marshman 7,758 Posted July 19, 2013 Report Share Posted July 19, 2013 Alright lads I was taking to my brother and he's a keen goldfinch man but he's also a massive wind up Cnut . So he starts to tell me that goldfinches have accents in their song , I start to laugh and he said that he can tell a lot of the time where a bird comes from by he's song lol . Now is he pulling my pudding ? And also what is a switty bird ? Link to post Share on other sites
Outlaw Pete 2,224 Posted July 19, 2013 Report Share Posted July 19, 2013 Marshman; If you ever read " The Poachers Tale " by Fred J. Speakman, telling the story of (I think it was) Arthur Curtis ..... Curtis was a Bird Catcher around the London area. And I distinctly remember him saying how he could tell where a bird came from by ~ what amounted to ~ its accent. He said a Chingford Chaffinch had a different song than a Leytonstone one, eg. So, yes. Your brother's being truthful there. " Switty Bird "? I haven't a clue. Link to post Share on other sites
marshman 7,758 Posted July 19, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2013 Marshman; If you ever read " The Poachers Tale " by Fred J. Speakman, telling the story of (I think it was) Arthur Curtis ..... Curtis was a Bird Catcher around the London area. And I distinctly remember him saying how he could tell where a bird came from by ~ what amounted to ~ its accent. He said a Chingford Chaffinch had a different song than a Leytonstone one, eg. So, yes. Your brother's being truthful there. " Switty Bird "? I haven't a clue. no I haven't pete and I'm sure my brother hasn't as well because he can't read lol . He used to go in a pub in Bethnal green and there's used to be a lot of bird men in the pub I went in there one time and that's when he told me he could tell where they come from ,but he'd had a couple and he pissed himself laughing when I told to fcuk of you liar . Hmm maybe I owe him an apology then Link to post Share on other sites
KittleRox 2,147 Posted July 19, 2013 Report Share Posted July 19, 2013 yes its true bud, scientific studies have been done on certain birds ( can't remember which birds ) and they had regional accents switty rings a bell but can't recall Link to post Share on other sites
Outlaw Pete 2,224 Posted July 19, 2013 Report Share Posted July 19, 2013 If you google " Switty Bird " - then insist that's what ye mean't - it does throw up a few mentions amongst the Goldfinch and Mule chatter. So, it's out there ..... Someone here's bound to know, sooner or later Oh! Edited to add; In the above book, Curtis mentions the birds various songs. He describes them phonetically in terms such as; " Sue Wetty Wetty,Jack Wheats Ear! ". I'm sorry but, I last read that book at least thirty years ago. It's all a bit faded now. But, some bits (Sue Wetty. Jack Wheats Ear) were considered great. Others crap. I remember him saying how some or other combination of 'words' ~ for lack of my own better term ~ were sadly dyeing out. Anyway, as you've probably gathered; I suspect a " Switty Bird " is one that sings a certain, favoured, string of 'words'? Link to post Share on other sites
marshman 7,758 Posted July 19, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2013 Cheers pete I've just rang my brother and I think your spot on there mate. He said a switty bird is a bird that's got a switty note or sounds like hes singing switty in hes song . Apparently their highly prized if they've got a certain amount of swittys ! I also said sorry to him for calling him a liar lol Link to post Share on other sites
Outlaw Pete 2,224 Posted July 19, 2013 Report Share Posted July 19, 2013 We Rock! Link to post Share on other sites
marshman 7,758 Posted July 19, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2013 We Rock! lol I think ill have to get him that book though as a sort of an apology , mind you hell have to get hes Missus to read it to him lol. I shouldnt take the Micky really as he knows more about birds than ill ever know ! Link to post Share on other sites
Outlaw Pete 2,224 Posted July 19, 2013 Report Share Posted July 19, 2013 lol I think ill have to get him that book though as a sort of an apology It's on Amazon. uk for eighteen quid. You won't get it for much under a score anywhere, these days. And it was Alfred T. Curtis. Giving your bro' this book and having his wife read it to him would be ~ believe me ~ the greatest gift you could bestow. Written in 1960, it yet relates Curtis' illegal bird catching activities. Bird catching only being made illegal in 1954, see how he'd have been posting, on here, of his " Pre Ban " hauls with the Clap Nets? Best of all, it's all set around Essex / East London. It sounds like your brother will absolutely recognise the craic here. F**k me; He may even get an indirect mention! Personally? What I wouldn't f**king give to be able to sit there, with your brother. Read him this book and question him on his own understanding and memories evoked by it! Another f**king book, right there! I guarantee ye! Link to post Share on other sites
Waz 4,279 Posted July 19, 2013 Report Share Posted July 19, 2013 Have heard of goldie mules 'switty' and 'double switty'. Aint got a clue what it is though. Link to post Share on other sites
gnasher16 30,598 Posted July 19, 2013 Report Share Posted July 19, 2013 He said a Chingford Chaffinch had a different song than a Leytonstone one, eg. So, yes. Your brother's being truthful there. Bullshit !!..........I dont believe a word of it............so they not only have a different " accent " from different parts of the country......not only for different parts of the capital.......not only for different areas of the capital........but for different streets of an area of a capital ......Theres 1 long road between Chingford and Leytonstone about 5 miles in all................you can barely tell the accent apart in humans let alone birds................while i admit im a complete beginner to our little feathered friends i cant have that....thats just too daft to take seriously. Link to post Share on other sites
Malt 379 Posted July 19, 2013 Report Share Posted July 19, 2013 He said a Chingford Chaffinch had a different song than a Leytonstone one, eg. So, yes. Your brother's being truthful there. Bullshit !!..........I dont believe a word of it............so they not only have a different " accent " from different parts of the country......not only for different parts of the capital.......not only for different areas of the capital........but for different streets of an area of a capital ......Theres 1 long road between Chingford and Leytonstone about 5 miles in all................you can barely tell the accent apart in humans let alone birds................while i admit im a complete beginner to our little feathered friends i cant have that....thats just too daft to take seriously. I remembered something on the news about this after reading this thread, and it's still up: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-16154490 Link to post Share on other sites
bobcullen79 1,495 Posted July 19, 2013 Report Share Posted July 19, 2013 Its true.. Im sure Dickie Attenborough done a programme on it. I proceeded to tell some big burley geezer down the pub and the twat laughed.. I keep it to myself now. Link to post Share on other sites
gnasher16 30,598 Posted July 19, 2013 Report Share Posted July 19, 2013 He said a Chingford Chaffinch had a different song than a Leytonstone one, eg. So, yes. Your brother's being truthful there. Bullshit !!..........I dont believe a word of it............so they not only have a different " accent " from different parts of the country......not only for different parts of the capital.......not only for different areas of the capital........but for different streets of an area of a capital ......Theres 1 long road between Chingford and Leytonstone about 5 miles in all................you can barely tell the accent apart in humans let alone birds................while i admit im a complete beginner to our little feathered friends i cant have that....thats just too daft to take seriously. I remembered something on the news about this after reading this thread, and it's still up: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-16154490 Well shit in your hat and punch it !...............Im sat here open mouthed in disbelief .................. Mind you them scientists do say a difference between Town and Country birds......ok i get that.........but a difference between different streets on the same manor,i still reckon thats taking the piss Link to post Share on other sites
Hot Meat 3,109 Posted July 19, 2013 Report Share Posted July 19, 2013 i love birds, always have, had them around me since i was wearing rubber pants an terry towelin nappys, but holy fook them scientists have got far to much time on there hands, im all for the study of animals, but why couldnt they be doing someat worth while, rather than figuring out if birds have accents i do think they may be taking the mickey there tho, who exactly can call them liars i do hope if 1 of my kids become a scientist, itll be to help humanity, not study a thrush's accent Link to post Share on other sites
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