The Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) has a unique nickname: Raincrow. What a fascinating bird! In the spring, we eagerly anticipate their arrival. They nest in many forest preserves here in northern Illinois.
Some names have been used for years as nicknames, while others have just been changed over the years.
Living the Scientific Life once posted a -nickname that bird- contest that resulted in some really funny names such as the Lawn Plover, which we at Birdfreak lovingly call an OBT (Orange-breasted Thrush).
We found a few nicknames or old names for birds and made a short list. Do any of these look familiar?
- Marsh Hawk
- Duck Hawk
- Butter-butt
- Maryland Ground Warbler
- Russet-backed Thrush
- Wandering Rice-bird
- Sea Crow
- Blue Pete
- Louisiana Heron
- Butter-ball
- Skunk Duck
- Pheasant Duck
- Acorn Duck
- Oldsquaw
- The Lord God Bird
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
The descriptive term I would use for the Yellow-billed Cuckcoo in looks is Sheer Elegance. Its sleek body, graceful flight, smooth movements all suggest elegance, when it opens its mouth however, that image fades. Don’t get me wrong, I love the Cuckoo but a bird who looks like that should have the voice or a Veery or Wood Thrush to go along with it. So how do I capture that all in one name? How about an Elegant Timber-rattle?
Vern
Two just wonderful action photos! The moving Yellow-billed Cuckoo is my favorite for sure!! BTW: Butterbutt is the one I use the most! I also know of Skunk-headed Sparrow (White-crowned Sparrow) and Ratbird (catbird)
I just finished a 3-week field ornithology course, and the topic is new to me. Somebody teaching the class said, “look, over on the dead tree branch is a red-breasted thrush.” So I look at it, then attempted to find a “red-breasted thrush” in my field guide. She thought she was so funny!
Vern - I love the name you came up with! It is true that the Y.B. Cuckoo isn’t the prettiest song but at least it’s unmistakable.
Mon@rch - Thanks…I like the Skunk-headed Sparrow… Pete Dunne calls it the Dapper Hedge Sparrow in his Essential Field Guide Companion
Michael - That’s a funny story… our grandfather used to call birds odd names and for a long time we didn’t have a clue what he was talking about.
1. Marsh Hawk — Northern Harrier
2. Duck Hawk — Peregrine Falcon
3. Butter-butt — Yellow-rumped Warbler
4. Maryland Ground Warbler — Common Yellowthroat
5. Russet-backed Thrush — Swainson’s Thrush
6. Wandering Rice-bird — Bobolink
7. Sea Crow — American Coot
8. Blue Pete — Purble Gallinule
9. Louisiana Heron — Tricolored Heron
10. Butter-ball — Bufflehead
11. Skunk Duck — Labrador Duck
12. Pheasant Duck — Northern Pintail
13. Acorn Duck — Wood Duck
14. Oldsquaw — Long-tailed Duck
15. The Lord God Bird — Ivory-billed Woodpecker
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