always throws me for a sec when I see a bird online referred to casually by its common name, when there's both a Eurasian and an American bird called that common name

"look at these redstarts" THAT'S NOT A REDSTART oh wait are there other redstarts elsewhere

(yes. a lot.)

#birds

did u know: the name redstart comes from the archaic use of the word "start" to mean "tail" because the common redstart in Europe has a red tail. but not every bird called a redstart has any red on its tail! other birds closely related to the common redstart are called redstarts because of their relationship, not their appearance

#birds

and then American redstarts are called that because homesick European settlers called all sorts of North American birds after their familiar birds from home based on the most superficial of similarities

check out the American vs European goldfinches for example!!

#birds

@soph_sol the US really won the goldest finch competition huh