The Old English Bird Names

Each Modern English name and scientific name is followed by the Old English name or names, MS sources, A to G (given below) and other references. Most of the names are given by Wright and Wulcker (1884) Sweet (1885) and Bosworth and Toller (1898) Lindsay (1921) or Clark Hall (1960).

Systematic List of Birds

1. LITTLE GREBE - Tachybaptus ruficollis

Fugeldoppe. C, Dopfugel DE. The Latin Mergulus applied up to the 15th C

2. GREAT CRESTED GREBE - Podiceps cristatus

Scealfr C, Scealfor DE, Scealfra F. Latin Mergus, previously discussed.

3. GANNET - Sula bassana

Ganot DE, Ganete The Seafarer (Sweet 1876), previously discussed. Possibly Dopenid in ABC.

4. CORMORANT - Phalacrocorax carbo

Scræb or Screb. Probably not distinguished from No 5.

5. SHAG - Phalacrocorax aristotelis

Scræb A. (Scræb is not an Ibis, No 11.) O1d German Scarbo, Modern German Sharbe, Scottish Scraber.

6. DALMATIAN PELICAN - Pelecanus crispus

Wanfota E, Pellican and Dufedoppa in the Lambeth Psalter. Both Felofor BD and Stangella E have also been used for other species. Old Latin Onocratulus and also Porphyrio have been used for No 6 and 7. Porphyrio is in fact the Purple Gallinule and never an English species.

7. BITTERN - Botaurus stellaris

Raredumle D, Raradumbla E. Modern German Rohrdommel.

8. NIGHT HERON - Nycticorax nycticorax

Nihthræfn E, Nihtremn C ("Night-raven"). Previously discussed.

9. GREY HERON - Ardea cinerea

Hragra ACE. Old Latin Ardea, German Reiher.

10. WHITE STORK - Ciconia ciconia

Storhc, Storc ABCDEF. Old Latin Ciconia.

11. GLOSSY IBIS - Plegadis falcinellus

Geolna C and Cockaynes 'Shrine' 1864 - 70). The Old Norfolk "Black Curlew". A possible breeding bird in the Anglo-Saxon fens.

12. SPOONBILL - Platalea leucorodia

Popul? in Clark Hall. The species was called Poplar, Poplus, Poplor or Popeler in the 12th-13th centuries (Latham 1965). Bred in East Anglia to c 1650. Popul may also mean pebble? (Bosworth and Toller, Addenda). "Poplar Tree" occurs rarely in Old English (Rackham 1986).

13. MUTE SWAN - Cygnus olor

Swan C, Swon D, Swann E. Previously discussed with No 14.

14. WHOOPER SWAN - Cygnus cygnus

Ylfete C and The Seafarer.

15. GOOSE, sp - Genus Anser

Gandra, Ganra CF. Gos C and Clark Hall The names Hwit Gos and Grag Gos in D and E could refer to the White-fronted Goose, Anser albifrons and the Greylag Goose, Anser anser.

16. BARNACLE GOOSE - Branta leucopsis

Byrnete Gos? Clark Hall gives byrnete for barnacle, possibly also used for the goose. Previously discussed, in the riddle and the barnacle legend.

17. MALLARD - Anas platyrhynchos

Enid AB, Ened DE. Including other surface feeding ducks.

18. RED KITE - Milvus milvus

Glioda A, Glida CDEF. Old Latin Milvus. Possibly Bleria Pyttel CE previously discussed. Colloquial names glede, glead or glider used to 19th C. Other kite names were Cyta CG, Puttoc in Bosworth and Toller (addenda), used as a personal by name (15th century Potok) and Frisca G.

19. WHITE-TAILED SEA EAGLE - Halætus albicilla

Earn CD, later spelt Erne and probably also applied to the Golden Eagle. Aquilla chrysætos.

20. GRIFFON VULTURE - Gyps fulvus

Earn-geat BE, Earn-geap C, Giw and Giow DE, Old Latin Griphus, Harpe and Ultur. Arpa is Greek for vulture.

21. GOSHAWK - Accipiter gentilis

Goshafoc CDE, Hæswalwe A. Old Latin Astur.

22. SPARROWHAWK - Accipiter nisus

Spearhafoc ACD.

23. BUZZARD - Buteo buteo

Tysca DG, Old Latin Buteo or Butzus.

24. GOLDEN EAGLE - Aquila chrysætos

Earn CD and Lindisfarne Gospels, St John (OE gloss).

25. OSPREY - Pandion haliætus

Herefong D and Bosworth and Toller. Previously discussed.

26. KESTREL - Falco tinnunculus

Musere Clark Hall (supplement), Mushafoc DE. The Anglo-Saxon "mouse hawk". The name Stangella (cries among rocks) is not particularly appropriate. Alternative species for Mushafoc were Buzzard, Buteo bureo, or Kite, Milvus milvus.

27. GYRFALCON - Falco rusticolus

Geirfælca? Fælca and Fealcen in Bosworth and Toller. The "Norway Hawk", Norse Geirfugol.

28. PEREGRINE - Falco peregrinus

Wealh-hafoc CDE. Heoruswealwe in The Fortunes of Men. Fælca and Fealcen in Bosworth and Toller.

29. BLACK GROUSE - Tetrao tetrix

Worhana BDE, Worhen DG. Occurred in the Weald to the 18th century (White 1789). Clark Hall gives Moorcock, which also refers to the Red Grouse, Lagopus lagopus. The names do not refer to the Moorhen, Gallinula chloropus, or the Pheasant, Phasianus colchicus (in spite of the Old Latin Fasianus). Worhana might refer to the old indigenous Capercailie, Tertrao urogallus, Auerhuhn in Modern German, Suolahti (1909).

30. GREY PARTRIDGE - Perdix perdix

Pernex in Clark Hall. Probably a variation of the Latin, c 1059.

31. QUAIL - Corturnix corturnix

Erschen CF, Ediscenn D and the Vespasian Psalter (Sweet 1885). Crinc in Clark Hall. Ersc means stubble field or pasture. Suolahti (1909) gives Old English Wyhtel for Quail, Modern German Wachtel.

32. PHEASANT - Phasianus colchicus

Reodmuða (redmouth) in C. The name refers to the red facial skin and glosses Latin Faseacus.

33. CORNCRAKE - Crex crex

Secgscara E (sedge shearing or parting).

34. MOORHEN - Gallinula chloropus

Dopfugel and Uphebbe. Dutch Doopvogel. See no 35.

35. COOT - Fulica atra

Dopfugel DE and Uphebbe in the Paris Psalter.

36. CRANE - Grus grus

Cran CDE Cornuc, Cornoch A. Old Latin Grus.

37. GOLDEN PLOVER - Pluvialis apricaria

Hulfestre CE. Old Latin Pluvialis.

38. LAPWING - Vanellus vanellus

Hlæpwince ADE. Previously discussed.

39. DUNLIN - Calidris alpina

Pur CE. Correctly identified by Whitman (1898) and corresponds to Purre of the Middle Ages to the 19th century, a colloquial name referring to the bird's trill. It is not a Bittern, a Sea-gull or a Snipe.

40. SNIPE - Gallinago gallinago

Hæferblæte CD ("goat bleat"). Not a Bittern or a Dunlin. Snite AC. Previously discussed.

41. WOODCOCK - Scolopax rusticola

Wuduhana A, Wudusnite AD, Wuducocc C, Holthana ABD. The cocrodu or coccsciete was a netted forest ride or clearing for catching Woodcock.

42. WHIMBREL - Numenius phæopus

Huilpe? See no 43.

43. CURLEW - Numenius arquata

Huilpe, in The Seafarer. Named from the fluting call. Scottish Whaup, Dutch Wulp.

44. COMMON SANDPlPER - Actitis hypoleucos

"Stint" in Boswolth and Toller (Addenda), given as sandpiper, bur the name could have referred to various shoreline waders.

45. Gull sp - Genus Larus

Meaw, Mæw AE. German Mowe. Brimfugol (sea bird) in The Wanderer.

46. KITTIWAKE - Rissa tridactyla

Mæw in The Seafarer, previously discussed.

47. COMMON or ARCTIC TERN - Sterna hirundo or Sterna paradisæa.

Stearn C and The Seafarer

48. WOODPIGEON - Columba palumbus

Cuscote DE (pronounced Cushote). Also possibly used for Stock Dove, Columba œnas. Wuduculfre CEF (or Wudeculfre). The colloquial name cushat was used up to the 19th century.

49. TURTLE DOVE - Streptopelia turtur

Turtur C, Turtla (male), Turtle (female).

50. CUCKOO - Cuculus canorus

Gæc, geac ACDE. Dialect name Gawk. Note the Old English plant name, Geac Pintel or Cuckoo Pint, Arum maculatum.

51. EAGLE OWL - Bubo bubo

Uf or Huf ACE. Old Latin Bubo. The names refer to the bird's deep call.

52. TAWNY OWL - Strix aluco

Ule CD, meaning to hoot. Old Latin Strix, Ule probably included other species of owls which do not actually hoot such as the Barn Owl, Tyto alba.

53. NIGHTJAR - Caprimulgus europaeus

No certain OE name. Fisher (1966) omitted any name, as he did for many other species for which he gave Anglo-Saxon MS dates. Nihtegale is not a Nightjar, neither is Nihthræfn.

54. KINGFISHER - Alcedo atthis

Isen D, Isern AB or Fiscere C, also Clark Hall. German Eissvogel. Alcedo could be incorrectly glossed by meaw, a gull.

55. HOOPOE - Upupa epops

No OE name? Ælfric in source C gives Upupa only. This was not the Lapwing (Cuccurata in Old Latin). The Hoopoe was possibly more common in warmer, quieter Anglo-Saxon England.

56. GREEN WOODPECKER - Picus viridis

Higre AB, Higera C, Higere D (soft g). Dialect hickwaw or heigh-hawe. Old Latin Picus. Named Speoht (pronounced Speocht) in Boswolth and Toller's addenda. German Specht or Grunspecht (Green Woodpecker).

57. GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER - Dendrocopos major

Fina ADE. The latter name (and Uinu) often glosses Old Latin Sturfus or Marsopicus, possibly referring to a woodpecker other than no 56. German Elsterspecht ("magpie-woodpecker").

58. SKYLARK - Alauda arvensis

Laurice A, Lauerce C, Lawerce DE. Colloquial Laverock. German Lerche.

59. SAND MARTIN - Riparia riparia

Stæðswealwe A and in Cockayne (1864-6). A possible "Sæswealwe" in Clark Hall would refer to the Sand Martin as a pond or lake breeding swallow.

60. SWALLOW - Hirundo rustica

Swealwe BD, Swalewe C. (The names possibly included the House Martin, Delichon urbica).

61. PIED WAGTAIL - Motacilla alba

Yrðling D, Ærðling C. or Irðling D. ("earthling". a farmer) Clark Hall gives wagtail. The name has been applied to Lapwing.

62. WREN - Troglodytes troglodytes

Wrænna (male), Wrænne (female) CEF.

63. DUNNOCK or HEDGE SPARROW - Prunella modularis

Hægsugga in Clark Hall, or Hegesugge C. Dialect Haysuck. Sugge occurs in the place names Sugworthy and Sugborough. Dunnoc in Healey and Venezky (1980).

64. ROBIN - Erithacus rubecula

Ruddoc, Rudduc CE. Old Latin Rubisca also applies to No 66.

65. NIGHTINGALE - Luscinia megarhynchos

Næctegale A, Nihtegale C.

66. REDSTART - Phoenicurus phoenicurus

Sæltna A, Seltra D, Salthaga E, Clark Hall and Bosworth and Toller. Sæltna glosses Rubisca, referring to the red tail. Salthaga means "hedge dancer" from saltian, to dance, referring to the quivering tail and flight (Fisher 1966).

67. WHEATEAR - Oenanthe oenanthe

Hwitars or Hwitears OE names refer to the white rump and upper tail and may date from the 11th century (Fisher 1966). Called arsling in the 16th century. No logical connection to OE hwæte or wheat.

68. BLACKBIRD - Turdus merula

Osle ABD. The name survives in Ring Ouzel, T Torquatus.

69. FIELDFARE - Turdus pilaris

Clodhamer or Feldefare E.

70. SONG THRUSH - Turdus philomelos

Ðrostle CD, Ðrysce DE.

71. MISTLE THRUSH - Turdus viscivorus

Scruc or scric ABCDE. The names refer to the churring note. Old Latin Turdus and OE Scric were not Shrikes (Lanius).

72. BLACKCAP - Sylvia atricapilla

Swertling C, Clark Hall (a warbler), Lindsay (1921) and Fisher (1966). Old Latin Ficedula is the beccafico or figpecker, the Blackcap in S Europe.

73. COAL TIT - Parus ater

Colmase CD, Cummase D.

74. BLUE TIT - Parus cæruleus

Hicemase C, Spicmase E. Dialect Hickmal or Hickymase. Mase is a small bird (Ger. meise) and not a mouse (OE mus, Ger. maus). Spicmase refers to their love of fatty bacon, an early (intentional?) example of domestic feeding of wild birds.

75. GREAT TIT - Parus major

Frecmase? AD. (Greedy bird).

76. NUTHATCH - Sitta europæa

Rindeclifer D and Bosworth and Toller (meaning clinging or cleaving to tree bark), possibly also applied to the Tree Creeper, Certhia familiaris.

77. JAY - Garrulus glandarius

Higere C and Clark Hall. Also applies to No 56. Mod. German Haher.

78. MAGPIE - Pica pica

Agu C, Aguster in Ker's catalogue. Dialect Hagister, Old German Agalstra (chatterer), Mod German Elster.

79. CHOUGH - Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax

Ceo C, Cio D. Named from the exclamatory call. Choughs were common on the south coast of England to 1800 (Whitlock 1953).

80. JACKDAW - Corvus monedula

Ceo C, Ceahhe in Clark Hall, Ca and Cadac in Bosworth and Toller.

81. ROOK - Corvus frugilegus

Hrooc AB, Hroc CDEF.

82. CARRION CROW - Corvus corone

Crawa (male), Crawe (female) ACDE

83. RAVEN - Corvus corax

Hræfn, Hrefn, Hræmn ACDEF. Heardnebba (strong, cruel or hardbill) in Ælfric's Homilies.

84. STARLING - Sturnus vulgaris

Stær ABCDE, or Dropfag A, and in Clark Hall, meaning speckled.

85. HOUSE SPARROW - Passer domesticus

Spearwa DF.

86. CHAFFINCH - Fringilla coelebs

Finc ADE. Ceaffinc in Clark Hall (1960). Also possibly Ragufinc AD (lichen finch), Suolahti (1909), Lindsay (1921).

87. GOLDFINCH - Carduelis carduelis

Goldfinc C, Ðistyltwige AD (thistle tweaker).

88. LINNET - Carduelis cannabina

Linetwige ACD (flax tweaker). Linete E.

89. YELLOWHAMMER - Emberiza citrinella

Omer A, Emer B, Amore D. Dialect Omber. In Ælfric's glossary. C Geolewearte, meaning yellow breast, probably applied to this specie or the Yellow Wagtail, Motacilla flava, Suolahti (1909).

90. REED BUNTING - Emberiza schoeniclus

Hrand or Hrondspearwa in the Lindisfarne Gospels and Bosworth and Toller. Hreodspearwa? Called Reed Sparrow in the 15th century.