The Oxford Dictionary of British Bird Names

Covering over 1,500 standard and local British common bird names, relating to some 260 species, this A-Z guide should be invaluable to birdwatchers and word buffs throughout the British Isles. Each entry provides the etymology and history of the name, complete with full documentation of dates and sources. An introduction covers the linguistic evolution and standardization of bird names. As well as featuring such familiar names as crow, brown owl and wren, the dictionary includes newly-researched names like snalter, tail mouse and withy hanger, and obsolete terms like aberdevine. Among the birds included are those named by: region; diet - mussel duck; appearance - bald coot, ring neck; call - black screech, chat; habitat - bank martin, mud plover; and shape of nest - barrell tit.