Which fictional character was named after a real-life ornithologist?
James Bond
Indiana Jones
Scarlett O’Hara
Sherlock Holmes
Fact: James Bond, the British spy created by author Ian Fleming, was named after a real American ornithologist. Ornithologists are scientists who study birds, and the real James Bond was a respected expert who authored the book Birds of the West Indies, which Fleming owned and often referenced while living in Jamaica. When searching for a simple name for his fictional spy, Fleming borrowed the ornithologist’s name, explaining that it was “brief, unromantic, and yet very masculine.” The result was an ironic twist: a secret agent named after a quiet birdwatcher.
Correct Answer: James Bond