4 
Bulletin of the EANHS 28(3) 
Illadopses llladopsis spp.: Linyelela (Manyelela). 
This name means “to creep in the undergrowth”. 
Family Turdidae (Thrushes, Chats and relatives) 
African Thrush Turdus pelios centralis: Lirole 
(Marolc) 
Robin-Chats Cossypha spp Imhilikinzi 
(Tsimhilikin/i) 
Family Sylviidae (Warblers) 
Cisticolas Cisitcola spp Shitietie (Vitietie) 
Family Monarchidae (Monarch Flycatchers) 
African Blue Flycatcher Elminia longicauda teresita: 
Shinabukoshe (Vinabukoshc) This name 
comes from the word Likoshe. meaning “ash," 
and describes the bird's blue-grey color. 
Family Laniidae (Shrikes) 
Shrikes Lanius spp. : Inamande (Tsinamande) 
Family Corvidae (Crows and relatives) 
Pied Crow Conus albus: Likhokhn (Makhokho) 
A school on the main Kakamega-Kisumu road 
is named after this species, and has two carved 
crows adorning its gateposts. Also, calling a 
person Likhokho means they are very slow, 
because the pied crow often spends the whole 
day at its meals of carrion. 
Family Sturmdae (Starlings and Ox peckers) 
Oxpeckers Buphagus spp Litsalia (Matsalia). 
Burying an oxpeckcr in the bull lighting arena 
acted as a catalyst for the fights and made them 
more vigorous (bull-fighting is a traditional game 
among the Luhyas— originally it was a 
ceremonial game after a warrior died, but is now 
mostly for entertainment, with especially hig 
fights held on December 28th). More generally, 
but ied oxpeckers are thought to cause animosity 
between people. 
Family Neclariniidae (Sunbirds) 
Sunbirds Nectarinia spp. and Amhrepetes spp. 
Mutsuni (Mitsuni) 
Family Passeridae (Sparrows and Petronias) 
Grey-headed Sparrow Passer griseus: Liroleli 
(Maroleli) 
Family Ploceidac (Weavers and relatives) 
Weavers Ploeeus spp. Lisoko (Masoko) This name 
applies to all yellow and black weavers. The 
name comes from the word Khusoka , which 
means “closely pressed together." because the 
birds* nests are tightly woven. 
Viellof s Black Weaver Ploeeus nigerrimus: Litekeye 
(Matekeye) 
Family Estrildidae (Waxbills, Whydahsand Indigobirds) 
Firefinches Lagonosticta spp.: Shiyundichili 
(Vihindichili) 
Mannikins Lonchura spp. Shiyundi (Viyundi) 
Pin-tailed Whydah Vidua macroura Luvinzu 
(Tsiniinzu) The male bird’s head (or even its 
tail) is a charm that allows men success in wooing 
obstinate women. For this reason, the Pin-tailed 
Whydah is apparently being overhunted and 
individuals are becoming locally scarce 
Family Fringillidae (Seedeaters, Canaries and relatives) 
Yellow-fronted Canary Serinus thozambicus: 
Inycmbele (Tsinyembele). Inyembele means “to 
hang something over a fire to dry”; why this 
should be applied to a bird is rather obscure. 
Because these birds are easy to catch, it is 
possible that they are therefore often roasted over 
the cooking fire 
The grammatical construction of singular and plural 
names is noteworthy As in Kiswahili, the first letters 
of the word are changed to indicate a plural. For large 
birds, the common singular prefix is Li-; the common 
plural prefix is Ma-. For medium-sized and small birds, 
there are a range of prefix pairs adopted: I- and Tsi-, 
Shi- and Bi-, Mi- and Mu-, and Shi- and Vi-. 
Of the 354 bird species known from Kakamega 
(Savalli 1989), only 32 (9%) are specifically named in 
Luhya. However, 45 (26%) of the 173 genera of birds 
known from Kakamega (Savalli 1989) are named (either 
as a species within a particular genus, or as the genus 
itself), and 35 (65%) of the 54 Kakamega families 
(Savalli 1989) are named. More local names thus exist 
for higher levels of classification. 
The 18 Kakamega bird families (Savalli 1989) not 
given Luhya names are as follows (with comments in 
parentheses) Pelecanidae (rare in Kakamega), 
Falcomdae, Charadriidae and Scolopacidae (rare in 
Kakamega). Tytonidae (presumably included with 
Strigidae), Caprimulgidae (surprising considering the 
abundance of White-tailed Nightjar Caprimulgus 
natalensis in Kakamega), Apodidae (presumably 
included with Hirundinidae), Trogonidae (rare), 
C'oraciidae (surprising considering how easy Broad- 
billed Roller Eurysiomus glaucurus is to observe in 
Kakamega), Phoeniculidae. Indicatondae, 
Eurylaimidae, Paridae, Campcphagidae, 
Malaconotidae, Zosteropidae, Dicruridaeand Oriohdae 
(largely restricted to forest) and Alaudidae (difficult to 
observe). 
Sadly, it seems likely that many names for forest 
birds have already been lost: there is no name given, 
for instance, for Ross' Turaco Musophaga rossae. 
Following Bennun et al (1996), only four forest 
specialists (FF) are given Luhya names (African 
Crowned Eagle. Lemon Dove, Grey Parrot and 
Illadopses). compared to nine forest generalists (F), 
five forest edge species (f) and 25 non-forest species. 
( The remaining general names cannot be classified using 
Bennun et al. (1996), as they apply to both forest and 
non-forest species.) We hope that this article may 
contribute a small amount to preventing further loss of 
the Luhya ethno-orniihological heritage. 
Acknowledgments 
We thank Mrs Bernadette Imbotna and her family for 
their hospitality in Isecheno; Dr Leon Bennun for 
organizational help; and Mr Daniel Onsembe (District 
Game Warden), Mr David Muthui (Warden, Kakamega 
Forest National Reserve) and their staff for providing 
us with generous assistance throughout our time in 
Kakamega. Funding for our research in Kakamega was 
provided by National Geographic Society Research 
