I recently had to send an analysis of an artistic issue to some complete
non-birders and it touched on the matter of European bird species. I'm
waiting to get back the jokes concerning the possible I.D. of the crested
tits. I am greatly thankful that the avians in question weren't Blue Tits
or I'd be getting jokes about ancient Picts for weeks. Let's not
even think about Great Tit jokes, either... one does better in German where
they are all -meise. Why did the 14th c. version of titmouse have to lose
the 'mouse' part in later English instead of the 'tit' part?

I like the 'Montlake Phil' name, although if it is a female longspur, I
suggest 'Phyllis.' 'Philomena/Philomel' are used too often to refer to
nightengales. The idea of a chestnut-sided longspur, all by itself on the
landfill, bursting into rapturous melody, is a bit difficult to take.

Digressionally,

Leslie Schweitzer
Leslie.Schweitzer at hubert.rain.com