Latin/scientific names (1 Viewer)

[JTweedie]

I've been birding for several years, but I haven't really paid any attention to Latin/scientific names for birds. Should I be more familiar with them, does it really make any difference to yourself or your reputation as a birder whether you can converse about birds using scientific names? Do most on here use the scientific names?

 

[Mysticete]

If your doing a lot of international birding it is somewhat useful, either with communicating with people in other languages, or when a widespread species has multiple common names. That said, I usually only rarely use latin names in everyday birding, mostly for a few tough groups such as Empidonax flycatcher.

 

[birdboybowley]

Don't think your general birder ever converses with another using latin names!! Although on the Bilbao trip a few years ago a non-English speaking birder was able to ask for id's using latin names with me so that was useful. Also they can be fun on particularly dull seawatches (we have alot of those down here!) watching confused looks as you shout 'Stercorarius parasiticus coming' or 'Puffinus puffinus' coz it's not what you think....maybe that's just me!!
It can be useful knowing the subspecific latin names of birds seen on foreign trips as an armchair tick is then availble if the bird is split, but unless you going down an ornithologically scentific route then, day to day, it doesn't really matter.

Edit - Mysticete has the same thoughts as me apparently!!

 

[JTweedie]

What you both just said echoed just where I thought knowledge of latin names would come in useful. I'll probably never be a world birder so it probably isn't that important to me, none the less, I'd quite like to gain some general knowledge about them so will start paying more attention to their names when reading about birds I see.

 

[username]

I would recommend any birder to learn the latin names of birds! It is useful sometimes...most birders [i think]? know at least things like...tringa...calidris...etc..when referring to 'types' of waders etc.
Latin names of birds and their meaning, i find, is a fascinating subject....take for instance: Pallas's Sandgrouse....Syrrheptes paradoxus.....derived from -sunrapto...meaning stitched together [refers to this species webbed feet]! Paradoxus....strange! Basically then this species has strange feet. Useful?...maybe not!...but it is interesting.....[to me anyways]...!

 

[JTweedie]

I'm just reading Rory McGrath's book "Bearded Tit" just now. It's not quite what I expected, but has quite a few references to the roots of latin names and I agree it's very interesting.

 

[davercox]

Do birders use them - well yes, but it depends.
For warblers, for instance, you'll find people always referring to "Acros" or "Phylloscs" or even "Hippos"; but those are generic nicknames being used to narrow down the type of bird they're talking about; and you don't need to be a Mastermind on scientific names to pick them up. Likewise "Tringa" as mentioned earlier.
So I would say no, unless you're going to be birding a lot among non-Anglophones.

 

[fugl]

The latin names are sometimes quite entertaining & are worth knowing for that reason alone. One of my favorite genus names is "Garrulus" for the Eurasian Jay (among others)--what could be more appropriate?

 

[Thing]

The latin names are sometimes quite entertaining & are worth knowing for that reason alone. One of my favorite genus names is "Garrulus" for the Eurasian Jay (among others)--what could be more appropriate?

Admittedly I've posted this before, but I never miss an opportunity Pintail Anas acuta

 

[Thing]

The latin names are sometimes quite entertaining & are worth knowing for that reason alone. One of my favorite genus names is "Garrulus" for the Eurasian Jay (among others)--what could be more appropriate?

Sorry for multiple posting, but I instantly remembered, the Waxwing is now Bombycilla garrulus, as I think that years ago, the Jay and Waxwing were thought to be related.

This is the kind of trivia (?) you can have access to if you get stuck into your latin binomials!:t:

 

[username]

The latin names are sometimes quite entertaining & are worth knowing for that reason alone. One of my favorite genus names is "Garrulus" for the Eurasian Jay (among others)--what could be more appropriate?

My favorite latin bird reference for someone that i perhaps dislike..[putting it politely]...is Caprimulgus......a tad crude perhaps....but hey.............

 

[Simon Wates]

My birding colleagues in Portugal and Spain use the scientific names more often than not - and often abbreviated.

Portuguese Examples:
Um ochropus = a Green Sand(piper) (ok-ro-pus)
Uma Glareola = in this case a Collared Pratincole (as others have not yet been recorded in Portugal) (gla-rai-o-la)
Um pygargus = a Montagu's Harrier (pigargus)
Uma Pyrryhula = a Bullfinch (peeroola)
Uma collybita = a Chiffchaff
Uma trochilus = a Willow Warbler
Uma glaucoides = an Iceland Gull (glow-coy-dees) (glow as in wow)
Uma lapponica = a Bar-tailed Godwit
Um Pernis = a Honey Buzzard
etc..etc....

The full common names are less often used and if they are, are often abbreviated:
Uma Bonelli - a Bonelli's Eagle or a Bonelli's Warbler - obviously if the bird is soaring around its not the eagle!
Uma calçada - A Booted Eagle (Àguia-calçada)

etc..etc..

So, here scientific names are very useful if you like to socialise with the birders of the land. However, if you do you will be happy to find out that the majority of Portuguese birders know the English names anyway!

I suppose that English speaking countries have it too easy - and a side product of that is the misspelling or even "mis-speaking" of English names. Two that I see frequently are Griffins for Griffon Vulture and Montagues instead of Montagu's Harrier - these two really get my gut! - Although I'm not one to hold a grudge.

A little tester (that I know many, many Portuguese birders would spell correctly): Write out the scientific name of Ross's Gull or Gull-billed Tern without looking at a book!

Simon

 

[username]

Sterna nilotica??!....[n i'm dammed if i can write Ross's Gull without referring to book]!...probably got the tern wrong anyway...need to 'brush up' now and again! anyway...no cheatin'....!

ps......i can think of far worse latin bird names to spell/remember without lookin in book!

edit: bollox...it's something like gelachelodon? for gull billed ain't it!!

 

[Quercus]

The international arguement is valid to a point. As a gardener I have found Linean names useful , but the different pronounciation of the same names in different parts of the world still causes problems.

 

[Aracari]

Simon, I think that's because portuguese has a strong latin background. It's just natural for us to pronounce the latin names correctly and easier:

example:
Malacoptila fusca. An english speaking person would probably say something like "Meilacowptaila fiusca"... you get the idea.

That been said, I don't often use scientific names when birding, it just sounds too "elitist", even though most birders here use it a lot. I do know the names of most birds I'm familiar with though. It's a very good idea to know at least the genus, no matter what language you speak.

 

[Simon Wates]

Acari - I agree! I and promote the use of common (vernacular) names in Portugal simply because I feel scientific names are a "barrier" to the public who may acquire more of an interest than when within a group who use a lot of latin.

Here, I don't think its pretentious or elitist - like you say its natural for the Portuguese and other "latinos" to pronounce these names.

Whenever I want to google a species, be it a bird, a plant or whatever - I find that the use of scientific names in the search produces much better links, especially on the first page.

Still can't stand Griffin Vultures though - adore Griffons though - sorry! No hard feelings

Simon