Thanks again, John. It seems the NS setter doesn't monitor Lucy and may find his laptop bulging with revived cuckoos and nightingales.
I think in everyday use, as well, people do call birds animals.
Roger, I don't want to turn this into the Iratosphere, but I would like an example.
Do you come home from holiday and say "I saw some really interesting animals while I was away" when you're actually referring to Double-Breasted Weevil-Eaters or Regency-Striped Grackles?
Or excuse your lateness by saying "5th Avenue was blocked by animals" (? horses ? circus elephants) when it was actually raining moribund cuckoos and nightingales?
Ann, I've got that volume and it flitted through my mind, but the picture would exceed Esphere's byte limit.