Accompanying a mixed group of kinglets. My personal latest by 3 weeks.
Anecdotes from The Dictionary of American Names:
Mourning warbler. So named by Wilson for whom the markings on the breast
suggested the black clothes of grief for the dead. Bent and Forbush lament
the name "for it seems as happy and active as most of the birds." Our only
comment is, "Good grief."
Ben Jesup
Alexandria
P.S. "Lament." Get it?
P.P.S. The description of the origin of Leconte's sparrow's name is a
fascinating historical rant, but at two pages, a bit too long for this
forum.
