Where Did the Term Birdie Come From?

[bkuehn1952]

I did not check the source of this story but it seems reasonable.  No idea about "eagle" or "albatross".

How Did the Golf Term Birdie Come About?

"Birdie", meaning a score of one stroke under Par, comes from the early 20th century American slang term "bird", meaning anything excellent. The September 1911 edition of Maclean magazine described a golf shot as - " 'bird' straight down the course about two hundred and fifteen yards." 

The Country Club in Atlantic City lays claim to the first use of the word 'birdie' itself as mentioned on the USGA website. In 1962 the US greenkeepers' magazine reported a conversation with A.B. Smith. He recounted that in 1898/9 he and his brother William P. Smith and their friend George A. Crump who later built Pine Valley were playing the par-four second hole at Atlantic City when A.B. Smith's second shot went within inches of the hole. Smith said "That was a bird of shot" and claimed he should get double money if he won with one under par which was agreed. He duly holed his putt to win with one under par and the three of them thereafter referred to such a score as a "birdie". The Atlantic City club dates the event to 1903.

[iacas]

That's the story I've always heard.

[DaveP043]

That's the story reported here:

Meaning of Golf Words - Par, Bogey, Birdie, Eagle, Albatross - Scottish Golf History

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Origin of the words par, bogey, birdie, eagle and albatross in golf.

I've never done a deeper search.