BellaOnline Forums Hobbies and Crafts Birding What's a Dickie Bird?

My family and I went to the Lake Ontario Bird Festival this weekend. Its not far from us, in NY and on the shore of Lake Ontario, naturally.. <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> ...hence the name. Anyway, the guide at Derby Hill, famous for hawk watching, told us to be careful along the trail and watch where we stepped because the Dickie Birds were nesting. Not wanting to appear un-birdly, I said we would, and didn't ask him what a Dickie Bird looked like, even though I've never heard of it. I've looked through all my field guides and tried to find it on eNature, but I'm coming up blank. The closest I find is a Dickcissel, and I don't think they're in New York area. Anyone have any idea what a Dickie Bird is....or was the guide pulling my leg??

I think you mean "dicky bird" <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

From the Simple Simon Nursery Rhyme:

He went to catch a dicky bird,
And thought he could not fail,
Because he had a little salt,
To put upon its tail.

Dictionary.com says:

dickybird n : (informal) small bird; adults talking to children sometimes call small birds dickeybirds

Hmmm...so the guide probably meant that small birds were nesting on the ground?? I've never heard that nursery rhyme before, but apparently HE has..lol..Now I wish I'd asked him exactly what birds he was talking about.