12 days of Christmas - Colly or calling?

I was taught colly, and that it means black (from the same root as “collier”). I’ve picked up some very dubious “facts” over the years though.

What’s a colly bird? It’s calling surely.

I was taught it was colly.

Calling birds for me

Colly birds are calling birds, same thing.

Calling.

Calling

Calling.

Colly surely? It's from the "collared birds" i.e collared doves.

Well this one can run and run ???????

Colly is, or was, a regional word for black. The colly birds are blackbirds. Those who didn’t understand the word adapted it to calling birds, which made more sense to them.

Apparently the words were changed in 1909 by the English composer named Frederic Austin; in 1909, he set the melody and lyrics (including changing "colly" to "calling") and added as his own flourish the drawn-out cadence of "five go-old rings."
Colly refered to blackbirds as in black as coal I was taught calling birds.

Calling.

Colly.

Interesting FF I never knew that. Thanks for sharing.

I have heard both ( but always wondered about a bird made from cauli ) I have always said “calling” .

Colly is the original word, although I sang 'calling' for years but now I sing colly.

amornithhistory.org/2017/12/25/four-calling-birds/

And another link to the 12 Days of Christmas:

monologues.co.uk/Parodies/Twelve_Days_Correspondence.htm

I was always brought up with the fact that the birds were calling birds (EG: Their call which is a sort of coo) like doves or pigeons. A collie is a dog. I suppose I can understand people making the mistake. its as they hear it, but I think you will find it is calling birds - BIG COL

Jalima I just love it, thank you for the link.

I agree with you Emma. I have just explained it to someone else. Calling birds were birds like Doves and they were called that because of their call which is a sort of cooing. A Collie is a dog. Its not just what I was brought up with either. its what I know - BIG COL

Don't think you are right either as I have explained in my other comments. Collie is a dog - BIG COL

And Cauli is a vegetable!

I've always sung calling birds