Passeridae
Гоошувууныхан
gooshuvuunikhaŋ

General

This list is 'in beta'. Information is from dictionaries and other sources. Kazakh, Turkish, and Korean glosses are tentative. Comments and corrections welcome. Hover over Green Lettering Green lettering at this site hides a tool tip with glosses, further explanations, etc. Hover cursor to reveal. to see additional information.

The naming of the Passeridae in Mongolian is complicated by regional variation and overlap with other families.

1. The term Болжмор boljmor is popularly used for small brown birds, including sparrows, in both Mongolia and Inner Mongolia. However, in Mongolia the name has been ornithologically restricted to the larks.

2. The standard ornithological term for 'sparrow' in Mongolia is Бор шувуу bor shuvuu meaning 'dun-bird' (occasionally written Боршубуу borshubuu). Бор bor traditionally refers to either brown or grey, glossed here as 'dun'. This name is not in use in Inner Mongolia.

3. In Inner Mongolia, Бялзуухай byalzuukhai (an ill-defined term for small passerine birds -- one Mongolian-English dictionary defines it as 'birdie') is the usual name for the sparrow. Also found is Бор бялзуухай bor byalzuukhai 'dun finch'.

4. The Buryat word for 'sparrow' is Борбилоо borbiloo.

5. A number of other names can also be found in dictionaries, although it is not clear how much currency they enjoy.

a) The House Sparrow is also given as Хятруу бялзуухай khyatruu, although this is normally used for the Brambling. The portmanteau name Хявуу khyavuu (Хятруу шувуу khyatruu shuvuu ) also exists.

b) There are several names with the common feature of beginning with бо bo-, some suggestive of the names of the larks (normally Болжмор boljmor, but with many variants) and the finches. Traditionally the three groups appear to be poorly differentiated.

One such name is Богширго bogshirag (also Бор богширго bor bogshirag 'dun bogshirag), which in the latest Mongolian ornithological names has been assigned to the Alauda larks. A similar name is Боршрого borshrog. This is listed in the Imperial Pentaglot Manchu Mirror (37) of 1805 as a word for 'lark' (阿兰 a-lán).

Богшоодой bogshoodoi is yet another name for a kind of sparrow (exact identity unclear). According to one dictionary, Эргийн бор богшоодой ergiŋ bor bogshoodoi 'shore dun sparrow' is "a kind of grey sparrow that lives in valleys and steppes".

c) One final name for the sparrows is Хөх бор азарга khökh bor azrag 'darkblue dun azrag'. This name is given in the Imperial Pentaglot Manchu Mirror (37) as an equivalent to 麻雀 má-què 'sparrow'. The same source gives Улаан бор азарга ulaaŋ bor azrag 'red dun bunting' for Pallas' Rosefinch (Carpodacus roseus). (Азрага azrag in Inner Mongolian ornithological usage is restricted to the buntings).

Mongolian ornithological naming

The 2007 "binomial" names expand the repertoire of names to fit the scientific genera. Even the two species of snowfinch are differentiated as belonging to different genera.

1. Passer is given the vernacular sparrow name of Боршувуу bor-shuvuu 'dun-bird', combined into one word.

2. Petronia uses the shortened form Боршуу borshuu. It is not found in dictionaries.

3. Montifringilla uses the name Богшоодой bogshoodoi.

4. Pyrgilauda is assigned the name Божирог bojirog, which appears to be a variant of Богширго bogshirag and божрог bojrog, both names for the Alaudidae.

Inner Mongolian naming

For the House Sparrow (Passer domesticus), Inner Mongolian ornithological naming originally used the vernacular names Болжмор boljmor 'boljmor' and Бялзуухай byalzuukhai. Both names are popularly used for the Passeridae in various parts of the Mongolian-speaking world but are not used in the official naming of the Passeridae in Mongolia. In Mongolia and Buryatia, Болжмор boljmor 'boljmor', is applied to the larks. Бялзуухай byalzuukhai is used in all Mongolian-speaking areas (including Inner Mongolia) as a general name for small passerine species, in particular finches.

The list used Болжмор boljmor 'boljmor' as the general name for passerids, with generic naming following the same pattern as Chinese and English:

1. The genus Petronia ('rock sparrows') was known as Хадны болжмор khadni boljmor 'rock boljmor'.

2. The genus Pyrgilauda ('snowfinches') was known as Цагаан болжмор tsagaaŋ boljmor 'white boljmor'.

A more recent list (33) has shown some confusing changes:

a) For Passer domesticus, the addition of descriptors to names, the adoption of the Mongolian ornithological name (Бор шувуу bor shuvuu) in one alternative name, and the dropping of Болжмор boljmor 'boljmor' as a name.

b) For Passer montanus, the use of Бялзуухай byalzuukhai in an alternative name.

c) The use of the simplified terms Хадан болжмор khadaŋ boljmor 'rock boljmor' for the genus Petronia and Модон болжмор modoŋ boljmor 'tree boljmor' for Passer montanus.

The net result is to disrupt the overall unity of naming. Болжмор boljmor 'boljmor' is no longer used for all species, while Бялзуухай byalzuukhai is used for both species commonly found near human habitation. The list simultaneously adds Mongolian influence and while extending local Inner Mongolian naming.

Species names

ABOUT THIS TABLE

SCIENTIFIC & WESTERN		MONGOLIAN			EAST ASIAN			TURKIC
Passer
Latin	English/Russian	Mongolian	Inner M	Other M	Chinese	Japanese	Korean	Kazakh	Turkish
Passer ammodendri	Saxaul sparrow Саксаульный воробей	Загийн боршувуу ᠵᠠᠭ ᠦᠨ ᠪᠣᠷᠣ ᠰᠢᠪᠠᠭᠣ zagiŋ bor-shuvuu 'saxaul dun-bird'	Хар оройт болжмор ᠬᠠᠷ᠎ᠠ ᠣᠷᠣᠢᠢᠲᠣ ᠪᠣᠯᠵᠣᠮᠣᠷ khar oroit boljmor 'black-capped sparrow' (31, 33)	Mongolia formerly: Загийн бор шувуу ᠵᠠᠭ ᠦᠨ ᠪᠣᠷᠣ ᠰᠢᠪᠠᠭᠣ zagiŋ bor shuvuu 'saxaul dun-bird'	黑顶麻雀 (黑頂麻雀) hēi-dǐng má-què 'black-capped sparrow' or 西域麻雀 (西域麻雀) xī-yù má-què 'Western region sparrow' (alt in 1)	ノウメンスズメ (能面雀) nō-men suzume 'Noh mask sparrow' (bird's face resembles mask used in traditional Noh theatre)		Сексеуіл торғайы seksewil torğayı 'saxaul sparrow'
Passer domesticus	House sparrow Домовый воробей	Оронгийн боршувуу ᠣᠷᠣᠨ ᠦ ᠪᠣᠷᠣ ᠰᠢᠪᠠᠭᠣ oroŋgiŋ bor-shuvuu 'house dun-bird'	Гэрийн Бялзуухай ᠭᠡᠷ ᠦᠨ ᠪᠢᠯᠵᠣᠣᠬᠠᠢ geriŋ byalzuukhai 'house sparrow' (33) or Орны бор шувуу ᠣᠷᠣᠨ ᠦ ᠪᠣᠷᠣ ᠰᠢᠪᠠᠭᠣ orni bor shuvuu 'house dun-bird' (33)	Mongolia formerly: Оронгийн бор шувуу ᠣᠷᠣᠨ ᠦ ᠪᠣᠷᠣ ᠰᠢᠪᠠᠭᠣ oroŋgiŋ bor shuvuu 'house dun-bird' IM also: Болжмор ᠪᠣᠯᠵᠣᠮᠣᠷ boljmor 'sparrow' (31) or Бялзуухай ᠪᠢᠯᠵᠣᠣᠬᠠᠢ byalzuukhai 'sparrow' (31)	家麻雀 (家麻雀) jiā má-què 'house sparrow'	イエスズメ (家雀) ie suzume 'house sparrow'	집참새 jip-cham-sae 'house sparrow bird'	Үй торғайы üy torğayı 'house sparrow'	Serçe 'sparrow'
Passer montanus	Eurasian tree sparrow Tree sparrow Полевой воробей	Хээрийн боршувуу ᠬᠡᠬᠡᠷ᠎ᠠ ᠶᠢᠨ ᠪᠣᠷᠣ ᠰᠢᠪᠠᠭᠣ kheeriŋ bor-shuvuu 'wild dun-bird'	Модон болжмор ᠮᠣᠳᠣᠨ ᠪᠣᠯᠵᠣᠮᠣᠷ modoŋ boljmor 'tree sparrow' (33) or Бор болжмор ᠪᠣᠷᠣ ᠪᠣᠯᠵᠣᠮᠣᠷ bor boljmor 'dun sparrow' (31, 33) or Бор бялзуухай ᠪᠣᠷᠣ ᠪᠢᠯᠵᠣᠣᠬᠠᠢ bor byalzuukhai 'dun finch' (33)	Mongolia formerly: Хээрийн бор шувуу ᠬᠡᠬᠡᠷ᠎ᠠ ᠶᠢᠨ ᠪᠣᠷᠣ ᠰᠢᠪᠠᠭᠣ kheeriŋ bor shuvuu 'wild dun-bird' IM also: Модны болжмор ᠮᠣᠳᠣᠨ ᠦ ᠪᠣᠯᠵᠣᠮᠣᠷ modni boljmor 'tree sparrow' (alt in 31)	麻雀 (麻雀) má-què 'sparrow' or 树麻雀 (樹麻雀) shù má-què 'tree sparrow' (alt in 1, 3) Taiwan: (麻雀) 麻雀 má-què 'sparrow'	スズメ (雀) suzume 'sparrow'	참새 cham-sae 'sparrow bird'	Жауторғай jaw-torğay 'jaw sparrow'	Ağaç Serçesi 'tree sparrow'
Petronia
Latin	English/Russian	Mongolian	Inner M	Other M	Chinese	Japanese	Korean	Kazakh	Turkish
Petronia petronia	Rock sparrow Streaked rock sparrow Rock petronia Каменный воробей	Хадны боршуу ᠬᠠᠳᠠᠨ ᠦ ᠪᠣᠷᠣᠱᠣᠣ ? khadni borshuu 'rock sparrow (variant form)'	Хадан болжмор ᠬᠠᠳᠠᠨ ᠪᠣᠯᠵᠣᠮᠣᠷ khadaŋ boljmor 'rock sparrow' (33)	Mongolia formerly: Хадны бор шувуу ᠬᠠᠳᠠᠨ ᠦ ᠪᠣᠷᠣ ᠰᠢᠪᠠᠭᠣ khadni bor shuvuu 'rock dun-bird' IM also: Хадны болжмор ᠬᠠᠳᠠᠨ ᠦ ᠪᠣᠯᠵᠣᠮᠣᠷ khadni boljmor 'rock sparrow' (31)	石雀 (石雀) shí-què 'rock sparrow'	イワスズメ (岩雀) iwa suzume 'rock sparrow'		Тас торғайы tas torğayı 'rock sparrow'	Kaya Serçesi 'rock sparrow'
Montifringilla
Latin	English/Russian	Mongolian	Inner M	Other M	Chinese	Japanese	Korean	Kazakh	Turkish
Montifringilla nivalis	White-winged snowfinch White-winged snow finch Snow finch	Цасны богшоодой ᠴᠠᠰᠣᠨ ᠦ ᠪᠣᠭᠱᠣᠣᠳᠠᠢ tsasni bogshoodoi 'snow bogshoodoi'		Mongolia formerly: Цасны бор шувуу ᠴᠠᠰᠣᠨ ᠦ ᠪᠣᠷᠣ ᠰᠢᠪᠠᠭᠣ tsasni bor shuvuu 'snow dun-bird'	白斑翅雪雀 (白斑翅雪雀) bái-bān-chì xuě-què 'white streak winged snow sparrow'	ユキスズメ (雪雀) yuki-suzume 'snow sparrow'		Қар құнақ qar qunaq 'snow brambling'	Kar Serçesi 'snow sparrow'
Pyrgilauda
Latin	English/Russian	Mongolian	Inner M	Other M	Chinese	Japanese	Korean	Kazakh	Turkish
Pyrgilauda davidiana Montifringilla davidiana	Père David's Snowfinch Père David's Snow Finch Small snowfinch David's snow finch Альпийский вьюрок	Монгол божирог ᠮᠣᠩᠭᠣᠯ ᠪᠣᠵᠢᠷᠭ᠎ᠠ moŋgol bojirog 'Mongolian bojirog'	Хар хоолойт цагаан болжмор ᠬᠠᠷ᠎ᠠ ᠬᠣᠭᠣᠯᠠᠢᠢᠲᠣ ᠴᠠᠭᠠᠨ ᠪᠣᠯᠵᠣᠮᠣᠷ khar khooloit tsagaan boljmor 'black-throated white sparrow' (31, 33)	Mongolia formerly: Монгол бор шувуу ᠮᠣᠩᠭᠣᠯ ᠪᠣᠷᠣ ᠰᠢᠪᠠᠭᠣ moŋgol bor shuvuu 'Mongolian dun-bird'	黑喉雪雀 (黑喉雪雀) hēi-hóu xuě-què 'black-throated snow sparrow'	モウコユキスズメ (蒙古雪雀) mōko yuki-suzume 'Mongolian snow sparrow'

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