May 13 2010
In case you need a reason to go birding, here’s one: the flame orange throat of the male Blackburnian warbler.
Blackburnians are one of the few birds named for a woman.
Anna Blackburne (1726 – 1793) was an English naturalist who taught herself Latin and the Linnaean system of classification. Her scientific skills were so well respected that people sent her specimens from around the world to add to her museum of natural history. Her brother Ashton lived in the U.S. and was among those who sent her birds. In those days that meant he shot them and sent her the skins.
Anna’s primary focus was entomology so when she encountered an unnamed bird she sent it to the bird experts. The Blackburnian warbler was thus described by Philipp Ludwig Statius Müller who named it in her honor.
Because Blackburnian warblers nest in mature conifer forests, I won’t see them in the city after they’ve passed through on migration.
Now’s the time to look for them.
Oh, how beautiful!
(photo by Chuck Tague)