I find myself calling birds by their nicknames. Usually friends know which bird I’m talking about. I wonder if you would.
As I put food out for the birds this morning I found myself wondering if it’s only in Yorkshire that birds have nicknames or if bird nicknames are used worldwide.
Maybe bird nicknames are used in countries as far apart as Sweden and India.
Here’s a few Yorkshire nicknames
Golly – an unfledged bird
Stahnil – starling
Jinny oolat – owl
Charley cock – missel thrush
Thrushie – thrush
Blackie – blackbird
Cuddie – hedge sparrow
Redcap – goldfinch
Spadger – sparrow
Weetie – chaffinch
Maggie – magpie
Peewit or teeafit – lapwing
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Dreamfalcon tells us that
In Switzerland :
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Eurasian Magpie is “Elster” in German and “Ägestere” in Central Switzerland
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House Sparrow is “Haussperling” (German) and “Spatz” (Swiss-German)
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Eurasian Jay is “Eichelhäher” (German) and “Heeregäggu” (Swiss-German)
Hey there
In Switzerland we even have different local names for birds, for example:
Eurasian Magpie is “Elster” in German and “Ägestere” in Central Switzerland
House Sparrow is “Haussperling” (German) and “Spatz” (Swiss-German)
Eurasian Jay is “Eichelhäher” (German) and “Heeregäggu” (Swiss-German)
Greetings from Switzerland!