What’s in a name? As birding grows in popularity, more and more people are beginning to appreciate that birds carry not only ecological significance but represent unique stories, embedded in the names they’ve been given. South African Birds by Name provides insight into the origins and meanings of these ‘scientific’ names, mostly rooted in Greek and Latin, helping readers to make sense of the species they are looking at.

Eddie Germiquet has painstakingly researched historic explorer accounts, indigenous names, ancient mythologies and early science writings to demystify and simplify the nomenclature. Where a name derives from a physical attribute of the bird, he has drawn a captivating illustration to depict it. Names deriving from explorers, biologists and other historical figures are also explained, uncovering some fascinating histories.

Presented in an eye-catching hardcover, this book is not only a companion for ornithologists and birders, but also a delightful source of discovery for new twitchers.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Eddie was born in Mozambique, where his parents were missionaries, and grew up speaking Tsonga with local children and French at home. He later learned English and Afrikaans in South Africa, followed by Latin and Greek, giving him a lifelong fascination with languages and their origins —a foundation that has proved invaluable in deciphering scientific names. Eddie has loved birds since early childhood and his recent retirement has enabled him to return to old pastimes. Using interpretive skills acquired during doctoral studies, he embarked on a personal project to explore the origins and meanings of bird names. That endeavour became this book.

'South African Birds by Name: Origins and Meanings' is published by Penguin Random House South Africa