undyingking: (Default)
undyingking ([personal profile] undyingking) wrote2010-08-16 02:41 pm
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Coo blimey

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]

[identity profile] undyingking.livejournal.com 2010-08-16 02:53 pm (UTC)(link)
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.

[identity profile] floralaetifica.livejournal.com 2010-08-16 02:57 pm (UTC)(link)
Ah. That would be it, then.

[identity profile] mr-malk.livejournal.com 2010-08-16 08:34 pm (UTC)(link)
Baleful! How very dare you!
That's some of my fondest childhood memories you're deprecating!