CUCKOO
Birds, Cuckoo, Migratory Birds Seona Anderson Birds, Cuckoo, Migratory Birds Seona Anderson

CUCKOO

Shakespeare Species Quote of the Day, CUCKOO: He knows me as the blind man knows the cuckoo. By his bad voice. The arrival of the Cuckoo back in the UK with their distinctive call is becoming less common. BTO tracks cuckoos on their journey back from Africa.

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LARK
Birds, Song Birds, Lark Seona Anderson Birds, Song Birds, Lark Seona Anderson

LARK

Shakespeare Species Quote of the Day, LARK: down king, for nightowls shriek where mounting larks should sing. Larks have been celebrated for their sweet song by writers and musicians in many cultures.

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HALCYON (Kingfisher)
Birds, Halcyon, Kingfisher Seona Anderson Birds, Halcyon, Kingfisher Seona Anderson

HALCYON (Kingfisher)

Shakespeare Species Quote of the Day, HALCYON (Kingfisher): revenge, affirm, and turn their halcyon beaks with every gust and vary of their masters. Shakespeare is repeating the old myth that dead Kingfishers, suspended, pointed in the direction of the wind.

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KITE
Birds, Bird of Prey, Kite Seona Anderson Birds, Bird of Prey, Kite Seona Anderson

KITE

Shakespeare Species Quote of the Day, KITE: Is Beaufort termed a kite? Where are his talons? Red Kites were persecuted almost to extinction in the UK but are now thriving in many parts of the country.

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OSTRICH
Birds, Ostrich Seona Anderson Birds, Ostrich Seona Anderson

OSTRICH

Shakespeare Species Quote of the Day, OSTRICH: But I’ll make thee eat iron like an ostrich and swallow my sword like a pin. There was widespread medieval & early modern belief that Ostriches ate iron.

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DOVE
Birds, Dove Seona Anderson Birds, Dove Seona Anderson

DOVE

Shakespeare Species Quote of the Day, DOVE: whose white investments figure innocence, the dove and very blessed spirit of peace. The Dove is one of the birds associated with Christ and they are symbolic in Islam, Judaism and other faiths.

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MAGPIE
Birds, Magpie Seona Anderson Birds, Magpie Seona Anderson

MAGPIE

Shakespeare Species Quote of the Day, MAGPIE: Augurs and understood relations have by maggot pies, and choughs and rooks brought forth the secret’st man of blood.

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STARLING
Birds, Starling Seona Anderson Birds, Starling Seona Anderson

STARLING

Shakespeare Species Quote of the Day, STARLING: I’ll have a starling shall be taught to speak nothing but “Mortimer”. Starlings, colourful, noisy, sociably are remarkable mimics.

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CORMORANT
Birds, Cormorant Seona Anderson Birds, Cormorant Seona Anderson

CORMORANT

Shakespeare Species Quote of the Day, CORMORANT: Light vanity, insatiate cormorant, consuming means, soon preys upon itself. Cormorants are aquatic birds well known for their fishing abilities and their wing drying poses.

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LAPWING
Birds, Lapwing Seona Anderson Birds, Lapwing Seona Anderson

LAPWING

Shakespeare Species Quote of the Day, LAPWING: for look, where Beatrice, like a lapwing runs close by the ground, to hear our conference. The beautiful Lapwing was a rich Shakespearean metaphor, but they are now declining and vulnerable.

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VULTURE
Birds, Carrion, Vulture Seona Anderson Birds, Carrion, Vulture Seona Anderson

VULTURE

Shakespeare Species Quote of the Day, VULTURE: while the vulture of sedition feeds in the bosom of such great commanders. Vultures are magnificent birds, essential to healthy ecosystems but long persecuted.

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JAY
Birds, Jay Seona Anderson Birds, Jay Seona Anderson

JAY

Shakespeare Species Quote of the Day, JAY: What, is the jay more precious than the lark because his feathers are more beautiful?

The beautiful noisy Jay is still a common sight in rural and urban areas.

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CHOUGH
Birds, Chough Seona Anderson Birds, Chough Seona Anderson

CHOUGH

Shakespeare Species Quote of the Day, CHOUGH: nor the boding raven, nor chough hoar… may on our birdhouse perch or sing. The distinctive Chough with its red legs and bills features in heraldry and heritage.

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RAVEN
Birds, Raven Seona Anderson Birds, Raven Seona Anderson

RAVEN

Shakespeare Species Quote of the Day, RAVEN: the raven himself is hoarse that croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan under my battlements. The Raven is a bird of foreboding in Shakespeare. Ravens have a rich cultural heritage in many societies.

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WREN
Birds, Wren Seona Anderson Birds, Wren Seona Anderson

WREN

Shakespeare Species Quote of the Day, WREN: but if there be yet left in heaven as small a drop of pity as a wren’s eye, feared gods, a part of it! Wrens, tiny and tuneful are valued in many cultures.

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OSPREY
Birds, Bird of Prey, Osprey Seona Anderson Birds, Bird of Prey, Osprey Seona Anderson

OSPREY

Shakespeare Species Quote of the Day, OSPREY: I think he’ll be to Rome as is the osprey to the fish, who takes it by sovereignty of nature. The majestic fisher of the skies appears only once in Shakespeare.

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