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Birdword: An Illustrated Data to Some Tongue-Twisting Ornithological Phrases | Residing Rooster

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They’re usually often known as technical phrases, eight-dollar-words, jargon, or just plain gobbledygook. Nevertheless hidden inside these multisyllabic ornithological utterances are keys to fascinating behaviors, time machines to take you once more to historic Greek and Latin, and sly insights to the minds of scientists at work.

On this recurring perform by illustrator Rosemary Mosco we break down a few of the “birdwords” we get pleasure from basically probably the most. (Mosco took over our Birdword column in 2024; you might also like our archive of pre-2024 Birdwords written by Residing Rooster staff writers.)

Snow Roosting

Illustrated cartoon strip of 4 images: 1) Snow Roosting, verb, Tunneling into snow to keep warn and avoid predators; done by grouse and ptarmigan species. with two bird heads facing each other. 2) brown bobcat walking in snow, "sniff, sniff." 3) Bobcat: "Hey, are there any delicious grouse here"? Voices from snow: "No." "Afraid not." "Nope!" "None over here." 4) Bobcat: "Sigh." Voices from snow: "Good luck!" "You'll get there." "Bye!" "heh heh"

Snow Roosting: verb. Tunneling into snow to take care of warn and stay away from predators; carried out by grouse and ptarmigan species.

Featured in Residing Rooster, Winter 2025.

Zugunruhe

Four cells of a cartoon. 1) Zugunruhe: migratory restlessness; when songbirds are ready to migrate, they literally cannot sit still. 2) Two birds talking. First: "I'm so antsy lately! I wonder what that means?" Second: "It means you're about to fly thousands of perilous miles over land and sea." 3) First: "Uh, no. That's preposterous." Second: "It's true." First: "Hah! Sure. We'll see about that." 4) birds flying "Later that night," and first bird says "Well darnit."Four cells of a cartoon. 1) Zugunruhe: migratory restlessness; when songbirds are ready to migrate, they literally cannot sit still. 2) Two birds talking. First: "I'm so antsy lately! I wonder what that means?" Second: "It means you're about to fly thousands of perilous miles over land and sea." 3) First: "Uh, no. That's preposterous." Second: "It's true." First: "Hah! Sure. We'll see about that." 4) birds flying "Later that night," and first bird says "Well darnit."

Zugunruhe: noun. Migratory restlessness; when songbirds are capable of migrate, they really cannot sit nonetheless.

Featured in Residing Rooster, Autumn 2024.

Anting

Illustration of a page saying: "anting, verb, Using ants, either by allowing them to run through feathers or deliberately rubbing them on feathers, presumably to deter ectoparasites."Illustration of a page saying: "anting, verb, Using ants, either by allowing them to run through feathers or deliberately rubbing them on feathers, presumably to deter ectoparasites."
Illustration of a blue and white bird with ants on it, saying: "See, there are two kinds of anting. You can sit passively and let the ants crawl through your feathers..."Illustration of a blue and white bird with ants on it, saying: "See, there are two kinds of anting. You can sit passively and let the ants crawl through your feathers..."
Illustration of a blue and white bird with ants on it, saying: "Or, you can pick up the ants and smear their anty goodness all over you. Got it?"Illustration of a blue and white bird with ants on it, saying: "Or, you can pick up the ants and smear their anty goodness all over you. Got it?"
Illustration of atwo blue and white birds. Young bird says: "Mom, I don't want to be a bird anymore," Mother with ants on her says, "Ooh, look at that big juicy one!"Illustration of atwo blue and white birds. Young bird says: "Mom, I don't want to be a bird anymore," Mother with ants on her says, "Ooh, look at that big juicy one!"

Anting: verb. Using ants, each by letting them run by feathers or deliberately rubbing them on feathers, presumably to discourage ectoparasites.

Featured in Residing Rooster, Summer time season 2024.

Brood Parasite

Cartoon of duck thinking, "Sigh. It's time to build a nest, incubate and protect my eggs, and then raise the ducklings. I'm already exhausted!"Cartoon of duck thinking, "Sigh. It's time to build a nest, incubate and protect my eggs, and then raise the ducklings. I'm already exhausted!"
Cartoon of duck thinking "Unless..."Cartoon of duck thinking "Unless..."
Cartoon of two different species of ducks, 3.5 weeks later, one with lots of chicks, saying "I don't recall laying this many eggs," the other with none saying "life is replete with mystery."Cartoon of two different species of ducks, 3.5 weeks later, one with lots of chicks, saying "I don't recall laying this many eggs," the other with none saying "life is replete with mystery."

Brood parasite: noun. A rooster that lays eggs inside the nests of the an identical or a definite species leaving the following youthful to be raised utterly by the host(s).

Featured in Residing Rooster, Spring 2024.

Regional Heterothermy

Cartoon strip with gulls Gull 1: Since it's getting colder, I bought some winter boots. Gull2: You don't need winter boots because we have regional heterothermy! I take it back. Those boots are amazing! Gull 1: Thank you.Cartoon strip with gulls Gull 1: Since it's getting colder, I bought some winter boots. Gull2: You don't need winter boots because we have regional heterothermy! I take it back. Those boots are amazing! Gull 1: Thank you.

Regional Heterothermy: noun. The aptitude to let some components of the physique get chilly whereas sustaining core physique temperature. Proper right here’s further about how seabirds maintain from getting chilly ft.

Featured in Residing Rooster, Winter 2024.

In regards to the Author

Cartoon of woman with animals.Cartoon of woman with animals.
Illustration by Rosemary Mosco.

Rosemary Mosco is an creator, illustrator, and speaker whose work connects people with the pure world.

She’s written and drawn for the New York Situations, Audubon, the PBS current Elinor Wonders Why, the Earlier Farmer’s Almanac for Kids, Ranger Rick, and additional. She creates acclaimed science books for teens and adults and makes the character comic Rooster and Moon, which gained the Nationwide Cartoonists Society’s award for Most interesting On-line Fast Kind Comic and was the subject of an award-winning museum exhibit. Her native climate change comics have been exhibited at AAAS headquarters and the Peabody Essex Museum. She gives partaking talks and workshops to groups of all ages.

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