Birds of the West Indies influenced James Bond

While not a literary inspiration for the plot, this ornithological field guide is responsible for the spy's global identity. Fleming, an avid birdwatcher living at his Goldeneye estate in Jamaica, owned the book. He wanted a name for his hero that sounded as ordinary, dull, and "ethnic-neutral" as possible. He looked down at the jacket of the guide, saw the author's name, and found his perfect moniker.