Blackbird is a worse name than blackcap and not just because of gender issues. Confusion of people seeing black birds and thinking they are blackbirds. Brownbird would be far worse though! Surely the Blackbird needs a better name…
More importantly any idea what a titlark is? And alternative name for Siskin is intriguing too…
I agree with the name of the blackbird. For such a beautiful bird with a beautiful song the name is ludicrously prosaic. And its Latin and French names are both dangerously close to sounding defecatory.
Titlark is, I think, pipit, which is slightly odd, because much as I like them I don’t think their song is a 12. As for aberdevine, I’ve looked into this before and it seems as if it’s an 18th century word with no known origin. But googling the word takes you, somewhat bizarrely, to this lingerie company. https://aberdevine.co/collections/all-sets
It sounds like a Welsh place - Wikipedia suggests it might come from the Welsh words for bird (aderyn) and hedgehog (draenog). Not sure the Siskin is what I imagine a hedgehog bird to be!
Titlark = pipit sort of makes sense, but wow ranking their song so much higher than a blackbird- strange man!
Blackbird is a worse name than blackcap and not just because of gender issues. Confusion of people seeing black birds and thinking they are blackbirds. Brownbird would be far worse though! Surely the Blackbird needs a better name…
More importantly any idea what a titlark is? And alternative name for Siskin is intriguing too…
I agree with the name of the blackbird. For such a beautiful bird with a beautiful song the name is ludicrously prosaic. And its Latin and French names are both dangerously close to sounding defecatory.
Titlark is, I think, pipit, which is slightly odd, because much as I like them I don’t think their song is a 12. As for aberdevine, I’ve looked into this before and it seems as if it’s an 18th century word with no known origin. But googling the word takes you, somewhat bizarrely, to this lingerie company. https://aberdevine.co/collections/all-sets
I think if it’s a Tree Pipit (a bit like a diluted Chaffinch) it’s a little less odd?
It sounds like a Welsh place - Wikipedia suggests it might come from the Welsh words for bird (aderyn) and hedgehog (draenog). Not sure the Siskin is what I imagine a hedgehog bird to be!
Titlark = pipit sort of makes sense, but wow ranking their song so much higher than a blackbird- strange man!
WATERY PLEEP!
Enjoyed your posting
I can't wait to see the submissions for bird-on-Bentley traffic!
Yes, I do hope we can see them.
Thirded. Maybe Lev could do a thread of the best on Bluesky, or here.