Bird Species with Funny Names
Andean Cock-of-the-Rock The Andean cock-of-the-rock is a large passerine bird belonging to the Contingidae family, and it’s the national bird of Peru. Males are recognized for their bright orange plumage and their disc-like crest, which resembles that of a rooster (also known as a cock). These birds are also known to live near rocky cliffs, hence the “rock” part of their name.
Antarctic Shag The Antarctic shag (also known as the imperial cormorant, king cormorant, imperial shag, and blue-eyed shag) is the only species of the cormorant family found in the Antarctic. One of their distinctive traits is the blue skin that surrounds their eyes.
Bananaquit The bananaquit is a species of passerine bird in the tanager family Thraupidae. These birds are nectarivores, meaning they mainly or exclusively consume nectar, and are found in warmer parts of the Americas. They’re recognizable by their bright yellow belly and chest feathers.
Booby A booby is a seabird in the genus Sula, part of the family Sulidae. The English name “booby” may derive from the Spanish slang term “bobo,” meaning “stupid.” This is likely because boobies tended to land on ships, where they were captured and eaten by sailors. There are many species of boobies, including the blue-footed booby, the masked booby, and the brown booby.
Bushtit Bushtits are social songbirds that belong to the genus Psaltriparus. They’re one of the smallest passerines in North America and the only species in their family found in the United States. Their distinguishing characteristics include their petite size, their plump and large heads, and their long tails.
Bustard Bustards are large, terrestrial birds that live in dry grassland areas and steppe regions. There are currently 27 recognized species of bustards, including the kori bustard, the great bustard, and the little brown bustard. The name “bustard” comes from the Latin phrase “avis tarda,” which translates to “slow bird.”
Dickcissel The dickcissel is a small, seed-eating migratory bird that breeds in the grasslands of the Midwestern United States and winters in Central America, northern Colombia, and northern Venezuela. It is the only species in the genus Spiza. The dickcissel is named for its loud, persistent song that sounds like “dick-dick-ciss-ciss-ciss.”
Exclamatory Paradise-Whydah The exclamatory paradise-whydah is a species of bird in the Viduidae family, recognized and named for its long tail that resembles an exclamation point when in flight. These birds are nest parasites, meaning they lay their eggs in the nests of other birds.
Fire-Eyed Diucon The fire-eyed diucon is a passerine bird mostly found in Argentina and Chile. These birds are named for their bright ruby-red eyes, which stand out against their gray feathers. The fire-eyed diucon is the only member of the Pyrope genus and has two subspecies, P. p. pyrope and P. p. fortis.
Fluffy-Backed Tit-Babbler The fluffy-backed tit-babbler belongs to the Timaliidae family and is found in the subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests or subtropical or tropical swamplands of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. These birds are recognized for their bright blue faces and their tendency to “babble” in a mocking tone.
Flying Steamer Duck The flying steamer duck is a species of South American duck in the Anatidae family. Steamer ducks are named for the way they use their wings and feet to paddle across the water, which resembles an old-timey steamboat. The flying steamer duck is one of four steamer ducks, and it’s the only one that can fly.
Goatsucker Goatsuckers, also known as nightjars or nighthawks, are nocturnal birds in the Caprimulgidae family, characterized by long wings, short legs, and very short bills. Goatsuckers get their name because they often eat the bugs that land on livestock, appearing as if they’re suckling on the animal.
Grey Go-Away-Bird The grey go-away-bird (also known as the grey lourie, grey loerie, or kwêvoël) is a common turaco of the southern Afrotropics. They’re named for the loud and nasally “kweh” or “go away” sound they make when disturbed. These birds have smoky-gray plumage, with long tails and a wispy, back-swept crest.
Great Tit The great tit is a small passerine bird in the tit family Paridae and is commonly found across Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, and North Africa. These distinctive birds are recognized by their black head and neck, prominent white cheeks, olive upperparts, and yellow underparts. They’re one of the larger birds in the tit family, hence their name.
Green Mango Mangos aren’t just a juicy fruit—they’re also a species of bird! The green mango is a large species of hummingbird found only on Puerto Rico. It’s named for its metallic, emerald green feathers and feeds on nectar and arthropods.
Hoary Puffleg The hoary puffleg is a species of hummingbird found in Colombia and Ecuador. They’re named for their hoary (grayish white) leg puffs, and they typically feed on nectar and insects. These birds are known to be particularly territorial and will defend the clusters of flowers they feed from.
Horned Screamer The horned screamer belongs to the relatively small family Anhimidae and lives in the wetlands of tropical South America. These strange-looking birds are named for the long, spiny structure that protrudes from their heads and their loud, repetitive call.
Inaccessible Island Rail The Inaccessible Island rail, or Inaccessible rail, is a small bird in the Rallidae family, endemic to Inaccessible Island in the Tristan Archipelago. It is the smallest extant flightless bird in the world and feeds mostly on small invertebrates and some plant matter. This bird has remained free from introduced predators, as the harbor to Inaccessible Island only allows access for a few days per year, and access must be granted by the local government office.
Invisible Rail The invisible rail (also known as Wallace’s rail or drummer rail) is a large, flightless rail endemic to the island of Halmahera in Northern Maluku, Indonesia. Because of its dark slate-gray plumage, it is hard to see in its dense, swampy habitat, hence the name “invisible rail.” Information on its behavior is also limited because of this.
King of Saxony Bird-of-Paradise The King of Saxony bird-of-paradise belongs to the Paradisaeidae family and is the only member of the genus Pteridophora. Both its common name, “King of Saxony,” and its scientific specific name, “alberti,” were given in 1894 to honor the then king of Saxony, Albert of Saxony. Male King of Saxony birds-of-paradise are recognized by their remarkably long, scalloped, blue head plumes that can be raised at the bird’s will. Fun fact: When the first specimen was brought to Europe, it was thought to be fake because of the male’s bizarre, ornamental head plumes.
Leaflove The leaflove is a large greenbul found in the humid forests of Africa. Leafloves are typically found in small groups and vocalize frequently. Their vocalizations are a series of gabbling “chowp” sounds.
Oleaginous Hemispingus The oleaginous hemispingus is a species of bird that belongs to the family Thraupidae and is found in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. The “oleaginous” part of the name refers to the bird’s olive-colored feathers, while “hemispingus” comes from the Greek “hemi,” meaning “half,” and “spingus,” meaning “finch.” Therefore, the name means “oily half-finch.”
‘Ō’ū The ‘ō’ū is an extinct species of Hawaiian honeycreeper that was endemic to the Hawaiian islands. Similar to parrots, these birds were recognized for their green and yellow feathers, their pink, finch-like bills, and pink legs. The last recorded sighting was in 1989.
Sad Flycatcher The sad flycatcher belongs to the Tyrannidae family and is endemic to Jamaica. Despite their name, these birds seem pretty cheerful, as they sing a peppy song and often dash from tree to ground to snap up insects. Some theorize that the person who named the bird, P. H. Gosse, confused its song for that of the Jamaican peewee, which sounds much more mournful.
Sandy Gallito The sandy gallito is a species of suboscine passerine bird in the family Rhinocryptidae and is endemic to Argentina. It is the only member of its genus and has no subspecies. This bird is named for its sand-colored feathers, and its song consists of loud “tchowk” sounds.
Satanic Nightjar The Satanic nightjar (also known as Heinrich’s nightjar, Sulawesi eared-nightjar, or the diabolical nightjar) is a mid-sized, spotted nightjar endemic to the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. Its name comes from its vocalizations, which are sometimes described as harsh and unsettling. Some have even compared the “plip-plop” sound to that of a bird pulling out a person’s eye.
See-See Partridge The see-see partridge is a rotund, sandy-brown gamebird that belongs to the pheasant family Phasianidae. When disturbed, these birds prefer to run rather than fly. They’re named for their distinctive call, which makes a “see-see” sound.
Spinifexbird Also known as Carter’s desertbird, the spinifexbird belongs to the family Locustellidae and is endemic to inland Australia. It has a brown cap, golden brown streaked wings, and a long tail. This bird gets its name from its diet, as it mainly eats insects and seeds collected in spinifex, or Triodia grass.
Striped Woodhaunter The striped woodhaunter (also known as the eastern woodhaunter or the Amazonian woodhaunter) belongs to the Furnariinae subfamily of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. These birds are found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. They’re known as “woodhaunters” because they often tunnel and dig in the forest floor.
Tinkling Cisticola The tinkling cisticola, or grey cisticola, belongs to the family Cisticolidae and is found in many countries in Africa, including Angola, Botswana, and Zambia. It gets its name from its call, which sounds like a series of small, tinkling bells.
Tiny Sky-Tyrant The tiny sky-tyrant, or tiny tyrant-manakin, belongs to the Pipridae family and is found in Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela. These birds are the smallest in their family, weighing only 7 grams, and they’re difficult to see unless they’re singing.
Tropical Boubou The tropical boubou, or bell shrike, is a medium-sized passerine bird found in sub-Saharan Africa. Males and females have identical blue-black and white plumage and are the same size. They get their name from the “boubou” sound they make.
Undulated Tinamou The undulated tinamou is a species of ground bird that belongs to the Tinamidae family and is found in wooded habitats in eastern and northern South America. Its scientific name, Crypturellus undulatus, comes from Greek and Latin words: “kruptos,” meaning “covered” or “hidden;” “oura,” meaning “tail;” “ellus,” meaning “diminutive;” and “undulatus,” meaning “wave.” Therefore, the name means “small, hidden tail with wave-like markings.”
White-Breasted Nuthatch The white-breasted nuthatch belongs to the Sittidae family and is recognized by its blue-gray upperparts and white chest and abdomen. These birds are known for their noisy, nasally voice and are found throughout most of North America. The “nuthatch” part of their name comes from their habit of jamming large nuts into tree bark and whacking them with their beaks to “hatch” out the seed from inside.
Woodcock Woodcocks are a group of 8 similar species of sandpipers in the genus Scolopax, including the American woodcock, Eurasian woodcock, Amami woodcock, Bukidnon woodcock, Javan woodcock, New Guinea woodcock, Moluccan woodcock, and Sulawesi woodcock. As their name implies, they are woodland birds, and they feed at night, using their long beaks to hunt for invertebrates in the ground.
Funny Names for Pet Birds
Choose a hilarious name for your feathered friend. If you have a pet bird, consider giving them a funny name to entertain yourself and your loved ones. Bonus points if you have a parrot, so you can teach it to say its own name! Here are some hysterical names to choose from: Daffy Cluck Wingman Beakachu Flappy Gilmore Chirp-monk Chick Jagger Duck Norris Edgar Allan Crow Excalibird Flamingo Starr Beaker The Godfeather Looney Tune Lord of the Wings Long John Silver Chatterbox Attila the Hen Tyrannosaurus Pecks Hot Wing Soft Boiled
Funny Names for Female Birds
Name your female bird something funny and feminine. Everyone loves a good pun, especially when it comes to pet names. Think of some famous women (including actors, musicians, and historical figures) and see if you can make a bird pun with their name. Or, just find a name that sounds funny! Here are some options: Feather Locklear Queen Elizabird Mrs. Fluttersworth Meryl Cheep Lady Bird Flossy Cluckopatra Lady Featherington Hennifer Garner Lady Cluck Omelet Grace Shell-y Mary Poopins Eggatha Christie Mother Clucker Margaret Hatcher Henifer Aniston Princess Lay-a Yolko Ono
Funny Names for Male Birds
Make a bird pun out of a masculine name. Just like with female birds, a great way to name your male bird is to make a pun using a traditional masculine name. Think of some of your favorite male celebrities and characters and see how you can incorporate some words associated with birds, like “wing,” “beak,” or “squawk.” Here are some examples: Wingston Churchill Marty McFly Clawed Money Goose Springsteen Kanye Nest Macguybird Hitchcock Larry Bird Eagle Eye Toucan Sam Jimmy Talon Stephen Squawking Jack Sparrow Chicken Little Egg Sheeran Albert Eggstein Eggward Roostifer Russel Crowe Cordon Blue
How to Name a Bird
Consider your bird’s personality. Don’t rush to name your bird as soon as you get it. Wait at least a few days, so that you can observe its behavior and get to know it better. You may notice unique personality traits that inspire you to choose a name. For example, if your bird is bright and cheerful, consider naming them Sunshine. If they’re sweet and gentle, name them something like Angel.
Choose a name based on its color or species. An easy way to name your bird is to choose something related to its appearance. For example, if your bird is red, you might call them Ruby or Crimson. If they’re a parrot, consider giving them a traditional parrot name, like Polly.
Think of the sounds your bird makes. Birds often make unique or funny sounds depending on their species. Listen to your bird’s calls and see if there’s anything the sound reminds you of. For example, if your bird makes a tweeting sound, you might call them Tweety, and if they chirp, you might call them Chirpy.
Keep things short and sweet. If you want your bird to learn its name, it’s best to choose something on the shorter side. Make sure your bird’s name is easy to pronounce and that it doesn’t sound like another word your bird frequently hears, so it won’t get confused.
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