Category: Terminology - Page 5

Birding, Terminology

The Trouble with Twitching

February 28, 2007 by Mike 9 Comments

The first two months of 2007 have showered one spectacular bird species after another upon a deserving New York Metro region. While this time...

Terminology

Color Me Sulphur

February 17, 2007 by Mike 1 Comment

There are sulphur-colored birds, and hideous intestines hanging over the doors of houses that I hate — Pablo Neruda, Walking Around Depending on the...

Terminology

Color Me Cerulean

February 10, 2007 by Mike 1 Comment

Although many of the terms used to denote color in birds may be unknown to apprentice observers of avifauna, most learn the meaning of...

Terminology

Take Me to the Neotropics

February 7, 2007 by Mike No Comments

It may have taken until February, but winter has hit New York City hard. We don’t have snow, but temperatures have plummeted to presposterous...

Terminology

Color Me Violaceous

February 2, 2007 by Mike 6 Comments

Of all the classifications for chromaticity in the common names of birds, violaceous is certainly one of the most colorful. This word conjures images...

Terminology

Color Me Plumbeous

January 26, 2007 by Mike 8 Comments

Another interesting, some might say antiquated color choice employed by those who get to name birds is plumbeous. Plumbeous refers to a heavy, leaden...

Terminology

Color Me Rufous

January 19, 2007 by Mike 13 Comments

Some fortunate folks have been endowed throughout history with the awesome responsibility of ascribing common names to newly discovered avian species. Often, perhaps too...

Terminology