The 'Bird-Fancier's' Alphabet

[Stephen Whiteside]

Australia has so many beautiful native birds. I thought it would be fun to try to put together a 'bird-fancier's' alphabet.

The 'Bird-Fancier's' Alphabet

© Stephen Whiteside 21.11.2012

"A" is for 'albatruss' - good for bad backs.
"B" is for 'baker bird' - makes custard snacks.
"C" is for 'cormoron' - stupid mistakes.
"D" is for 'darter' - it nests above lakes.

"E" is for egg, and they all taste good fried.
"F" for the 'fibber bird'. Has it no pride?
"G" if for 'grannet'. It's stuck on the ground.
"H" is for 'hairin''- just hairin' around.

"I" is for 'ipis' and splash on the ground.
"J": 'jabber roo' - talks and bounces around.
"K" is for 'kingfisher' - throws nets for kings.
"L" - 'laughing jackboot' that tramples on things.

"M" is for 'mopoke'. No, leave it alone!
"N" is for nothing but 'nightincyclone'.
"O" is for ostrich. (Don't push off a cliff!)
"P" is for 'petrel' (and don't you dare sniff!).

"Q" is the 'quack' of a duck (not a doc).
"R" for the wonderous mythical 'roc'.
"S": Common 'shag' (but, if pressed, with a toff).
"T" is for 'thrush', and it sure puts you off!

"U" is for 'ugg boots' (pteranodon skins).
"V" is for 'victory'. (See which bird wins.)
"W"'s for 'wader' - they're big rubber boots.
"X" is for...p'raps if I search Latin roots...

"Y" for the 'yuk' of an egg that is rotten.
"Z"'s the last letter, and can't be fogotten.
"Z" stands for 'zebra finch'. See, that was easy!
(I think that roast penguin has made me feel queasy...)

[Maureen K Clifford]

ornithological claptrap you missed out the eagles and the crows not to mention the magpies and the hawks - what kind of game is that?

[Stephen Whiteside]

Yes, whatever the game is, Maureen, I'm definitely off it!