jimbarnett Posted April 7, 2022 Share Posted April 7, 2022 Are there any bird names that you would like to change? For me it would be the LB Dowitcher and SB Dowitcher. Since the bill length of both birds overlap, both names are actually misnomers. What about Keek Dowitcher and Tutu Dowitcher? Names that reflect each bird's call. Also, it would make field ID a bit easier and cut down on misidentification. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meghann Posted April 7, 2022 Share Posted April 7, 2022 RING. NECKED. DUCK. Should be Ring-billed, and I will die on this hill. 12 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted April 7, 2022 Share Posted April 7, 2022 (edited) 42 minutes ago, meghann said: RING. NECKED. DUCK. Should be Ring-billed, and I will die on this hill. Make room on that hill, Sister, we're going down together. Second place to Red-bellied Woodpecker. How about Red-crowned or Red-naped? Like the RNDU, the name is a holdover from the days when birds were named after features only visible when you had the (shot, dead) bird in hand. Edited April 7, 2022 by Charlie Spencer 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quiscalus quiscula Posted April 7, 2022 Share Posted April 7, 2022 I agree Ring-necked Duck should be changed, but I want to be contrary so... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ring-necked_duck#/media/File:AythyaCollaris_4951.JPG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted April 7, 2022 Share Posted April 7, 2022 2 minutes ago, Quiscalus quiscula said: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ring-necked_duck#/media/File:AythyaCollaris_4951.JPG And that's ANOTHER reason to ditch the name. Is the ring even a feature of females? BOTH sexes have ringed bills. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quiscalus quiscula Posted April 7, 2022 Share Posted April 7, 2022 Just now, Charlie Spencer said: And that's ANOTHER reason to ditch the name. Is the ring even a feature of females? BOTH sexes have ringed bills. True, but then what about Black-throated Blue Warbler? It should be called Handkerchief Warbler. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lonestranger Posted April 7, 2022 Share Posted April 7, 2022 A suggested name change that I always liked was changing Northern Flicker to White-rumped Groundpecker, both physical and behavioral description there. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DLecy Posted April 7, 2022 Share Posted April 7, 2022 I know this is somewhat controversial, but I am strongly in favor of changing all honorific common names. https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/scientists-should-stop-naming-species-after-awful-people/ 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meghann Posted April 7, 2022 Share Posted April 7, 2022 8 minutes ago, lonestranger said: A suggested name change that I always liked was changing Northern Flicker to White-rumped Groundpecker, both physical and behavioral description there. That white rump is a super noticeable feature! 57 minutes ago, Charlie Spencer said: Make room on that hill, Sister, we're going down together. Second place to Red-bellied Woodpecker. How about Red-crowned or Red-naped? Like the RNDU, the name is a holdover from the days when birds were named after features only visible when you had the (shot, dead) bird in hand. ????? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avery Posted April 7, 2022 Share Posted April 7, 2022 1 hour ago, DLecy said: I know this is somewhat controversial, but I am strongly in favor of changing all honorific common names. https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/scientists-should-stop-naming-species-after-awful-people/ Same here. Not even just because some of the people are horrible by todays standards, but the birds shouldn’t be named after who shot them first. A couple of my favorite ideas are Kirtland’s Warbler -) Jack Pine Warbler Bachman’s Sparrow -) Pine Barrens Sparrow (plus it would then be PBSP, or peanut butter sparrow ?) should we make a thread or spreadsheet of names we come up with/find? 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peromyscus Posted April 7, 2022 Share Posted April 7, 2022 4 hours ago, meghann said: RING. NECKED. DUCK. Should be Ring-billed, and I will die on this hill. In my teenage years there was a period when I wrote Ring-billed Duck in my notes. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted April 7, 2022 Share Posted April 7, 2022 (edited) 3 hours ago, DLecy said: I know this is somewhat controversial, but I am strongly in favor of changing all honorific common names. https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/scientists-should-stop-naming-species-after-awful-people/ I thought that went without saying. I'd also like to change names that refer to specific places or environments when the bird is likely to show up well outside those ranges - Tennessee Warbler, Orchard Oriole, Palm Warbler, etc. And can we standardize on Great vs Greater, and Lesser vs. Least vs. Little? I don't care which one, but just one, please. Edited April 7, 2022 by Charlie Spencer 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meghann Posted April 7, 2022 Share Posted April 7, 2022 3 minutes ago, Charlie Spencer said: I thought that went without saying. I'd also like to change names that refer to specific places or environments when the bird is likely to show up well outside those ranges - Tennessee Warbler, Orchard Oriole, Palm Warbler, etc. Man, then almost ALL of the Orioles need renamed. Tennessee Warbler: Needle-billed Warbler Palm Warbler: Pipit-wannabe Warbler 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted April 7, 2022 Share Posted April 7, 2022 2 minutes ago, meghann said: Man, then almost ALL of the Orioles need renamed. Go big or go home! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HamRHead Posted April 7, 2022 Share Posted April 7, 2022 I'd have to bring back Marsh Hawk and Old Squaw. Showing my age I guess... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DLecy Posted April 8, 2022 Share Posted April 8, 2022 33 minutes ago, HamRHead said: I'd have to bring back Marsh Hawk and Old Sq___ Showing my age I guess... https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/interior-department-announces-next-steps-remove-sq-federal-lands 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron Posted April 8, 2022 Share Posted April 8, 2022 Somewhere I saw someone refer to a Swainson’s Thrush as a Marshmallow thrush and that’s what I would like to call them as well. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chipperatl Posted April 8, 2022 Share Posted April 8, 2022 4 hours ago, DLecy said: I know this is somewhat controversial, but I am strongly in favor of changing all honorific common names. https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/scientists-should-stop-naming-species-after-awful-people/ No. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HamRHead Posted April 8, 2022 Share Posted April 8, 2022 34 minutes ago, DLecy said: https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/interior-department-announces-next-steps-remove-sq-federal-lands Yes, I am aware that Secretary of the Interior, Deb Haaland, labeled the term offensive, but many people disagree. Anecdotally, I have Indian blood in my family and nobody finds the term offensive. I've certainly never heard it used as a slur or anything even remotely derogatory. For what it's worth, here's one article that questions whether it is a slur: https://theberkshireedge.com/is-squaw-really-offensive-and-to-whom/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meghann Posted April 8, 2022 Share Posted April 8, 2022 (edited) 1 hour ago, Aaron said: Somewhere I saw someone refer to a Swainson’s Thrush as a Marshmallow thrush and that’s what I would like to call them as well. This has been driving me nuts. I have been googling and googling trying to figure out where this would come from, and haven't found anything. 1 hour ago, HamRHead said: I'd have to bring back Marsh Hawk I second this motion. 4 hours ago, Avery said: Bachman’s Sparrow -) Pine Barrens Sparrow (plus it would then be PBSP, or peanut butter sparrow ?) @Liam is probably the one with the most authority on the forum to get this one changed. Lol. (How's that thesis coming, Liam? Why are you reading this? Get back to work!) Edited April 8, 2022 by meghann 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meghann Posted April 8, 2022 Share Posted April 8, 2022 I thought of another one to change: Red-cockaded Woodpecker. Longleaf-pine Woodpecker? White-cheeked Woodpecker? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avery Posted April 8, 2022 Share Posted April 8, 2022 (edited) 27 minutes ago, meghann said: I thought of another one to change: Red-cockaded Woodpecker. Longleaf-pine Woodpecker? White-cheeked Woodpecker? What’s wrong with its current name? I kinda like it. It’s super specific. Honestly though, I like birds having multiple names, but ones gotta be written down as “true” Edited April 8, 2022 by Avery 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanager 101 Posted April 8, 2022 Share Posted April 8, 2022 2 hours ago, HamRHead said: I'd have to bring back Marsh Hawk and Old Squaw. Showing my age I guess... I still call it Oldsquaw sometimes.......haha I also call Common Gallinule Common Moorhen 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meghann Posted April 8, 2022 Share Posted April 8, 2022 12 minutes ago, Avery said: What’s wrong with its current name? I kinda like it. It’s super specific. Honestly though, I like birds having multiple names, but ones gotta be written down as “true” To me, it's like the Ring-necked Duck. A very hard to see field mark. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avery Posted April 8, 2022 Share Posted April 8, 2022 4 minutes ago, meghann said: To me, it's like the Ring-necked Duck. A very hard to see field mark. Ah ok, makes sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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