FW 190 "Butcher Bird"

I am curious as to why the FW 190 is described as "butcher bird". In most of the TV watching (military ch. and History ch.) and books I have read it never really explains why.

What did it "butcher" , b-17s. allied fighters or both?

Was it because it was so deadly when it first appeared? Many descriptions gloss over the term " butcher bird" and state that later in the war the 190 was eclipsed by the p-51 and other allied fighters.

[F19Gladiator]

Kurt Tank named the new fighter "Würger" in the Focke-Wulf tradition of giving bird names to the aircraft of the company. This bird is commonly known as the Shrike in English language and some of which are called "Butcher birds" for their feeding habits of 'impaling' their preys on thorny bushes. See here.
Br
Göran

[CJE]

Friendly birds, indeed...

[Steven190]

I thought that the term also referred to the fact that with it's armament of 4- 20 mm cannons plus the two MG, it was deadly opponent.

The later FW190D-9's and even the TA-152 held their own against their opponents, as the P-51's and so, The tides of war had changed and they were grossly outnumbered.

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by Steven190

I thought that the term also referred to the fact that with it's armament of 4- 20 mm cannons plus the two MG, it was deadly opponent.

More to do with a company branding its product, I think.

[RolandF]

The "Würger" birds are rather small (16-25cm in Germany) birds, related to sparrows (Laniidae).
Those birds live from insects, fledglings and small mammals. The indigestible parts of those animals like feathers, hair, bones and chitinous parts are regurgitated by this bird (in German (hoch)würgen ) in form of small "pellets" (German "Gewölle")
Nothing special about it. Only a small predatory bird with bad table manners...

Regards

Roland

[Graham Boak]

The German word "Wuerger" does not, to my knowledge, have any implication of butchery. "Butcher bird" is purely one of the possible English translations, and any implications have only been read into the name by English speakers rather than being implicit at the time of naming.

[Rasmussen]

Correct Graham --- the German term "würgen" have two meanings: 1. strangle and 2. retch. In all probability he got his name because of his way of life --- 1. " ... he strangle the young brood of birds." (from Brother Grimms dictionary/ Brockhaus 1911) and 2. he retch out the indigestible parts of his victims (hairs, bones, chinin parts and other).

[F19Gladiator]

I agree with Graham's and Nick's posts. I've only met this "Butcher bird" mentioned in English language publications after the war. Can't remember ever having met it in period Allied eye-witness accounts or combat reports why I don't believe Allied pilots called it the "Butcher bird". From what I understand "Würger" wasn't commonly used in Germany during WW2 even among Luftwaffe pilots. More of following the company product naming policy for marketing purposes than anything else in my opinion.

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by F19Gladiator

I agree with Graham's and Nick's posts. I've only met this "Butcher bird" mentioned in English language publications after the war.

The Fw 190 was named as "Würger" on a wartime Focke-Wulf advert, with a stylised drawing of (I'd say) a prototype or very early A-model. From memory somebody posted a copy over on LEMB some while ago.