Ακανθις

The Greek prefix ακανθα akanthis or ακανθιδος akanthidos means a small bird, possibly a finch. Small unidentified bird mentioned by Aristotle and other authors, probably the Common Linnet. Zeus and Apollo changed Acanthus into a finch when Acanthus was killed by his father's horse, as in Acanthis flammea (red flag), the Holarctic Redpoll.