Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Language/2014 July 14#Amazon or amazon

{{#ifeq:{{PAGENAME}}|Special:Undelete| |{{#if:|

}} {{#ifeq:{{NAMESPACE}}|Wikipedia|{{#switch:{{NAMESPACE}}|= |
}}|{{error:not substituted|Archive header}}
}}}} {{#if:|
}}
width = "100%"
colspan="3" align="center" | Language desk
width="20%" align="left" | < July 13

! width="25%" align="center"|<< Jun | July | Aug >>

! width="20%" align="right" |{{#ifexist:Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Language/2014 July 15|July 15|Current desk}} >

align=center width=95% style="background: #FFFFFF; border: 1px solid #003EBA;" cellpadding="8" cellspacing="0"
style="background: #5D7CBA; text-align: center; font-family:Arial; color:#FFFFFF;" | Welcome to the Wikipedia Language Reference Desk Archives
The page you are currently viewing is {{#ifexist:Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Language/2014 July 24|an archive page|a transcluded archive page}}. While you can leave answers for any questions shown below, please ask new questions on one of the current reference desk pages.

__TOC__

= July 14 =

Amazon or amazon

Before the MoS change to lower case all bird names, parrots of the genus Amazona all had the "Amazon" in their name capitalised by default, e.g. White-fronted Amazon. Now that things have changed, we're unsure whether it should be white-fronted amazon or white-fronted Amazon. Is it still a proper noun when used this way? Wondering if the English buffs have some insight! There's a current discussion on this here. Julia\talk 05:09, 14 July 2014 (UTC)

:At this time, it is not listed at List of words derived from toponyms.

:—Wavelength (talk) 15:06, 14 July 2014 (UTC)

:You can use http://www.onelook.com/?w=amazon&ls=a to check various dictionaries.

:—Wavelength (talk) 15:08, 14 July 2014 (UTC)

:AviBase uses "White-fronted Parrot" at http://avibase.bsc-eoc.org/species.jsp?lang=EN&avibaseid=DD669F07D14ADD6F. The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums uses ""white-fronted amazon" at http://www.waza.org/en/zoo/visit-the-zoo/parrots/amazona-albifrons. (The) Parrot Forum uses "white-fronted amazon" in text at http://theparrotforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=6983.

:—Wavelength (talk) 15:42, 14 July 2014 (UTC)

:A person reading the capitalized version might wonder (momentarily) whether it had something in common with the White Nile. When I consider all the information that I have found on this matter (including the closing statements at WP:BIRDCON), I am inclined to prefer the uncapitalized version.

:—Wavelength (talk) 04:45, 15 July 2014 (UTC)

::Thanks, Wavelength. I agree with you. Julia\talk 19:39, 16 July 2014 (UTC)