Country names for Ulster birds.

These names come from a handwritten set of notes by W.H. Given. They were made in 1910-12 by Mr Given who birdwatched around Coleraine and North Antrim. I'm not quite sure how they ended up in my possesion- from my father via his mother via her neighbour. Where they came from before that I'm not sure!

Many of these names are still in use. A lot of them are actually the correct name but pronounced in a strong Ulster-Scots accent eg. Pitrege for Partridge. Some of them are perfect- like Heather-bleat or Moss-cheeper- they just describe where you could find the birds! The spelling are as written by him.

Country name

Modern name

Goose Hawk

Pergrine Falcon

Crow

Rook

Hoody Crow, Grey Crow

Hooded Crow

Piet

Magpie

Stare , Curlew

Starling

Felt, Pigeon Felt, Scrachen Felt

Fieldfare

Thrustle

Song Thrush

Willy Wagtail,

Pied Wagtail

Blue Bonnet

Blue Tit

Woodpecker

Treecreeper

Nettlerunner

Whitethroat

Wran, Tit, Jenny Wren, Titty Wren

Wren

Laverock

Skylark

Mosscheeper

Meadow Pipit

Rock Lark

Rock Pipit

Yeltie, Yellow Yorling, Yeldren

Yellowhammer

Snowflake

Snow Bunting

Blackcap,

Reed Bunting

Blackhead

Reed Bunting

Gray, Rosey Gray,

Linnet

Thorn Gray, King Harry

Lesser Redpoll

Goldspring, Gouldie

Goldfinch

Stone-checker

Wheatear

Whinny Gray

Whicnchat

Blackcap

Stonechat

White Ool

Barn Owl

Ool

Long-eared Owl

Dooker

Puffin

Parrot

Puffin

Puffin

Guillemot

Bridle-neb

Razorbill

Sea Swallow, Fish Swallow

Tern

Sea-pie, Oysterpicker

Oystercatcher

Whaup, Courliew

Curlew

Jack Courliew

Whimbrel

Sanny Lark

all small waders

Cran, Hern, Long-necked Hern

Grey Heron

Water Owl, Kingfisher, Ducker

Dipper

Fesan, Feysan

Pheasant

Segan-runner

Water Rail

Sand Plover

Ringed Plover

Dabchick

Little Grebe

Karbie, Black Diver

Cormorant

Green Diver

Shag

Wild Pigeon, Ring Dove

Wood Pigeon

Blue Rock

Rock Dove

Pitredge

Partridge

Sand Swallow

Sand Martin

Sally Wren, Willow Wren

Willow Warbler

Black Wigeon

Scoter / Tufted Duck

Scale Duck,Herring Scale

Merganser

Gabshite

Skua

Sea g'l

all gulls

Bernicle

Brent Goose

Heather Bleet

Snipe

Moorhen

Grouse

Green Plover,Pewit, Peewheep,Pewiep

Lapwing

Plover, Gray Plover

Golden Plover

Bald Coot

Coot

Yellow Wagtail

Grey Wagtail

Shellduck / Sheildrake

Shelduck

Back to birding

Return to my homepage

Hosted by www.Geocities.ws

1