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Joined: Dec 2006
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old hand
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OP
old hand
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 956 |
While learning a new JJ Cale song to play on my guitar I came across 'Whippporwill' I'd never heard of such a thing so I looked it up and lo and behold, I found this amzing little creature referenced too in no less than Forty Five different songs. On delving deeper I found that it lives in Central America all the way up to Southeastern Canada, likely why we don't sing about them down here. Though I am not a great believer of superstition, its call is said to be a harbinger of death much like the Local Ruru or Morepork, they even look and sound similar, not surprising as they are from the same class. Magnolia by JJ Cale Whippoorwill’s singing
Soft summer breeze
Makes me think of my baby
I left down in new orleans
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 876
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 876 |
We have them all over around here, in the country. They are not city birds. And I hear them regularly, but live to tell you so... ;0)
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Joined: Feb 2008
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old hand
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old hand
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,067 |
said to be a harbinger of death much like the Local Ruru or Morepork We also have moreporks here (at least on the mainland, not sure about Tassie. They are also called mopokes. Both names are onomatopoeic of their mournful call.
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Joined: Aug 2002
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,154 |
And I assumed Pratchett made it up!
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
[quote=olly]
We also have moreporks here (at least on the mainland, not sure about Tassie. They are also called mopokes. Both names are onomatopoeic of their mournful call. Some of them are non-rhotic and some aren't.
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,067
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,067 |
[quote=olly]
We also have moreporks here (at least on the mainland, not sure about Tassie. They are also called mopokes. Both names are onomatopoeic of their mournful call. Some of them are non-rhotic and some aren't.  Actually I heard an American today on the radio pronounce 'environmental' non-rhotically. Even an Aussie wouldn't do that. It was weird. What kind of US accent would that be? The pronunciation was something like 'envionmental' or even 'eviomennal.'
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295 |
Before I had looked at the link I thought about how overhere owls are said to be the harbingers of death. When I looked at the bird it seemed like a very small owl to me and checked it. (cute birdie) Owl They are almost identical, though one bigger that the other.(down from infraclass they differ)
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290 |
Might be from the South or the Northeast ( link).
Ceci n'est pas un seing.
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 956
old hand
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OP
old hand
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 956 |
They are also called mopokes. Both names are onomatopoeic of their mournful call.
You mean 'Whippoorwill' and 'morepork' are onomatopoeic? I'm not sure if 'Mopoke' is, unless its got an Ozzie accent  Some of them are non-rhotic and some aren't. hehehe Actually I heard an American today on the radio pronounce 'environmental' non-rhotically. I can picture Gallant Ted saying 'Envieamint' He'da spelt it better fer sure.
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Joined: Jun 2006
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
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Salute to Gallant Ted. May he fly like a mopoke and dance like a bear.
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