Customer Reviews

The Dictionary of American Bird Names

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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.