As I didn’t feel like writing a scientifically heavy blog this week, let’s explore the mind-boggling origins of some bizarre bird names today!

1.Blue-Footed Booby

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/06/science/galapagos-blue-footed-boobies.html

First of all, they indeed have blue feet, specifically males because coloration plays a role in sexual selection. Now, what about the second half? According to National Geographic, the name of more than 12 booby species originated from the Spanish word “bobo,” meaning stupid. In the eyes of the early European colonists who first saw these seabirds on land with their clumsy and graceless gestures, boobies were quite foolish. Additionally, the boobies’ reckless willingness to approach humans was their Achilles’ heel because they would often land on sailing boats and get captured and eaten, which probably contributed even more to their stupidity.

2.Satanic Nightjar

Source: https://ebird.org/species/dianig1?siteLanguage=en_PH

According to Animal Database, contrary to the local beliefs in Sulawesi that these nightjars are demonic entities, satanic nightjars are not satanic and certainly do not run cults. Meanwhile, nightjar means “jarring” noises at night. And indeed, they do make some quite appealing noises at night, which may have contributed to the locals’ perceptions that they can tear the eyes of sleeping people out. A fun fact, however, is that nightjars are also called goatsuckers due to the ancient folk tales that suggest they suck goat milk.

3.Perplexing Scrubwren

Source: https://ebird.org/species/perscr1

Believe it or not, it was not the scrubwrens who were perplexed but the scientists who classified this bird. Due to the confusing interbreeding patterns of these scrubwrens from different areas with other scrubwren species living nearby, scientists have quite a difficult time figuring out the identity of this bird.  According to iNaturalist, these birds were originally placed into the family Pardalotidae in the Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy, but this classification was met with questions; and the birds are now reclassified into the independent family Acanthizidae. 

4.Sad Flycatcher

Source: https://birdfinding.info/sad-flycatcher/

The truth is, they are not really sad. According to Birds Caribbean, P.H. Goose first described these flycatchers in the mid-nineteenth century. Back then, he gave them the common name Black-billed Flat-Bill but the scientific name Mylobius tristis (tristis means sad in Latin) and specifically noted that their calls were “particularly sad to hear.” But actually, their notes aren’t really sad either; they instead have quite the cheery pip to them. Additionally, these flycatchers are endemic to Jamaica and have earned the local name Little Tom Fool because they don’t move when approached by humans. This naming strategy is actually kind of similar to the one used for the aforementioned blue-footed boobies, in my opinion.

That’s it for this week, and I hope you enjoyed reading and learning about these birds!

References:

-https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/facts/blue-footed-booby#:~:text=All%20half%2Ddozen%20or%20so,land%E2%80%94their%20least%20graceful%20environment..

-https://animals.fandom.com/wiki/Satanic_Nightjar

-https://guatemala.inaturalist.org/taxa/13518-Sericornis-virgatus

-https://www.birdscaribbean.org/2020/06/from-the-nest-day-45/#:~:text=The%20Sad%20Flycatcher%20is%20endemic,returning%20to%20the%20same%20perch.