Belding, Lyman

Lyman Belding was a prominent American ornithologist. He was born in June 1829 at West Farms, Massachusetts, but later moved to Kingston, Wyoming Valley, Pennsylvania when he was about 7 years old and finally California. He spent many years on whaling ships, but became fascinated by birds after acquiring his first bird book in 1876. He retired in Stockton, California and became a foremost authority on the avifauna of California and Baja California. In 1887 he published A few words to the young ornithologists of California and in 1890, Land birds of the Pacific district. He died in November 1917 and is buried in Rural Cemetery in Stockton, California. The bird Belding's Yellowthroat was named for him.