This Second Edition of Australian Bird Names is a completely updated
checklist of Australian birds and the meanings behind their common and
scientific names, which may be useful, useless or downright misleading!
For each species, the authors examine the many-and-varied common names
and full scientific name, with derivation, translation and a guide to
pronunciation. Stories behind the name are included, as well as relevant
aspects of biology, conservation and history. Original descriptions,
translated by the authors, have been sourced for many species.
As well as being a book about names, this is a book about the history of
the ever-developing understanding of birds, about the people who
contributed to this understanding and, most of all, about the birds
themselves. This Second Edition has been revised to follow current
taxonomy and understanding of the relationships between families, genera
and species. It contains new taxa, updated text and new vagrants and
will be interesting reading for anyone with a love of birds, words or
the history of Australian biology and bird-watching.
Features:
- Offers readers with a greater understanding of the origins and bases
for the names and relationships of Australian birds, which will in
turn provide greater appreciation of and familiarity with the birds
themselves
- Presented in an entertaining and discursive manner, so that it can be
read for enjoyment, as well as a reference
- Expanded, rewritten and reorganised to conform taxonomically to the
most recent version of the International Ornithological Committee's
(IOC) World Bird List (Version 8.2), including the addition of new
vagrants and taxa.
