Birds and place: an ornithological toponymy of the Outer Hebrides

Looking at the maps of the Outer Hebrides, both recent and historical, it is apparent that a great many of the Gaelic place names describe attributes of the topography and landscape. This article explores the specific connection with place names of the Outer Hebrides that relate to birds and are noted on the current Ordnance Survey maps. Changes in the Gaelic orthography over the years, together with a general move from lots of regional names for birds to greater standardisation, make it difficult to translate some place names with certainty, particularly in older accounts, but the list is long and informative. The article explains some of these challenges and identifies a range of localities of interest. Hopefully, this may encourage a more comprehensive study of other geographical areas.