[bcbirdclub] Re: Bird name pronunciations
- From: Ed Talbott <aquilaet@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: Daryl Owens <daryl.owens@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 23 Mar 2015 22:57:58 -0400
Reminds me of a e-mail I sent to VA-Birds back in 2006 that generated a lot
of discussion. I'm not sure if these are right but they can start
conversations.
*Bird Species:*
Botteri's Sparrow [BOT-er-ih-eye] - 4 syllables (Bott Err E I)
- or also [Bott-er-eyes] (the one I like best)
Sabine's Gull [SAB-ins] - rhymes with "stab"
- not "SAY-beans"
Northern Parula [PAR-you-lah] "Parr you lah" - like par in golf
- also found as [Pair-a-lah] - but not "pah-roo-lah"
Pileated Woodpecker [pie-leh-AY-ted] or [pil-leh-AY-ted]
- both are correct - I like "pill-e-a-ted"
Vaux's Swift [VAWK-es] similar to the word "foxes"
- others say rhymes with "hawks" without the second syllable
- not the French "Vaux"
Gila Woodpecker [HE-lah]
Berylline Hummingbird [Bear-il-linn]
Xanthus Hummingbird [Zan-this]
Pochard [Po-chard]
- have also hear [Pock-ard] and [Poch-ard]
Smew [Sy-mew or Smoo] ?
Bewick's Wren [BEW-ick] - similar to the car Buick
Gyrfalcon [JER-fall-kon] or [Geir-fal-con] ??
Chukar [chu-KAR] - not "chuck-r"
Ptarmigan [Tar-me-gan]
Northern Jacana [yah-SI-na]
- have also heard [Ha-ka-na]
Laysan Albatross [Lie-san]
Roseate Tern [Ro-ze-ate] - 3 syllables
Guillemot [Gil-ih-mott]
- not French "gil-e-mo"
Craveri's Murrelet (Italian) [krah-vair-reez]
Kittlitz's Murrelet (German) Anyone speak German?
Groove-billed Ani (AH-nee)
- not "Ann-e"
Common Pauraque [pah-Ra-kay]
Fulmar - does it rhyme with dull or pull (both)?
Birding Terms:
Accipiter [ack-SIP-ih-ter]
- not "a-SIP-ih-ter"
ferruginous [fer-OO-jin-us]
gruiformes [groo-ih-FOR-meez]
auriculars [aw-RICK-you-lers]
reminges [REM-ih-jeez]
axillars [AK-sih-lers]
alula [AL-you-la]
rectrices [reck-TRY-seez]
Ed Talbott
Richmond, KY
On Sat, Mar 21, 2015 at 8:34 PM, Daryl Owens <daryl.owens@xxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
> So I'm sitting here this evening reflecting on a great day of
> birding with Russell Co. Bird Club. I'm also perusing my copy of National
> Geographic's Complete Guide to Birds which, by the way, is a wealth of
> information. One piece of information that this great publication lacks is
> a pronunciation key for bird names, some of which lend themselves to a
> varying degree of interpretation i.e. Pileated Woodpecker. Being both a
> "bird nerd" and a "word nerd", I found this to be unacceptable. This in
> mind, I set out on a marathon quest (I hope 30 seconds qualifies as a
> marathon quest) to seek a revelation, or should I say a medication, for my
> pronunciation consternation. Alas, with the help of the good Lord and
> Google, although it was mostly Google, I discovered the webpage who's link
> appears below. Many of the most mispronounced bird names are covered
> therein. Spoiler alert: I hope you won't be disappointed to find that
> both pronunciations of Pileated are accepted.
> And, to those of you who say I've too much time on my hands, I
> say...you're probably right!
>
> Hoping you feel as enlightened as I,
>
> Daryl Owens
>
>
> http://www.birds.cornell.edu/crows/birdname.htm
>
> Shared via the Google app
> <http://itunes.apple.com/app/id284815942?mt=8&uo=4>
>
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
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