Coo blimey

[undyingking]

If you're in the UK, or most of the rest of Europe I think, you're probably familiar with the woodpigeon. It looks much like an ordinary (winged-rat) pigeon, but rather bigger (which gives it the impression of having a small head) and with a white patch on its neck.

It also has a very characteristic and recognizable cooing call, which is what this post is about. It's usually five notes, on a pattern of short-long-long short-long. But what is it saying?

Where I grew up in Essex, we were told that the woodpigeon says "My poor toe, Betty". But I don't suppose for a moment that that's universal. What did woodpigeons say where you grew up, or where you live now (and where is/was that)? Or were you unaware of any particular phrase being implied?

(Sorry, people from further away – but maybe you have some equivalent chatty bird you can tell us about.)

[Poll #1606323]

Comments

[vicarage.livejournal.com]

My mum from Ilford says "My Toe is Bleeding", to which the Wiltshire rejoinder from Dad is "Shut Up about your Bleeding Toe"

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

Heh, that must be closely related to my mum's Poor Toe (she's from Romford, just a few miles further into Essex).

[venta.livejournal.com]

I thought wood pigeons just went "short-long-long". Maybe ours are repressed or something.

I'm not aware of them saying anything. The only bird that I thought said things was a yellowhammer (which inexplicably says "a little bit of bread and no cheese").

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

Mm, I was told that one too, but have never really heard it.

But I think to old-time naturalists, pretty much every bird said something in its call. I shall have to try and research some of the others.

[venta.livejournal.com]

I think to old-time naturalists, pretty much every bird said something in its call

Good grief, did they really? I suppose it made sense when passing on an mp3 of the call was a bit out of the question!

I too am most intrigued.

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

I've just found out that according to RTE, Irish woodpigeons say "Take two, do, take two".

I shall imagine them as avian Mrs Doyles now, forever pressing second helpings upon one.

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

And Virginia Woolf's said "Take two coos, Taffy". Right, I'd better get back to work now!

[floralaetifica.livejournal.com]

Oh, so they do!

[venta.livejournal.com]

Out of curiosity I texted my Dad to ask what he thought pigeons said. He doesn't know, but replies to tell me that grouse say "Go back, go back!"

He's currently visiting a friend, and she reports that partridges say "**** off" and collared doves say "'ello, Sid".

Not knowing what the call of a partridge sounds like, I'm not able to fill in the ***s.

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

It might be "star star star star off", I suppose. (I've never (knowingly) heard one either.)

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

Might those have been collared doves? They have a two- or three-note cooing call, usually short-long or short-long-looong.

[venta.livejournal.com]

Er... they might have been. As far as I could tell it was usually trees that made that noise :)

It's possible that my dad misinformed me, or equally possible that I subsequently got it wrong.

[mr-malk.livejournal.com]

That was what was brought to my mind as well. Beatrix Potter mentions it in one of her books, but I could't remember what bird it was.

[temeres.livejournal.com]

I thought wood pigeons just went "short-long-long".

That's Collared Dove.

[floralaetifica.livejournal.com]

I was never told that wood pigeons say anything in particular. They just make a really annoying and slightly creepy 'hoo-hoooooooo' sound. Little bastards. There were millions of them where I grew up, and I always hated the sound.

There is some bird that according to my mother says 'A little bit of bread and no cheese'. I forget which one. One of the small garden birds, I think.

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

See above! Although I have never really heard it say that.

[floralaetifica.livejournal.com]

Good grief, it's rare that venta's and my folklore intersect! Cornwall and t'North - might as well be different worlds.

[venta.livejournal.com]

A momentous occasion indeed!

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

Apparently Enid Blyton is to blame for popularizing this version of the call, and I guess her baleful influence extended to pretty much all corners of the realm.

[floralaetifica.livejournal.com]

Ah. That would be it, then.

[mr-malk.livejournal.com]

Baleful! How very dare you!
That's some of my fondest childhood memories you're deprecating!

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

Mmm, wood pigeons.

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

;-)

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

*grins*
I need to go to the butcher's at Victoria Lane more often who usually has a good selection of game.

it's purest poetry

[cleanskies.livejournal.com]

Fuck you, you, you
No, fuck you, you
Fuck you, you, you
No, fuck you, you

Re: it's purest poetry

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

I can tell you grew up amid the romance of the countryside.

Re: it's purest poetry

[cleanskies.livejournal.com]

arr it were well bucolic