How did two types of birds become associated with two calm seasons in late autumn to give us two beautiful words: “halcyon” and “gossamer”? The English call the quiet days of late November “gossamer,” ...

Black-capped kingfisher, Halcyon pileata (protonym, Alcedo pileata), also known as the Miyako kingfisher, photographed at Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China.

Words have the power to shape the way we communicate, and expanding your vocabulary can help you express yourself with clarity and nuance. It’s not just about learning new words but also about ...

As the veil of mist lifted, I saw a kingfisher fly off the short narrow pier, and bolt low over the calm lough, revealing its bright blue back and wings, before disappearing into the reeds on the ...

This shy little bird is linked to many bizarre beliefs about the weather The ancients called them the “halcyon days” – a period of fine, settled weather, lasting roughly seven days, which began ...