Birds are some of the most fascinating creatures on our planet, with over 10,000 different species known to exist today. While some bird species are well-known and recognized by most people, there are others that are lesser-known but more captivating.
In this blog, we’ll be exploring the world of birds that start with the letter Q, delving into their unique characteristics, behaviors, and habitats.
7 Interesting Birds that Start with Q – Bird Facts
Quetzal
The Quetzal are birds that start with Q. These birds are legendary beauty and cultural significance, found in the lush forests of Central America. Its iridescent green feathers shimmer in the dappled sunlight that filters through the canopy, while its long tail feathers trail behind like emerald ribbons.
The Quetzal symbolizes freedom and beauty with its vibrant green feathers and long, flowing tail.
The Quetzal’s natural habitat is the cloud forest, where it feeds on fruits, insects, and small animals. These elusive birds are often heard before they are seen, with their haunting calls echoing through the misty mountains.
Today, conservation efforts are crucial to protect these magnificent birds from habitat loss and poaching.
Queen Alexandra’s Birdwing
The Queen Alexandra’s Birdwing, a massive butterfly found in Papua New Guinea, is sometimes considered a bird due to its impressive size. Its wingspan can reach up to 10 inches, making it one of the largest butterflies in the world.
The butterfly’s wings are a brilliant shade of electric blue-green, with intricate black and white patterns that seem to shimmer in the sunlight. Its natural habitat is the lush tropical forests, where it feeds on nectar from flowering trees.
Queen Alexandra’s Birdwing is critically endangered due to habitat loss and poaching for its stunning wings. Conservation efforts are necessary to protect this magnificent creature from extinction and preserve its place in the natural world.
Quail
The California quail is a small ground-dwelling bird in the New World quail family. It has dark greyish brown body with white stripes on the wings. These birds are found in the Europe, Australia, Asia, Africa, and South America.
Birds that start with Q
Quails are several species of medium-sized birds belongs to the Phasianidae family. These birds can be recognized by their round shape, short necks, and plump bellies. Many species have speckled feathers that help them blend into their surroundings.
They are social creatures that often move together in coveys, searching for seeds, insects, and other small prey.
Quebracho Crested Tinamou
The Quebracho Crested Tinamou, whose scientific name is Eudromia formosa found in dry forest, fields, and suburban area.
It can whistle in two forms, the first low in pitch and the second higher in pitch towards the conclusion of each whistle: ‘Toooo-wee!,’ is how the Quebracho Crested Tinamou sounds.
Quails have round shape, short necks, distinctive markings, and plump bellies. Many species have speckled feathers that help them blend into their surroundings.
They are social creatures that often move together in coveys, searching for seeds, insects, and other small prey.
Queen Victoria’s Riflebird
The Queen Victoria’s Riflebird is the smallest amongst its species. The head of a male is emerald-blue, and his underbody is bronze. It measures between 23–25 cm.
Male have an iridescent purple sheen plumage, which becomes more blue-green on the head and more bronze on the lower breast.
They have a vivid purple color on the upper half of their bodies. In the center of their necks, below a metallic blue triangle, they also have a black velvet patch. Various names for these non-migratory birds include “Lesser Riflebird” and “Victoria Riflebird,” among others.
Males have a green and blue metallic sheen on the neck, belly, and crown, making them nearly completely black. The Males of these species stand on an upright stump with their wings high above their heads while performing a display.
On the other hand, their female counterparts have a dark brown plumage with paler, buff underparts.
Queen Whydah
The Queen Whydah parasitically lays its eggs in violet-eared Waxbill’s nests and can mimic their mimic songs. These birds that start with Q are seasonally sexually dimorphic (meaning that males and females show physical differences).
During the breeding season, the male grows a long tail, and his plumage becomes noticeably colored, yet at all other times, the male looks exactly the same as the sparrow-like female. Females and males that aren’t breeding have streaky upper parts and light, buffy underparts.
Quailfinch Indigobird
The quailfinch indigobird is a nest parasite that lays eggs in the nests of the other birds, such as African quailfinches. However, they do not harm the eggs of their hosts but add their own to the existing nest. They prefer to dwell near water in open grasslands and savannas.
These birds are fantastic in mimicing and mimic the song of African Quailfinches identically. To consume seeds and grains, they have robust, pointed beaks. These birds are parasitic breeders, much like cuckoos. This indicates that they use other birds’ nests for breeding.
The Quetzal is a colorful bird starting with Q, known for its striking green plumage.
Q. What is an animal that starts with the letter Q?
The Quokka is an animal that starts with the letter Q, a small marsupial from Australia.
Q. What bird starts with Q in Spanish?
In Spanish, the bird that starts with Q is called “Quetzal.”
Finally, checkout the entire series of birds that start with or begin with the letter: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z.
Hi, I’m Olivia Kepner and I am a zookeeper here in San Diego. Since I was a young girl I have always been fascinated by animals and species across the globe.
I used to beg my parents to take me to our local zoo every single weekend. Well, I say local – it was more like a two hour drive away. But they took me as much as they could, allowing me to fall in love with the animals again and again.
