Is it okay to use other names such Blue Wren or Superb Blue Wren.Or even the alternate spelling of Superb Fairywren with no hyphen.
Should we try and only use what I thought was it's only correct name of Suberb Fairy-wren.
Superb Fairy-wren name
Fri, 25/03/2011 - 07:13
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Superb Fairy-wren name
I think it's kind of like Magpie-larks being called peewee's and mudlarks. Don't see any problems with it, I always call the superb fairy wrens, blue wrens as that's what I grew up calling them.
I try and stick with the proper names, but thats just because I talk about birds professionally (if that makes sense). I have no problem with people using blue wrens etc for them though - everyone knows what you are talking about.
I am a real stickler for Common Myna over Indian Myna though - I don't really like the racial connotations of Indian Myna but that is likely to be me being a bit sensitive and others may not even make the connection.
By "proper names" do you mean the universally accepted binomial nomenclature system which is derived primarily from latin and any normal person would find trouble saying it let alone remembering it. How you scientists and taxonomists do it I have no idea. Malurus cyaneus would be it's "proper name" in that case. The only ones I can remember is the Western Gorilla's and the Australian Hobby (yes I'm that immature, as if you didn't laugh when you first saw it).
I will always call indian mynas indian mynas, I've only heard of the alternative name recently. I've lways been amused by the fact that Noisy Miners are aka "Mickey" and "Soldierbird" indicated by various field guides, never heard anyone use those names.
So I guess the only real name that sticks is its scientific name. You can call it whatever you want otherwise :)
Taz
Hi Taz, even facing the terrible possibility of everyone laughing about me, I don't get the joke (?) about the Western Gorillas and the Australian Hobby. Can you "please explain"? Or is this something (dirty?), you can't talk about on the forum? Feel free to humiliate me!
M-L
Western Gorilla's scientific name is basically Gorilla gorilla which looks pretty stupid compare to the usual flowery ones like for example Trichoglossus haematodus for Rainbow Lorikeet. As for the Australian Hobby... it's pretty obvious when you take a few letters out of its speicies name (the second one) - Falco longipennis.
Birds have such funny names: boobies, tits and rough-faced shags.
All right I'll stop now. This site is supposed to be family friendly.
Taz
Thanks for the enlightenment, you just brightened up an old(?) girl's day...., now, back to the birds! :-)
M-L
Dare I mention the thrush?
By the way, I prefer to refer to a superb fairy-wren as a "blue wren", but I'm sure that doesn't work well in some locations where there are probably multiple types of "blue" wrens.
- soakes
soakes
Olinda, Victoria, Australia
Holly, I have to say that I see no racial slurs from using the term Indian Myna........ after all Asia was where it originates from. Apparently it features prominently in Indian culture and historical stories and pictures. Just unfortunate for the species that they have reached feral pest proportions here in Australia.
The only time I get upset is when people refer to the Noisies as the same species. But that is not because of any misguided political correctness, just because people don't even realise that they are a native honey eater.
Sunshine Coast Queensland
I just looked up "Noisies" as I wasnt sure what you were talking about birdie, and realised that some photos I have taken in the past were of an Australian Native Bird. I thought they were just another type of Indoan Myna bird. I am learning so much already on this site.
I was born to live and I live to die.
Most people serious enough about bird observing would use an accepted list of bird names. There are many international lists such as the Clements list (by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology) or the IOC list, but since I am an Australian and live here I go with the Christides & Boles 2008 list that is the most up-to-date revision and also the list used by Birds Australia (is that still the case Holly?).
In any case, different lists will have slightly different common and even scientific names for the same bird.
Eg: The C&B list calls the Barking Owl
Barking Owl - Ninox connivens
But the IOC list calls the same owl, same scientific name a Barking Boobook by common name. :)
Yep Christies and Boles 2008 is the most current one that BA uses.
In a professional capacity I think that the most recent accepted names should be presented first - so hence my preference for Common Myna. Local councils deal with the Myna issue alot of course so I think they should use the official common name with the other name in brackets afterwards so 'Common Myna (otherwise known as the Indian Myna)' . I have no problem with the general public using blue wren, pee-wee, indian myna etc etc.
Morning all, this is NOT remotely funny!! The worst gutter-language I have heard in a long time!(It belongs in a different place, like a pub) This is a serious website, and we should not accept it to deteriorate, and get down to that level! I ,for one, find this extremely rude and offensive! (THIS IS BEYOND A JOKE)
M-L
Done some editing guys. Remember this site is open to children as well as adults
Holly
Thanks Holly!
M-L
Agreed with your last comment Auzziechirp. I use public transport to get to work (environmentally conscious, surprise!) and the amount of times I'd LOVE to slap some of these kids around is ridiculous. Many of them have no respect for anyone, but themselves. I don't believe in being PC! That's a pile of garbage, sorry, that is my opinion and I stick by it.