Let's Rename the Birds!!! (pt. 11)
As you may already know... ornithological authorities (such as the AOS and ABA) in North America have decided, for a variety of reasons, to rename all of the birds that have been named after people.
Some examples: Lewis's Woodpecker, Smith's Longspur, MacGillivray's Warbler...
I thought it would be fun for us to come up with some ideas for new common names here on Tumblr.
Here are some criteria for re-naming that might appeal to ornithologists and birdwatchers:
Habitat and geographical range
Call/song characteristics
PLEASE MAKE YOUR NAMING SUGGESTIONS IN THE COMMENTS, REBLOG, OR TAGS.
We'll take the best ideas, and put them in a poll by the end of the week! (I and an esteemed panel of ornithological tumblererrsssres will make the decisions).
WEEK 11 - Bullock's Oriole
Bullock’s Oriole (Icterus bullockii), males, family Icteridae, order Passeriformes
Breeds/nests in the western US, far SW Canada, and far NW Mexico
Overwinters in Mexico and northern Central America.
Usually found in open deciduous forests, especially along habitat edges. Found often in riparian woodlands (along river edges).
This species and the Baltimore oriole were considered to be a single species, the northern oriole, which was re-split into 2 species in 1995.
Feed on insects, berries, other fruits, and nectar.
Seasonally monogamous, males and females care for the chicks.
Nest is constructed of woven plant fibers, looking somewhat like a round hanging basket.
Listen to the calls/songs here: Bullock's Oriole Sounds, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
photographs by Mick Thompson & Kevin Cole
Female - photograph by Janey Woodley
Nests, California - photograph by Eugene Zelenko