For each species, the authors examine the many-and-varied common names and full scientific name, with derivation, translation and a guide to pronunciation. Stories behind the name are included, as well as relevant aspects of biology, conservation and history. Original descriptions, translated by the authors, have been sourced for many species.
As well as being a book about names, this is a book about the history of the ever-developing understanding of birds, about the people who contributed to this understanding and, most of all, about the birds themselves. This second edition has been revised to follow current taxonomy and understanding of the relationships between families, genera and species. It contains new taxa, updated text and new vagrants and will be interesting reading for anyone with a love of birds, words or the history of Australian biology and bird-watching.
ISBN: 9781486311637 | 368 pages | 245 x 170 mm
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Illustrations
Reviews:
"The wealth of meticulously researched information presented in this book makes it an essential reference for anyone keen about birds and words, and a very welcome addition to ornithological literature."
Virgil Hubregtse, The Victorian Naturalist 136(6), 2019
"This wonderful book by Ian Fraser and Jeannie Gray fills a niche in the available bird literature as it seeks, and achieves admirably, to explain in depth how the Latin and English names of our Australian birds came about. ...If you are wondering what a Dick, Dick, the Devil is, or a howling jackass, or even a doubtful reed-bellower, then this is the book for you."
Libby McGill, Western Australian Bird Notes 172, December 2019
"In truth there is little for the carping critic to cavil about. All in all, Australian Bird Names: Origins and Meanings is a most valuable reference work, rich in interesting information of a kind not easily found elsewhere. It is good to see that CSIRO Publishing appreciates the need to keep it up to date."
Kevin Windle, Canberra Bird Notes 44(3), December 2019
"At times amusing and always interesting, this book a would make an excellent addition to the bookshelf of anyone who is interested in birds, words or history."
Rhianna King, Landscope, Autumn 2020
"Birdwatchers with a thirst for knowledge about all manner of trivia and history will enjoy poring through hundreds of pages crammed with details."
John Peter, Australian Birdlife, December 2019