Hi All

I have been birdwatching for a long time and have heard and know most
alternative common names. Over time I have used quite a few of them as well. Taxonomic listings do change over time as do recommended common names. In hindsight, perhaps suggesting we all should try to use consistent common names as laid out in Christidis and Boles on the birding-aus forum was a bit
over the top. I do know all or pretty much all of the common names and
scientific names as laid out in C&B from memory as I refer to it quite often when writing up reports etc. I do try to use them in conversation as well in order to educate those people around me into using acceptable terminology.

However, it is not alays the case for me. For example, I call a Boobook Owl just that and not a Southern Boobook as suggested by C&B. But if writing a report or scientific paper then I adhere strictly to C&B common names. I do realize now that I am not altogether opposed to using alternative common names and abbreviations if they are sane and sensible options. For example, I have no problem with Scrub Turkey or Brush Turkey; Fairy Penguin or Little Penguin; Reef Heron or Reef Egret; Sacred Ibis or White Ibis; Jabiru or Black-necked Stork; Pied Stilt or Black-winged Stilt; Marsh Harrier or Swamp Harrier; Feral Pigeon or Rock Dove; Blue-winged Shoveler or Australasian Shoveler; Marsh Tern or Whiskered Tern; Little Grebe or Australasian Grebe;
White-rumped Miner or Yellow-throated Miner; Crimson-winged Parrot or
red-winged Parrot; Ground Thrush or Bassian Thrush. I also do use and have no problem with abbreviations such as BIFCUS for Black-faced Cuckoo- shrike
and HE for Honeyeater. These abbreviations refer back to an
acceptable/accurate common name.

However, I certainly do not agree with using corny names that any person with just the smallest amount of effort and knowledge would realize are not acceptable, are ambiguous and confusing; are only for those people who do not know any better. If a person is new to birdwatching then why corrupt them with these inaccurate common names from the start. It just compounds the problem. For example: Shag for Cormorant (we do have a shag-the Imperial Shag-why not confine the name to it); Blue Heron for White-faced Heron; Spur-winged Plover for Masked Lapwing (there are Lapwing species throughout the world and our bird is one of them); Sea Gull for Silver Gull (both are easy to say, so why not use the correct one-a Pacific Gull is a seagull as well); Greenie for White-plumed HE; Whiskies for Whiskered Tern; Wattlejack for Red Wattlebird; Chicken Hawks for the Accipiters; Murray Magpie/ Peewee for Magpie-lark (it is not a magpie-not closely related to one and so why
call it one); Jay for Currawong; robin red breast for Scarlet Robin. I
remember using these names as a kid when I did not know any better and
cringe at the thought of using them now.

As for some of the names listed in the email accompanying this and others sent in about this discussion, I am somewhat horrified to think you would seriously consider using them in emails to this forum. Remember, that is what my initial posting pertained to - what is acceptable common name usage on this forum. If you want to use slang names (such as "butter- butts" for Yellow-rumped Thornbill) amongst each other in the field then that is up to you. I hope not though! However, that is a different topic altogether to what I am on about. So, all of those of you that still think that the slang names you have mentioned in your emails are still Ok for this forum - then please confirm yes or no as it is a completely different thing to saying you use them in the field as opposed to using them here on this forum. Yes, if you are alongside your mate and see a Swamp Harrier and call it a Marshie, then good for you. It is obvious what you are looking at and what you mean.
But if you were to send an email to this forum and talked to us about
marshies (Marh Tern, Marsh Harrier or Marsh Sandpiper??);
butter-bums(butts)(what-are you serious!!-demeaning to the bird and surely we can do better than that); barwits (I know immediately what it means but
its lazy and should be left in the field); wedgies, woodies, reddies,
bloods, diamys, spagga, spoggies, poms etc. Please! Some of that sounds a
lot like cage bird industry jargon to me and surely not for here.

Finally, back to the one that got me started on this in the first place - Double-bars for Double-banded Plover. This is not an accurate or acceptable
common name to use on this forum as it is exactly what I said it was
earlier-inaccurate and misleading. Sure, as someone pointed out one can soon cotton on to what bird is meant as it was in the context of a wader roosting site. However, that is not the point. Why not call them what they are and if they were to be shortened they would be called Double-bands (perish the
thought). Double-bars as we all know are the Double-barred Finch and a
terminology widely used by many. Once again I think it is a slang name that should be left in the field (when talking amongst mates) and not for here.

Well, I got a topic of conversation going here and that has to be good. I disagree with the person who said we should be talking about birds and not rules for this forum. This is about birds and definitely extends beyond this forum. It is, in my humble opinion, something that should be talked about
and if it brings a little bit more professionalism into the Australian
birding fold-then good for it.

Cheers

Chris Baxter

-----Original Message-----
From: 
 On Behalf Of Grant Brosie
Sent: Monday, July 21, 2008 8:59 PM
To: birding australia
Subject: [Birding-Aus] My bird name guide.....(don't read if picky)

Everyone,

I've been birding for around 15yrs now but being only 25 you'd think I'd
know better. The following are 'other' names and abbreviations I use.

Bush Turkey =  Aust. Brush Turkey

Aust. = Australian

Jabiru = Black-necked Stork (sorry Greg, hard habit to kick)

Sacred Ibis = Aust. White Ibis

Marshie = Swamp Harrier

Marshie = Marsh Sandpiper (these two can get very confusing on Ash Island)

Ash Island = An island found in the Hunter River Estuary, 5-10km west of the
Newcastle CBD, 1.5hrs north of Sydney, NSW, Australia.

Sea Gull = Silver Gull

Feral = Rock Dove

Crimson-wing = Red-winged Parrot

F-w = Fairy-wren

White-rumped Miner = What a great name for Yellow-throated Miner

GST = Grey Shrike-thrush

BFCS = The famous Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike though I pronounce as 'boofcus'

Woodie = Woodswallow

Peewee = We all know that one

Reddie = Red-browed Finch

Bloods = Crimson Finch

Diamys = Not sure of spelling but its what I call Diamond Firetail

Spagga = House Sparrow

These are names I've picked up over the years or names that have come from the avicultural side of me. Would love to hear some other names, especially
local names other birders know of.

Cheers,
Grant Brosie
Raworth




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