Submitted by TheMobyDicks t3_yd7ds2 in Maine
I replied, in Maine they're called shitpokes.
When I lived in Maine, a bunch of people around Deer Isle and Stonington called them that. Why is that?
Comments
TheMobyDicks OP t1_itqhwd9 wrote
>anglicisation
You must crush at Scrabble. Thanks for the nugget.
Between what you said and what lorindel_wallis said, I think we've figured it out. To wit:
Definition of shitepoke
: any of various herons: such as. a : green heron. b : night heron.
Etymology
shite + poke; from its traditional habit of defecating when flushed
Thanks to you both!
Different-Truth3662 t1_itqj9nx wrote
Shitpoke is a cormorant not a blue heron.
SnooMarzipans2939 t1_itqrpku wrote
I’ve always heard Comorants referred to as shit pokes as well
lsanborn t1_itsyqzw wrote
My father called cormorants “shags”.
lantech t1_itql3jk wrote
SnooMarzipans2939 t1_itqs108 wrote
Striated Herons aren’t migratory, and they aren’t native to the US or Maine.
lantech t1_itqsd7f wrote
That's not the point. I can find a few references to people calling cormorants shitpokes, but those references are largely just correcting people that are doing that.
SnooMarzipans2939 t1_itqt0je wrote
Downeasters have referred to them for generations as Shitpokes. Both Herons and Cormorants are long necked birds. What someone calls these birds depends mostly on where they live.
lantech t1_itqtsxy wrote
That's interesting, personally I've never heard them called that. Herons specifically have always been shitpokes. They're also markedly different looking birds, blue herons are huge. But I've never lived downeast so there you have it. I'll take your word for it and move on with my life.
raynedanser t1_itrnnpy wrote
We've called herons shitpokes my entire life.
Lorindel_wallis t1_itqe6jh wrote
They poke then shit when they fly off.
TheMobyDicks OP t1_itqfcic wrote
Math checks out!
turd_sculptor t1_itqhe1a wrote
I always thought that it was because they frequent the shitty smelling mudflats to poke around for food.
iceflame1211 t1_itqj8lm wrote
“I’ve got a new art concept for pokemon #2,342… it kinda looks like a heron.”
“A heron? We already have 83 big bird pokemon, what’s this one do?”
“It pokes shit”
“Shidpoke it is, publish to the ‘dex”
CantThinkOfAName000 t1_itsl0oj wrote
The proper term for that bird is "pterodactyl".
SnooMarzipans2939 t1_itqrkwa wrote
My grandfather called Comorants shit pokes. Didnt know we were using that term for herons
sdj2 t1_itqwkyx wrote
Never heard this term used for cormorants (or herons), like some people are saying. Definitely have heard people calling cormorants “shags” though.
Redleaves1313 t1_itrcsvl wrote
I’ve heard cormorants called Sea Ducks before
wormpussy t1_its3pwf wrote
Weird, cause I doubt they’re related to sea ducks.
MonsterByDay t1_itra3vc wrote
I've always heard herons, egrets, and all birds of the same general aesthetic referred to as "shit pokes".
I always assumed it was because they walk around in the mud/water and poke shit.
ftedwin t1_ittf90m wrote
The term made it into this Mainer cartoon around the 4 minute mark
TheMobyDicks OP t1_itui7ok wrote
That's funny as hell, man. Thanks!
ftedwin t1_ituibuu wrote
Hell yeah! They got a few funny ones from like 10 years ago but haven’t watched any recent ones. They got kinda big and actually did an intro for Storm Center at one point
ApprehensiveDeer9530 t1_itqr8lk wrote
Are you originally from ME or VT?
TheMobyDicks OP t1_itqtnav wrote
Originally from Vermont. Went to college in Maine and stayed because...well...it's awesome. Now live in NH Seacoast, also awesome.
ApprehensiveDeer9530 t1_itquetu wrote
Interesting. I'm a Vermonter living in Maine and I miss VT every day! Hearing about people from VT who grew to like it here brings me hope 😅
TheMobyDicks OP t1_itqwbpy wrote
Where in VT and where in ME? For me:
West Castleton in VT
Orono, Bangor and Portland in ME
ApprehensiveDeer9530 t1_itr1mf9 wrote
Grew up in Charlotte, but lived in Jericho for the past 10 years. I just moved to Gorham, ME (Portland suburb).
CobaltAzurean t1_itra9px wrote
We definitely call them that here in western Maine too.
hartfarm22 t1_itrl50o wrote
From Brooksville, can confirm, it's a Shitpoke
SummerBirdsong t1_itrpvv9 wrote
I've only heard people referred to as shitpokes. I guess my elders were likening ditsy people to birds.
darcyh64 t1_iu3pn3o wrote
If you don't know why they are referred to as shit pokes you've never seen one evacuate it's bowels while in flight. Holy shit! Literally!
arclight222 t1_itqg2yj wrote
Pretty sure it's an anglicisation of the word Shidepoke which was how natives referred to the bird.