A feathered past: Colonial influences on bird naming practices, and a new common name for Ardenna carneipes (Gould 1844)

Alexander L. Bond, Jennifer L. Lavers

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Recently, there has been increased focus on the origins and history of common names for organisms, especially birds. Of particular interest are eponymous common names that reflect our colonial past. While identification of alternative names can be straightforward for some species, for those that migrate across jurisdictions including the lands of multiple Traditional Owner/Indigenous groups, reaching consensus on a single name that reflects the features of the species and their cultural importance can be substantially more complex. Using the migratory Ardenna carneipes as a case study, we propose a new common name (Sable Shearwater) for the species and discuss the many challenges that others will need to consider when navigating this important yet sensitive space.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1413-1418
Number of pages5
JournalIBIS
Volume166
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 3 Sept 2024

Keywords

  • colonial
  • English names
  • First Nations
  • inclusion
  • migratory birds
  • nomenclature
  • taxonomy

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