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 http://talk-lenape.org/detail?id=214

Aquila chrysaetos

òpalanie “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