The Key to Scientific Names

Edited by James A. Jobling
1 to 38 of 38 results

aethiopica / aethiopicus

L. Aethiopicus  Ethiopian, African  < Gr. Αιθιοπικος Aithiopikos  Ethiopian, negro  < αιθω aithō  to burn; ωψ ōps, ωπος ōpos  face.
● ex “Merle noir et blanc d’Abissinie” of de Buffon 1770-1783, and “Ethiopian Thrush” of Latham 1783 (Laniarius).
● ex “Abou Hannes” of Bruce 1790 (Threskiornis).


alpica

L. alpicus  of high mountains, alpine  < alpes or alpis  high mountains.


apicalis

Mod. L. apicalis  apical, of the tip  < L. apex, apicis  point, extremity.
● "ACANTHIZA APICALIS.  ...  Distinguished from A. Diemenensis, A. pusilla, and A. Ewingii, to all of which it is nearly allied, by its large size, by its larger and rounder tail, by the broad and distinct band of black which crosses the tail-feathers near their extremities, and by their being largely tipped with white." (Gould 1847) (Acanthiza).
● "MOHO APICALIS  ...  I avail myself of the opportunity of characterizing the species, and have assigned to it the name of apicalis, from the circumstance of all but the two middle tail-feathers being tipped with white" (Gould 1861) (‡Moho).
● "MYIARCHUS APICALIS  ...  caudæ nigricantis rectricis externæ pogonio externo et ceterarum apicibus latis flavido-albicantibus" (P. Sclater & Salvin 1881) (Myiarchus). 


apicauda / apicaudus

L. apex, apicis point, apex; cauda tail.


auspicabilis

L. auspicabilis  auspicious, of favourable omen  < auspex, auspicis  soothsayer who observed the flight and behaviour of birds (cf. augur)  < avis  bird; specere  to look at.


caspia / caspica / caspicus
L. Caspius Caspian, of the Caspian Sea.

Chlorospica (See: Chlorospiza)
Chlorospiza

(Fringillidae; syn. Chloris European Greenfinch C. chloris) Gr. χλωρος khlōros  green; σπιζα spiza  finch  < σπιζω spizō  to chirp; "17. Chlorospiza, Nob.  (typ. Loxia chloris, L.)" (Bonaparte 1832); "Chlorospiza Bonaparte, 1832, Giornale Arcadico, LII, p. 206.  Type, by original designation, Loxia chloris Linnaeus, 1758." (JAJ 2021).
Var. Clorospiza, Chlorospica.


Cissopica

(Corvidaesyn. Urocissa Ϯ White-winged Magpie U. whiteheadi) Portmanteau of genera Cissa Boie, 1826, magpie, and Pica Brisson, 1760, magpie; "Cissopica, gen. nov.  Differs from Urocissa in having a much coarser and more powerful bill and legs, and a shorter tail, never exceeding the wings by more than 30 mm. General plumage grey, black and pale yellow, never blue. Young birds retain for a long time their distinct juvenile plumage, a very peculiar fact amongst the Corvidæ.   Type: Urocissa whiteheadi O.-Grant.  NOTE.—I chose the name of this new genus to show the affinity of these birds to the Cissa, which they exactly resemble in their actions and voice.  The only difference in their habits is that they fly about the trees and bamboos, and across the narrow valleys in larger flocks, often of 20 or 25 individuals.  They also remind one of the true Magpies with their pied plumage, especially on the wing." (Delacour 1927); "Cissopica Delacour, 1927, Bull. British Ornith. Club, XLVII (cccxvi), p. 163.  Type, by original designation, Urocissa whiteheadi Ogilvie-Grant, 1899." (JAJ 2021).


Corapica

(Corvidae; syn. Cissa Common Green Magpie C. chinensis) Portmanteau of genera Coracias Linnaeus, 1758, roller, and Pica Brisson, 1760, magpie; "CX.e Genre. PIROLLE; Corapica.  Kitta, Temm.   ... 1. PIROLLE INDIEN; Corapica bengalensis: Coracias sinensis, Lath.; le Rollier de la Chine, Enl., 620" (Lesson 1830); "Corapica Lesson, 1830, Traité d'Ornithologie, p. 352.  Type, by subsequent designation (G. Gray, 1840, List Genera Birds, p. 26), Coracias sinensis Lath., i.e. Gmelin, 1788 = Coracias chinensis Boddaert, 1783." (JAJ 2021).


CYANOPICA

(Corvidae; Ϯ Azure-winged Magpie C. cyanus) L. cyanos  lapis lazuli  < Gr. κυανος kuanos  dark-blue; pica  magpie; "Intermediate between Garrulus and Pica, we come now to my Cyanopica, a genus of Blue Magpies about which some English journalists have chattered like pied (or rather paid) Magpies! I subjoin here the phrases of its three species, that of Vaillant, Pallas, and Capt. Cook, now Widrington (so closely allied as to be taken for three races of but one species), to show they are really distinct, although the characters hitherto assigned to them by the most clever and accurate naturalists may have proved inconstant and fallacious.   1. CYANOPICA MELANOCEPHALA, Bp.  ...  Hab. in China.   2. CYANOPICA CYANEA, Bp.  ...  Hab. in Asia orientali, Daouria, Japan.   3. CYANOPICA COOKI, Bp.  ...  Hab. in Eur. mer. Hispania." (Bonaparte 1850 (P.Z.S.)); "*822. Cyanopica, Bp. (Pica, p. Gr. - Garrulus, p. Auct.)  Eur. m. Afr. s. As. 3.   1?CORVUS CYANEUS, Lath. Vieill. nec Pall. (Pica melanocephalos, Wagl. - Cyanopolius vaillantii, Bp. in litt. Cyanopica melanocephala, Bp.) Levaill. Afr. t. 58. ex China.   ...  2.  CORVUS cyaneus, Pall. (Pica cyanea, Wagl. Schleg. Cyanopolius pallasi, Bp. in litt. - Cyanopica cyanea vel pallasi, Bp.) Faun. Japon. t. 42. ex Asia orientali nec occidentali.   ...   3. PICA CYANEA, Cook, nec Pall.(Pie bleue d'Europe, Cyanopica europaea, Schleg. - Cyanopolius cooki, Bp. Br. Ass. Birmingh. 1849. - Cyanopica cooki, Bp.) Gould, Eur. t. 217. - Susemihl, Vög. Eur. II. t. 5. ad. et jun. ex Hispania, Afr. s." (Bonaparte 1850 (Conspectus)); "Cyanopica Bonaparte, 1850, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, p. 85. Type, by subsequent designation (Gray, 1855, Cat. Gen. Subgen. Birds, p. 64), Corvus cyanus Pallas." (Vaurie in Peters, 1962, XV, p. 244).
Synon. Cyanopolius, Dolometis.


extratipica

L. extra  beyond, outside  < exter  outward  < comp. ex  out of; typicus typical  < typus  type, image.


GRACUPICA

(Sturnidae; Ϯ Black-collared Starling G. nigricollis) Portmanteau of genera Gracula Linnaeus, 1758, mynah, and Pica Brisson, 1760, magpie; "CLII.e  Genre. GRACUPIE; Gracupica.  Bec alongé, fort, entier, pointu, convexe, comprimé, presque droit; mandibule inférieure comprimée, arrondie, pointue, à bords droits; commissure dénudée, ainsi que le tour des yeux; narines longitudinales, bordées par les plumes du front; ailes alongées, pointues; queue moyenne, arrondie; tarses robustes, forts, à scutelles épaisses.   MARTIN-PIE; Gracula melanoleuca, Mus. de Paris. De la côte de Coromandel. (Sonnerat.)" (Lesson 1831); "Gracupica Lesson, 1831, Traité Orn., p. 401. Type, by monotypy Gracula melanoleuca Lesson = Gracula nigricollis Paykull." (Amadon in Peters, 1962, XV, p. 104).
Var. Graculipica.
Synon. Laceryzon, Psarites, Sturnopastor.


Melanopica

(Corvidae; syn. Pica Eurasian Magpie P. pica) Gr. μελας melas, μελανος melanos  black; genus Pica Brisson 1760, magpie; "6. GÉNERO MELANOPICA (1) NOM. NOV.  (= Pica VIEILLOT. NOM SPEC.)   ...   (1) Del griego μελας, μελαινα, μελαν, negro: por alusión al color dominante." (Navás 1907); "Melanopica Navás, 1907, Ornith. de Aragón, p. 8.  New name for Pica Vieillot, i.e. Brisson, 1760, the tautonymous combination Pica pica considered unaccepable." (JAJ 2020).


miratropica

L. mirus  marvellous, astonishing; tropicus  tropical.


misisippica / misisippiensis
Mississippi River, Louisiana Colony.
● ex “Tangara du Mississippi” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 741 (syn. Piranga rubra).

neotropicalis

Mod. L. neotropicalis  neotropical, of tropical America  < Gr. νεος neos  new; Mod. L. tropicalis  tropical  < Late L. tropicus  tropical  < L. tropicus  of turning  <  Gr. τροπικος tropikos  tropic  < τροπη tropē  turning  < τρεπω trepō  to change.


perspicax

L. perspicax, perspicacis  sharp-sighted  < perspicere  to examine.
● ex “Espionneur” of Levaillant 1801-1804, pl. 103 (syn. Monticola explorator).


pica

L. pica  magpie.  In ornithology used also of birds which are pied black and white and, usually, long-tailed.
● ex "Alca minor" of Brisson 1760 and Strøm 1762, and "Mergus" of Belon 1555, Aldrovandus 1599-1603, Willughby 1676, and Ray 1713 (syn. Alca torda).
● ex “Gobe-mouche pie de Cayenne” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 675, fig. 1, and “Gillit” or “Gobe-mouche pie de Cayenne” of de Buffon 1770-1785 (Fluvicola).
● "SCOLOPAX PICA.  DIAGN. Corpus nigrum, Albo vero pectus, abdomen, uropygium, remiges secundæ, et dimidia pars caudæ.  ...  Statura S. Rusticolæ" (Scopoli 1769) (syn. Haematopus ostralegus).
● "48. CORVUS.  ...  Pica.  10. C. albo nigroque varius, cauda cuneiformi. Fn. svec. 76.  Pica varia s. caudata. Gesn. av. 695. Aldr. orn. l. 12. [c]. 12. Jonst. av. 44. t. 17. Will. ornith. 87. t. 19. Raj. av. 41. Alb. av. t. 1. p. 15. t. 15. Frisch. av. t. 58.  Habitat in Europa nido artificiosoDegit ad pagos, inter hostes offensos sylvarum osor; legit quisquilias." (Linnaeus 1758) (Pica).


PICA

(Corvidae; Ϯ Eurasian Magpie P. pica) L. pica  magpie; "{Plumis basis rostri antrorsum incumbentibus, naresque tegentibus  {Rostro recto; apice deorsum inclinante:  {Rectricibus intermediis multo longioribus . . . . . Pica. Genus 15.   ...   **1. LA PIE.  Pica nigro-violacea; ventre & pennis scapularibus albis; imo dorso griseo; remigibus majoribus interius albis . . . . PICA" (Brisson 1760); based on "Pica" of Gessner 1555, Aldrovandus 1599-1603, and many other authors; "Pica Brisson, 1760, Orn., 1, p. 30. Type, by tautonymy, "Pica" = Pica pica, ibid., 2, p. 35 = Corvus pica Linnaeus." (Blake & Vaurie in Peters, 1962, XV, p. 250). The bold and inquisitive Eurasian Magpie has been accused of decimating local passerine populations, especially in suburban environments.
Var. Rica.
Synon. Cleptes, Gelastes, Melanoleuca, Melanopica, Protocitta.


picaecolor

L. pica  magpie; color, coloris  colour (i.e. black and white).


picaoides

Genus Pica Brisson 1760, magpie; Gr. -οιδης -oidēs  resembling (i.e. long-tailed); "Genus—SIBIA   ...   Species 1st. Pieaoides [sic].  Pie-like Sibia mihi.  Saturate slatey-blue; paler and greyer below; darker and merging into black on the wings and tail; speculum on the secondaries, and tips of the rectrices, white; legs plumbeous; bill black; iris sanguine; tail very long, and gradated conspicuously and equally throughout; head not crested" (Hodgson 1839) (Heterophasia).


picapicensis
Pica-Pica Valley, Pinar del Río, Cuba.

Picas (See: PICUS)
PICUS

(Picidae; Eurasian Green Woodpecker P. viridis) L. picus  woodpecker (Roman myth. Picus, king of Latium who married the beauteous nymph and songstress Canens, and was changed into a woodpecker by the spiteful Circe, whose affections he had spurned); "54. PICUS.  Rostrum polyedrum, rectum: apice cuneato.  Nares pennis setaceis obtectæ.  Lingua teres, lumbriciformis, longissima, mucronata, apice retrorsum aculeata setis.   ...   Lingua Picorum & Jyngis inseritur fronti. Intestina cæcis carent.   ...   Pici Larvas insectorum lignum intus rodentium rostro fecante, sono terrefaciente, auditu percipiente: lingua acuta hastata intranse extrahunt, de qua Act. angl. 350. p. 509." (Linnaeus 1758); “The type of this Linnean genus has been fixed on various species out of the thirteen originally contained in it. Gray (List Gen. Bds. 1840, p. 54) selected major, Hargitt (Cat. Bds. B. M. xviii. 1890, p. 518) martius; but Swainson (Zool. Illustr. 1st ser. i. 1820, pl. 14), who appears to have been the first author to designate the type, made it viridis, and this the Committee believe should be accepted.” (BOU 1915);"Picus Linné, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, 1, 1758, p. 112.  Type, by subsequent designation, Picus viridis Linné. (Swainson, Zool. Illustr., 1, 1820, text to pl. 4.)" (Peters, 1948, VI, p. 130).  Linnaeus's Picus comprised thirteen species (P. martius, P. principalis, P. pileatus, P. hirundinaceus, P. erythrocephalus, P. carolinus, P. viridis, P. benghalensis, P. semirostris, P. major, P. medius, P. minor, P. tridactylus). 
Var. PicasPigus.
Synon. BrachylophusCalopicus, Chrysopterus, Cirropicus, Dryocolaptes, Poliopicus.
• (Picidae; syn. Dendrocopos Great Spotted Woodpecker D. major) "3. Picus, Linn., Malh. = Picus, Linn., 1735.  Type, P. major (Linn.)" (Strickland, 1852, Contributions to Ornithology for 1851 (ed. Jardine), p. 18).
• (Picidae; syn. Dryocopus Black Woodpecker D. martius) (see above).


picata

L. picatus bedaubed with tar, pied < pix, picis pitch (cf. L. pica magpie (i.e. black and white)).


PICATHARTES

(Picathartidae; White-necked Rockfowl P. gymnocephalus) Portmanteau of genera Pica Brisson, 1760, magpie (cf. French Pie  magpie), and Cathartes Illiger,1811, vulture; "CXXVIIe Genre. PICATHARTE, picathartes, Less.; corvus, Temm.   Bec convexe, peu robuste, à mandibule supérieure plus haute que l'inférieure: celle-ci renflée un peu vers son extrémité; base du bec entièrement sans poils, et garnie d'une cire; narines placées au milieu du bec, ovales, ouvertes, creusées dans une fosse oblongue; tête entièrement nue; tarses longs, peu scutellés en avant, nus en arrière; ailes arrondies, courtes; queue longue, étagée; ongles faibles.   L'oiseau que nous prenons pour type de ce genre a été figuré par M. Temminck, pl. 327, sous le nom de pie chauve. Avec la meilleure volonté de ne pas introduire une dénomination nouvelle dans la science, il est impossible de laisser parmi les corvus un oiseau qui n'en a pas un des caractères essentiels.   ...   PIE CHAUVE, corvus gymnocephalus, Temminck, pl. 327.  Les formes de ce singulier oiseau, la coupe des ailes et sa longue queue conique très étagée, me servent d'indices pour juger par analogie de quel pays cette espèce peut être originaire, sa patrie n'étant pas encore connue; en effet, comparaison faite de notre nouvelle espèce avec la pie piapiac (1) de Levaillant (corvus Senegalensis), on est porte, par l'analogie très marquée que je viens d'indiquer, à conclure que l'Afrique est sa patrie.   ...   (1) Nous ne trouvons pas la plus petite analogie entre la figure de l'enl. 538, qui est le corvus Senegalensis, et la pie chauve, qui ressemble davantage à un catharte." (Lesson 1828); "Picathartes Lesson, Man. d'Orn. i, p. 374, 1828.  Type by original designation, Corvus gymnocephalus Temm." (W. Sclater, 1930, Syst. Av. Aethiop., II, p. 652).  The rockfowls or picathartes were formerly treated as members of the Timaliidae.
Var. Piccathartes.
Synon. Galgulus.


picatum / picatus

L. picatus  bedaubed with tar, pied  < pix, picis  pitch.
● ex “Magpie Shrike” of Latham 1781, and “Pie Piegrièsche” of Levaillant 1800, pl. 60 (syn. Cissopis leveriana).
ex “White-necked Falcon” of Latham 1787 (syn. Pseudastur albicollis).
● "45. RAMPHASTOS.  ...  picatus.  3. R. rostro rubro: apice nigro: carina compressa.  Pica brasiliensis. Alb. av. 2. p. 24. t. 25. Aldr. orn. l. 20. c. 19.  Habitat in America meridionali.  Rostrum magnum inter congeneres; etiam basi nigricans." (Linnaeus 1758); "The remarks as to the large size of the bill were no doubt induced by the very great exaggeration of that member in Aldrovandus' plate.  Albin's plate is much better proportioned.  The bird however bears no resemblance to any known species: it was probably an artifact." (J. Peters 1930) (artefact).


picazuro

Güaraní name Pihkasú-ró sour pigeon (from the taste of its flesh after it has eaten certain fruits), for the Picazúró Pigeon; ex “Picazúró” of de Azara 1802-1805, no. 317 (cf. Tupí name Picazú  big pigeon, for the Plumbeous Pigeon Patagioenas plumbea) (Patagioenas).


Picazurus

(Columbidae; syn. Patagioenas Picazuro Pigeon P. picazuro) Güaraní name Pihkasú-ró sour pigeon (from the taste of its flesh after it has eaten certain fruits), for the Picazúró Pigeon (cf. specific name Columba picazuro Temminck, 1813); "XIV. Les PICAZUROS ou RAMIRETS, taillés à peu près sur le modèle de nos ramiers, forment une petite tribu qu'on ne rencontre qu'en Amérique, depuis les Antilles et le golfe du Mexique jusqu'au Paraguay, au Chili et aux îles de Chiloë.  ...  Ce nom de picazu est emprunté à la langue guaranis.  ...  Le JOUNOUD   …   La COLOMBE TIGRÉE   …   La COLOMBE ARAUCANIENNE   …   La COLOMBE MÉRIDIONALE   …   La DENISE   …   La COLOMBE A QUEUE ANNELÉE   …   Le RAMIRET   …   La COLOMBE RAYÉE   …   Le PIGEON IMBRIQUÉ   …   Le PIGEON DE FITZROY   …   La COLOMBE SIMPLE   …   Le PIGEON A TÊTE BLANCHE” (Lesson 1837); "4me GENRE — PICAZURO ou RAMIRET. PICAZURUS. (Lesson, 1838; Chenu et O. Des Murs, 1853.)  …  Nous adoptons cette coupe de Lesson, dont les espèces, dit-il, taillées à peu près sur le modèle des Ramiers, forment une petite tribu qu’on ne rencontre qu’en Amérique  …  Ce genre renferme dix espèces.   Nous figurons le Picazuro azuré.   ...  Picazu est le nom que les Guaranis donnent à tout grand Pigeon, et particulièrement à l'espèce type de ce genre; la dernière syllabe ro signifie amer, parce que la chair de cet Oiseau contracte de l'amertume quand il se nourrit de certains fruits. (D'AZARA.)  Nous citerons le Picazuro aux joues nues, Temminck (Picazurus gymnophtalmos, Chenu et O. Des Murs); du Brésil et du Paraguay." (des Murs 1854); "3. COLUMBA.  ...  Picazuros, Less. Compl. Buff. viii. p. 95 (1837)  ...  Picazurus, Des Murs, Chenu, Encyc. d'Hist. Nat. Ois. vi. p. 39 (1854)" (G. Gray 1856); "Picazurus des Murs in Chenu, 1854, Encycl. d'Hist. Nat. Oiseaux, VI, p. 39.  Type, by original designation, Picazurus gymnophtalmos Chenu and des Murs, 1854 = Columba picazuro Temminck, 1813." (JAJ 2022).   
Var. Picazuros.


praepica

L. prae  before; specific name Pica pica (Linnaeus, 1758) (‡Pica).


spicatus

L. spicatus  furnished with spikes or ears, pointed  < spica  spike, point.


Sporopica

(Thraupidae; syn. Sporophila † Lined Seedeater S. lineola) Portmanteau of genera Sporophila Cabanis, 1844, seedeater, and Pica Brisson, 1760, magpie (alluding to pied black and white plumage) (AT; see Manuscript-names).


subpicata
L. sub near to; specific name Melanodryas picata Gould, 1865 (syn. Melanodryas picata).

subtropicalis

Mod. L. subtropicalis  subtropical, of the subtropics  < L. sub  next to; Mod. L. tropicalis  tropical  < Late L. tropicus  tropical  < L. tropicus  of turning  < Gr. τροπικος tropikos  of the solstice  < τροπη tropē  turn, change  < τρεπω trepō  to turn.


suspicax

L. suspicax, suspicacis  suspicious, distrustful  < suspicari  to suspect.


transcaspia / transcaspica / transcaspicus / transcaspius

L. trans  beyond; Caspian Sea.


tropica

Late L. tropicus  tropical  < L. tropicus  of turning  < Gr. τροπικος  tropikos  of the solstice  < τροπη tropē  turning  < τρεπω trepō  to change.


tropicalis

Mod. L. tropicalis  tropical  < Late L. tropicus  tropical  < L. tropicus  of turning  < Gr. τροπικος tropikos  of the solstice  < τροπη tropē  turning  < τρεπω trepō  to change.


typica / typicum / typicus

L. typicus  typical, type  < Gr. τυπικος tupikos  typical, conforming to type  < τυπος tupos  type. Epithet refers to a type species (hence indicating fixation of type species by original designation), or, less frequently and not recorded here, to a specimen from the type locality. The following list is not exhaustive.
● Type species of genus Abeillia Bonaparte, 1850, hummingbird (syn. Abeillia abeillei).
● Type species of genus Saucerottia Bonaparte, 1850, beryl (syn. Amazilia saucerrottei).
● Type species of genus Hemistilbon Gould, 1861, beryl (syn. Amazilia saucerrottei).
● Type species of genus Barnardius Bonaparte, 1854, ringneck (syn. Barnardius barnardi).
● Type species of genus Coeligena Lesson, 1833, inca (syn. Coeligena coeligena).
● Type species of genus Helianthea Gould, 1848, star-frontlet (syn. Coeligena helianthea).
● Type species of genus Gazzola Bonaparte, 1853, crow (Corvus).
● Type species of genus Deconychura Cherrie, 1891, woodcreeper.
● Type species of genus Juliamyia Bonaparte, 1854, hummingbird (syn. Juliamyia julie).
● Type species of genus Oxynotus Swainson, 1832, cuckooshrike (Lalage).
● Type species of genus Melanodera Bonaparte, 1850 (syn. Melanodera melanodera).
● Type species of genus Ellisia Hartlaub, 1860, warbler (Nesillas).
● Type species of genus Pristoptera Bonaparte, 1857, saw-wing swallow (syn. Psalidoprocne pristoptera).
Type species of genus Pyrilia Bonaparte, 1856, parrot (syn. Pyrilia pyrilia).
● Type species of genus Helotarsus A. Smith, 1830, bateleur (syn. Terathopius ecaudatus).


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