Informal poll (birds)

[Steve Seegmiller]

The explanations offered in the last two messages on this topic are, in fact, correct. "Buzzard" is the term in Britain for the common large hawk of Europe and also for the family that it belongs to -- what are called "buteos" in America. They are predators, not scavengers. But there is no reason to think that the early settlers knew a lot about biology, so for some reason the American vultures (whose relatives in Europe are called "vultures," and never "buzzards") were given the name "Buzzard." The fact is that the term "buzzard" is never used in American ornithology or birding circles for the vultures; "buzzard" is a popular term only. And as colkitto suggests, there are many other instances where a British term for a bird or animal species was applied to a different species in America. A classic example is the term "elk," which is used in Europe for what Americans call a "moose." It's all intended to keep nus confused.

Steve Seegmiller

 
----- Original Message -----
From: colkitto <colkitto at ROGERS.COM>
Date: Thursday, April 26, 2007 5:18 am
Subject: Re: [SEELANGS] Informal poll (birds)

> >
> > This makes sense if the US usage is "hawk" and the UK usage is
> > "buzzard"
> > -- why would a lexicographer invent a US term for a UK bird, or vice
> > versa? Or do American birders "misname" the local birds when 
> they cross
> > the pond?
> 
> It may be the other way round, in the sense of English-speaking 
> settlers 
> "misnaming" the local wildlife.  American robins, for instance, 
> have a 
> general resemblance to British robins (who really fit the 
> appellation 
> "redbreast"), and doubtless this is why they were so named.
> 
> The phenomenon of naming new forms of wildlife after already well-
> known ones 
> is not just confined to English-speaking settlers in America.  I 
> remember 
> that in Alberta Ukrainians used "izh" for porcupines, as there 
> were no 
> hedgehogs in Alberta.
> 
> In Australia the situation can be even worse.  Cf. the lines from 
> the 
> folksong
> 
> To drive away the wolves and tigers
> Upon Van Diemen's Land.
> 
> where humans are actually more closely related to "wolves" and 
> "tigers" than 
> either are to the animals mentioned in the song, although the 
> latter did 
> acquire the names..
> 
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
> ------
> Use your web browser to search the archives, control your 
> subscription  options, and more.  Visit and bookmark the SEELANGS 
> Web Interface at:
>                    http://seelangs.home.comcast.net/
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
> ------
> 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Use your web browser to search the archives, control your subscription
  options, and more.  Visit and bookmark the SEELANGS Web Interface at:
                    http://seelangs.home.comcast.net/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------