[cobirds] Re: Changing Common Names of birds; example, Steller’s Jay

Really entertaining dialogue on naming birds, often named for the least conspicuous feature. I also love bird names that might be longer than the actual bird...like Northern Beardless Tyrannulet. (Curious....Is there a Tyrannult with a beard?...My mind is picturing this!!) Along with Hugh's disdain for Least (which I agree) would be the boastful and judgement laddened "Greater"....like Greater Yellowlegs. 

John Rawinski

Monte Vista, CO 

On Thursday, April 15, 2021 at 12:30:12 PM UTC-6 rori...@earthlink.net wrote:

Peter the Great,Tsar of all of Russia, invited Georg W. Steller, a German scientist to come to Russia and help explore and catalogue it's natural history. In 1741 Steller joined the Vitus Bering Expedition in sailing east to discover what was out there. After several weeks   they bumped into new land now known as Alaska. Steller discovered a jay, now known as Steller's Jay. The expedition sailed west exploring the Aleutians. Out of many of Steller's new discoveries was a new eagle, now known as Steller's Sea Eagle.

Doesn't the eponymic name Steller's Jay evoke more romance, interest, and wonder than if it was just called, for convenience, say "Mountain" Jay?

Bob Righter

Denver, CO  

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