Serge, I'll defend Charles Easterberg a little. "English Sparrow" was the
name for that species in this country for many decades, including when he
learned it; old habits die hard. It was renamed House Sparrow in our
literature just to bring it in line with the name used for it in Europe
(political correctness was unknown in those days).

I think it's fascinating that so few bird names commemorate European
countries, while at least a few of our American states have birds named
after them (there were a lot more when subspecies common names were in
vogue), and Canada and Mexico are well commemorated in English and
especially scientific names. And just about very South American country
has it's "own" birds. Why *isn't* there a French Hornbill or a Norwegian
Woodpecker or a Spanish Flycatcher? But of course there's no bird with the
name "United States of American ........" either.

Dennis Paulson phone: (206) 756-3798
Slater Museum of Natural History fax: (206) 756-3352
University of Puget Sound e-mail: dpaulson at ups.edu
Tacoma, WA 98416