Bird Dictionary

Babbler to Barley-Bird

Get more interesting bird facts and information at The Wonder of Birds or check out more from our bird dictionary:

Aasvogel to Albino

Alectorides to Amazon

Ambiens to Ani

Anisodactyli to Ateal

Auk to Axilla

Babbler to Barley Bird

Barwing to Bengali

Berghaan to Blackbird

Blackcap to Bluecap

Bluethroat to Bronze Wing

Brubru to Buzzard

Caeca to Carr Goose

Cashew Bird to Charadriomorphae

Chat to Churn Owl

Circulation to Cob

Cobblers-Awl to Coracoid

Coracomorphae to Crest

Crocker to Cypselomorphae

Dabchick to Devling

Dhayal to Dollarbird

Babbler
            
 

Babillard
            A French name, Anglified in 1831 by Rennie in his edition of Montagu's Ornithological Dictionary (p. 15), for the bird already known as the Lesser WHITETHROAT; but one that did not take real hold in the English language. Had he attempted to revive the old English "Babelard," he would probably not have had much more success..
 

Bacbakiri
            One of the short-winged SHRIKES, the Telephonus, bacbakiri of South-African ornithology, and so named of the colonists from its call-note (Layard, The birds of South Africa, page 161).
 

Baldpate
            The name commonly given by the English-speaking residents of the West Indies to a DOVE, the Columba leucocephala, from its white head-though most inaccurately, for that part is well clothed with feathers. It may here be observed that the epithet "Bald" is applied just as inaccurately in North America to an EAGLE, the Haliatus leucocephalus, and in England, though more appositely, to the Coot.
 

Bantam
            A small breed of domestic poultry, so-called under the belief that it came from the part of Java which bears that name; but apparently it originated in Japan (cf Darwin, Anim. &: Plants under Domest. chap. vii.) Birds of this breed were mentioned in 1698 by Fryer (New Accmmt of East India, p. 116) as "Champore cocks", coming from Siam. Remarkable for their diminutive size, they were characterized also by their feathered feet. In the 19th Century,  Sir John Sebright established a sub-breed, known as the Sebright Bantam, in which not only is this last feature wanting, but there is comparatively little external difference between the cocks and hens.
 

Barbet
            
 

Bargander or Bergander
            A local name, of uncertain origin and spelling, of the Sheld-Drake.
 

Barker
        A name locally applied, from their cry, to the Black-tailed GODWIT and the Avocet before the Avocet temporarily disapeared from England in the 19th Century. Albin, who was not a very good authority, figured under this name what was certainly a GREENSHANK, though Montagu took it to be Totanus fuscus, and hence an error found its way (sub voce) into Dr. Murray's New English Dictionary.
 

Barley-Bird
            A name given in some parts to the Yellow WAGTAIL, in others to the WRYNECK-but in both cases from their appearing at the time of barley-sowing. By some writers it has been said, to be applied to the SISKIN, although this is considered to be an error.

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