Lenape Names of Birds and More
These are names and photographs of some of the common birds known to the Lenape or Delaware Indians. In the first column there are links that can be clicked to take you to the Lenape Talking Dictionary (www.talk-lenape.org). Place the cursor over the link and click to take you to the dictionary where you can hear the Lenape name. In the third column you will find a common name sometimes used for the birds. For example, a Yellow Billed Cuckoo is sometimes known as a Bull-Bat. In this column enclosed in “ ” is the literal translation of the Lenape name.
màxkalaniyat Red-Tailed Hawk “One who has red tail http://talk-lenape.org/detail?id=11829 feathers”
Buteo jamaicensis aihàm Golden Eagle http://talk-lenape.org/detail?id=214
Aquila chrysaetos
òpalanie Bald Eagle “White tail feathers” http://talk-lenape.org/detail?id=7954
sënihële Sparrow Hawk http://talk-lenape.org/detail?id=9239
kukhus Owl (any type) http://talk-lenape.org/detail?id=3174
chululhuwe Screech Owl http://talk-lenape.org/detail?id=908
ohuntàm Great Horned Owl http://talk-lenape.org/detail?id=7873
mòchipwis Vulture (or) Buzzard “One who eats nastily” http://talk-lenape.org/detail?id=4893
èhanswikèt Pelican “One who dips up” http://talk-lenape.org/detail?id=951 Pelecanus spp.
kwikwinkëm Duck, (any type) http://talk-lenape.org/detail?id=3550
askàskontpat Mallard Duck “One who has a green http://talk-lenape.org/detail?id=598 head”
kikichimwis Wood Duck http://talk-lenape.org/detail?id=2381
shëwanihële Snipe http://talk-lenape.org/detail?id=9424
kwëskwtis Killdeer http://talk-lenape.org/detail?id=3667
amimi Passenger Pigeon (now http://talk-lenape.org/detail?id=429 extinct). In 1914 the last Passenger Pigeon died at the Cincinnati Zoo.
amimi (2) Rock Pigeon http://talk-lenape.org/detail?id=429 Introduced to North America from Europe in early 1600s
mamèthakemu Mourning Dove http://talk-lenape.org/detail?id=4299
kaxkhuwe Cuckoo (Rain Crow) http://talk-lenape.org/detail?id=1741
laxawëlanias Scissor-Tailed Flycatcher / Scissor Tail) http://talk-lenape.org/detail?id=3797 “One who has forked tail feathers”
tiyas Blue Jay http://talk-lenape.org/detail?id=10182
tànktiyas Tufted Titmouse “Little Blue Jay” http://talk-lenape.org/detail?id=11749
hinutët Wren (various types) http://talk-lenape.org/detail?id=1315
tàskëmus Mockingbird http://talk-lenape.org/detail?id=9923
chiskukus Robin http://talk-lenape.org/detail?id=830
chihopèkëlis Eastern Bluebird http://talk-lenape.org/detail?id=735
chichikënëmwi-kënhwis Eastern Meadowlark “One who flies like a turkey” http://talk-lenape.org/detail?id=733
wetëndeis Scarlet Tanager “One who is like fire” http://talk-lenape.org/detail?id=10962
hmukwinùnd Cardinal (Red Bird) “One who looks bloody” http://talk-lenape.org/detail?id=1389
wisawtayas American Goldfinch (Wild Canary) “One who has a yellow http://talk-lenape.org/detail?id=11286 breast”
chëlilis Slate-Colored Junco (Snowbird) http://talk-lenape.org/detail?id=702
kakiwalis Brown Thrasher http://talk-lenape.org/detail?id=1622
chikënëm Turkey http://talk-lenape.org/detail?id=738
muwihële Prairie Chicken http://talk-lenape.org/detail?id=5268
pëphòkwe Ruffed Grouse http://talk-lenape.org/detail?id=8594
pupukwësh Bobwhite (or) Quail http://talk-lenape.org/detail?id=8981
Whip-poor-will wèkulis
(or) chëkwënilhwia http://talk-lenape.org/detail?id=10536
Nighthawk (Bullbat) pishkw http://talk-lenape.org/detail?id=8780
lelèmpëlis Ruby-Throated Hummingbird http://talk-lenape.org/detail?id=3856
chëlìlhwès Kingfisher http://talk-lenape.org/detail?id=701
ulikwën Yellow-Shafted Flicker (Yellow Hammer) “Pretty Feathers” http://talk-lenape.org/detail?id=10404
papaxès Red-Headed Woodpecker http://talk-lenape.org/detail?id=8270
chìchhàm Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker http://talk-lenape.org/detail?id=732
tihtës Downy Woodpecker http://talk-lenape.org/detail?id=10165
winkeòhkwèt Raven “One who likes meat” http://talk-lenape.org/detail?id=11194
chëkënakw Blackbird (various) http://talk-lenape.org/detail?id=697
ahas crow http://talk-lenape.org/detail?id=31
Domesticated Birds
òpsuwihële Goose (a generic name) “White Fowl” http://talk-lenape.org/detail?id=8036
pëphako Pheasant http://talk-lenape.org/detail?id=8277
tipas Chicken http://talk-lenape.org/detail?id=10172
sësàptipas Guinea Fowl “Speckled Chicken” http://talk-lenape.org/detail?id=9265
wisawchulëns Canary “yellow bird” http://talk-lenape.org/detail?id=13322
Words About Birds
mikwën feather http://talk-lenape.org/detail?id=4758
wëlanie tail feathers http://talk-lenape.org/detail?id=10603
Blue Jay Tail Feathers
wëlunkòn wing http://talk-lenape.org/detail?id=14210
mixpuwe down feather http://talk-lenape.org/detail?id=4886
wëlùkòn beak http://talk-lenape.org/detail?id=10756
kwëlkutëm turkey beard http://talk-lenape.org/detail?id=3340 A male turkey, and some females, grow a group of hair- like feathers from the center of the chest and this is known as the turkey beard. The "beards" average about 9 inches in length and were preferred by Delaware men for making the roach headdresses they wore.
There is also a Delaware correction not to eat the fat that is found in the area the turkey beard grows from. To do so will cause a person's hair to turn gray prematurely.
òhshixay nest http://talk-lenape.org/detail?id=7858
òpixkòy crop http://talk-lenape.org/detail?id=8021
tësi gizzard http://talk-lenape.org/detail?id=10132
compiled by Jim Rementer, director Lenape Language Project