Name That Bird
Bruce Tuck | Swan Lake Bird Facts
August 2026
Picture a Canada Goose nesting on the roof of the Swan Lake information kiosk, a Bald Eagle perched above the Nature House, a Marsh Wren darting through the reeds near the Floating Boardwalk, or a tiny Anna’s Hummingbird in the colorful Native Plant Garden. As common as they are to see, all four of these species get their names from different places and at least one of them may be changing in the near future.
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
Birds get their names from many sources including geographic location, habitat, sound, and appearance. In some cases, they are named after the person who discovered them or to flatter or honour others who may have been wealthy or made significant scientific discoveries. There is an official effort to remove all references to people in bird names, but more on that later.
There are 11,131 bird species worldwide. Who keeps track of all the names and what system do they use? Well, it turns out that the answer is both simple and complex. The American Ornithological Society is the largest formal body in the world, although definitely not the only one. In Europe they have the International Ornithologist’s Union and the British Ornithologist’s Union. Australia has BirdLife Australia, while in Africa, Asia and every other region, local, historical, traditional and cultural influences often take precedence.
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)
Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris)
What about scientific names? These are based on genus and species and get their influence from Latin and Greek languages. You may ask - is there no simple and all-encompassing authority or method that everyone can agree on? The International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature is responsible for ensuring every animal has a unique and universally accepted name, and birds are certainly on their list.
Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna)
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)
Of course, birds themselves are likely not as worried about their names as we are, but an all-encompassing system helps in many areas of scientific research and conservation. It also makes it more fun when we are out on a hike on Christmas Hill. What was that medium sized black bird with red shoulder patches? That is an easy one, but why is the bird named only after the colouration of the male?
Check out future articles for the answer to this and many other bird name mysteries.
Photo and Text Credit: Bruce Tuck | @BirdsInMyView
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