The Oxford Book of British Bird Names by W. B. Lockwood
The Linnet eats linseed, and the Shearwater's name comes from its flight pattern, but other bird names are not so obvious. This study of these names makes fascinating reading for linguists and ornithologists alike. Once-forgotten meanings and fokelore, as well as simple word derivations, are revealed in this eye-opening guide, laid out in dictionary form for easy reference.