Birds: What's In A Name? by Peter Barry

Birds: What's In A Name? by Peter Barry

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Birds: What's In A Name? by Peter Barry

This entertaining and informative guide explains the meanings of bird names, many of which have fascinating origins and stories behind them.

The universal system of 'scientific' names, based largely on Greek and Latin, is used in all good bird books and assists birdwatchers around the world in figuring out exactly what they are looking at. While some of the names are fairly self-explanatory - such as Troglodytes for wren, meaning 'cave-dweller' - others are more mysterious - Caprimulgus for nightjar, for example, meaning 'goat-sucker'.

Covering hundreds of bird species from around the world, Birds: What's In A Name? includes explanations of hundreds of scientific names and common names, as well as delivering a wealth of other facts and trivia relating to the species concerned. In short, it's the most readable and entertaining book on the subject available anywhere.

Anas platyrhynchos (Mallard) 'The duck with the flat beak'.

Ixobrychus minutus (Little Bittern) 'Small reed bellower'.

Strigops habroptilus (Kakapo) A bird that 'looks like an owl, with soft feathers'.

Ptilonorhynchus violaceus (Satin Bowerbird) 'Violet bird with a feathered bill'.

Tachybaptus ruficollis (Little Grebe) 'Literally translated, this is the 'red-collared fast-sinker'.

Peter Barry was born in England, brought up in Scotland and now lives in Australia. He is the author of two other novels, I Hate Martin Amis Et Al and We All Fall Down and has had many short stories published in literary journals. He was shortlisted for Australia Book Review's Calibre essay prize. He has been a copywriter in both the UK and Australia and has written three corporate books.
SKU Unavailable
ISBN 13 9781925546040
ISBN 10 1925546047
Title Birds: What's In A Name?
Author Peter Barry
Condition Unavailable
Binding Type Hardback
Publisher New Holland Publishers
Year published 2017-07-01
Number of pages 210
Cover note Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.