Australian Bird Names, A Complete Guide,

This book is for anyone with an interest in birds, words, or the history of Australian biology and birdwatching. It discusses common and scientific names of every Australian bird to tease out their meanings--which may be useful, useless or downright misleading!

The authors examine every species: its often many--and--varied common names, its full scientific name, with derivation, translation and a guide to pronunciation. Stories behind the name are included, as well as relevant aspects of biology, conservation and history. Original descriptions, translated by the authors, have been sourced for most species.

As well as being a book about names this is also a book about the history of ever-developing understandings of birds, about the people who contributed and, most of all, about the birds themselves.

Ian Fraser is a naturalist, conservationist, author, ABC broadcaster, natural history tour guide, environmental consultant and adult educator, who has lived and worked in Canberra since 1980. He was awarded the Australian Natural History Medallion in 2006 and a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2018 for services to conservation and the environment, and is the author of A Bush Capital Year and Birds in Their Habitats.

Jeannie Gray is a retired teacher and counsellor with a lifelong passion for the study of languages and natural history.