The Dictionary of American Bird Names [Paperback]

Ernest A. Choate (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 15, 1985

Explains the etymological origins of birds' English common names, along with scientific counterparts.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An excellent reference work as well as fascinating reading." -- Audubon Magazine

About the Author

The late Dr. Ernest A. Choate was during his lifetime a member of the New Jersey Audubon Society, president of the Delaware Valley Ornithological Society, and one of the founders of the World Wildlife Fund. This book has been revised by Raymond A. Paynter, Jr., a senior lecturer in biology and Curator of Birds at Harvard's Museum of Comparative Zoology, and a Fellow of the American Ornithologists' Union.

Product Details

• Paperback: 226 pages
• Publisher: Harvard Common Press; Revised Edition edition (February 15, 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0876451172
• ISBN-13: 978-0876451175
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,826,434 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Birds and Words, March 28, 2000

By 

Mary E. Hood - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Dictionary of American Bird Names (Paperback)

Ernest A. Choate's Dictionary of American Bird Names is a monument. It stands alone. There is nothing like it. It is indispensible for birders who wish to understand, and not merely know, the names and classes of birds. The dictionary offers etymological origins of every name as well as Latin and scientific counterparts. The book is ornamented with Thomas Bewick woodcuts. The jacket notes call the text "picturesque and richly anecdotal" and this is both true and understatement. Choate's dictionary has wit and authority in its linguistic details and in its fieldwork. The author is both a scholar and a birder and has managed to include mythic, historical, and common origins. Thus the book is not only a history of the names of American birds; it is a history of America. Included are a biographical appendix, a bibliography, and an English/Latin glossary. The book is sized to fit a pocket or backpack, and has been updated to reflect the changes made on the 1983 AOU Check-list. Peterson said "no informed birder should be without " this book. The truth is, rather, that no birder can be informed without it, and best of all, it is affordable, transportable, and a joy to read.