Re: [KENYABIRDSNET] What's in a name? Compact Weaver

Hi Adam and others

Interesting question.
The first English name given to this species was Buff-browed Weaver-bird (see http://weavers.adu.org.za/sp.php?spp=3830).
The first time Compact Weaver was used was, I think, Shelley 1905, after a quick search so I may have missed an early reference. Shelley 1905 gave no hint as to the reason for the name.

The genus gives the most likely clue. Pachyphantes was introduced by Shelley 1896, without description, and this name means:
Greek: pakhus, thick; huphantes, a weaver.
So when Shelly gave English names to African birds in 1905, he must have translated Pachyphantes to thick weaver, or rather Compact Weaver.

Shelley 1905 did not mention the nest of this species, so without checking all references, I suspect the nest was not known when the name Compact Weaver was introduced, again confirming that the English name is based on its genus name.

Dieter

On 08/02/2016 05:16 PM, Adam Scott Kennedy adamscottkennedy@gmail.com [kenyabirdsnet] wrote:

Hi All,

I wonder if someone can shed some light on the naming of Compact Weaver for me.

I consider it a fairly 'compact' bird but I would imagine that the species is so named for its compact nest, which is smooth and finely woven - unlike many other weavers.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers for now,
Adam

-- 
Dr Dieter Oschadleus	
doschadleus@gmail.com (or Dieter.Oschadleus@uct.ac.za)

Bird-ringing Coordinator, SAFRING
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