An interesting and informative history of bird names.

books:


	• 100 Birds and How They Got Their Names Diana Wells, Lauren Jarrett Algonquin Books, 2001 - 320 pages average customer review:based on 7 reviews view larger image
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This book was a gift for my 12 yr old son

We saw this book somewhere else and were very excited to find it on Amazon. My son & I have have really enjoyed this book so far. It was a gift for Christmas, but we have found the stories on the birds to be very interesting so far. Being bird wathcers, we have wondered how some birds get their names. This book is pretty cool and I think good for a variety of ages.

Fun read but it is not a field guide

Spring is here, and especially in the northern climates, our thoughts begin to focus on the reawakening of nature. Everything that has been at rest comes alive and shouts, "I'm back!" Trees begin to bud, flowers sprout up as we anticipate their glorious colors. And then there are the birds. For many, there is a special anticipation of the birds' return. It is how we know that winter is behind us.

While you wait for warmer weather, this wonderful book will not only help time pass more quickly, but will give great pleasure. Diana's Wells' book 100 Birds and How They Got Their Names tells you how birds got their names and provides captivating stories about those 100 birds.

Did you know that eagles are among the longest-living birds? Or that the smallest bird in the world is the bee hummingbird? It was fascinating to learn that the same bird in the United States might have a different name somewhere else; or may have the same name, but not be related.

A good read for adults but there's information and trivia that will even interest children. If you enjoy nature, this is a personal must-have for your library.

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Great book, enjoyable reading-quick and simple

It was a great read for someone like me how likes birds, trivial facts, interesting thoughts and needs quick reads. Each section on each bird was only a couple of pages long--about a 1-2 minute read each. Great for relaxing-not alot of scientific lingo to confuse or bore you (thinking really wasn't required). 4 stars.

An interesting and informative history of bird names.

There is a wealth of knowledge in this small volume. However, one must be aware of just what this book represents. It is by no means a field guide. If your interests are identifying birds in the field, this book will be of no assistance to you. If however you are the sort of person entertained by word meanings and word origins and are interested in mythological, historical, and Biblical anecdotes this is the perfect book for you as it will offer up several amusing bits of bird trivia. I use the book as an icebreaker in my biology classroom. My students enjoy listening to interesting trivia about birds and are often intrigued by how certain birds actually got their names. Sometimes the taxonomical treatment of birds is cumbersome but overall this is a very readable and entertaining book easily understood by the lay person.

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reviews: page 1, 2

How did cranes come to symbolize matrimonial happiness? Why were magpies the only creatures that would not go inside Noah's Ark? Birds and bird imagery are integral parts of our language and culture. With her remarkable ability to dig up curious and captivating facts, Diana Wells hatches a treat for active birders and armchair enthusiasts alike. Meet the intrepid adventurers and naturalists who risked their lives to describe and name new birds. Learn the mythical stories of the gods and goddess associated with bird names. Explore the avian emblems used by our greatest writers--from Coleridge's albatross in "The Ancient Mariner" to Poe's raven.

A sampling of the bird lore you'll find inside:

Benjamin Franklin didn't want the bald eagle on our National Seal because of its "bad moral character," (it steals from other birds); he lobbied for the turkey instead.

Chaffinches, whose Latin name means "unmarried," are called "bachelor birds" because they congregate in flocks of one gender.

Since mockingbirds mimic speech, some Native American tribes fed mockingbird hearts to their children, believing it helped them learn language.

A group of starlings is called a murmuration because they chatter so when they roost in the thousands.

Organized alphabetically, each of these bird tales is accompanied by a two-color line drawing. Dip into 100 Birds and you'll never look at a sparrow, an ostrich, or a wren in quite the same way.

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