A few years ago I came across "A Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names" by
James Jobling in a half-price store for five bucks. Somebody must have
goofed, because suddenly everybody wanted one, and prices on the
internet exceeded a hundred dollars. It's still expensive, but Jobling
has apparently donated a new 2015 edition to the "Handbook of Birds of
the World" for use on-line, with many newer entries, and more detail
since space was not an issue. It's well worth using.
        The hardbound book has brief definitions (for example, the name
Setophaga that is used for many of our wood warblers means "moth eater")
but Crotophaga, the genus for the anis, defined as "glutton of ticks"
in the hardbound edition, in the electronic one has a longer entry: see
http://www.hbw.com/dictionary/key-to-scientific-names-in-ornithology?name=crotophaga
    So if you're curious about scientific names of birds, this web
resource is a treat...
Bill Whan
Columbus

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