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Abdomen
|
In
birds and mammals the part of the body containing the
principal digestive organs. In insects the segmented part
of the body behind the thorax.
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Acro.
|
Abbreviation
for Acrocephalus, usually used
in the field to refer to an unidentified warbler of this
group ( Reed, Marsh, Sedge, Aquatic,
Moustached Warbler etc. ).
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Ad.
|
Adult,
in birds this means a bird that has attained final plumage.
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Aestivation
|
The
summer equivalent of hibernation i.e. dormancy in hot
or dry weather.
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Albino
|
Totally
lacking in pigment, this results in white feathers or
fur and pink eyes and fleshy parts.
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Bill
|
Alternative
name for the beak, technically called the rostrum.
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Bonxie
|
Frequently
used name for the Great Skua
( Stercorarius skua ). Originated
in Shetland meaning “dumpy bird”.
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Bridled
|
Guillemot
showing a white eye-ring and mark running back on the
side of the head. Rare in Devon, becoming more common farther north.
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Brood
parasite
|
Birds
such as cuckoos which lay their eggs in the nest of another
species.
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Cetacean
|
Marine
mammal ( Whales, Dolphins &
Porpoises ).
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Corvid
|
Any
member of the Crow family ( Raven,
Rook, Crow, Jackdaw, Chough, Jay ).
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Cryptic
colouring
|
Camouflage
markings to provide concealment from predators, the best
local examples being Woodcock and Nightjar.
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c.y.
|
Calendar
year
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|
Dabbling
duck
|
Ducks
which feed in shallow water, usually by up-ending. Mallrds,
Gadwall etc.
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Dark
phase
|
A
variety within a species with darker plumage ( but not
melanistic ) e.g. Dark phase
skuas
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Diving
duck
|
A
family of ducks which find their food by diving beneath
the water, Pochards, Tufted Ducks etc.
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|
e.
|
East
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Echolocation
|
The
method of navigation and food location used by bats where
they emit high-frequency sounds and can judge distances
by sensing the reflected sounds.
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Eclipse
|
Non-breeding
plumage ( mainly in ducks ) which
is dull in comparison to breeding plumage, often of short
duration.
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Exuviae ( exuvia
)
|
The
cast larval skin of a Dragonfly or Damselfly. Often diagnostic.
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Eyass
|
Female falcon, usually used for the Peregrine.
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Eyrie
|
The
nest of any Bird of Prey, usually
reserved for man Eagle nest.
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f.
|
Female
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Fledgling
|
A
young bird which has left the nest but is not yet independent
of its parents.
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Frons
|
In
Dragonflies the front part of the head in front of the
eyes.
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Hibernation
|
Dormancy
( sleep ) and lowered body temperature
in winter.
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|
Hippo.
|
Abbreviation
for Hippolais, usually used
in the field to refer to an unidentified warbler of this
group( Icterine, Melodious Warbler etc. )
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|
Hirundine
|
Member
of the family of Swallows and Martins, often used about
mixed flocks ( does not refer to Swifts )
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Iccy.
|
Abbreviation
for Icterine Warbler
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Imago
|
An
adult insect.
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Immature
|
In
birds, not yet sexually mature but having left the nest,
in some large seabirds ( Gannets
etc. ) this may be five years.
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Jaeger
|
Alternate
name for Skua, often used in
N. America, from the
German for hunter.
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|
Juv.
|
Juvenile,
usually a young bird that has left the nest before its
first moult.
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Larva
|
In
insects the stage after the egg, nymph or caterpillar.
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Leucistic
|
A
rare mutation where colour is reduced in intensity often
resulting in a washed-out appearance.
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|
Light
phase
|
A
variety within a species with paler plumage (
but not leucistic or
albino ) e.g. Light phase skuas.
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|
Loon
|
North
American name for Divers, used in some books.
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|
m.
|
Male.
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|
Macro
moth
|
Loosely,
a large moth species with a fore-wing over 1cm long.
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Mandible
|
The
separate parts of the beak ( upper
and lower ), correctly the lower part ( the upper being
correctly termed the maxilla ).
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Melanistic
|
Having
an excess of dark pigment ( melanin
) giving a darker than usual overall appearance.
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Migration
|
A
seasonal movement of an entire species population (
usually north-south and back ), usually associated
with breeding and food availability.
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Morph
|
Correct
term for a “phase”
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|
n.
|
North
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Nestling
|
A
young bird still in the nest.
|
|
Nymph
|
In
dragonflies etc. the larval stage.
|
| Ovipositing |
In insects, egg laying. The eggs are laid through a tube called an ovipositor enabling the eggs to be placed precisely |
|
Pelagic
|
In
birds, a species which lives out to sea, only coming ashore
to breed ( Shearwaters, Petrels etc.), also refers to a trip to see
such species.
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|
Phase
|
( correctly a morph ),
a variation widespread amongst a species, usually in colour,
e.g. dark / light phase Skuas.
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|
Phylosc.
|
Abbreviation
of Phyloscopus, used in the
field to refer to an unidentified member of this group
(
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Pied
|
In
birds, a rare mutation with abnormal patches of pale or
dark plumage. Usually white patches on dark birds, commonest
in Blackbirds and crows.
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|
pl.
|
Plumage
|
|
Porro prism
|
Type
of binoculars where the arrangement of prisms gives a
wide appearance with stepped barrels, considered by some
to be old fashioned but often has a wider field of view
and slightly better 3d appearance. Not usually waterproof.
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|
Pupa
|
In
some insects the chrysalis stage, where a larva (
caterpillar etc. ) changes into an adult, usually
within a hard shell.
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|
Race
|
In
a species, a different group from a specific area, often
a sub-species, e.g. “continental race Coal Tit”:- a Coal
Tit that is blue-grey above rather than the olive-brown
on UK birds.
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|
Raft
|
A
flock of birds ( usually auks
or ducks ) resting on water.
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Raptor
|
Bird
of prey.
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|
Reeling
|
The
song of Grasshopper Warbler ( and some other Locustella
warblers )
|
|
Reverse
migration
|
A
tendency to migrate in precisely the opposite direction
than is normal for a species, thought to be caused by
a fault in the “wiring” of the brain. May enable a species
to colonise new areas.
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|
Roding
|
The
display and territorial flight of the Woodcock, usually
at dusk, tree top height
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|
Roof
prism
|
Type
of binoculars where the arrangement of prisms gives straight
barrels, usually more expensive, more likely to be waterproof.
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|
s.
|
South
|
|
S.
|
Summer
( plumage )
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|
Sawbill
|
Fish
eating ducks with tooth-like serrations along bill. Goosander,
Red Breasted Merganser and Smew
|
|
Sea
duck
|
Ducks
such as Scoters and Eiders which live mainly at sea.
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|
S/pl.
|
Summer
plumage, typically breeding plumage.
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|
Sp.
|
Species.
Usually used to refer to either mixed species groups from
one family or birds which cannot be identified to a species
but where the family is known ( i.e. “unidentified auk
sp.” )
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|
Stifftail
|
A
family of diving-ducks which often carry their tails upright
– Ruddy Duck.
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|
Stoop
|
The
hunting dive of a bird of prey,
usually restricted to Peregrine Falcon.
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|
Stranding
|
In
cetaceans etc., becoming stuck on shore. Rescue attempts
are made but frequently end in failure.
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|
Talon
|
Claw
of a bird of prey.
|
|
Teneral
|
In
dragonflies and damselflies, a newly emerged adult, usually
lacking full colour and with weak wings, may take a week
to finally mature.
|
|
Thorax
|
A
part of the body, in mammals and birds the chest area
containing heart, lungs etc., in insects the part of the
body where the legs attach.
|
|
Tiercel
|
A
male falcon, usually used for the Peregrine.
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|
Torpor
|
Prolonged
sleep with lowered body temperature,
usually associated with hibernating mammals but has been
noted in Swifts and Nightjars.
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|
Tubenose
|
A
member of the family of Petrels and Fulmars, they have
a tube structure on top of the bill. One of few bird families
with a well developed sense of smell.
|
|
Twitcher
|
An
obsessive birdwatcher ( origin
uncertain ). Used ( wrongly ) in the media to refer to any birdwatcher.
|
|
Twitch
|
A
group of birdwatchers watching a rarity.
|
|
Vagrant
|
An
animal that has strayed outside their normal range.
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|
W.
|
Winter
( plumage ).
|
|
w.
|
West.
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|
W/pl.
|
Winter
plumage. Non breeding, usually
less conspicuous.
|
|
Wreck
|
The
arrival on land ( often in large
numbers ) of pelagic species ( auks, petrels etc. ), usually
caused by gales, can cause mass fatalities.
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