WHAT'S IN A NAME
Posted: 02.01.26 in Articles category
WHAT’S IN A NAME?
Shakespeare famously points out the limits of names with his line from Romeo and Juliet, "What's in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet". Despite this insight, for both birders and Christians names remain highly significant. Throughout the Bible names carry deep significance: God’s character revealed through His names; names that reveal truth (e.g. Joshua/Jesus “God saves”); names that reflect a new status or situation Abram/Abraham, Simon/Peter and Saul/Paul.
Genesis chapter two shows us the first planned human encounter between humanity and birds, “Now out of the ground the LORD God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field.” Some regard this naming as a negative feature of human dominion over creation putting a distance between humanity and creation. My present experience is much more that identifying the correct name for a bird that I see is an essential element of my joy in birding as I scrutinise closely and appreciate fully the distinctive detail of the creature I am watching.
On a recent “Even Sparrows” retreat in Ardnamurchan, North West Scotland we watched a flock of delightful sea ducks. Initially we thought they were all Red Breasted Mergansers but after more careful observation we realised that some were the very similar but distinct Goosander. No big deal perhaps, but worthwhile to appreciate the fine differences in plumage that were there to be savoured and enjoyed.
I deal in English names mostly but many years ago while studying zoology I used the more secure Latin or “scientific” names derived from Carl Linnaeus in the 18th Century. Latin names avoid confusion, is the bird a Loon or a Diver or a Plongeur (French) or Colimbo (Spanish)? The origin of English bird names has fascinated me ever since as a twelve year old beginning bird watching I discovered to my delight that the name Wheatear is derived from the old name “White A*s*” graphically describing the bird’s distinctive white rump! Stephen Moss’s brilliant book “Mrs Moreau’s Warbler How birds got their names” offers a fascinating deep dive into the topic.
English names have entered a controversial phase especially in North America where the American Ornithological Society (AOS) is revising bird names in North America to remove eponyms (names of people) and other names considered offensive or exclusionary, such as those tied to historical racism. The society plans to rename species to be more descriptive of the bird's habitat or physical features, with a goal of creating names that are inclusive and focus on the species itself. This major revision aims to change over 100 bird names.
My favourite names are indeed those that derive from the character of the bird itself such as Wheatear but also Kittiwake (listen to their call and you know why) and Cuckoo (of course!). Aptly named is the Wrybill, the name given to the only species of bird with a bill bent sideways. I was delighted to see and photograph this delightful little wading bird at its main wintering ground in New Zealand.
What’s in a name – rather a lot.
Dale Hanson