General
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Thai แอ่น àeen is an old areal bird name akin to to the modern Chinese 燕 and Vietnamese én. Although it is often defined conveniently as 'swallow', it actually means 'swallow; any of various swallow-like birds'.
In modern Thai แอ่น àeen has been used as the base for the formation of bird names in several different families of birds of simllar appearance, principally the Hirundinidae (swallows) and Apodidae (swifts), but also including the Hemiprocnidae (treeswifts), Glareolidae (pratincoles), and Artamidae (woodswallows) -- all of which remain แอ่น àeen in the traditional classification.
To the careful observer it has always been evident that there were many identifiable kinds of แอ่น àeen and additional modifiers were used to specify these different types as needed. Some of these variations have subsequently been codified into the scientific nomenclature, especially after ornithologists demonstrated that the แอ่น àeen were not biologically closely related and that their resemblances were due to convergent evolution. This has resulted in a proliferation of bird names with precisely limited meanings. However, at the time these names were regularised (and for non-specialists even today) a strict lexical separation of 'swallow', 'swift', and the other similar species was an artificial and somewhat alien construct. Indeed, other variations on แอ่น àeen survive as colloquial, regional, or literary terms, but were not used to form ornithological scientific names. Some of these variations include formative elements which no longer convey any additional meaning of their own, but which are used in several other wildlife names (not just birds). Those recorded here with แอ่น àeen include นาง- naaŋ- and อี- ii-.
For scientific terminology, since แอ่น àeen alone could be ambiguous, two more complex terms based on แอ่น àeen were selected to represent the early ornithological separation of the two principal kinds of แอ่น àeen:
นกนางแอ่น nók naaŋ-àeen 'swallow' (lit. 'naaŋ-swallow-bird')
วงศ์นกนางแอ่น woŋ nók-naaŋ-àeen 'Hirundinidae; swallow family'
นกแอ่นบินเร็ว nók àeen-bin-rew 'swift' (lit. 'fly-fast swallow-bird')
งศ์นกแอ่นบินเร็ว woŋ nók-àeen-bin-rew 'Apodidae; swift family' (classical taxonomic naming)
In arriving at ornithological common names for genera and species within the Hirundinidae, names were chosen which began with นกนางแอ่น nók naaŋ-àeen 'swallow' (see below). However, for the Apodidae, a shorter base form, นกแอ่น nók àeen, was used instead. Etymologically, นกแอ่น nók àeen could be expected to mean 'swallow', but with นกนางแอ่น nók naaŋ-àeen gaining acceptance as the proper word for 'swallow', นกแอ่น nók àeen in turn became restricted only to 'swift'. When taxonomic revisions based on molecular biology were presented, a new version of the Apodidae family name was used which reflects this polarising semantic shift:
งศ์นกแอ่น woŋ nók-àeen 'Apodidae; swift family' (revised modern taxonomic naming)
These developments have obscured the etymologies of other names formed on แอ่น àeen for birds in the other families. It is probable that แอ่น àeen in นกแอ่นฟ้า nók àeen fáa 'regal (=sky)-swift' (=treeswift) was intended to mean something more like 'swift' than 'swallow'. However, แอ่น àeen in นกแอ่นทุ่ง nók àeen tʰûŋ 'field-swallow' (=pratincole), used in the family name of the Glareolidae; and นกแอ่นพง nók àeen pʰoŋ 'thicket-swallow' (=woodswallow), used in the family name of the Artamidae, clearly refer back to the original wider, primarily 'swallow', meaning of แอ่น àeen and not to the currently limited meaning 'swift'.
The original core meaning of แอ่น àeen as 'swallow' is also preserved in traditonal names such as:
แอ่น àeen 'swallow'
อีแอ่น ii-àeen 'swallow' (lit. 'ii-swallow')
นกอีแอ่น nók ii-àeen 'swallow' (lit. 'ii-swallow-bird')
แอ่นลม àeen lom 'swallow' (lit. 'wind-swallow')
The following are the ornithological scientific classificatory names based on แอ่น àeen in current use as general names for the families and genera:
(Apodidae)
งศ์นกแอ่นบินเร็ว woŋ nók-àeen-bin-rew 'swift family' Apodidae (classical)
งศ์นกแอ่น woŋ nók-àeen 'swift family' Apodidae (modern)
นกแอ่น nók àeen 'swift' Apus swifts; Aerodramus (and Collocalia) swiftlets
นกแอ่นใหญ่ nók àeen yày 'large-swift' Hirundapus needletail swifts
นกแอ่นเล็ก nók àeen lék 'small-swift' Rhaphidura spinetail swifts
นกแอ่ตาล nók àeen taan 'palm-swift' Cypsiurus palm swifts
นกแอ่นฟ้า nók àeen fáa 'regal(=sky)-swift' Hemiprocne treeswifts
(Glareolidae)
วงศ์นกแอ่นทุ่ง woŋ nók-àeen-tʰûŋ 'pratincole family' Glareolidae
นกแอ่นทุ่ง nók àeen-tʰûŋ 'field-swallow-bird' Glareola pratincoles
(Artamidae)
วงศ์นกแอ่นพง woŋ nók-àeen-pʰoŋ 'woodswallow family' Artamidae
นกแอ่นพง nók àeen-pʰoŋ 'thicket-swallow-bird' Artamus woodswallows
(Hirundinidae)
วงศ์นกนางแอ่น woŋ nók-naaŋ-àeen 'swallow family' Hirundinidae
นกนางแอ่น nók naaŋ-àeen 'swallow' Hirundo (and Cecropsis) swallows
นกนางแอ่นทราย nók naaŋ-àeen saay 'sand-swallow' Riparia sand martins
นกนางแอ่นผา nók naaŋ-àeen pʰăa 'cliff-swallow' Ptyonoprogne crag martins
นกนางแอ่นมาติน nók naaŋ-àeen maa-tin 'martin-swallow' Delichon (house) martins)
Species names
PSEUDOCHELIDONINAE | ||||||||
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SCIENTIFIC & ENGLISH |
THAI |
OTHER S. E. ASIAN |
EAST ASIAN |
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Pseudochelidon | ||||||||
Latin |
English |
Thai |
Other Th |
Malaysian |
Indonesian |
Vietnamese |
Chinese |
Japanese |
Pseudochelidon sirintarae | White-eyed river martin White-eyed river-martin |
นกเจ้าฟ้าหญิงสิรินธร nók câw-fáa-yĭŋ sí-rin-tʰoaan 'Princess Sirindhorn's bird' |
白眼河燕 (白眼河燕) 'white-eyed river swallow' |
アジアカワツバメ (アジア川燕) ajia kawa- tsubame 'Asian river swallow' |
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HIRUNDININAE | ||||||||
SCIENTIFIC & WESTERN |
THAI |
OTHER S. E. ASIAN |
EAST ASIAN |
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Delichon | ||||||||
Latin |
English |
Thai |
Other Th |
Malaysian |
Indonesian |
Vietnamese |
Chinese |
Japanese |
Delichon urbicum Delichon urbica |
Northern house martin Northern house-martin Common house martin House martin |
นกนางแอ่นมาตินพันธุ์ไซบีเรีย nók naaŋ-àeen maa-tin pʰan say-bii-ria 'Siberian species martin-swallow (bird)' (maa-tin from English 'martin') |
นกนางแอ่นมาร์ตินพันธุ์ไซบีเรีย nók naaŋ-àeen maa-tin pʰan say-bii-ria 'Siberian species martin-swallow (bird)' (maa-tin from English 'martin') (21) |
Chim Nhạn hông trắng Xibêri 'Siberian white-rumped swallow (bird)' (12, 34) |
毛脚燕 (毛腳燕) 'hair-leg swallow' or 白腹毛脚燕 (白腹毛腳燕) 'white-breasted hair-legged swallow' (alt in 1) |
ニシイワツバメ (西岩燕) nishi iwa-tsubame 'Western rock-swallow' |
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Delichon dasypus |
Asian house martin Asian house-martin |
นกนางแอ่นมาตินพันธุ์เอเซียใต้ nók naaŋ-àeen maa-tin pʰan ee-sia-tây 'South Asian species martin-swallow (bird)' (maa-tin from English 'martin') |
นกนางแอ่นมาร์ตินพันธุ์เอเซียใต้ nók naaŋ-àeen maa-tin pʰan ee-sia-tây 'South Asian species martin-swallow (bird)' (maa-tin from English 'martin') (21) |
Burung Layang-Layang Belakang Putih 'white-backed swallow (bird)' (26) Burung Layang-Layang Bukit 'hill swallow (bird)' (27) Burung Martin Asia 'Asian martin (bird)' (martin from English) (24) |
Burung Layang-layang Rumah 'house swallow (bird)' (Conflicts with Malaysian name for Apus nipalensis) |
Chim Nhạn hông trắng Á châu 'Asian white-rumped swallow (bird)' (12, 13) |
烟腹毛脚燕 (煙腹毛腳燕) 'smoky-bellied hair-legged swallow' Taiwan: (東方毛腳燕) 東方毛腳燕 'eastern hair-legged swallow' |
イワツバメ (岩燕) iwa-tsubame 'rock-swallow' |
Delichon nipalense Delichon nipalensis |
Nepal house martin Nepal house-martin |
นกนางแอ่นมาตินพันธุ์เนปาล nók naaŋ-àeen maa-tin pʰan nee-paan 'Nepalese species martin-swallow (bird)' (maa-tin from English 'martin') |
นกนางแอ่นมาร์ตินพันธุ์เนปาล nók naaŋ-àeen maa-tin pʰan nee-paan 'Nepalese species martin-swallow (bird)' (maa-tin from English 'martin') (21) |
Chim Nhạn hông trắng Nêpan 'Nepalese white-rumped swallow (bird)' (12, 34) |
黑喉毛脚燕 (黑喉毛腳燕) 'black-throated hair-legged swallow' |
ノドグロイワツバメ (喉黒岩燕) nodo-guro iwa-tsubame 'black-throated rock-swallow' |
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Cecropis | ||||||||
Latin |
English |
Thai |
Other Th |
Malaysian |
Indonesian |
Vietnamese |
Chinese |
Japanese |
Cecropis daurica Hirundo daurica |
Red-rumped swallow Golden-rumped swallow |
นกนางแอ่นตะโพกแดง nók naaŋ-àeen tà-pʰôok-daeeŋ 'red-rumped swallow (bird)' |
Burung Layang-Layang Api 'fire swallow (bird)' (26) (Conflicts with Indonesian name for Hirundo rustica) Burung Layang-Layang Ekor Hitam 'black-tailed swallow (bird)' (27) Burung Sualo Gua 'cave swallow (bird)' (sualo from English 'swallow') (24) |
Burung Layang-layang Gua 'cave swallow (bird)' (Conflicts with Malaysian name for Aerodramus fuciphagus) |
Hirundo daurica: Chim Nhạn bụng xám 'grey-bellied swallow (bird)' (12, 13) |
金腰燕 (金腰燕) 'gold-rumped swallow' Taiwan: (金腰燕) 金腰燕 'gold-rumped swallow' |
コシアカツバメ (腰赤燕) koshi-aka tsubame 'red-rumped swallow' |
|
Cecropis striolata Hirundo striolata |
Striated swallow Greater striated swallow |
นกนางแอ่นลาย nók naaŋ-àeen laay 'striped swallow (bird)' |
Burung Layang-Layang Batu 'rock-swallow (bird)' (27) (Conflicts with Indonesian name for Hirundo tahitica) |
Burung Layang-layang Loreng 'barred swallow (bird)' |
Hirundo striolata: Chim Nhạn bụng vằn 'stripe-bellied swallow (bird)' (12) |
斑腰燕 (斑腰燕) 'stripe-rumped swallow' Taiwan: (赤腰燕) 赤腰燕 'red-rumped swallow' |
オオコシアカツバメ (大腰赤燕) ō koshi-aka tsubame 'large red-rumped swallow' |
|
Cecropis badia | Rufous-bellied swallow | นกนางแอ่นท้องแดง nók naaŋ-àeen tʰóaaŋ-daeeŋ 'red-bellied swallow (bird)' |
Chim Nhạn bụng hung 'reddish-bellied swallow (bird)' (34) |
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Hirundo | ||||||||
Latin |
English |
Thai |
Other Th |
Malaysian |
Indonesian |
Vietnamese |
Chinese |
Japanese |
Hirundo tahitica |
Pacific swallow | นกนางแอ่นแปซิฟิค nók naaŋ-àeen paee-sí-fík 'Pacific swallow (bird)' |
Burung Layang-Layang Pasifik 'Pacific swallow (bird)' (26, 27) Burung Sualo Batu 'rock-swallow (bird)' (sualo from English 'swallow') (24) |
Burung Layang-layang Batu 'rock-swallow (bird)' (Conflicts with Malaysian name for Cecropis striolata) |
Chim Nhạn đuôi đen 'black-tailed swallow (bird)' (12, 34) |
洋燕 (洋燕) 'ocean swallow' (2, 4, 5) 洋斑燕 (洋斑燕) 'ocean striped swallow' (alt in 1, 3) Taiwan: (洋燕) 洋燕 'ocean swallow' |
リュウキュウツバメ (琉球燕) ryūkyū tsubame 'Ryukyu swallow' |
|
Hirundo smithii |
Wire-tailed swallow | นกนางแอ่นหางลวด nók naaŋ-àeen hăaŋ-lûat 'wire-tailed swallow (bird)' |
Chim Nhạn đầu hung 'reddish-headed swallow (bird)' (12, 34) |
线尾燕 (線尾燕) 'wire-tailed swallow' |
ハリオツバメ (針尾燕) hari-o tsubame 'wire-tailed swallow' |
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Hirundo rustica |
Barn swallow House swallow Swallow |
นกนางแอ่นบ้าน nók naaŋ-àeen bâan 'house swallow (bird)' |
Burung Layang-Layang Hijrah 'emigrating swallow (bird)' (26) Burung Layang-Layang Pekan 'market swallow (bird)' (27) Burung Sualo Api 'fire swallow (bird)' (sualo from English 'swallow') (24) |
Burung Layang-layang Api 'fire swallow (bird)' (Conflicts with Malaysian name for Cecropis daurica) |
Chim Nhạn bụng trắng 'white-bellied swallow (bird)' (12, 13, 34) |
家燕 (家燕) 'house swallow' Taiwan: (家燕) 家燕 'house swallow' |
ツバメ (燕) tsubame 'swallow' |
|
Ptyonoprogne | ||||||||
Latin |
English |
Thai |
Other Th |
Malaysian |
Indonesian |
Vietnamese |
Chinese |
Japanese |
Ptyonoprogne concolor Hirundo concolor |
Dusky crag martin Dusky crag-martin Dusky crag swallow |
นกนางแอ่นผาสีคล้ำ nók naaŋ-àeen pʰăa sĭi-kʰlám 'dark cliff-swallow (bird)' |
Burung Layang-Layang Kelabu 'grey swallow (bird)' (26) Burung Layang-layang Tubir 'ravine swallow (bird)' (27) |
Hirundo concolor: Chim Nhạn nâu hung 'reddish brown swallow (bird)' (12) |
纯色岩燕 (純色岩燕) 'pure-coloured rock-swallow' |
インドチャイロツバメ (インド茶色燕) indo cha-iro tsubame 'Indian brown swallow' |
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Riparia | ||||||||
Latin |
English |
Thai |
Other Th |
Malaysian |
Indonesian |
Vietnamese |
Chinese |
Japanese |
Riparia paludicola | Plain martin Brown-throated sand martin African sand martin |
นกนางแอ่นทรายสีน้ำตาล nók naaŋ-àeen saay sĭi-nám-taan 'brown sand-swallow (bird)' |
Chim Nhạn nâu đỏ 'red-brown swallow (bird)' (12) |
褐喉沙燕 (褐喉沙燕) 'brown throated sand-swallow' Taiwan: (棕沙燕) 棕沙燕 'reddishbrown sand-swallow' |
タイワンショウドウツバメ (台湾小洞燕) taiwan shōdō tsubame 'Taiwan small hole swallow' |
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Riparia riparia |
Sand martin or Bank swallow Collared sand martin |
นกนางแอ่นทรายสร้อยคอดำ nók naaŋ-àeen saay sôaay-kʰoaa-dam 'black-necklaced sand-swallow (bird)' |
Burung Layang-layang Awan 'cloud swallow (bird)' (26, 27) Burung Martin Awan 'cloud martin (bird)' (martin from English) (24) |
Burung Layang-layang Pasir 'sand-swallow (bird)' |
Chim Nhạn nâu xám 'grey brown swallow (bird)' (12, 34) |
崖沙燕 (崖沙燕) 'cliff sand-swallow' Taiwan: (灰沙燕) 灰沙燕 'grey sand-swallow' |
ショウドウツバメ (小洞燕) shōdō tsubame 'small hole swallow' |
中国鸟类种和亚种分类名录大全(修订版) 郑作新 著 科学出版社 北京 2000年
A Complete Checklist of Species and Subspecies of the Chinese Birds (Revised Edition) by Cheng Tso-Hsin, Science Press, Beijing 2000
中国鸟类分类与分布名录 主编:郑光美 科学出版社 北京 2005年
A Checklist on the Classification and Distribution of the Birds of China Chief editor: Zheng Guangmei, Science Press, Beijing 2005
中国鸟类野外手册(中文版)约翰・马敬能、卡伦・菲利普斯,合作者:荷芬奇,翻译:卢和芬 湖南教育出版社 长沙 2000年
A Field Guide to the Birds of China (Chinese translation) by John MacKinnon, Karen Phillipps, in collaboration with He Fen-qi, translated by Lu Hefen, Hunan Jiaoyu Chubanshe (Hunan Educational Press) Changsha 2000
世界鸟类分类与分布名录 主编:郑光美 科学出版社 北京 2002年
A Checklist on the Classification and Distribution of the Birds of the World Chief editor: Zheng Guangmei, Science Press, Beijing 2002
世界鸟类名称(拉丁文、汉文、英文对照)第二版 郑作新等 科学出版社 北京 2002年
Birds of the World (Latin, Chinese and English Names) 2nd ed. by Cheng Tso-Hsin et al, Science Press, Beijing 2002
Danh Lục Chim Việt Nam (In lần thứ hai) (Checklist of the Birds of Vietnam) Võ Quý, Nguyễn Cử, Nhà Xuất Bản Nông Nghiệp, Hà Nội 1999
Chim Việt Nam Nguyễn Cử, Lê Trọng Trải, Karen Phillipps; Nhà Xuất Bản Lao Động - Xã Hội, 2000
นกในเมืองไทย รศ. โอภาส ขอบเขตต (Birds in Thailand, by Assoc. Prof. Obhas Khobkhet), in five volumes, Sarakadee Press, Bangkok, 1998-2001
Senarai Nama-nama Burung Semenanjung Malaysia dan Asia Tenggara by Ismail, Abdul Rahman, Perhilitan (Jabatam Perlindungan Hidupan Liar dan Taman Negara, Semenanjung Malaysia), Kuala Lumpur 1981
(List of the Names of Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Southeast Asia by Ismail, Abdul Rahman, Department of Wildlife and National Parks, Peninsular Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 1981)
The Birds of the Thai-Malay Peninsula: Vol. 1 - Non-passerines by Wells, David R., Academic Press, London 1999
A Field Guide to the Birds of West Malaysia and Singapore by Jeyarajasingam, Allen and Alan Pearson, Oxford University Press, Oxford 1999
The Birds of the Thai-Malay Peninsula: Vol. 2 - Passerines by Wells, David R., Christopher Helm, A&C Black, London 2007
Danh Lục Các Loài Chim ở Việt Nam (Latinh, Việt, Pháp, Hán) Trần Văn Chánh 2008-2009