Giryama Bird Names: An Etymological Dictionary

working draft, 18 September 2008

compiled by Martin Walsh

anaababa (?), pl.?, Dakatcha: Hadada Ibis, Bostrychia hagedash; Glossy Ibis, Plegadis
falcinellus (2008, draft).

baringo, pl.?, Long-tailed Cormorant, Phalacrocorax africanus (2008).

bata, pl. mabata, 5/6, Deed: —, 5/6, ‘duck’; — lume, ‘drake’ (1964). Taylor: bata,
‘duck’ (1891). Cf. Rabai: —, 5/6, ‘duck’ (Krapf and Rebmann 1887). E. Duruma: —,
‘duck’ (Ndurya et al. 1989). N. Digo: —, 5/6, ‘duck’ (de Groot 1990; Mwalonya et al.
2004). S. Digo: bata kamari, ‘wild duck’ (Moreau 1940/41). Cf. Lower Pokomo
(Buu): ḅita, 5/6, ‘duck’; ḅitaḅara, 5/6, ‘wild duck’ (Rossbach 1987). Ilwana: iɓita, 5/6,
‘duck’, < Swahili (Nurse 2000); ib’ita, 5/6, ‘duck’ (Rossbach 1991). Swahili (Mvita):
—, 5/6, ‘duck’ (Krapf 1882; Binns 1925), < Arabic (Johnson 1939). Comorian
(Ndzuani): banta, 5/6, ‘duck’, < Arabic (Ahmed-Chamanga 1992). Bondei: wata, ‘wild
duck’ (Moreau 1940/41). Shambaa: batavua, ‘wild duck’ (Moreau 1940/41). Zigua:
wata, ‘wild duck’ (Moreau 1940/41). Luguru: —, ‘duck (domestic, wild)’ (Brain
1980). This is a widespread generic term for ducks and geese, family Anatidae,
especially domesticated ducks. It is a relatively recent loanword from Swahili
(originally Arabic), presumably from acquaintance with domesticates. See mbata wa
madzini.

bobolana, 5/6?, Deed: —, unidentified bird sp. (1964). Cf. Lower Pokomo: babalona,
5/6, Marabou Stork, Leptoptilos crumeniferus (Rossbach 1987). Upper Pokomo:
babalona, Marabou Stork, L. crumeniferus (Mwaura 2006). Ilwana: babilo:na, 9/10,
Marabou Stork, L. crumeniferus; loanword ?< Somali (Nurse 2000); babiloona, 9/10,
Marabou Stork, L. crumeniferus (Rossbach 1991).

bombo, 5/6, Deed: —, 5/6, ‘a beautiful red and black bird’ (1964). Cf. S. Digo: —, red
bishops in breeding plumage, male Euplectes spp. (Moreau 1940/41). Swahili (Tanga,
Pangani): —, red bishops in breeding plumage, male Euplectes spp. (Moreau
1940/41). Zigua: —, bishop birds, Euplectes (Brain 1980). See kasoso-bombo; also
ts’etse, identified in Dakatcha as a name for the Zanzibar Red Bishop, Euplectes
nigroventris.

bonobono, pl.?, Dakatcha: —, Long-tailed Fiscal, Lanius cabanisi (2008).

chore, 5/6, Dakatcha: —, Broad-billed Roller, Eurystomus glaucurus (2008). Cf. N.

Digo: jore, 5/6, Broad-billed Roller, E. glaucurus (de Groot 1990). Ilwana: c’o:ri,
9/10, ‘roller’, also in Upper Pokomo and Oromo, c’orre (Nurse 2000); ch’oori, 9/10,
Lilac-breasted Roller, Coracias caudata (Rossbach 1991). Swahili (Pemba,
Mtambwe): —, Broad-billed Roller, E. glaucurus (Pakenham 1959). Swahili
(Unguja): jore, Lilac-breasted Roller, C. caudata; Broad-billed Roller, E. glaucurus
(Pakenham 1959). Swahili (Mafia, Mbwera): chole, Broad-billed Roller, E. glaucurus.

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 Onomat. (Moreau 1940/41). Swahili ~ Bondei ~ Shambaa ~ Zigua ~ Zaramo ~ Kami:
jo(l)e, Broad-billed Roller, E. glaucurus (Moreau 1940/41). Zigua: jole, Broad-billed
Roller, E. glaucurus (Brain 1980). Luguru: sole, Broad-billed Roller, E. glaucurus
(Brain 1980).

chuvi, 7/8, Dakatcha: chuvi, Red-capped Robin-chat, Cossypha natalensis; White-

browed Robin-chat, C. heuglini; Eastern Bearded Scrub-Robin, Cercotrichas
quadrivirgata (2008). Walsh: chußi, probably White-browed Robin-chat, C. heuglini,
‘identified by its beautiful song at dusk as a bird with red chest and underparts and
white stripes running over its eyes’ (1992). Deed: chuvi, 7/8, ‘a bird which has many
different notes’; ‘”maneno ga chuvi” – too many words’ (Deed 1964). Taylor: ch’uvi,
‘a singing bird’ (1891). Cf. E. Duruma: chuphi, pl. vyuphi, 7/8, ‘parrot’; Red-winged
Lark, Mirafra hypermetra (Ndurya et al. 1989). Swahili (Mvita): chupi, ‘a bird, a man
of many words […] like the chattering of a bird’; jupi, ‘a bird, an ousel?’ (Binns
1925); chupi, ‘an ousel, bird (?)’; jupi, ‘a bird, an ousel?’ (Krapf 1882). Bukusu:
enyekuße, pl. chinyekuße, 9/10, White-browed Robin-chat, C. heuglini (Walsh 1992).
The presence of /v/ in chuvi suggests that this is a loanword from historical Segeju. Cf.
Kamba: kyũvĩ, 7/8, ‘a song sung by one person; a solo’ (A.I.M. 1970 [1939]).

dona-ts’aha, pl.?, Dakatcha: donatsaha, Eastern Nicator, Nicator gularis (2008). Deed:
dona-tsaha, ‘a small spotted bird’, < Giryama: -dona, ‘to engrave’; ‘to crack insects
between finger nails, or teeth’ + tsaha, ‘louse’ (1964). Taylor: —, ‘“louse-pecker”’, <
Giryama: ts’aha, 9/10, ‘louse’ (1891).

dzunyidzunyi, 5/6, Deed: dzunyi-dzunyi, 5/6, ‘a fictitious bird, a bird of fable said to
be a very large hawk, “yudzakala dzunyi-dzunyi” = he has become a mischief maker;
“yudzagwirwa ni dzunyi-dzunyi” = a child’s illness which results in a squint’ (1964).
Cf. N. Digo: dzuni, 9/10, ‘type of spirit’ < N. Digo: nyuni, 9/10, ‘class of birds
including eagle, chicken, owl, woodpecker and black kite; the appearance of any of
these birds is believed to cause the illness also called nyuni’; ‘convulsion affecting
young children: the child suddenly collapses, eyes start rolling and contractions of legs
and arms occur; this illness is traditionally associated with the appearance of birds of
the nyuni class’; ‘a ‘Digo’ spirit which possesses children at home’ (Mwalonya et al.
2004). Swahili (Mvita): juni, ‘a water bird, white in colour and long-legged. Its cry is
considered ominous’ (Binns 1925); junni, 5/6, ‘a water-bird, white in colour and long
legged. Its cry is considered ominous’ (Krapf 1882).

gande, 5/6, Hollis: —, in the Giryama translation of a Duruma proverb. Duruma: ‘Mimi
ni Gogota nijengere Gande’ (Giryama: ‘Mimi ni mkokota, nidzengere gande’), ‘I am a
gogota bird and I build for the gande bird.’ Gloss: ‘The bird called gande lays its eggs
and hatches its young in the holes made in trees by the gogota bird, a species of
woodpecker. This proverb is equivalent to saying: “I do the work and someone else
reaps the benefit,”’ (1916). See the reduplicated form of this name, gandegande,
identified at Dakatcha as a name for barbets, Lybius spp.

gandegande, 5/6, Dakatcha: —, Black-collared Barbet, Lybius torquatus; Brown-

breasted Barbet, L. melanopterus (2008). Deed: gande-gande, 5/6, ‘a little bird (red or
yellow with ring round neck)’ (1964). Cf. Rabai: —, 5/6, unidentified bird sp. (Krapf
and Rebmann 1887). W. Duruma: —, bird that is ‘very small with white breast and
black at the tip of the wings’ (Walsh 1987). E. Duruma: —, ‘red and yellow

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 barbets’ (Ndurya et al. 1989). N. Digo: —, 5/6, Black-collared Barbet, L. torquatus
(Mwalonya et al. 2004); —, 5/6, ‘red and yellow barbets’ (de Groot 1990). See also
gande, the root form of this name.

giya, 5/6, Deed: — ~ gia, ‘pigeon, dove’ (1964). Taylor: — ~ gia, ‘dove’ (1891). Cf.
Rabai: gia, 5/6, unidentified bird sp.; jiya, 5/6, ‘the turtledove’, with ‘a ring on its
neck’ (Krapf and Rebmann 1887). W. Duruma: ngia, ‘dove sp., greyish with a flexible
bill’ (Walsh 1987). E. Duruma: ngiya, ‘type of dove’ (Ndurya et al. 1989). N. Digo:
njiya, 9/10, ‘pigeon’ (de Groot 1990); njiya, 9/10, ‘dove’ (Mwalonya et al. 2004). S.
Digo: ntsia, Feral (Domestic) Pigeon, Columba livia (Moreau 1940/41). Swahili
(Mvita): ndiwa, ‘dove, pigeon’ (Binns 1925); ndíwa, 9/10, ‘dove, pigeon’ (Krapf
1882). Swahili (Pemba, Wete): njiwa, Red-eyed Dove, Streptopelia semitorquata
(Pakenham 1959). Comorian: ndiwa ~ndziwa, Feral (Domestic) Pigeon, C. livia
(Louette 1988; 2004). Comorian (Ndzuani): ndiwaá ~ ndziwá, 9/10, ‘pigeon’ (Ahmed-
Chamanga 1992). Comorian (Maore): ndiwa, 9/10, ‘pigeon’ (Blanchy 1996). Proto-
Sabaki: *njiWa, ‘dove sp.’, Common Bantu (Nurse and Hinnebusch 1993). See giya
ga midzini, giya-manga, giya-mangamanga, giya-peruperu.

giya ga midzini, 5/6, Dakatcha: gia ga midzini, Feral (Domestic) Pigeon, Columba
livia (2008). Lit. ‘town-pigeon’ < Giryama: giya, ‘pigeon, dove’ + midzi-ni, ‘in the
towns, urban’ (Deed 1964). See giya.

giya-manga, 5/6, Taylor: —, ‘pigeon’ (1891). Cf. Rabai: nchia-manga [njia-manga], ‘a

pigeon, a dove’ (Krapf and Rebmann 1887). N. Digo: njiya manga, 9/10, Speckled
Pigeon, Columba guinea; Feral (Domestic) Pigeon, C. livia (Mwalonya et al. 2004).
Swahili (Mvita): ndiwa manga, ‘a tame pigeon’ (Binns 1925); ndíwa manga, ‘the dove
brought from Arabia and domesticated by the Swahilis’ (Krapf 1882). Swahili (Dar es
Salaam): njiwa manga, Feral (Domestic) Pigeon, C. livia, ‘“pigeon from
Muscat”’ (Moreau 1940/41). Bondei ~ Shambaa: njiwa manga, Feral (Domestic)
Pigeon, C. livia (Moreau 1940/41). See giya, giya-mangamanga.

giya-mangamanga, 5/6, Dakatcha: gia mangamanga, Red-eyed Dove, Streptopelia

semitorquata (2008). See giya, giya-manga.

giya-peruperu, 5/6, Dakatcha: gia peru peru, Ring-necked Dove, Streptopelia capicola
(2008). See giya, and the cognate diminutive form kakwerukweru.

gongo-nyika, 5/6, Dakatcha: gongonyika, Eurasian Roller, Coracias garrulus (2008).

Deed: —, ‘a bird with brilliant blue wings’ (1964). Taylor: ngongo-nyika, ‘“wild
crow,” ?’ (1891). Lit. ‘crow of the bush’ < Giryama: ngongoo ~ ngoongoo, ‘crow’ +
nyika, ‘bush, wilderness’. See the variant ngongo-nyika; also ngongoo, ngoongoo
and ngongowa, crow spp.

gorwa, 5/6, Dakatcha: —, Yellow-bellied Greenbul, Chlorocichla flaviventris (2008).

Deed: gorwa, 5/6, ‘a small bird’ (1964). Cf. Rabai: goroa [gorwa], 5/6, ‘sparrow’; bird
with a tuft and black head that builds a straw nest; goroadzaka [gorwa-ts’aka], 5/6,
‘the goroa [gorwa] of the forest, the forest being its favourite abode. This has no bush
[tuft], and is of a different colour from the goroa [gorwa]’ (Krapf and Rebmann 1887).

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goto, 5/6, Dakatcha: —, Lilac-breasted Roller, Coracias caudata (2008). Deed: —, 5/6,
unidentified bird sp. (1964). Taylor: —, unidentified bird sp. (1891).

gudhe, 5/6, Dakatcha: gude, White-browed Coucal, Centropus superciliosus (2008).

Deed: gude, ‘brown and red night dove’ (1964). Taylor: gude, ‘brown and red night-
waking dove, not eaten’ (1891). Cf. Rabai: gude, 5/6, ‘in the evening, when you’ve
finished eating and want to go to sleep, the magude call out, or so people say’; they
cool their backsides on pots, and they do not go into the sacred kaya (Krapf and
Rebmann 1887). Upper Pokomo, dugudugu, Blue-headed Coucal, C. monachus
fischeri; ‘Its call is a sign of rain and happiness. Not killed. No call[;] No rain’;
dugudungu, Scaly Babbler, Turdoides squamulatus; ‘A sign of rain’ (Mwaura 2006).
Note that the Blue-headed Coucal is not found on the Lower Tana or elsewhere in
Eastern Kenya; the Upper Pokomo record is presumably a mistake for the widespread
White-browed Coucal. Swahili (Mvita): gude, ‘a species of cuckoo’ (Binns 1925);
gude, 5/6, ‘a species of dove’ (Krapf 1882). The presence of dental /dh/ indicates that
this is a loanword.

guruguthu, 5/6, Dakatcha: —, Long-crested Eagle, Lophaetus occipitalis (2008).

Deed: gurugutu, 5/6, ‘large owl’ (1964). Taylor: gurugutu, unidentified bird sp.
(1891). The presence of dental /th/ indicates that this is a loanword.

hambogwe, pl.?, Deed: —, unidentified bird sp. (1964). Taylor: hambogwe,

unidentified bird sp. (1891). This is probably a variant or mistake for kambogwe,
identified in Dakatcha as a name for the Fiery-necked Nightjar, Caprimulgus
pectoralis.

handalumwe, 5/6?, Dakatcha: —, Trumpeter Hornbill, Bycanistes bucinator (2008).

Deed: —, 5/6, ‘black bird with white breast, large beak and harsh cry
(hornbill)’ (1964). A variant of hondalume.

hondalume, 5/6?, Taylor: —, unidentified bird sp., lit. ‘“pounder of men”’ (1891), <
Giryama: -honda, ‘to pound’ + (at’u) alume, ‘men’. Cf. E. Duruma: pholophondo, 5/6,
‘hornbill’ (Ndurya et al. 1989). N. Digo: pholophondo, 5/6, ‘hornbill (generic term for
various species)’ (Mwalonya et al. 2004). S. Digo: worowondo [phorophondo],
Trumpeter Hornbill, Bycanistes bucinator (Moreau 1940/41). Ilwana: Ipo:dwe, 5/6,
‘hornbill sp.’, a loanword (Nurse 2000). Swahili (Mvita): hondohondo, ‘the
hornbill’ (Binns 1925); hondo hondo, (hornbill) (Krapf 1882). Bondei ~ Shambaa ~
Zigua: hondohondo, Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, B. brevis (Moreau 1940/41). Zigua:
hondohondo, hornbill, Bycanistes (Brain 1980). Kami: mpondompondo, Silvery-
cheeked Hornbill, B. brevis (Moreau 1940/41). Luguru: mondomondo, hornbill,
Bycanistes (Brain 1980). See also the variant form handalumwe, identified in
Dakatcha as a name for the Trumpeter Hornbill, B. bucinator.

hepe, 5/6, Dakatcha: —, Coqui Francolin, Francolinus coqui (2008). Deed: —, 5/6, ‘a
sort of partridge’ (1964). Taylor: hepe, ‘a sort of partridge’ (1891). Cf. Rabai: —, 5/6,
unidentified bird sp. that hops (Krapf and Rebmann 1887). W. Duruma: hepe, pl.
mapepe, 5/6, ‘bird sp. which stands like fowl’ (Walsh 1987). E. Dururma: pepe,
unidentified bird sp. (Ndurya et al. 1989). S. Digo: wepe [phepe], Francolinus sp.
(Moreau 1940/41). See the diminutive kahepe, also applied to domestic chicks.

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jawa, 5/6, Dakatcha: —, Grey Heron, Ardea cinerea; Purple Heron, A. purpurea;
Black-headed Heron, A. melanocephala (2008). Deed: —, 5/6, ‘a sort of water
duck’ (1964). Cf. Lower Pokomo: hajawa, 5/6, ‘pelican’ (Rossbach 1987). Dahalo:
hája:wa, ‘pelican’, also in Ilwana and N. Swahili (Ehret et al. 1989). This is probably a
loanword from Dahalo.

jogolo, 5/6, Deed: —, 5/6, ‘cock’ (1964). Taylor: —, ‘cock’ (1891). Cf. N. Digo:
dzogolo, 5/6, ‘rooster’ (de Groot 1990). Swahili (Unguja, Pete): jogoo, Fischer’s
Turaco, Tauraco fischeri (Pakenham 1959). Swahili: jogoo, ‘domestic fowl’ (Moreau
1940/41). Bondei ~ Shambaa ~ Zigua: zogoro, ‘domestic fowl’ (Moreau 1940/41).
Kami: jogoro, ‘domestic fowl’ (Moreau 1940/41). Proto-Sabaki: ?*įjogolo, 5/6,
‘rooster’, also in Northeast Coast Bantu and Southern Highlands (Nurse and
Hinnebusch 1993). The presence of /j/ indicates that this is a loanword in Giryama,
probably from Swahili. See kajogolo-vuri, identified in Dakatcha as a name for the
Hoopoe, Upupa epops.

jojolo, 5/6, Dakatcha: —, majojolo, herons and egrets (2008). The presence of /j/
indicates that this is a loanword, possibly a variant of jogolo, cock of domestic fowl.

kabombe-kadifu, 12/13, Dakatcha: kabombekadifu, storks (2008). Cf. Dahalo:

ɓambakófi, pl. ɓambakófi:me, ‘sp. stork’, similar in Sam Cushitic languages (Ehret et
al. 1989). Oromo (Wardhei): bambow, Marabou Stork, Leptoptilos crumeniferus;
bambow-biyoot, Yellow-billed Stork, Mycteria ibis (Mwaura 2006).

kabombombo, 12/13, Dakatcha: —, Pale Batis, Batis soror (2008). Cf. Swahili (Mafia,
Mbwera): chambombo, African Paradise Flycatcher, Terpsiphone viridis (Moreau
1940/41).

kabula, 12/13?, Deed: —, unidentified bird sp. (1964). Possibly a mistake for kabutha,
identified in Dakatcha as a name for larks, wagtails and pipits.

kabutha, 12/13, Dakatcha: —, larks, wagtails and pipits (2008). Taylor: kabuta,
unidentified bird sp., also the name given to a domestic chick in the second stage of
growth, larger than kakuku katsanga and smaller than kadzonya (1891). Cf. Rabai:
mbuda [mbuta], a bird that hops, ‘In building its nest, the opening is always on the
opposite side from whence the monsoon blows’ (Krapf and Rebmann 1887). The
presence of /b/ and /th/ indicate that this is a loanword. See k’uku, domestic fowl.

kacheche, 12/13?, Dakatcha: —, Spotted Flycatcher, Muscicapa striata (2008). Cf.

Swahili (Pemba): chechele, African Paradise Flycatcher, Terpsiphone viridis
plumbeiceps (Pakenham 1959). Swahili (Mafia, Mbwera): nyancheche, Pin-tailed
Whydah, Vidua macroura (Moreau 1940/41). The presence of /ch/ indicates that this is
a loanword.

kachelele, 12/13, Dakatcha: —, African Pygmy Kingfisher, Ispidina picta (2008).

Deed: —, ‘small bird with long beak. If it cries and crosses a traveller in the road it is
a bad omen, but if it cries in front of him it is a good omen’ (1964). This is the
diminutive form of muchelele.

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kadhuri, 12/13?, Dakatcha: kadhuri, Northern Crombec, Sylvietta brachyura (2008).
The presence of /dh/ suggests that this is a loanword from the historical Segeju.

kadoso, 12/13, Dakatcha: —, Siffling Cisticola, C. brachypterus; Tawny-flanked

Prinia, Prinia subflava (2008). Cf. Rabai: ndosho, 9/10, ‘the name of a small bird’;
kidosho, 7/8, unidentified bird sp., diminutive of the name ndosho (Krapf and
Rebmann 1887). N. Digo: ndosho, White-browed Scrub-Robin, Cercotrichas
leucophrys (Mwalonya et al. 2004). S. Digo: chidosho, ‘small warbler
(Sylviidae)’ (Moreau 1940/41). This is probably a variant of or mistake for kasoso,
identified at Dakatcha as the Winding Cisticola, C. galactotes.

kadyendyendye, 12/13?, Dakatcha: —, sandpipers; African Paradise Flycatcher,

Terpsiphone viridis (2008, draft). Cf. Swahili (Mvita): kitwitwi, ‘a small bird seen on
the sea beach’ (Binns 1925); kitúitŭi, ‘a small quaking bird on the shore’ (Krapf 1882).
Swahili (Unguja, Pete): kituítwi, African Paradise Flycatcher, T. viridis ungujaensis
(Pakenham 1959). Swahili (Tumbatu), kitwitwi, Common Sandpiper, Actitis
hypoleucos; ‘though generally elsewhere applicable to all small waders (Pakenham
1959). Swahili: kitwitwi, ‘sandpiper and small plover’ (Moreau 1940/41). Bondei ~
Zigua: dwi(n)dwi, African Paradise Flycatcher, T. viridis (Moreau 1940/41). Zigua:
kitwitwi, ‘plovers and sandpipers’; ndwidwi, Paradise Flycatcher, T. viridis (Brain
1980). Although the identifications in the Dakatcha draft were questioned, note the
similar names for the shore birds and paradise flycatchers in both Swahili and Zigua.
See also kitwitwi.

kadzenya, 12/13, Deed: —, 12/13, ‘a little bird that drinks palm wine’; also called
katozi (1964). Taylor: —, unidentified bird sp. (1891). See katozi.

kadzina (?), 12/13, Taylor: —, ‘owl (?)’ (1891). Cf. Deed: —, 12/13, ‘dim[inutive] of
wina, small lemur’ (1964). Taylor was unsure of this name and its identification, and it
probably applies properly to the nocturnal mammal (a galago, bushbaby sp.) rather
than a kind of owl.

kadzonya, 12/13, Deed: —, 12/13, ‘quail’ (1964). Taylor: —, the name given to a
domestic chick in the third stage of growth, larger than kabuta and smaller than kahepe
(1891). See k’uku, domestic fowl.

kaforo, 12/13, Dakatcha: —, Black-headed Batis, Batis minor (2008). Lit. ‘little zebra’
< Giryama: foro, ‘zebra’. Cf. Zigua: kapurapunda, Batis (Brain 1980); kapurupunda,
Batis, < punda, ‘zebra’ (Moreau 1940/41). Zaramo: ndege mpunda, Batis, lit. ‘zebra
bird’ (Moreau 1940/41).

kafula, 12/13, Dakatcha: —, Pale Flycatcher, Bradornis pallidus (2008).

kagondzi, 12/13, Dakatcha: kagonzi, Red-backed Shrike, Lanius collurio (2008). Lit.
‘lamb’? < Giryama: kagondzi, 12/13, ‘lamb’; gondzi, 5/6, ‘sheep’.

kagwala, 12/13, Dakatcha: —, Rufous Chatterer, Turdoides rubiginosus (2008).

kagwilogwilo, 12/13, Dakatcha: —, Scaly Babbler, Turdoides squamulatus (2008).

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kahanga, 12/13, Dakatcha: —, Lizard Buzzard, Kaupifalco monogrammicus (2008).
Deed: —, ‘small hawk’ (1964). Hollis: —, in the following Giryama proverb: ‘Kala u
kahanga ungagonya at’u’ (Duruma version: ‘Kukala u chivanga ungemala at’u’), ‘If
you had been a kestrel hawk you would have finished people (or pecked them to
death)’ – ‘Said to a bickering person’ (1916). Taylor: —, smaller ‘hawk’ (1891). Cf.
W. Duruma: kaßanga-mnyevu, ‘bird of prey sp. which eats chicks and is turquoise in
colour’ (Walsh 1987). Proto-Sabaki: *kipanga, 7/8, ‘bird of prey sp.’ (Nurse and
Hinnebusch 1993). This is the diminutive of kihanga and luhanga.

kahanga kathithe, 12/13, Dakatcha: —, Little Sparrowhawk, Accipiter tachiro (2008).

Giryama: kathithe = ‘little’. This may be a translation of the English name. See
kahanga, identified in Dakatcha as the Lizard Buzzard, Kaupifalco monogrammicus.

kahepe, 12/13, Deed: —, ‘small partridge’ (1964). Taylor: kahepe, pl. a-mahepe, the
name given to a domestic chick in the fourth stage of growth, larger than kadzonya
and smaller than k’ereng’endze (1891). This is the diminutive of hepe, identified in
Dakatcha as the Coqui Francolin, Francolinus coqui. See k’uku, domestic fowl.

kajawili, 12/13, Dakatcha: —, Zanzibar Sombre Greenbul, Andropadus importunus

(2008). Cf. Swahili (S. Pemba): jabiri, Violet-breasted Sunbird, Cinnyris pembae
(Pakenham 1959). The presence of /j/ indicates that this is a loanword.

kajema, 12/13, Dakatcha: —, Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird, Anthrepetes orientalis

(2008). The presence of /j/ indicates that this is a loanword.

kajogolo-vuri, 12/13, Dakatcha: kajogolovuri, Hoopoe, Upupa epops (?) – ‘a mistake’;

African Paradise Flycatcher, Terpsiphone viridis (?) (2008, draft). Lit. ‘little cock of
the short rains’ < Giryama: jogolo, ‘cock’ + vuri, ‘short rains’. Cf. Zigua: kazogolo
mdente, Hoopoe, U. epops (Brain 1980); kazogolo mdente, Hoopoe, U. epops, lit.
‘“l[ittle] grasshopper-cock”. (“Cock” because its comb is suggested by the Hoopoe’s
crest.)’ (Moreau 1940/41). Kami: kijogoo mhuro, Hoopoe, U. epops, lit. ‘“l[ittle] cock
of the woods.”’ (Moreau 1940/41). Luguru: nzogolodete, Hoopoe, U. epops (Brain
1980). See jogolo, cock of domestic fowl.

kakonono, 12/13, Deed: —, ‘a bird that kills snakes’ (1964).

kakuku katsanga, 12/13, Taylor: —, the name given to a domestic chick in the first
stage of growth, ‘just after hatching’ (1891). Lit. ‘infant fowl, hatchling’. See k’uku,
domestic fowl.

kakuluwiri, 12/13, Deed: —, ‘a black water bird with red legs and long yellow
beak’ (1964). This is the diminutive of k’uluwiri.

kakweka, 12/13, Dakatcha: —, Slender-tailed Nightjar, Caprimulgus clarus (2008).

Cf. S. Digo: pweka, Nightjar, Caprimulgus (Moreau 1940/41).

kakwerukweru, 12/13, Deed: —, 12/13, ‘ring dove’ (1964). Taylor: kakwerukweru,

‘ring-dove’ (1891). Cf. Rabai: kuekueru [kwekweru], pl. makuekueru [makwekweru],
5/6, ‘a species of wild dove’, similar to but a little smaller than the jiya (Krapf and
Rebmann 1887). Comorian (Ngazidja): kwewu ~ kweyu, Madagascar Cuckoo-roller,

7
 Leptosomus discolor (Louette 1988; 2004). Comorian (Mwali): kwewukwewu ~
kwe’u-kwe’u ~ kweyu, Madagascar Cuckoo-roller, L. discolor (Louette 1988; 2004).
Comorian (Maore): keukeu, Madagascar Cuckoo-roller, L. discolor (Louette 1988;
2004); kéou-kéou, Madagascar Cuckoo-roller, L. discolor (Huguet 2002); keukeu ~
kieukieu, ‘the name of a bird, the grey dove [la tourterelle grise], which has the
reputation of following the rain with its song in appreciation. It does not feed on paddy
and is not hunted’ (Blanchy 1996). See the cognate giya-peruperu, identified in
Dakatcha as the Ring-necked Dove, Streptopelia capicola.

kamango, 12/13, Dakatcha: —, Red-fronted Tinkerbird, Pogoniulus pusillus (2008).

Deed: —, ‘a tiny black and white bird with bell like note’ (1964).

kambilolo, pl. umbilolo, 12/13, Black-shouldered Kite, Elanus caeruleus; falcons,

including Pygmy Falcon, Polihierax semitorquatus (2008). Deed: kambi-lolo, ‘a sort
of small hawk’ (1964). Cf. Zigua: kimbelelo, Black-shouldered Kite, E. caeruleus
(Moreau 1940/41).

kambogwe, 12/13?, Dakatcha: —, Fiery-necked Nightjar, Caprimulgus pectoralis

(2008). Deed: —, ‘a night bird’ (1964). Cf. Dahalo: ɓagwála, ‘nightjar’, < proto-
Southern Cushitic (Ehret et al. 1989). See hambogwe, probably a variant or mistake
for the same name.

kamburu, 12/13, Deed: : —, 12/13, ‘a small owl’ (1964). Taylor: —, small ‘eagle
(?)’ (1891). This is the diminutive of kimburu, referring to owl spp.

kamburu-madzugwedzugwe, 12/13, Dakatcha: —, kamburu madsugwedzugwe,

African Barred Owlet, Glaucidium capense (2008, draft). See kamburu, small owl
spp.

kamburu-pape, 12/13, Dakatcha: kamburu pape, Sokoke Scops Owl, Otus ireneae;
African Barred Owlet, Glaucidium capense (2008). Taylor: kamburupape, unidentified
bird sp. (1891). This is the diminutive of kimburu-pape; see kamburu, small owl
spp.

kamoo, 12/13?, Dakatcha: —, Common Scimitarbill, Rhinopomastus cyanomelas

(2008).

kanangunangu, 12/13, Dakatcha: —, Yellow-fronted Canary, Serinus mozambicus

(2008). Deed: —, ‘a tiny bird’ (1964). Taylor: —, unidentified bird sp. (1891). Cf. N.
Digo: chinangu-nangu, 7/8, Common Waxbill, Estrilda astrild (Mwalonya et al.
2004).

k’anga, 9/10, Dakatcha: kanga, Helmeted Guineafowl, Numida meleagris (2008).

Deed: kanga, ‘guinea fowl’ (1891). Taylor: —, ‘guinea-fowl’ (1891). Cf. Rabai:
kanga, ‘the guinea-fowl’ (Krapf 1887). W. Duruma: kanga, ‘guineafowl’ (Walsh
1987). E. Duruma: —, ‘guinea fowl’ (Ndurya et al. 1989). N. Digo: kanga, ‘guinea
fowl’ (Mwalonya et al. 2004; de Groot 1990). Ilwana: ga:gi, 9/10, ‘guinea fowl’,
loanword ?< Sabaki (Nurse 2000); gaagi, 9/10, ‘guinea fowl’ (Rossbach 1991).
Swahili (Mvita): kanga, ‘guinea-fowl’ (Binns 1925); kăngă, 9/10, ‘a guinea-fowl’, a
bird with small spots (Krapf 1882). Swahili (Zanzibar): kanga, Helmeted Guineafowl,

8
 N. meleagris (Pakenham 1959). Swahili: kanga, Helmeted Guineafowl, N. meleagris,
and other languages (Moreau 1940/41). Comorian (Ndzuani): nkanga, 9/10,
‘guineafowl’, Common Bantu (Ahmed-Chamanga 1992). Comorian (Mwali): kangga,
Helmeted Guineafowl, N. meleagris (Louette 1988; 2004). Comorian (Maore): kanga,
9/10, ‘guineafowl’ (Blancy 1996). Comorian: kanga, Helmeted Guineafowl, N.
meleagris (Louette 1988; 2004). Proto-Sabaki: *nkanga, ‘guinea fowl’, Common
Bantu (Nurse and Hinnebusch 1993). Zigua: kanga, Helmeted Guineafowl, N.
meleagris (Brain 1980). Luguru: ng’hanga, Helmeted Guineafowl, N. meleagris (Brain
1980).

kanona, 12/13, Dakatcha: —, Diederik Cuckoo, Chrysococcyx caprius (2008). Lit.

‘little fat one’ < Giryama: -nona, ‘to be fat’. Cf. Rabai: nona, 5/6, a bird that hops
along the ground and does not fly up into trees. It is called nona because it is fat. It is
very fast and clever. If someone catches a small one and kills it, then he will not catch
a second one: they have to be kept alive (Krapf and Rebmann 1887). See kanonono.

kanonono, 12/13, Taylor: —, unidentified bird sp. See kanona.

kanyama, 12/13, Möhlig (1986). Sedlak: k’anyama, (1974). Hinnebusch: —, (1973).

Lit. ‘little animal’, the diminutive of nyama.

kanyeri, 12/13, Dakatcha: —, Pin-tailed Whydah, Vidua macroura (2008). This is the
diminutive of nyeri, which refers to the same bird.

kariro, 12/13, Dakatcha: —, Striped Kingfisher, Halcyon senegaloides (2008). Cf.

Giryama: -rira, ‘to cry’. See karirwe, possibly a variant of the same name.

karirwe, 12/13, Taylor: —, unidentified bird sp. (1891). This name may be a variant of
kariro, identified in Dakatcha as the Striped Kingfisher, Halcyon senegaloides.

kasengeni, 12/13, Werner: kasegene, [pl.] usegene, a bird ‘whose prevailing colour is a
shade between purple and crimson – nearly the tint of a Victorian plum’, ‘one of three
little birds which are reverenced by the Giryama, Chonyi, and some of the Kauma
clans’ (the others are kasegene and kasigi) (1915). Cf. S. Digo: (u)sengeni, applied to
‘very small birds with a little red, waxbills (Estrilda […]), cordon-bleu’ (Moreau
1940/41). Swahili (Unguja, Potowa): chengeni, Common Waxbill, Estrilda astrild
(Pakenham 1959). Swahili (Unguja, Mkokotoni): tengenya, Common Waxbill, E.
astrild (Pakenham 1959). Swahili (Unguja, Misufini): tengeni, Common Waxbill, E.
astrild (Pakenham 1959). Comorian (Ngazidja): nyancendje, Bronze Mannikin,
Lonchura cucullata (Louette 1988; 2004). Comorian (Mwali): nyancendje, Bronze
Mannikin, L. cucullata (Louette 1988; 2004). Comorian (Ndzuani): nyatsege ~ nean
sanghan, Bronze Mannikin, L. cucullata (Louette 1988; 2004); nyantsenge, 9/10,
Bronze Mannikin, L. cucullata (Ahmed-Chamanga 1992). Comorian (Maore):
gnantsangoe, Bronze Mannikin, L. cucullata (Huguet 2002). Kami: (ki)sengeni,
applied to ‘very small birds with a little red, waxbills (Estrilda […]), cordon-
bleu’ (Moreau 1940/41). Luguru: kisengene, Peter’s Twinspot, Hypargos
niveoguttatus (Brain 1980). The Mijikenda (and so Giryama) name is probably a
loanword from a Northeast Coast Bantu language to the south. See also katsendzere –
identified at Dakatcha as the Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu, Uraeginthus bengalus – and
possibly from the same linguistic root.

9
kashore, 12/13, Dakatcha: —, Common Bulbul, Pycnonotus barbatus (2008). Deed:
—, unidentified bird sp. (1964). This is the diminutive of shore.

kasiji, 12/13, Dakatcha: —, Bronze Mannikin, Lonchura cucullata; Black-and-white

Mannikin, L. bicolor (2008). Deed: —, unidentified bird sp. (1964). Werner: —, ‘a
small blue and grey finch’, ‘one of three little birds which are reverenced by the
Giryama, Chonyi, and some of the Kauma clans’ (the others are kasegene and
katsendzere). Also called tsiji and chiji [languages not specified] (1915). Champion:
‘Kasiji is a small brown bird not much larger than a humming bird, which frequents
the fields in large flocks and does great damage to the millet and sorghum harvest.’. It
is the ‘emblem or totemic sign’ of one of two Giryama clan moieties, the other being
the katsendzere. ‘All Agiryama are forbidden to kill or eat the emblem of their
respective divisions’ (1967 [c.1914]). Taylor: —, unidentified bird sp. (1891). Cf.
Rabai: dziji [ts’iji], 9/10, ‘the name of a small speckled bird fond of maere [bulrush
millet, Pennisetum typhoides]; therefore dzijidziji [ts’ijitsiji], ‘like the dziji [ts’iji] in
colour, i.e. speckled’, e.g. the kololo [k’ololo], Crested Guineafowl, Guttera
pucherani (Krapf and Rebmann 1887). E. Duruma: ts’iji, unidentified bird sp. (Ndurya
et al. 1989). N. Digo: chishigi, 7/8, ‘small brown, greagarious, seed-eating bird;
probably Bronze Mannikin’, L. cucullata; also siji, pl. visiji, 7/8 (Mwalonya et al.
2004). S. Digo, siji, Bronze Mannikin, L. cucullata; Black-and-white Mannikin, L.
bicolor (Moreau 1940/41). Swahili (Pemba, Chake-Chake): shigi-tongo, Bronze
Mannikin, L. cucullata (Pakenham 1959). Swahili (Pemba): shigi-manjano, Pemba
White-eye, Zosterops vaughani (Pakenham 1959). Swahili (S.W. Pemba): chigi-asali,
Olive Sunbird, Cyanomitra olivacea (?) (Pakenham 1959). Swahili (Pemba, Kinazini):
kichonga-chigi, Zitting Cisticola, Cisticola juncidis (Pakenham 1959). Swahili (Mafia,
Mbwera): Bronze Mannikin, L. cucullata; Black-and-white Mannikin, L. bicolor
(Moreau 1940/41). Bondei ~ Shambaa ~ Zigua: -shigi, applied to ‘very small birds
with a little red, waxbills (Estrilda […]), cordon-bleu’ (Moreau 1940/41). Zigua:
mshigi, ‘waxbills’ (Brain 1980). Luguru: msigi, ‘waxbills’ (Brain 1980). Gikuyu:
gacĩgĩ, 12/13, ‘sp. of common waxbill or weaver bird (Mannikin) (small and
speckled)’ (Benson 1964).

kasimbiji, 12/13, Deed: —, 12/13, ‘a small bird’ (1964).

kasiyesiye, 12/13, Dakatcha: —, Collared Sunbird, Anthrepetes collaris (2008). Taylor:

kasiesie, unidentified bird sp. (1891). See also kisiye and kisiyesiye.

kasoso, 12/13, Dakatcha: —, Winding Cisticola, Cisticola galactotes (2008). Deed: —,

‘a little bird which is said in fine weather to chirp “sendzi dzuwa, nahendza vula” [“I
don’t like the sun, I like rain”] and in wet weather to chirp “sendzi vula, nahendza
dzuwa” [“I don’t like rain, I like the sun”]’ (1964). Taylor: —, unidentified bird sp.
(1891). See kasoso-bombo; also kadoso, identified at Dakatcha as the Siffling
Cisticola, C. brachypterus and the Tawny-flanked Prinia, Prinia subflava.

kasoso-bombo, 12/13, Deed: —, unidentified bird sp., a variety of the kasoso (1964).
See kasoso; also bombo, male red bishop, Euplectes spp., in breeding plumage.

10
kathiyothiyo, 12/13, Dakatcha: kathiothio, Black-headed Apalis, Apalis
melanocephala (?) (2008, draft). Cf. Shambaa: tiyetiye, ‘White-eye (Zosterops)’,
onomat. (Moreau 1940/41). Zigua: katiyetiye, ‘waxbill’ (Moreau 1940/41).

kathoro, 12/13, Dakatcha: —, Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove, Turtur chalcospilos

(2008). Deed: —, ‘a little dove’ (1964). Taylor: katoro, unidentified bird sp., lit.
‘“little runaway”’, < Giryama: mutoro, ‘runaway’ slave (1891). See kathoro-puji.

kathoro-p’uji, 12/13, Dakatcha: kathoro puji, Tambourine Dove, Turtur tympanistria

(2008). Cf. W. Duruma: puji, unidentified bird sp. (Walsh 1987). E. Duruma: p’uji,
‘type of wood dove’ (Ndurya et al. 1989). N. Digo: puji, 9/10, ‘pigeon, wood-dove’;
chipuji, 7/8, Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove, T. chalcospilos (Mwalonya et al. 2004). S.
Digo: chiwuji, Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove, T. chalcospilos; Blue-spotted Wood-
Dove, T. afer (Moreau 1940/41). Upper Pokomo: pugi, Namaqua Dove, Oena
capensis (Mwaura 2006). Swahili (Unguja, Mkokotoni): pugi-mkia, Swahili:
Namaqua Dove, O. capensis (Pakenham 1959). Swahili (Pemba and Unguja): Swahili:
pugi, Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove, T. chalcospilos; Blue-spotted Wood-Dove, T.
afer; pugi-kikombe, Tambourine Dove, T. tympanistria (Pakenham 1959). Swahili
(Zanzibar, location unspecified): pugi-karafuu, Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove, T.
chalcospilos (?); pugi-unga, Blue-spotted Wood-Dove, T. afer (?); pugi-sanaa,
unidentified dove sp. Swahili: pugi kikombe, Tambourine Dove, T. tympanistria, lit.
‘“cup dove” (from the pure white breast)’ (Moreau 1940/41). Comorian (Mwali): puji
~ pudji, Madagascar Turtle Dove, Streptopelia picturata (Louette 1988; 2004).
Comorian (Maore): shivuhi, Madagascar Turtle Dove, S. picturata (Louette 1988;
2004). Comorian (Maore): shivui, Madagascar Turtle Dove, S. picturata (Huguet
2002). Proto-Sabaki: ?*mpugi, ‘dove sp.’, also in proto-Southern Cushitic and Ruvu
(Nurse and Hinnebusch 1993). Bondei: pugi kubo, Tambourine Dove, T. tympanistria,
lit. ‘“Boubou dove”’, the Tropical Boubou, Laniarius aethiopicus, ‘having the same
plumage pattern’ Bondei ~ Shambaa: -pugi, Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove, T.
chalcospilos; Blue-spotted Wood-Dove, T. afer (Moreau 1940/41). Zigua: pugi, ‘dove’
(generic); kahuji mirunda, Namaqua Dove, O. capensis (Brain 1980). Zigua: -huji,
Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove, T. chalcospilos; Blue-spotted Wood-Dove, T. afer;
kahuji mirunda, Namaqua Dove, O. capensis, lit. ‘ “l[ittle] dove with the tail”’; mpuji
mbago, Tambourine Dove, T. tympanistria, lit. ‘“dove of the forest”’ (Moreau
1940/41). Kami: -hugi, Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove, T. chalcospilos; Blue-spotted
Wood-Dove, T. afer (Moreau 1940/41). Luguru: chipugi, ‘dove’ (generic); chipugi cha
rangi mbili, Blue-spotted Wood-Dove, T. afer (Brain 1980). See kathoro.

katonono, 12/13, Dakatcha: —, Grey-backed Camaroptera, Camaroptera brachyura

(2008). The presence of /t/ suggests that this is a loanword.

katotoyo, 12/13, Dakatcha: —, White-throated Bee-eater, Merops albicollis (2008).

The presence of /t/ suggests that this is a loanword.

katozi, 12/13, Deed: —, ‘a name given to the little bird that drinks palm wine – the
kadzenya’. Cf. also kitozi, ‘a kind of aloe with flowers containing honey, which are
followed by the little bird ‘kadzenya’’ (1964). Cf. Rabai: kidosi [kitozi], 7/8, a bird
which eats mudundo flowers; it has a long bill and uses this to drink palm wine:
‘Kidosi [Kitozi] – mulalani kauka, The kidosi [kitozi] never leaves the mulala, a
species of dwarf palm, which is its favourite resort’. It is also ‘The name of a dance or

11
 play; the kidosi [kitozi] being the subject of the song used on the occasion’ (Krapf and
Rebmann 1887). W. Duruma: kitozi, ‘bird sp. which drinks nectar’ (Walsh 1987). E.
Duruma: chitozi, 7/8, sunbird sp. (Ndurya et al. 1989). N. Digo: chitsozi, 7/8, Little
Bee-eater, Merops pusillus (Mwalonya et al. 2004). N. Digo: chitsozi, 7/8,
‘sunbird’ (de Groot 1990). S. Digo: tsozi, sunbird spp. (Moreau 1940/41). Swahili
(Mvita): chozi, ‘a small bird with a long beak which draws honey from flowers; there
are several different kinds and colours’ (Binns 1925); chosi [chozi], ‘a black bird with
a long beak which drinks the témbo [palm wine] on the cocoa-nut [coconut]
tree’ (Krapf 1882). Swahili (Pemba, Wete): chozi-mwalimu, Violet-breasted Sunbird,
Cinnyris pembae (Pakenham 1959). Swahili (Pemba, Panza): chozi-gunda, Scarlet-
chested Sunbird, Chalcomitra senegalensis (Pakenham 1959). Swahili (Unguja, Pete):
chozi-dume, Scarlet-chested Sunbird, C. senegalensis (Pakenham 1959). Swahili
(Unguja, Kigunda): chozi-tiari, Purple-banded Sunbird, Cinnyris bifasciata (Pakenham
1959). Swahili (Unguja, Makoba): chozi-muhogo, Collared Sunbird, Hedydipna
collaris Pakenham 1959). Swahili (Unguja?): chozi-mbaazi, Collared Sunbird, H.
collaris; chozi-moto, Scarlet-chested Sunbird, C. senegalensis (Pakenham 1959).
Swahili: chozi, sunbird spp. (Moreau 1940/41). Swahili (Mafia, Mbwera): kitozi,
sunbird spp. (Moreau 1940/41). Comorian (Mwali): shitsozi, Humblot’s Sunbird,
Nectarinia humbloti; Madagascar Green Sunbird, N. notata; mzulisandrovi-shitsozi,
N. notata (Louette 1988; 2004). Comorian (Ndzuani): shihozi ~ chibozi ~ shetozee,
Anjouan Sunbird, N. comorensis (Louette 1988; 2004). Comorian (Ndzuani): shitsozi,
7/8, unidentified bird sp. (Ahmed-Chamanga 1992). Bondei ~ Zigua: -sozi, sunbird
spp. (Moreau 1940/41). Zigua: msozi, sunbird, Nectarinia spp. (Brain 1980).
Shambaa: -shozi, sunbird spp. (Moreau 1940/41). Luguru: chisozi, sunbird, Nectarinia
spp. (Brain 1980). The presence of /t/ suggests that this is a loanword. See kadzenya,
also kozi.

katsendzere, 12/13, Dakatcha: katsenzere, Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu, Uraeginthus

bengalus (2008). Deed: —, 12/13, ‘a little bird’ (1964). Werner: —, ‘a finch, a very
small grey bird (about the size of a wren), with a crimson spot at the back of the head’,
‘one of three little birds which are reverenced by the Giryama, Chonyi, and some of
the Kauma clans’ (the others are kasegene and kasigi) (1915). Champion: kasenzeri,
‘The kasenzeri is a small bird with light buff-coloured plumage and red bill and legs.
Some say it is the honey indicator, but I do not think this is correct. The bird is met
with in the bush generally in pairs.’ It is the ‘emblem or totemic sign’ of one of two
Giryama clan moieties, the other being the kasiji. ‘All Agiryama are forbidden to kill
or eat the emblem of their respective divisions’ (1967 [c.1914]). Cf. W. Duruma:
katsendzedzule, a ‘very small’ bird; kitsendzea, a bird that is ‘small with a brown back
and blue-turquoise breast’ (Walsh 1987). Comorian (Ngazidja): nyancendje, Bronze
Mannikin, Lonchura cucullata (Louette 1988; 2004). Comorian (Mwali): nyancendje,
Bronze Mannikin, L. cucullata (Louette 1988; 2004). Comorian (Ndzuani): nyatsege ~
nean sanghan, Bronze Mannikin, L. cucullata (Louette 1988; 2004); nyantsenge, 9/10,
Bronze Mannikin, L. cucullata (Ahmed-Chamanga 1992). Comorian (Maore):
gnantsangoe, Bronze Mannikin, L. cucullata (Huguet 2002). See also kasengeni,
which may be derived from the same Northeast Coast Bantu root.

katsinye, 12/13, Deed: —, ‘newly fledged chicken’ (1964).

12
katsungurizi, 12/13, Deed: —, ‘swallow’. (1964). Taylor: —, ‘swallow’, lit. ‘“little
seeker”’ (1891). Cf. Giryama: -tsungurira, ‘to peer, peep’. See also the variant forms
katsungwinzi and katsungwirindzi, referrring to swifts and swallows.

katsungwindzi, 12/13, Dakatcha: katsungwinzi kamunazini, African Palm Swift,

Cypsiurus parvus; katsungwinzi kathithe, Apus affinis (2008). The qualifiers
kamunazini (lit. ‘of the coconut palm’) and kathithe (lit. ‘little’) may be direct
translations from the English names. See katsungurizi and katsungwirindzi.

katsungwirindzi, 12/13, Dakatcha: katsungwirinzi, Wire-tailed Swallow, Hirundo

smithii; Barn Swallow, H. rustica; Ethiopian Swallow, H. aethiopica; Lesser Striped
Swallow, H. abyssinica (2008). See katsungurizi and katsungwirindzi.

kavumbe, 12/13, Deed: —, unidentified bird sp. (1964).

kelekele, pl.?, Dakatcha: —, White-headed Buffalo-Weaver, Dinemellia dinemelli

(2008). Cf. Shambaa: nkwele, ‘Weavers in sparrowy plumage that associate in huge
flocks, including Quelea spp. and out-of-plumage Bishops and Whydahs’ (Moreau
1940/41).

k’ereng’endze, 9/10, Dakatcha: kereng’enze, Crested Francolin, Francolinus sephaena

(2008). Deed: kereng’endze, ‘partridge’ (1964). Taylor: —, ‘partridge’ (1891). Cf.
Rabai: keregnense [kereng’endze], 9/10, ‘a quail. The natives imitate its cry by the
sound, Keregne! karegne!’ [Kereng’e! kareng’e!]’ (Krapf and Rebmann 1887). W.
Duruma: kireng’enje, unidentified bird sp. (Walsh 1987). E. Duruma: k’ereng’enje,
‘type of Red-legged Partridge’ (Ndurya et al. 1989). N. Digo: kereng’endze, 9/10,
‘sandgrouse, francolin’; kerenyendze, 9/10, Yellow-necked Spurfowl, F. leucoscepus
(Mwalonya et al. 2004). S. Digo: kerengenje, Crested Francolin, F. sephaena (Moreau
1940/41). Upper Pokomo: ngelengete ngelengete (reduplicated or a mistake?), Crested
Francolin, F. sephaena (Mwaura 2006). Luguru: chinereng’ende, Crested Francolin,
F. sephaena (Brain 1980).

kihanga, 7/8, Deed: —, 7/8, ‘hawk’ (1964). Taylor: —, ‘hawk’, smaller than luhanga
(1891). Cf. Rabai: kivanga, ‘A species of vulture, similar to the luvanga, but smaller.
The luvanga catches fowls, but the kivanga only small birds. Dim[inutive] of
luvanga’ (Krapf and Rebmann 1887). W. Duruma: kißanga, ‘bird of prey sp.’ (Walsh
1987). E. Duruma: phanga, 5/6, ‘type of vulture’; chiphangamunyevu, Black-
shouldered Kite, Elanus caeruleus (Ndurya et al. 1989). N. Digo: chiphanga, 7/8,
Black Kite, Milvus migrans; chiphanga nyubi, 7/8, ‘buzzard, a large bird of prey
which eats lizards and chickens’, Lizard Buzzard, Kaupifalco monogrammicus
(Mwalonya et al. 2004); chißanga, ‘bird of prey sp.?’ (de Groot 1990). Swahili
(Mvita): kipanga, ‘a large bird of prey’ (Binns 1925); kipánga, ‘a large bird of
prey’ (Krapf 1882). Swahili (Pemba, Vitongoji): kipanga kidogo, Dickinson’s Kestrel,
Falco dickinsoni (Pakenham 1959). Swahili (Pemba, Mkanjuni): kipanga-jichwa,
Dickinson’s Kestrel, F. dickinsoni (Pakenham 1959). Swahili (Unguja, Chaani):
Black-shouldered Kite, E. caeruleus; also loosely applied to the African Goshawk,
Accipiter tachiro (Pakenham 1959). Comorian (Ndzuani): shimpangar [shimpanga],
Frances’s Sparrowhawk, Accipiter francesiae (Louette 1988; 2004); shimpanga, 7/8,
Peregrine Falcon, Falco peregrinus (Ahmed-Chamanga 1992). Comorian (Maore):
chipanga, Peregrine Falcon, F. peregrinus (Huguet 2002). Comorian: chipangga,

13
 Frances’s Sparrowhawk, A. francesiae (Louette 1988; 2004). Proto-Sabaki: *kipanga,
7/8, ‘bird of prey sp.’ (Nurse and Hinnebusch 1993). Bondei: kimpanga machinja,
Little Sparrowhawk, Accipiter minullus (Moreau 1940/41). Bondei ~ Shambaa:
ki(m)panga marumbi, Lanner Falcon, Falco biarmicus, lit. ‘ “curse hawk” (a special
pest of fowls)’ (Moreau 1940/41). Zigua: kipanga, hawks and falcons (Brain 1980).
Luguru: lumanga, hawks and falcons (Brain 1980). Northeast Coast Bantu: -panga,
hawks, Falconidae, ‘A general name in all tribes for all but the very big species is
Panga’ (Moreau 1940/41). See kahanga and luhanga, identified as different birds of
prey.

kijemera, 7/8, Taylor: —, unidentified bird sp. (1891). The presence of /j/ indicates a
loanword. This name is probably derived from njejemera (identified at Dakatcha as
the Green Wood-Hoopoe, Phoeniculus purpureus) or the same common linguistic
root.

kikokoi, 7/8, Dakatcha: —, Chestnut-fronted Helmet-shrike, Prionops scopifrons

(2008). Deed: —, unidentified bird sp. (1964). Lit. ‘the singer / triller’ < Giryama:
-koi, ‘to sing, trill’. Cf. also Giryama: kokoikoo! ‘cockadoodledoo!’. The Chestnut-
fronted Helmet-shrike is ‘very noisy, members of roving flocks give frequent high-
pitched upslurred trilled rattles trrrrrrrrrt trrrrrrrrrt, and the song consists of these
rattles mingled with tit-like whistles’ (Stevenson and Fanshawe 2002). See kikokoi
cha nyika and kikokoi ndzovu, identified as helmet-shrike spp. See also kukui.

kikokoi cha nyika, 7/8, Dakatcha: —, kikokoi cha nyika, White-crested Helmet-shrike,
Prionops plumatus (2008). Lit. ‘helmet-shrike of the bush’ < Giryama: nyika, ‘bush,
wilderness’. See kikokoi.

kikokoi ndzovu, 7/8, Dakatcha: kikokoi nzovu, Retz’s Helmet-shrike, Prionops retzii
(2008). Lit. ‘elephant-helmet-shrike’ < Giryama: ndzovu, ‘elephant’. See kikokoi.

kili, pl.?, Dakatcha: —, Brown-headed Parrot, Poicephalus cryptoxanthus (2008).

Deed: —, ‘a bird which eats millet’ (1964).

kimburu, 7/8, Deed: —, ‘owl’ (1964). Taylor: —, ‘eagle (?)’ (1891). Cf. W. Duruma:
—, ‘owl sp.’ (Walsh 1987). E. Duruma, chimburu, 7/8, ‘owl’ (Ndurya et al. 1989). N.
Digo, chimburu, 7/8, ‘owl’ (Mwalonya et al. 2004). S. Digo: vumburukuhu, African
Wood Owl, Strix woodfordii (Moreau 1940/41). Swahili (Mvita): —, ‘a small hawk
which takes young fowls’ and other birds (Binns 1925); ‘a vulture, a bird of
prey’ (Krapf 1882). Shambaa: kimbururu, ‘small Owl (Glaucidium or Otus)’ (Moreau
1940/41). Kami: kimuru, ‘small Owl (Glaucidium)’ (Moreau 1940/41). Luguru:
kimulu, Spotted Eagle-owl, Bubo africanus (Brain 1980). See kamburu, the
diminutive form; also kimburu-pape and kimburu-pembe.

kimburu-pape, 7/8, Deed: kimburu pape, ‘variety of owl’ (1964). See kimburu and
the diminutive form kamburu-pape, identified in Dakatcha as the Sokoke Scops Owl,
Otus ireneae and the African Barred Owlet, Glaucidium capense.

kimburu-p’embe, 7/8, Deed: kimburu pembe, ‘crested owl’ (1964). Lit. ‘horned owl’,
< Giryama: kimburu, ‘owl’ + p’embe, ‘horn, point, barb’. See kimburu, owl spp.

14
kisiye, 7/8, Deed: kisie, unidentified bird sp., hence the expression ‘kuku wa kisie-sie’,
‘a fowl with short legs like the bird ‘kisie’’ (1964). See the reduplicated form
kisiyesiye; also kasiyesiye, identified at Dakatcha as the Collared Sunbird,
Anthrepetes collaris.

kisiyesiye, 7/8, Deed: ‘“kuku wa kisie-sie” a fowl with short legs like the bird
‘kisie’’ (1964). Cf. E. Duruma: chisiyesiye, ‘short legged chicken’ (Ndurya et al.
1989). Zigua: katiyetiye, ‘very small birds with a little red, Waxbills (Estrilda […]),
Cordon-bleu’, onomat. (Moreau 1940/41). Zaramo ~ Kami: kisiyesiye, ‘very small
birds with a little red, Waxbills (Estrilda […]), Cordon-bleu’, onomat. (Moreau
1940/41). Luguru: kisiyesiye, curlew, Numenius sp(p).; chisiyesiye, plovers and
sandpipers (Moreau 1940/41). See kisiye and the diminutive form kasiyesiye,
identified at Dakatcha as the Collared Sunbird, Anthrepetes collaris.

kitwitwi, 7/8, Deed: —, unidentified bird sp. (1964). Cf. Swahili (Mvita): kitwitwi, ‘a
small bird seen on the sea beach’ (Binns 1925); kitúitŭi, ‘a small quaking bird on the
shore’ (Krapf 1882). Swahili (Unguja, Pete): kituítwi, African Paradise Flycatcher, T.
viridis ungujaensis (Pakenham 1959). Swahili (Tumbatu), kitwitwi, Common
Sandpiper, Actitis hypoleucos; ‘though generally elsewhere applicable to all small
waders (Pakenham 1959). Swahili: kitwitwi, ‘sandpiper and small plover’ (Moreau
1940/41). Bondei ~ Zigua: dwi(n)dwi, African Paradise Flycatcher, T. viridis (Moreau
1940/41). Zigua: kitwitwi, ‘plovers and sandpipers’; ndwidwi, Paradise Flycatcher, T.
viridis (Brain 1980). See also kadyendyendye, identified at Dakatcha as both
sandpipers and the African Paradise Flycatcher, Terpsiphone viridis.

kolobiro, 5/6?, Dakatcha: kolobilo, African Golden Oriole, Oriolus auratus; African
Black-headed Oriole, O. larvatus; mtumwa wa kolobilo [?], Eurasian Golden Oriole,
O. oriolus (2008). Deed: —, unidentified bird sp. (1964). Cf. Rabai: kubiru, 5/6, ‘the
name of a species of red bird’ (Krapf and Rebmann 1887). S. Digo ~ Shambaa ~ Zigua
~ Kami: –kubwilu, oriole, Oriolus (Moreau 1940/41). Zigua: kubwilu, African Black-
headed Oriole, O. larvatus (Brain 1980). See also mukolobiro.

k’ololo, 9/10, Dakatcha: kololo, Crested Guineafowl, Guttera pucherani (2008). Deed:
kololo, ‘blue spotted crested guinea fowl’ (1964). Taylor: —, ‘blue-spotted guinea-
fowl’ (1891). Cf. Rabai: kololo, 9/10, ‘A species of guinea-fowl, somewhat different
in colour from the kanga, the specks being black and white, while those of the kanga
are grey and white. There is also a difference in their voice’ (Krapf and Rebmann
1887). Upper Pokomo: nkololo, Coqui Francolin, Francolinus coqui (Mwaura 2006).
Swahili (Mvita): kororo, ‘a guinea-fowl with a black crest and a blue neck’ (Binns
1925); kórŏro, ‘a crested guinea-fowl’ (Krapf 1882). Swahili (Zanzibar): kororo,
Crested Guineafowl, G. pucherani (Pakenham 1959). Swahili ~ Bondei ~ Shambaa ~
Kami: kololo, Crested Guineafowl, G. pucherani (Moreau 1940/41). Luguru: mkololo,
Crested Guineafowl, G. pucherani (Brain 1980).

kozi, 5/6, Deed: —, unidentified bird sp. (1964). Taylor: —, ‘crested eagle (?)
(Sw[ahili] ?)’ (1891). Cf. Rabai: — ~ kosi, 5/6, ‘the name of a species of large
vulture’; like the ndzui [ndzuu] it does not scavenge dead animals (whereas the mue
[mwee] and luvanga do) (Krapf and Rebmann 1887). E. Duruma: —, 5/6, ‘Fish Eagle’
(Ndurya et al. 1989). N. Digo: —, 5/6, ‘eagle, large bird of prey’ (Mwalonya et al.
2004). Ilwana: ikosi, ‘eagle sp.’ (Nurse 2000). Swahili (Tanga): —, African Fish

15
 Eagle, Haliaeetus vocifer (Moreau 1940/41). Swahili (Pemba, Shidi): — (?), Great
Sparrowhawk, Accipiter melanoleucus (Pakenham 1959). Swahili (Unguja, Chaani):
—, African Goshawk, A. tachiro (Pakenham 1959). Comorian (Mwali): kozi, Black
Kite, Milvus migrans (Louette 1988; 2004). Comorian (Ndzuani): kozi ~ coosee
[kozi], Black Kite, M. migrans (Louette 1988; 2004); kozi, 5/6, ‘kite’, Common Bantu
(Ahmed-Chamanga 1992). Proto-Sabaki: *įkozį, 5/6 ~ 9/10, ‘goshawk’, Common
Bantu; *nkozį, 9/10, ‘hawk sp.’, Common Bantu (Nurse and Hinnebusch 1993).
Bondei: —, African Fish Eagle, H. vocifer; Palm-nut Vulture, Gypohierax angolensis
(Moreau 1940/41). Zigua: —, African Fish Eagle, H. vocifer (Brain 1980).

k’ozi, 9/10, Dakatcha: kozi, Black-bellied Starling, Lamprotornis corruscus (2008).

Deed: —, unidentified bird sp. (1964). Cf. Rabai: kosi [kozi], 9/10, a bird that
resembles the mlamba [mulamba]. It has red eyes and there are often many in flocks of
dzongo [ts’ongo]. It is also seen feeding on pawpaw (Krapf and Rebmann 1887). E.
Duruma: k’uzi, ‘starling’ (Ndurya et al. 1989). N. Digo: kuzi, 5/6, Greater Blue-eared
Starling, L. chalybaeus (Mwalonya et al. 2004). S. Digo: kuzi, glossy blue starling,
Lamprotornis spp. (Moreau 1940/41). Swahili (Unguja, Jambiani): kuzi, Black-bellied
Starling, L. corruscus (Pakenham 1959). Swahili (Unguja): kuuzi, probably Black-
bellied Starling, L. corruscus (Pakenham 1959). Swahili (Mafia, Mbwera): kuzi,
glossy blue starling, Lamprotornis spp. (Moreau 1940/41). See k’ozi-maamba and
k’ozi-ngaregare.

k’ozi-maamba, 9/10, Dakatcha: kozi maamba, Greater Blue-eared Starling,

Lamprotornis chalybaeus (2008). See k’ozi.

k’ozi-ngaregare, 9/10, Dakatcha: kozi ngaregare, Violet-backed Starling,

Cinnyricinclus leucogaster (2008). See k’ozi and ngaregare.

kubo, 9/10?, Deed: —, ‘bird with note like a bell’ (1964). Taylor: —, ‘bird with bell-
like note’ (1891). Cf. W. Duruma: —, ‘bird sp., small’ (Walsh 1987). Bondei ~
Shambaa: —, Tropical Boubou, Laniarius aethiopicus (Moreau 1940/41). Zigua: kubo
~ nguonguo, Tropical Boubou, L. aethiopicus (Brain 1980). See kubo-nyango,
identified at Dakatcha as the Tropical Boubou, L. aethiopicus; also mwanguwo,
identified as the Grey-headed Bush-shrike, Malaconotus blanchoti.

kubo-nyango, 9/10?, Dakatcha: kubonyango, Tropical Boubou, Laniarius aethiopicus

(2008). See kubo.

kuchu, 5/6, Deed: —, ‘bald-headed vulture’ (1964). Taylor: —, ‘bald-headed vulture’ >
lukuchu, ‘bald, head completely shorn’ (1891). Cf. Rabai: — ~ kudu, 5/6, ‘the name of
a carrion-bird, with a bald head’ (Krapf and Rebmann 1887). Upper Pokomo: —,
vulture spp. (Mwaura 2006). Shambaa: ngushu, vulture (Moreau 1940/41). Zigua:
ngushu, vultures (Brain 1980). Luguru: mlugusu, vultures (Brain 1980).

k’uku, 9/10, Taylor: —, ‘fowl’; ‘Just after hatching, the chick is called (1) kakuku
katsanga; then taking the names of birds it equals in size, it is called successively, (2)
kabuta; (3) kadzonya; (4) kahepe (plur. a-mahepe); (5) k’ereng’endze (partridge); then
(6) k’wahe; then the chicks are called (7) mitsandzo. After this stage, the young cocks
are p’ora; then they become majogolo, full-grown cocks, and the old cocks are p’ungu;
the cock having ten stages from the time it is hatched till its old age. After the seventh

16
 stage, the hen becomes mufaranga, and then muhehera, and lastly, kolo ra k’uku, a
full-grown hen’ (1891). Cf. W. Duruma: kuku, ‘hen, fowl’ (Walsh 1987). E. Duruma:
k’uk’u: ‘hen’ (Ndurya et al. 1989). N. Digo: kuku, 9/10, ‘chicken’ (Mwalonya et al.
2004). Lower Pokomo: nkuku, 9/10, ‘chicken’ (Rossbach 1987). Ilwana: kuku, 9/10,
‘chicken’ (Rossbach 1991). Swahili (Mvita): —, ‘a fowl, a hen, poultry’ (Binns 1925);
kúku, 9/10, ‘a hen, a fowl, poultry (Krapf 1882). Proto-Sabaki: *nkuku, 9/10,
‘chicken’, Common Bantu (Nurse and Hinnebusch 1993). See k’ukuku-ziya, lit.
‘pond-hen’, identified at Dakatcha as the African Jacana, Actophilornis africanus.

kukui, pl.?, Taylor: —, unidentified bird sp. (1891). See kikokoi, identified at
Dakatcha as the Chestnut-fronted Helmet-shrike, Prionops scopifrons.

k’ukuku-ziya, 9/10?, Dakatcha: kukuku zia, African Jacana, Actophilornis africanus

(2008). Lit. ‘pond-hen’ < Giryama: k’uku, ‘domestic fowl’ + ziya, ‘lake, pond’. Cf.
Duruma: kukusia ~ kukuzia, unidentified bird sp. (Krapf and Rebmann 1887). Upper
Pokomo: kukumayi, unidentified bird sp., a pest and source of food (Mwaura 2006).
Swahili (Zanzibar): kuku-ziwa, Common Moorhen, Gallinula chloropus; Black Crake,
Amaurornis flavirostris (Pakenham 1959). See k’uku.

kulukulu, 5/6, Dakatcha: —, Fischer’s Turaco, Tauraco fischeri (2008). Deed: —, 5/6,
unidentified bird sp. (1964). Cf. Rabai: —, unidentified bird sp. (Krapf and Rebmann
1887). Zigua ~ Zaramo ~ Kami: (n)kulukulu, turaco, Tauraco spp. (Moreau 1940/41).
See kulukulu ra nyika, identified at Dakatcha as the White-bellied Go-away-bird,
Corythaixodes leucogaster.

kulukulu ra nyika, 5/6, Dakatcha: —, White-bellied Go-away-bird, Corythaixodes

leucogaster (2008). The qualifying phrase means ‘of the bush’ < Giryama: nyika,
‘bush, wilderness’. See kulukulu.

k’uluwiri, 9/10?, Deed: kuluwiri, ‘long legged reddish water stork’ (1964). Cf. Swahili
(Tanga): fuluwili, rail, Rallidae (Moreau 1940/41). Kami: nkuluwili, rail, Rallidae
(Moreau 1940/41). See kakuluwiri, the diminutive form of the name.

kunguru, 9/10, Dakatcha: —, House Crow, Corvus splendens (2008). Cf. N. Digo: —,
9/10, Pied Crow, C. albus (Mwalonya et al. 2004). S. Digo: —, crow, Corvus (Moreau
1940/41). Swahili (Mvita): kunguu, ‘the black and white carrion crow’ (Binns 1925).
Swahili (S.W. Pemba): kunguu, Pied Crow, C. albus (Pakenham 1959). Swahili
(Zanzibar): —, House Crow, C. splendens; Pied Crow, C. albus (Pakenham 1959).
Swahili (Mafia, Mbwera): —, crow, Corvus (Moreau 1940/41). Proto-Sabaki: ?
*nkunguulu, 9/10, ‘crow sp.’, Common Bantu, proto-Southern Cushitic (Nurse and
Hinnebusch 1993). Bondei ~ Zigua: —, crow, Corvus (Moreau 1940/41). Zigua: —,
Pied Crow, C. albus (Brain 1980). Shambaa: —, White-naped Raven, C. albicollis
(Moreau 1940/41). The Giryama name is a Swahili loanword, adopted for the
introduced species. See ngongoo and ngongowa, applied to the indigenous Pied Crow,
C. albus.

k’wahe, 9/10, Deed: kwahe, 9/10, ‘a sort of partridge’ (1964). Taylor: k’wahe
‘pron[ounced] nearly hkpahe’, ‘a kind of partridge’ (1891). Cf. E. Duruma: k’ware,
‘Red legged Coot’ (Ndurya et al. 1989). N. Digo: kpware, 5/6, ‘quail’ (Mwalonya et
al. 2004). Upper Pokomo: kware, African Crake, Crex egregia (Mwaura 2006).

17
 Swahili (Mvita): kwale ~ kware, ‘a large partridge’ (Binns 1925); kuále, ‘a partridge?’
(Krapf 1882). Proto-Sabaki: *nkwale, 9/10, ‘francolin’, Common Bantu (Nurse and
Hinnebusch 1993). Northeast Coast Bantu: (n)kwale, Francolinus spp. (Moreau
1940/41). Bondei: kikwelekwechi, Crested Francolin, Francolinus sephaena; onomat.
(Moreau 1940/41). Zigua: kwale, spurfowl (Brain 1980). Zaramo: kwale kwechi,
Crested Francolin, F. sephaena (Moreau 1940/41). Luguru: ng’hwale, spurfowl (Brain
1980).

kwalala, pl.?, Dakatcha: —, African Open-billed Stork, Anastomus lamelligerus (2008,

draft). Deed: —, ‘stork?, dark grey water bird with long slender legs and beak’ (1964).
Taylor: kwalala, unidentified bird sp. (1891). Cf. Swahili (Zanzibar): kwarara, Hadada
Ibis, Bostrychia hagedash (Pakenham 1959). Swahili (Mafia, Mbwera): kwarara,
Hadada Ibis, B. hagedash (Pakenham 1959). Swahili: kwarara, Hadada Ibis, B.
hagedash (Pakenham 1959). Zaramo: kwarara, Hadada Ibis, B. hagedash; onomat.
(Pakenham 1959). Luguru:: wahalala, Hadada Ibis, Bostrychia hagedash; mkwala,
Sacred Ibis, Threskiornis aethiopicus (Brain 1980).

k’wembe, 9/10, Dakatcha: kwembe, Crowned Hornbill, Tockus alboterminatus (2008).

Deed: kwembe, ‘hornbill’, ‘red with long legs, like handalumwe but smaller’ (1964).
Taylor: k’wembe, unidentified bird sp. (1891). Cf. Rabai: puembe [p’wembe], 9/10,
‘the toucan’ (Krapf and Rebmann 1887). N. Digo: kpwembe, 5/6, Crowned Hornbill,
T. alboterminatus (de Groot 1990). S. Digo: rukwembe, small hornbill spp., Tockus
(Moreau 1940/41). Swahili (Mvita): kwembe, ‘the lesser hornbill’ (Binns 1925);
kuémbe, 1/2, ‘a black bird with a large red beak’ (Krapf 1882). Swahili (Zanzibar):
kwembe, Crowned Hornbill, T. alboterminatus (Pakenham 1959). Swahili (Unguja):
fembe ~ fyembe, Crowned Hornbill, T. alboterminatus (Pakenham 1959). Swahili (S.
Unguja): thembe, Crowned Hornbill, T. alboterminatus (Pakenham 1959). Proto-
Sabaki: *nkwembe, ‘crowned hornbill’, Common Bantu? (Nurse and Hinnebusch
1993). Swahili ~ Bondei ~ Shambaa ~ Zigua ~ Kami: (n)kwembe(kwembe), small
hornbill spp., Tockus (Moreau 1940/41). Zigua: grey hornbill spp., Tockus (Brain
1980). Luguru: grey hornbill spp., Tockus (Brain 1980). See k’wembe wa nyika.

k’wembe wa nyika, 9/10, Dakatcha: kwembe wa nyika, African Grey Hornbill, Tockus
nasutus (2008). Lit. ‘hornbill of the bush’ < Giryama: nyika, ‘bush, wilderness’. See
k’wembe.

lele, 5/6, Deed: —, 5/6, ‘small grey bird with long legs’; ?< Giryama: mileli, 4,
‘drooping feather of bird’s tail’ (1964). Taylor: —, unidentified bird sp. (1891). Cf.
Rabai: muam’lele [mwamulele], pl. miamilele [myamulele], 3/4, ‘the name of a
species of bird, remarkable for its tail-feathers, whence its name’, < Rabai: muleli, 3/4,
‘the tail-feather’ (Krapf and Rebmann 1887). Swahili (Mvita): m’leli, ‘the longest of
the tail feathers of the ostrich or cock’ (Binns 1925); mléli, 3/4, ‘the longest of the tail
feathers of the ostrich or cock’ (Krapf 1882). Swahili: mleli-, widowbird spp.,
Euplectes spp. (Maimu 1982).

luhanga, 11/10, Dakatcha: —, African Goshawk, Accipiter tachiro; Great

Sparrowhawk, A. melanoleucus (2008). Deed: —, ‘large hawk’ (1964). Taylor: —,
‘great hawk’ (1891). Cf. Rabai: luvanga, pl. panga, 11/10, ‘the name of a species of
vulture’, larger than the kivanga: ‘The luvanga catches fowls, but the kivanga only
small birds’ (Krapf and Rebmann 1887). Proto-Sabaki: *kipanga, 7/8, ‘bird of prey

18
 sp.’ (Nurse and Hinnebusch 1993). See the cognate forms kahanga and kihanga, both
describing smaller birds of prey.

mangera, 9/10?, Deed: — ~ mwangera, unidentified bird sp. (1964). Taylor:

mwangera, unidentified bird sp. (1891). Cf. Rabai: —, ‘the name of a species of bird
with a long neck’ (Krapf and Rebmann 1887). E. Duruma: —, Black-headed Heron,
Ardea melanocephala; Cattle Egret, Bubulcus ibis (Ndurya et al. 1989). N. Digo:
manjera, 9/10, ‘heron, stork, flamingo’ (Mwalonya et al. 2004); 1/2, ‘flamingo’ (de
Groot 1990). S. Digo: mangera, Western Reef-Egret, Egretta gularis [and probably
also Dimorphic Egret, E. dimorpha] (Moreau 1940/41). Swahili (Pangani): mangera,
Western Reef-Egret, E. gularis [but probably mainly Dimorphic Egret, E. dimorpha]
(Moreau 1940/41). Comorian (Mwali): mgweda, Egretta sp. (Louette 1988; 2004). See
mwangera, probably a variant of the same name.

mbata wa madzini, 9/10, Dakatcha: mbata wa majini, ducks and geese (2008). Lit.
‘water-duck’ < Giryama: (m)bata, ‘duck’ + Swahili: maji-ni, ‘of the water’. Cf.
Duruma: batawamadzini, Great Cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo (Swahili: bata wa
majini) (Ndurya et al. 1989). See bata, duck, especially the domesticated variety.

mborode, 9/10?, Dakatcha: —, Madagascar Bee-eater, Merops superciliosus (2008).

The presence of /d/ indicates that this is a loanword.

mbua, 9/10?, Dakatcha: —, Northern White-crowned Shrike, Eurocephalus rueppelli

(2008).

mbuche, 9/10?, Dakatcha: —, White-headed Mousebird, Colius leucocephalus; Blue-

naped Mousebird, Urocolius macrourus (2008). Cf. Rabai: —, 9/10, unidentified bird
sp. (Krapf and Rebmann 1887). The presence of /ch/ indicates that this is a loanword.

mbwisi, 9/10?, Deed: —, unidentified bird sp. (1964).

mube, 3/4?, Deed: —, unidentified bird sp. (1964). The presence of /b/ indicates that
this is a loanword.

muchelele, 3/4?, Dakatcha: —, Grey-headed Kingfisher, Halcyon leucocephala;

Brown-hooded Kingfisher, Halcyon albiventris; Mangrove Kingfisher, Halcyon
senegaloides; Malachite Kingfisher, Alcedo christata (2008). Deed: mchelele,
unidentified bird sp. (1964). Taylor: m’chelele, unidentified bird sp., lit. ‘“wife’s
asleep,” or “is dead”’ (1891). Cf. E. Duruma: jelele, 5/6, ‘kingfisher’ (Ndurya et al.
1989). Dururma: jelele, one of two bird spp. from which auspices are taken on a
journey (the other is kokota): ‘Jelele has a deep blue coat and a red beak, and makes
its home in a hole it burrows in the bank of a watercourse or a pit. It is never heard
except when it screams in flying from tree to tree’ (Griffiths 1935); chelele,
unidentified bird sp. (Krapf and Rebmann 1887). The presence of /ch/ suggests that
this is a loanword. See muchelele wa mehoni, identified at Dakatcha as the Pied
Kingfisher, Ceryle rudis, and also the diminutive kachelele, identified as the Pygmy
Kingfisher, Ispidina picta.

muchelele wa mehoni, 3/4?, Dakatcha: —, Pied Kingfisher, Ceryle rudis (2008). See
muchelele, kingfisher spp.

19
mudapara, 3/4?, Deed: —, unidentified bird sp. (1964). The presence of /d/ indicates
that this is a loanword.

mukokota, 3/4, Dakatcha: —, Mombasa Woodpecker, Campethera mombassica;

Green-backed Woodpecker, C. cailliautii; Bearded Woodpecker, Dendropicos
namaquus; mukokota anayeishi jangwani (lit. ‘the woodpecker that lives in the
desert’), Cardinal Woodpecker, D. fuscescens (2008). Deed: —, 3/4, ‘sort of
woodpecker’ (1964). Taylor: m’kokota, unidentified bird sp. (1891). Cf. Rabai: gogota
[kokota], 5/6, ‘a bird. Its cry is, “Ndi nda nde!”’ (Krapf and Rebmann 1887). Duruma:
kokota: one of two bird spp. from which auspices are taken on a journey (the other is
jelele): ‘Kokota has a brown coat with regular rows of white circular spots and a
reddish crest, and makes its home in a hole it digs in the bole of a dead tree. It is
frequently heard to call “Nje-nye-nje” after a spell of tree-tapping, the taps being so
rapid that one can hardly take count of them. They are shy birds and are not often seen
near dwellings’ (Griffiths 1935). N. Digo: kokota. 9/10, ‘woodpecker’ (Mwalonya et
al. 2004). S. Digo: kokota, woodpecker spp. (Moreau 1940/41). Digo: kokota,
‘woodpecker sp., a bird of omen, e.g. for predicting the outcome of a journey’ (Walsh
1987). Upper Pokomo: nkonkota, Cardinal Woodpecker, D. fuscescens (Mwaura
2006). Swahili (Zanzibar): kong’ota, Green-backed Woodpecker, C. cailliautii;
Cardinal Woodpecker, D. fuscescens (Pakenham 1959). Swahili (Unguja): gong’ota,
Cardinal Woodpecker, D. fuscescens (Pakenham 1959). Swahili ~ Bondei ~ Shambaa:
(n)kong’o(n)ta, woodpecker spp. (Moreau 1940/41). Zigua: kigong’ota, Cardinal
Woodpecker, D. fuscescens (Brain 1980). Luguru: ng’ong’ondo, Cardinal
Woodpecker, D. fuscescens (Brain 1980).

mukokota-nyuni, 3/4, Dakatcha: mukokota nyuni, Nubian Woodpecker, Campethera

nubica (2008). Lit. ‘omen-woodpecker’, Giryama: nyuni, bird of omen, ‘a few birds
are called ‘nyuni’ but not all, hearing its cry can be a good or bad omen’ (Deed 1964).
See mukokota, woodpecker spp.

mukolobiro, 3/4, Taylor: m’kolobiro, unidentified bird sp. (1891). See kolobiro,
identified at Dakatcha as Oriolous spp.

mulamba, 3/4, Dakatcha: mlamba, Fork-tailed Drongo, Dicrurus adsimilis (2008).

Deed: —, 3/4, ‘a little black bird who is said to start the other birds singing in the
morning, ‘king of birds’’ (1964). Taylor: —, unidentified bird sp. (1891). Cf. Rabai:
—, 3/4, ‘the elder of the birds’ (‘Mulamba ni mufiere wa niuni’ [Mulamba ni muvyere
wa nyuni]) (Krapf and Rebmann 1887). N. Digo: mlamba, 3/4, Fork-tailed Drongo, D.
adsimilis (Mwalonya et al. 2004). Swahili (Mvita): m’lamba, ‘a black bird, a black
fly-catcher, very common at the coast’ (Binns 1925); mlamba, ‘a bird which cries
before the cock crows’, ‘a species of blackbird’ (Krapf 1882). Swahili (Zanzibar):
mramba ~ mramba mweusi, Black-bellied Starling, Lamprotornis corruscus
(Pakenham 1959). Swahili (Unguja): mramba mweupe, African Golden Oriole,
Oriolus auratus (Pakenham 1959). Northeast Coast Bantu: mlamba, Fork-tailed
Drongo, D. adsimilis (Moreau 1940/41). Zigua: mlamba, Fork-tailed Drongo, D.
adsimilis (Brain 1980). Luguru: mlamba, Fork-tailed Drongo, D. adsimilis; mlamba
mweupe, African Golden Oriole, O. auratus (Brain 1980).

20
muningamuninga, 3/4, Dakatcha: mningamninga, Narina Trogon, Apaloderma narina
(2008). This is a reduplicated form of the root ninga, describing the African Green
Pigeon, Treron calva.

munyanjemunyanje, 3/4, Deed: munyanje-munyanje, ‘white bird, kind of white

stork’ (1964). Swahili ~ Shambaa ~ Zigua: yangeyange, Cattle Egret, Bubulcus ibis
(Moreau 1940/41). Zigua ~ Luguru: yangeyange, Cattle Egret, B. ibis (Brain 1980).
See munyanjemunyanje mwaruhe and munyanjemunyanje mwiru.

munyanjemunyanje mwaruhe, 3/4, Taylor: munyanjem’nyanje mwaruhe, ‘stork

(?)’ (1891). Lit. ‘white-stork’ < Giryama: -aruhe, ‘white, light-coloured’. See
munyanjemunyanje.

munyanjemunyanje mwiru, 3/4, Taylor: munyanjem’nyanje mwiru, ‘secretary-

bird’ (1891), ‘Secretary Bird, Sagittarius serpentarius. Lit. ‘black-stork’ < Giryama:
-iru, ‘black, dark’. See munyanjemunyanje.

murisa wa ng’ombe, 1/2, Dakatcha: mrisa wa ng’ombe, Carmine Bee-eater. Merops

nubicus; mtumwa wa mrisa wa ng’ombe, Eurasian Bee-eater, M. apiaster (2008).
Deed: —, 1/2, ‘bird that pecks ticks from cattle’ (1964). Lit. ‘cattle-herder’ and ‘cattle-
herder’s slave’, Giryama: (mutumwa, ‘slave’) + murisa, ‘herder’ + ng’ombe, ‘cow,
cattle’.

musanya-ng’andu, 1/2, Dakatcha: msanyang’andu, Yellowbill, Ceuthmochares aereus

(2008). Deed: —, unidentified bird sp. (1964). Taylor: m’sanya-ng’andu, unidentified
bird sp., lit. ‘“brass-smith”’ (1891), < Giryama: musanya, ‘smith, blacksmith’ +
ng’andu, ‘brass’. Cf. Shambaa: shemsana, Yellowbill, C. aereus (Moreau 1940/41).
Zigua: msani, Yellowbill, C. aereus, lit. ‘“blacksmith”’ (Moreau 1940/41).

mwangera, 9/10?, Deed: — ~ mangera, unidentified bird sp. (1964). Taylor: —,

unidentified bird sp. (1891). This is a variant of mangera, cognates of which refer to
egret spp.

mwanguwo, pl.?, Dakatcha: mwanguo, Grey-headed Bush-shrike, Malaconotus

blanchoti (2008). Cf. N. Digo: —, 1/2, ‘bird which often calls from the top of trees
and is said to announce rain or death’ (Mwalonya et al. 1989). Cf. Bondei: nguo,
Tropical Boubou, Laniarius aethiopicus (Moreau 1940/41). Zigua: kubo ~ nguonguo,
Tropical Boubou, L. aethiopicus (Brain 1980); nguonguo, Tropical Boubou, L.
aethiopicus; onomat. (Moreau 1940/41). Luguru: lung’wuo, Tropical Boubou, L.
aethiopicus (Brain 1980). This name is probably derived from the same root as kubo.

mwee, 9/10, Dakatcha: —, small eagles, large hawks (2008). Deed: —, ‘hawk’ (1964).
Taylor: mwee, ‘kite’ (1891). Cf. Rabai: mue [mwee], ‘a hawk’ that scavenges dead
animals like the luvanga (Krapf and Rebmann 1887). Lower Pokomo (Buu): mwewe,
9/10, ‘hawk’ (Rossbach 1987). Swahili (Mvita): mwewe, ‘the Egyptian kite, a bird of
prey, very destructive to young chickens’ (Binns 1925). Swahili (Zanzibar): mwewe,
Milvus migrans (Pakenham 1959). Proto-Sabaki: *mweWe, 1/2? ~ 9/10, ‘kite sp.’,
West Ruvu (Nurse and Hinnebusch 1993). Northeast Coast Bantu: mwewe, Black
Kite, M. migrans (Moreau 1940/41).

21
nderi, 9/10, Deed: —, 9/10, ‘eagle: vulture’ (1964). Taylor: ndéri, ‘vulture’ (1891). W.
Duruma: —, ‘vulture’ (Walsh 1987). E. Duruma: —, 9/10, ‘vulture’ (Ndurya et al.
1989) Cf. N. Digo: —, 9/10, ‘vulture’ (Mwalonya et al. 2004). Swahili (Mvita): —, ‘a
vulture’ (Binns 1925). Bondei: ndeyi, vulture spp. (Moreau 1940/41). Taita (Josa):
nderi, 9/10, ‘vulture’ (Philippson 1983). Kamba: ndei, ‘a vulture’ (Mwau 2006); ndei,
‘a large carrion bird; a vulture’ (A.I.M. 1970 [1939]). Tharaka: —, generic term for
vultures (Steinhart 1991). Mbeere: ‘eagle’ (Kibwece 1992). S. Gikuyu: —, vulture
spp. (Leakey 1977). Gikuyu: —, 9/10, ‘eagle, vulture’ (Benson 1964).

ndiri, 9/10, Taylor: —, unidentified bird sp. (1891).

ndzarawi, 9/10, Deed: —, 9/10, ‘cattle-bird’ (1964). Cf. Lower Pokomo (Buu): nzare,
9/10, Little Egret, Egretta garzetta (Rossbach 1987). > Dahalo: ndzá:re, pl.
ndzá:re:ma, Cattle Egret, Bubulcus ibis (Ehret et al. 1989).

ndzuu, 9/10, Dakatcha: nzuu, large eagles (2008). Deed: —, ‘eagle’ (1964). Taylor: —,
‘gier-eagle’(1891). Cf. Rabai: ndzui, 9/10, a bird of prey which has long talons and
can take a goat (Krapf and Rebmann 1887). W. Duruma: inzu, pl. mainzu, 5/6, ‘bird of
prey sp.’ (Walsh 1987).

ngaregare, 9/10, Deed: —, unidentified bird sp. (1964). Cf. Bonde ~ Shambaa ~ Kami:
nyangala, Violet-backed Starling, Cinnyricinclus leucogaster (Moreau 1940/41).
Zigua ~ Kami: nyangala, glossy blue starling, Lamprotornis spp. (Moreau 1940/41).
See k’ozi-ngaregare, identified at Dakatcha as the Violet-backed Starling, C.
leucogaster.

ngau, 9/10, Deed: —, ‘osprey’ (1964), Osprey, Pandion haliaetus.

ngongoo, 9/10, Deed: —, ‘raven’ (1964). Cf. Rabai: ngungu, 9/10, ‘the raven’, all black
except for a ring of white on its neck (Krapf and Rebmann 1887). Kamba: ngũngũũ, ‘a
crow’ (A.I.M. 1970 [1939]; Mwau 2006). This is a variant of ngoongoo and
ngongowa, identified at Dakatcha as the Pied Crow, Corvus albus. See also ngongo-
nyika and gongo-nyika, identified as the Eurasian Roller, Coracias garrulus.

ngongowa, 9/10, Dakatcha: —, Pied Crow, Corvus albus (2008). This is a variant of
ngongoo and ngoongoo. See also ngongo-nyika and gongo-nyika, identified as the
Eurasian Roller, Coracias garrulus.

ngongo-nyika, 9/10, Taylor: —, ‘“wild crow,” ?’ (1891). Lit. ‘crow of the bush’ <
Giryama: ngongoo ~ ngoongoo, ‘crow’ + nyika, ‘bush, wilderness’. See gongo-nyika,
5/6, identified at Dakatcha as the Eurasian Roller, Coracias garrulus; also ngongoo,
ngoongoo and ngongowa, crow spp.

ngoongoo, 9/10, Taylor: —, ‘crow’ (1891). This is a variant of ngongoo and

ngongowa, identified at Dakatcha as the Pied Crow, Corvus albus. See also ngongo-
nyika and gongo-nyika, identified as the Eurasian Roller, Coracias garrulus.

ninga, 5/6, Dakatcha: —, African Green Pigeon, Treron calva (2008). Deed: —, 5/6,
‘green dove’ (1964). Taylor: —, ‘green-dove’ (1891). Cf. Rabai: —, 5/6, ‘the name of
a species of dove, somewhat larger than the jia [jiya], said to carry a little stick in its

22
 claws to stand on when coming to drink water’ (Krapf and Rebmann 1887). E.
Dururma: —, ‘type of pigeon’ (Ndurya et al. 1989). N. Digo: —, 5/6, ‘type of pigeon
with a red beak and feet’ (Mwalonya et al. 2004); —, African Green Pigeon, T. calva
(de Groot 1990). Swahili (Mvita): —, ‘a kind of green pigeon’ (Binns 1925); ningo
[ninga], ‘a kind of green bird like a dove’ (Krapf 1882). Swahili (Pemba): —, Pemba
Green Pigeon, T. pembaensis (Pakenham 1959). Swahili (Unguja): —, African Green
Pigeon, T. calva (Pakenham 1959). Comorian (Mwali): —, Comoro Blue Pigeon,
Alectroenas sganzini (Louette 1998; 2004). Comorian (Ndzuani): —, Comoro Blue
Pigeon, A. sganzini (Louette 1998; 2004); ningá, 9/10, Comoro Blue Pigeon, A.
sganzini (Ahmed-Chamanga 1992). Comorian: —, Comoro Blue Pigeon, A. sganzini
(Louette 1998; 2004). Comorian (Maore): —, Comoro Blue Pigeon, A. sganzini
(Huguet 2002); —, 9/10, ‘black pigeon aprreciated for its beauty’, < Swahili, ‘green
pigoen’ (Blanch 1996). Proto-Sabaki: ?*ninga, 9/10, ‘pigeon sp.’, Common Bantu?
(Nurse and Hinnebusch 1993). Zigua ~ Luguru: —, African Green Pigeon, Treron
calva (Brain 1980). Northeast Coast Bantu: —, African Green Pigeon, Treron calva
(Moreau 1940/41). See the reduplicated form muningamuninga, identified at
Dakatcha as the Narina Trogon, Apaloderma narina.

njejemera, 9/10, Dakatcha: —, Green Wood-hoopoe, Phoeniculus purpureus (2008).

Deed: —, ‘a chatterer, in an unmannerly way, so called from a small black bird who
goes in flocks, never alone’ (1964). Cf. Digo: jojomera, wood-hoopoe, Phoeniculus,
and scimitarbill, Rhinopomastus (Moreau 1940/41). Bondei ~ Shambaa ~ Zigua ~
Zaramo ~ Kami: (n)gegeme(l)a, wood-hoopoe, Phoeniculus, and scimitarbill,
Rhinopomastus (Moreau 1940/41). Zigua: mgegemela, Green Wood-hoopoe,
Phoeniculus purpureus (Brain 1980). The presence of /j/ indicates that this is a
loanword. See also kijemera.

nyaa, 9/10, Deed: —, ‘ostrich’ (1964). Taylor: —, ‘ostrich’ (1891). Cf. Rabai: nia
[nyaa], 9/10, ‘the ostrich’ (Krapf and Rebmann 1887). W. Duruma: —,
‘ostrich’ (Walsh 1987). E. Duruma: —, ‘ostrich’ (Ndurya et al. 1989). Kamba: —, ‘an
ostrich’ (A.I.M. 1970 [1939]; Mwau 2006). Gikuyu: nyaga, 9/10, ‘ostrich’ (Benson
1964). The ostrich sp. found in the immediate hinterland of the Kenya coast is Somali
Ostrich, Struthio molybdophanes; the Central Kenya Bantu and S. Mijikenda names
may also describe the Common Ostrich, S. camelus. The Mijikenda name is probably a
loanword from historical Segeju.

nyeri, 9/10, Deed: —, ‘a small bird, the male has a very long tail’ (1964). Cf. Rabai:
gniri [nyiri], 9/10, ‘the name of a species of bird, remarkable for its fine tail-feathers,
which are always used for decorating the kiru [a ceremonial headdress]. It is said to
have a black neck and a white body. It is rarely seen, and only in forests’ (Krapf and
Rebmann 1887). Gikuyu: mũnyĩrĩ, 3/4, ‘small bird with long-flowing tail (Paradise
Fly-catcher or Whydah)’ (Benson 1964). This is a loanword from historical Segeju.
See the diminutive kanyeri, identified in Dakatcha as the Pin-tailed Whydah, Vidua
macroura.

ororo, 5/6, Dakatcha: —, Black-crowned Tchagra, Tchagra senegala (2008). Deed: —,

5/6, ‘a bird with a rather cheerful cry’ (1964). This bird ‘sings a loud far-carrying fluty
and thrush-like whistled song unlike any other tchagra’ (Stevenson and Fanshawe
2002).

23
p’alala, 9/10, Taylor: —, unidentified bird sp. (1891). Cf. Duruma: palala, unidentified
bird sp., mbuda [mbutha] in Rabai. ‘It makes a noise with its wings, but does not
sing’ (Krapf and Rebmann 1887). See kabutha, identified at Dakatcha as a name for
larks, wagtails and pipits.

p’andza, 9/10, Dakatcha: panza, Speckled Mousebird, Colius striatus (2008). Cf.
Rabai: pansa, bird sp. with long tail feathers and a tuft or crest’ (Krapf and Rebmann
1887). Duruma: p’anza, Speckled Mousebird (Ndurya et al. 1989). N. Digo: pandza,
9/10, White-bellied Go-away-bird, Corythaixoides leucogaster (Mwalonya et al.
2004). S. Digo: pantsa, mousebird, Colius (Moreau 1940/41). Bondei ~ Shambaa:
(m)pasa, mousebird, Colius (Moreau 1940/41). Zigua: panja ~ mpasa, Speckled
Mousebird, C. striatus (Brain 1980); mpanja, mousebird, Colius (Moreau 1940/41).

p’ungu, 9/10, Dakatcha: pungu, Bateleur, Terathopius ecaudatus (2008). Deed: pungu,
‘large red hawk; old cock’ (1964). Taylor: —, ‘osprey (?)’ (1891). Cf. Kambe: pungu,
‘fish eagle’ (Oxford). Rabai: pungu, 9/10, ‘Cuntas vulture’; it eats snakes, tortoises,
and different kinds of lizard and rats. Larger than the kosi [kozi] (Krapf and Rebmann
1887). E. Duruma: —, unidentified bird sp. (Ndurya et al. 1989). N. Digo: pungu,
9/10, ‘eagle or other large bird of prey’ (Mwalonya et al. 2004). Digo: kungu, the
same bird as Rabai pungu (Krapf and Rebmann 1887). Swahili (Mvita): pungu, ‘a
large bird of prey’; kipungu, ‘a large vulture or eagle, which carries off snakes, and
even young sheep or goats’ (Binns 1925); pungu, ‘a large bird of prey’, ‘probably the
lamb’s vulture’; kipungu, 7/8, ‘a large vulture which carries off snakes, turtles (kobe),
sheep, goats, &c.; it breaks the shell of a tortoise by dropping it on a rock’ (Krapf
1882). Proto-Sabaki: *mpungu, 9/10, ‘bird of prey sp.’ (Nurse and Hinnebusch 1993).
Bondei ~ Shambaa ~ Zigua ~ Kami: (m)pungu, Bateleur, T. ecaudatus (Moreau
1940/41). Zigua: pungu, Bateleur, T. ecaudatus (Brain 1980). Luguru: kapungu,
Bateleur, T. ecaudatus (Brain 1980).

riyo, 5/6, Deed: —, ‘heron, a black bird which flies south in Giryama before the rains;
usually referred to as ‘mariyo’ because they are in flights’ (1964). Cf. Kauma: mario,
‘the rain-birds’, ‘harbingers of the rains’ (Muumba 1987). Rabai: mario ~ mathio
[madhio], 9/10, ‘the name of a species of large birds’; ‘They are rarely seen except in
flights’ (Krapf and Rebmann 1887). W. Duruma: mario, ‘bird sp., large and seen in
large flocks; a sign that rain is imminent’ (Walsh 1987). N. Digo: mariro, ‘kind of bird
whose presence is believed to be a sign that the rains are about to start (black in
colour, often flying high in a group’ (Mwalonya et al. 2004). The alternation of /dh/
~ /r/ in the Rabai version of this name indicates that it is a loanword from historical
Segeju.

shokoa, 5/6?, Dakatcha: —, Senegal Plover, Vanellus lugubris; Crowned Plover, V.

coronatus (2008). Cf. S. Digo chekoe, large plover, esp. Vanellus. Onomat. (Moreau
1940/41).

shore, 5/6?, Deed: —, unidentified bird sp. (1964). Taylor: —, unidentified bird sp.
(1891). Cf. S. Digo: kore, Common Bulbul, Pycnonotus barbatus (Moreau 1940/41).
Swahili (Pemba, Panza): shoro, African Reed Warbler, Acrocephalus baeticatus
(Pakenham 1959). Swahili (Tumbatu): choleulingo, African Paradise-flycatcher,
Terpsiphone viridis (Pakenham 1959). Swahili (N. Unguja): shore-uwanda, Common
Bulbul, P. barbatus (Pakenham 1959). Swahili (Unguja, Kigunda), shore-kwakwa,

24
 Eastern Nicator, Nicator gularis (Pakenham 1959). Swahili (Unguja, Mbiji): shore-
gugu, Lesser Swamp Warbler, Acrocephalus gracilirostros (Pakenham 1959). Swahili
(Unguja): shore-kishungi, Common Bulbul, P. barbatus; shore-pilipili, Common
Bulbul, P. barbatus; shore-mavi, African Paradise-flycatcher, T. viridis; shore-maki,
Violet-backed Starling, Cinnyricinclus leucogaster (Pakenham 1959). Swahili (Dar es
Salaam): shorwe wanda, House Sparrow, Passer domesticus, lit. ‘“bird of the
backyard”’ (Moreau 1940/41). Swahili (Mafia, Mbwera): shoreshore jangwa,
Zanzibar Sombre Greenbul, Andropadus importunus (Moreau 1940/41). Swahili
(Kilwa?): chokochore, Common Bulbul, P. barbatus (Pakenham 1959). Swahili:
shore, Common Bulbul, P. barbatus (Moreau 1940/41). Comorian (Ngazidja): sopve,
Madagascar Bulbul, Hypsipetes madagascarienesis (Louette 1988; 2004). Comorian
(Mwali): msopve, Madagascar Bulbul, H. madagascarienesis; Comoro Bulbul, H.
parvirostris (Louette 1988; 2004). Comorian (Ndzuani): nsole ~ soali, Madagascar
Bulbul, H. madagascarienesis (Louette 1988; 2004). Comorian (Maore): nyantsole,
Madagascar Bulbul, H. madagascarienesis (Louette 1988; 2004); niantsole ~
gnantsolé, Madagascar Bulbul, H. madagascarienesis (Huguet 2002). Bondei ~
Shambaa ~ Zigua: chole, Common Bulbul, P. barbatus (Moreau 1940/41). Zigua:
chole, Common Bulbul, P. barbatus (Brain 1980). Zaramo: shorwe, Common Bulbul,
P. barbatus (Moreau 1940/41). Kami: sore, Common Bulbul, P. barbatus (Moreau
1940/41). Luguru: sole, Common Bulbul, P. barbatus; sole kisungi, Speckled
Mousebird, Colius striatus (Brain 1980). See the diminutive kashore, identified at
Dakatcha as the Common Bulbul, Pycnonotus barbatus.

tsandza-mwezi, 5/6?, Dakatcha: tsanzamwezi, coursers and pratincoles? (2008). Lit.

‘moon(light)-bather’? < N. Digo: ‘to take a shower or play in the rain’ (Mwalonya et
al. 2004) + Giryama: mwezi, ‘moon’ (Taylor 1891). Cf. Swahili (Zanzibar):
chekeamwezi, Water Thick-knee, Burhinus vermiculatus, ‘whose “laughing” cry rings
out most often on bright moonlight nights’ (Pakenham 1959). Swahili (Unguja, Pete):
chekeukwa, Water Thick-knee, Burhinus vermiculatus (Pakenham 1959). Swahili
(Unguja): chekaukwee?, Senegal Plover, Vanellus lugubris (Pakenham 1959).

ts’etse, 9/10, Dakatcha: —, Zanzibar Red Bishop, Euplectes nigroventris (2008). Deed:
tsetse, 9/10, ‘bird with black and red plumage’ < Giryama: tsetse za moho, 9/10,
‘sparks of fire’ (Deed 1964); ts’etse (ya m’oho), ‘spark (of fire)’ (Taylor 1891).
Swahili (Zanzibar): kweche, male Black-winged Red Bishop, E. hordeaceus
(Pakenham 1959). See bombo, another term for male red bishops in breeding
plumage.

ts’ewi, 9/10, Dakatcha: tsewi, Scaly-throated Honeyguide, Indicator variegatus;

Greater Honeyguide, I. indicator; Lesser Honeyguide, I. minor, Pallid Honeyguide, I.
meliphilus; Wahlberg’s Honeybird, Prodotiscus regulus (2008). Deed: tsewi, 9/10, ‘a
little bird never killed by the Giryama supposed to show the way to game or
honey’ (1964). Cf. Ribe: tswehi, ‘honey-bird’ (New 1873). W. Duruma: tsewi,
honeyguide (Walsh 1987). Upper Pokomo: ncheu, 9/10, honeyguide, Indicator spp.
(Geider 1989). Proto-Sabaki: ?*nceW-, 9/10, ‘honey-guide bird’, proto-Southern
Cushitic (Nurse and Hinnebusch 1993). This is thought to be a loanword from a
Southern Cushitic language.

ts’ongo, 9/10, Dakatcha: tsongo, Grosbeak Weaver, Amblyospiza albifrons; African

Golden Weaver, Ploceus subaureus; Golden Palm Weaver, P. bojeri; Lesser Masked

25
 Weaver, P. intermedius; Black-headed Weaver, P. cucullatus; Clarke’s Weaver, P.
golandi; Chestnut Weaver, P. rubiginosus; Red-billed Quelea, Quelea quelea (2008).
Deed: tsongo, 9/10, ‘a small bird’ (1964). Taylor: —, ‘bird’, the generic term for birds
(1891). Cf. Rabai: dzongo [tsongo], unidentified bird sp. It comes in the morning and
feeds on sorghum until the sun heats up, when it retires to rest in the shade of the trees.
When the sun cools down it returns to eat sorghum again for its evening meal. When
the sun sets it retires for the day’ (Krapf and Rebmann 1887). W. Duruma: tsongo,
‘bird sp. which eats sorghum, millet and rice’ (Walsh 1987). E. Duruma: —, ‘weaver
bird’, Golden Palm Weaver, P. bojeri (Ndurya et al. 1989). N. Digo: tsongo, 9/10,
‘weaver bird’, including Spectacled Weaver, P. ocularis (Mwalonya et al. 2004);
tsongo, 9/10, unidentified bird sp. (de Groot 1990). S. Digo: ntsongo, ‘Weaver with
much yellow on (Ploceus spp.)’; ntsongo umba, ‘Weavers in sparrowy plumage that
associate in huge flocks, including Quelea spp., and out-of-plumage Bishops and
Whydahs’ (Moreau 1940/41). Lower Pokomo (Buu): nsongo, 9/10, ‘small
bird’ (Rossbach 1987). Upper Pokomo: nichongowa guba, Red-fronted Tinkerbird,
Pogoniulus pusillus; Greater Honeyguide, Indicator indicator; nichongo minana,
Zanzibar Sombre Greenbul, Andropadus importunus; nchongo gusi, Yellow-bellied
Greenbul, Chlorocichla flaviventris centralis; nchongo wa kiamari, Jackson’s
Widowbird, Euplectes jacksoni [not found in this area]; nchongo wa badha, Red-
headed Bluebill, Spermophaga ruficapilla [not found in this area]; nchongo gwa
mikindu, Java Sparrow, Padda oryzivora [an introduced sp. restricted to the islands of
Zanzibar] (Mwaura 2006). Ilwana: jo:go, ‘weaver bird’, Sabaki (Nurse 2000); joogo,
9/10, ‘small birds’ (Rossbach 1991). Proto-Sabaki: *ncongo, 9/10, ‘weaver bird
sp.’ (Nurse and Hinnebusch 1993). See ts’ongo wa nyika, identifided at Dakatcha as
the Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver, Bubalornis niger, and ts’ongo-munadi, the Dark-
backed Weaver, P. bicolor.

ts’ongo wa nyika, 9/10, Dakatcha: tsongo wa nyika, Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver,

Bubalornis niger (2008). Lit. ‘bush-weaver’ < Giryama: ts’ongo, ‘weaver’ + nyika,
‘bush, wilderness’. See ts’ongo, weaver spp.

ts’ongo-munadi, 9/10, Dakatcha: tsongo mnadi, Dark-backed Weaver, Ploceus bicolor

(2008). See ts’ongo, weaver spp.

uvuvi, 14/6?, Dakatcha: —, Great Cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo (2008). Cf. Zigua:
luvuvi, cormorant, Phalacrocorax, and herons (Brain 1980); vuvi ~ mvuvi ~ luvuvi,
Cormorant, Phalacrocorax, and other large fish-eating birds; lit. ‘fisherman’ (Moreau
1940/41). See uvuvi-mbonu.

uvuvi-mbonu, 14/6?, Dakatcha: —, African Darter, Anhinga rufa (2008). Moreau

(1940/41) remarks that darters are not distinguished from cormorants. See uvuvi,
identified at Dakatcha as the Great Cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo.

varuvaru, 5/6/?, Dakatcha: varu varu, Von der Decken’s Hornbill, Tockus deckeni
(2008).

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