UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
MISCELLANEOUS CIRCULAR No. 13 
WASHINGTON, D. C. OCTOBER, 1923 
LOCAL NAMES OF MIGRATORY GAME BIRDS 
W. L. McATEE 
Assistant in Charge, Food Habits Research 
Bureau of Biological Survey 
CONTENTS 
; Page. Page. 
Rr EPOG CUO Mae eee eee cee Sos Se keweose i); Bhalaropodidae: Phalaropes. ..<.<:-...c2ssc222 47 
Anatidae: Ducks, geese, Swans...............- 4 | Recurvirostridae: Avocets, stilts. ............. 48 
Merginae: Mergansers..........-...------- 4 | Scolopacidae: Snipes, sandpipers.............. 49 
AMatinaess ReverMducksea.s-se. a5 = sae ee SuleCharadnidaes lovers: .2.2. 22. :-22.-ssscsesee” 67 
Fuligulinae: Sea ducks..............-...-. 17 | Aphrizidae: Surf-birds, turnstones............ 71 
Anserinae: Geese, tree ducks. _..........-. 32 | Haematopodidae: Oyster-catchers............- 72 
Oyomimae ss Swallses tees e = oc woo one onl vacamMidaenacanas..- <<. 5. oct oan geeene 73 
Gruidacs Cramnesabestesek oe hare ATES 39 | Columbidae: Pigeons, doves.............-.-.-- 73 
Rallidae: Rails, gallinules, coots............... 49 | Icteridae: Blackbirds, bobolinks.............. 75 
allinae oases seers ase e Zor eS s Aya LNG exe are ectemrsa Macs oe osm nisis See Shae cb em 77 
Gallinulinae: Gallinules................... 44 
Mulicinae cCOOtSasin aie hae Bo sc sos 45 
INTRODUCTION. 
VERNACULAR NAMES OF MIGRATORY GAME BIRDS. 
What will be the fate of vernacular names of migratory game birds, now that pro- 
fessional gunning is a thing of the past, is a question of interest. The gunners knew 
their birds, hence applied names consistently; many of these hunters were men of 
originality and force of character, and namesinvented by them had interest, charm, 
or humor—a tang of the boisterous out-of-doors in which they were conferred and a 
spirit and utter appropriateness that commend them to all men. Again the old-time 
professional gunners usuaily were life-long frequenters of their familiar shooting 
‘grounds, so that bird names in use among them became strongly localized, a particular 
set of names being used on Currituck Sound, for instance, and a considerably differing 
one on Chesapeake Bay; Long Island and New Jersey formed another center of origin 
of local names, and New England another.! In the era of market hunting, names were 
used very consistently within their specific ranges and changed little with the lapse 
of time. As the period of professional gunning was approaching its end, however, 
travel became more general, bird nameswere transferred more freely, and new names 
1¥or a good illustration of this, see the collective local names of scaup ducks, p. 19. 
Note.—This publication lists and indexes the vernacular names that have been used for American 
waterfowl, shorebirds, pigeons, doves, and the bobolink or ricebird. It is for the information and use of 
- Sportsmen, naturalists, wardens, and others interested in the identification of migratory game birds. 
42246°—23——1 x 
