Bad With Names? So is the Sad Flycatcher
…but not in the way you think.
Birds
Barn Swallow: National Animal #1 (Estonia)
A.k.a. secret Soviet subversion!
The Niam-Niam Parrot Would Be a Good Spy
It has a pretty awkward code name, though.
Inaccessible Rail. Ha Ha, What?
Surprisingly not a translation error.
The World’s Biggest Raptor Prefers to Dine Out
Well, who wouldn’t?
The Yellow-bellied Robin is Here to Confuse Your Christmas
It does have a Santa beard though.
The Umbrellabird Has Concerns Other Than the Rain
…and some awkward 19th century stories, too.
The Palau Fantail Has Been Through the Wars
It survived another kind of deforestation…
Is the Egyptian Nightjar Too Well Disguised?
Or are we just rubbish at spotting innovation?
Is the Xeme Secretly an Alien? Here’s Our Infallible Test
No, not because it begins with “x”.
The Unstreaked Tit-Tyrant. Because How Could I Ignore That Name.
Note to self: only research with the Latin name.
8 Things I Love, and Hate, About Being a Kittiwake
The kittiwake is the seagull that was brought up properly.
The Icelandic Gyrfalcon Both Is, and Isn’t!
Like the king cheetah, the Icelandic gyrfalcon is another regal predator that wasn’t to be.
The Zapata Sparrows Go House Hunting
Estate agent: Ah, Mr. and Mrs. Cuban Sparrow! Female: Er, Zapata Sparrow? Estate agent: Yes yes of course! Do come …
Why the Quebracho Crested Tinamou is Upside Down
Its name sounds like a double sneeze, but there are far stranger things about this dinky South American bird. It …
The Jackdaw Might Just Steal Your Heart
The name for this little crow likely comes from “jack”, meaning “thief”, and “daw”, after its clipped, jagged call. Here’s …
Your Fiery-billed Araçari Dating Profile is Ready!
Name: “Pteroglossus frantzii”, but everyone calls me “fiery-billed araçari”. Spell it with the accent if you want to impress me. …
The White Ibis Has(n’t) Had Enough of Your Rubbish
During a recent stay at London Zoo’s (awesome) Gir Lion Lodge, I asked the tour guides what their weirdest animal …
Imperial Shag Loves the End of the World
Just to get this out of the way: yes, it’s actually called that, and yes, it lives near Cape “Horn” …
The Hooded Vulture Thinks it’s People!
Someone has to do the dirty work. But you’re drinking coffee, so I’ll try to keep it clean. Fortunately, Africa’s …
Coffee and Creatures 