R thew (Birds & wildlife)
Black redstart
Black redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros)
Meaning behind the name:
Phoenicurus = Greek meaning "(Crimson/red/purple), taled" that is, "Red tailed"
ochruros = Greek meaning "Pale yellow, tailed"
Personally, I cannot understand why the second scientific name "ochruros" was given, due to the fact it has already been correctly described as "Red-tailed." Though it could be down to the fact that the tail is a little less "striking" and appears slightly duller?
The English name was given by Gould in 1834 and stuck ever since, likely because the mature adult males have black-like plumage as well as a red tail. These birds were originally an occasional visitor before that time and therefore lacks any local folk names.
The term "Redstart" is more interesting, as Common Redstarts were known as a breeding species long before Black redstarts were known. The correct term (as in the scientific name) is "Red-tailed" and the term "start" is middle English "stert" and of Germanic in origin and simply means "tail". The term "start" is older than the word "tail" ( first appearing as tayl) and apparently the Germanic form stuck with certain bird names. Redstart first appeared in 1570 as "Redstarte".
Black redstart
Black redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros)
Meaning behind the name:
Phoenicurus = Greek meaning "(Crimson/red/purple), taled" that is, "Red tailed"
ochruros = Greek meaning "Pale yellow, tailed"
Personally, I cannot understand why the second scientific name "ochruros" was given, due to the fact it has already been correctly described as "Red-tailed." Though it could be down to the fact that the tail is a little less "striking" and appears slightly duller?
The English name was given by Gould in 1834 and stuck ever since, likely because the mature adult males have black-like plumage as well as a red tail. These birds were originally an occasional visitor before that time and therefore lacks any local folk names.
The term "Redstart" is more interesting, as Common Redstarts were known as a breeding species long before Black redstarts were known. The correct term (as in the scientific name) is "Red-tailed" and the term "start" is middle English "stert" and of Germanic in origin and simply means "tail". The term "start" is older than the word "tail" ( first appearing as tayl) and apparently the Germanic form stuck with certain bird names. Redstart first appeared in 1570 as "Redstarte".