From Abyssinian Owls to African cuckoos, these creatures are some of the most fascinating on the planet. In this blog post, we’ll look at some of the 17 most interesting birds that start with A.
Abyssinian Owl
The Abyssinian Owl is a bird that starts with A and can be found in the forest edges of eastern Africa. They have a distinct appearance, including a brown and white speckled body and bright yellow or dark brown eyes.
This prominent-eared owl has a lifespan of approximately 15 years and is known to breed once a year. During breeding, they lay two or three eggs and incubate them for around 30 days before the chicks hatch.
These birds feed on various diets, including small rodents, insects, and other small birds. Abyssinian Owls are known for their unique hooting call. They are also skilled hunters and feed on small rodents and insects.
Abyssinian Yellow-rumped Seedeater
The Abyssinian Yellow-rumped Seedeater is a bird species that belong to the passerine bird. These perching birds are found in the tropical moist lowland forests of Africa.
These small birds with a bright yellow rump have adapted to forage on seeds of grasses and herbs. The lifespan of these birds is approximately six to eight years.
During the breeding season, male Abyssinian Yellow-rumped Seedeaters display a unique courtship behaviour of fluffing up their feathers and flying upwards while singing a distinct melody to attract females.
These birds that start with A are a significant part of the forest ecosystem and play a vital role in seed dispersal and maintaining the balance of the forest ecosystem.
African Forest-Flycatcher
The African Forest-Flycatcher, a beautiful bird species, is a passerine bird found in sub-Saharan Africa’s tropical, moist, and lowland forests.
These birds are distinguished by their olive-brown upperparts and grey-brown underparts with indistinct streaks. They are part of the diverse small bird group that starts with ‘A’.
African Forest-Flycatchers are territorial and monogamous (Having one partner) and breed during the rainy season, building cup-shaped nests. Their lifespan is estimated to be more than twelve years.
These birds are not considered endangered, but their natural habitats are threatened by deforestation.
African Spoonbill
The African Spoonbill is a bird species found in eastern and southern Africa. It is one of the few birds that start with A. Known for their unique spoon-shaped bills, these birds are wading birds commonly found near shallow waters.
Their lifespan can reach up to 17 years in the wild, and they typically breed in colonies during the rainy season. In mating season, the male Spoonbill performs an elaborative dance to attract a female mate. They are omnivores and feed on various aquatic invertebrates, crustaceans, and small fish.
Abyssinian Ground-Thrush
The Abyssinian Ground-Thrush, a bird species belonging to the Turdidae family, is one of the resident breeders in the Ethiopian Highlands. They’re native to central and western Africa.
Abyssinian Ground-Thrush
These birds that start with A are known for their beautiful black, blue and orange plumage. They have a lifespan of about five to six years in the wild. They feed mainly on insects, earthworms, and berries.
These birds have a monogamous breeding system and lay up to 3 eggs. Despite being a beautiful bird, the Abyssinian Ground-Thrush is considered vulnerable due to habitat loss and hunting.
African Harrier-Hawk
The African Harrier-Hawk is a unique bird species that starts with the letter A, found in sub-Saharan Africa. It is a resident breeder, which means it stays in its habitat throughout the year.
These birds can live up to 16 years in the wild and breed once a year, producing one or two offspring. Interestingly, the female is larger than the male.
The African Harrier-Hawk is a predatory bird, feeding on various prey, including birds, small mammals, and reptiles. Their adaptability and resilience make them fascinating species to observe and appreciate in the wild.
American Oystercatcher
The American Oystercatcher is one of the birds that start with A. Its scientific name is Haematopus palliatus, and it can be found in many natural habitats throughout South America and Central America.
These Oystercatchers are brightly coloured birds with a black head, white belly, black wings and an orange bill, making them unmistakable if found along shorelines or mudflats.
They nestle in natural habitats such as coastal beaches, mudflats, jetties and dry pastures, where they forage for their food in the form of molluscs.
Andean Avocet
The Andean avocet lives in the high Andes of Peru, Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia. These shorebirds are closely related to other avocet species.
The Andean avocet is a large wading bird in the family of Recurvirostridae, which also includes stilts. These birds have an average lifespan of more than 15 years in the wild. The Andean avocet breeds during the rainy season, laying up to four eggs at a time.
They primarily feed on insects, foraging along the muddy edges of shallow waters. Interestingly, their distinctive upturned beaks help them sift through the sediment and easily locate their prey.
Overall, the Andean avocet is an adaptable shorebird species that plays an important role in the ecology of its habitat.
African Dusky Flycatcher
The African dusky flycatcher, bird species that starts with “A”, is a small passerine bird closely related to the European robin. This resident breeder is commonly found in various habitats, including forests, gardens, and savannahs.
With a lifespan of up to 5 years, they typically breed in September-January and lays up to three eggs. Their diet consists of insects, spiders, and fruit. These birds are known for their distinctive calls and perching behaviour.
During the breeding season, the male protects its territory and attracts females with singing abilities. This small bird’s diet mainly consists of insects, which it catches by hovering or diving from a perch.
American Golden Plover
The American golden plover is a bird species that starts with the letter “A” and is closely related to the Pacific golden plover. It is not a resident breeder, as it breeds in the Arctic tundra and migrates to South America.
The small passerine bird has a lifespan of around 7 to 8 years. During the breeding season, they mate and lay eggs in shallow nests on the ground. Their diet consists mainly of insects, worms, berries, seeds, and crustaceans.
These birds have a unique ability to navigate long distances during their migratory flights, often covering over 40,000 km a year. Despite their impressive migratory skills, they’re endangered species.
African Pied Hornbill
The African pied hornbill, a bird species closely related to the other hornbills, is a resident breeder in sub-Saharan Africa. These birds have a distinctive appearance, with black and white plumage and a prominent casque on their bills.
Their lifespan is around ten to fifteen years in the wild, and they are monogamous, forming pairs that mate for life. The female lays two to four eggs in a tree hole and incubates them for around 25 to 33 days.
Their diet consists of fruits, insects, and small vertebrates. They have unique feeding behaviour. The male gathers food and delivers it to the female, who is sealed inside a nest cavity, by regurgitating it through a narrow slit.
Amsterdam-Island Albatross
The Amsterdam Island albatross is a bird species closely related to other albatrosses and is a resident breeder on the remote Amsterdam Island in the southern Indian Ocean.
Unlike other albatrosses, this bird is sedentary, preferring to stay on its location all year round. The lifespan of the Amsterdam Island albatross can be up to 42 years, and they are known for their monogamous breeding habits.
They primarily feed on squid and fish and have also been known to scavenge on the carcasses of other animals. These birds share their habitat with a small passerine bird, which they do not prey on.
Amethyst-Throated Hummingbird
The Amethyst-throated Hummingbird is one of the most enchanting birds of the finch family. Found mainly in Central and South America and Mexico.
Birds that start with F
Despite its relatively small size, typically only 3.3 to 3.7 inches long. It is typically found in natural habitats such as dry woods, forest edges, and tropical moist montane forests. It’s identifiable by its spectacular glittering purple throat patch that glitters in the sunlight
African Palm-Swift
the African Palm-Swift is one of many birds that start with A. These interesting birds are distinguished by their dark black plumage, square tails, and forked wings. Plus, it has a distinctive white underbelly and light brown-grey wings and tail,
These small birds weighing nearly 14 gm, can be found in various natural habitats, including coastal thickets and mangrove swamps throughout Africa.
Their diet consists mainly of small flies and mosquitoes. When this small non-passerine bird is ready to mate, they swoop around palm trees to attract potential partners. An interesting fact about them is their striking resemblance to the Asian palm swift.
African Paradise-Flycatcher
The African Paradise-Flycatcher is a stunningly beautiful bird native to Africa. Its natural habitats are wooded savannas and dry thorny bushlands.
These birds commonly venture into gardens, searching for their preferred prey, beetles and caterpillars. As its name implies, they have an eye-catching pair of highly long central tail feathers, reaching up to 6.7 inches in length.
They display these stunning feathers to attract mates in the breeding season and for territorial displays.
American Avocet
The American Avocets are large wading birds that start with A. They sweep their bills sideways in the water while they walk in the water to search for crustaceans and insects.
Growing up to 16 inches long, the American avocet has a unique appearance with its bright white underside and rust-coloured upper parts. Their long legs are used for wading through shallow areas of natural habitats along rivers, ponds, and estuaries.
These large wading birds are believed to be monogamous and form pairs during the breeding season. Plus, they raise chicks in shallow lakes or ponds.
As one of the most popular migratory birds beginning with A, they travel yearly from central Canada, nest down to Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula and then return to their initial nests.
Amazonian Scrub-Flycatcher
The Amazonian Scrub-Flycatcher is a species of bird that starts with the letter ‘A’. This greenish-brown bird species is native to northern South America. Natural habitats include tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical swamps.
The Amazonian Scrub-Flycatcher generally has a greyish head, chest paler grey mixed into the pale belly, brown wings, and two distinctive dark streaks.
When the breeding season begins, the Amazonian Scrub-Flycatcher migrates from its natural habitat to areas further inland with higher tropical rainforests. This passerine bird loves to nest in large trees and bushes along rivers or certain swamplands.
They feed mostly on insects like flies and moths, which they hunt for in the grasslands surrounding their homes. They’re an important part of the avian population and a reminder of how unique birds begin with A.
Q. How many birds start with A?
The total population of birds that start with A is fifty billion globally.
Q. How many sea birds start with A?
Many seabirds begin with a. Some examples are the albatross, American avocet, and Austral storm petrel.
Q. Name three nocturnal birds that start with A?
The three nocturnal birds that start with A are the Akun eagle owl, African scops owl, and African wood owl.
Finally, check out 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.
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