When it comes to birds whose names start with the letter X, there are not many options. The X is one of the least frequently used letters to start bird names in English. However, there are a couple of birds whose names do start with X that may fit what you’re looking for.
Xantus’s Hummingbird
One bird species whose name starts with X is Xantus’s hummingbird (Calypte xantusi). This small hummingbird is native to the Baja California peninsula in Mexico. Some key facts about Xantus’s hummingbird include:
- This hummingbird is named after John Xantus, a Hungarian zoologist who first collected specimens of the bird in 1859.
- It has an average body length of 3 to 3.5 inches and weighs 2-3 grams.
- The male has vibrant, iridescent plumage in bright greens and blues. The female is more dull brownish-gray in color.
- Xantus’s hummingbird is found in desert scrub and thorn forest habitats.
- Its diet consists of nectar, tree sap, and small insects.
- This species has a high-pitched, squeaky chirp as its call.
- Xantus’s hummingbird can beat its wings up to nearly 100 times per second during flight.
- It has an estimated global population of 10,000-100,000 and is considered a species of Least Concern by the IUCN Red List.
So in summary, Xantus’s hummingbird is a small, vibrantly colored hummingbird that lives in the deserts of Baja California in Mexico. Its name pays tribute to the zoologist John Xantus who first documented the species.
Xinjiang Ground Jay
Another bird starting with X is the Xinjiang ground jay (Podoces biddulphi). This species goes by a few other common names like Chinese ground jay or Xinjiang ground-jay. Here are some key details on this bird:
- It is found solely in the Xinjiang region of western China.
- The Xinjiang ground jay reaches lengths of 8 to 9 inches and weighs approximately 2.5 ounces.
- Its plumage is mostly brownish-gray on top and pale below with subtle barring.
- This species inhabits rocky deserts and semidesert shrublands.
- It spends much of its time walking on the ground hunting for insects, spiders, and other small prey.
- The Xinjiang ground jay is not migratory and lives in pairs or small family groups.
- Its population trend is decreasing but the IUCN still lists it as a species of Least Concern.
In summary, the Xinjiang ground jay is a little-known desert-dwelling bird limited to a small region of western China. It is specially adapted to life on the ground in its dry, rocky environment.
Xiphocolaptes
Xiphocolaptes is also the genus or group name for a collection of birds in the ovenbird family. There are 7 species in the Xiphocolaptes genus including:
- Moustached Woodcreeper
- Strong-billed Woodcreeper
- Ocellated Woodcreeper
- Black-banded Woodcreeper
- White-throated Woodcreeper
- Great Rufous Woodcreeper
- Straight-billed Woodcreeper
The Xiphocolaptes woodcreepers are found in various forest and woodland habitats in Central and South America. They use their long, curved bills to probe into crevices and pull out insects and other arthropods. These birds tend to be brown, black, and white in coloration with some muted red or yellow on some species. Most have a conspicuous eyering. They tend to be inconspicuous, quiet birds that blend into their wooded environments as they forage.
Other Birds Starting with X
While less common, there are a handful of other bird species whose name starts with the letter X. Here are a few more examples:
- Xinjiang Trumpeter Finch – A small finch found in central Asia
- Xingu Scale-backed Antbird – An insectivorous songbird from Brazil
- Xingu Swift – A large, fast-flying swift from South America
There are also some birds that start with X when translating their name into English from another language, such as:
- Xuefengpo – Chinese for Oriental Honey Buzzard
- Xiaojianchi – Chinese for Grey-faced Buzzard
But in general, there are very few birds whose English common names actually begin directly with the letter X.
Why Are There So Few Birds Starting with X?
There are a couple reasons why relatively few bird names begin with the letter X:
- The letter X itself is not commonly used in English words. It is one of the least frequently used letters in English.
- In English, X most often makes a “z” sound, which is not a common way to start a bird name.
- Many bird names originate from older scientific names in Latin or Greek in which X was rarely used.
- X is not a common starting letter for words in most languages from which English borrows bird names.
So in essence, the sound and usage of the letter X does not lend itself well to being the first letter in bird names in English and most other languages. The handful of bird names starting with X are outliers and do not follow common linguistic conventions.
Conclusion
While it is one of the rarest starting letters for bird names, there are still a few interesting species whose names do begin with the letter X. Some examples include Xantus’s hummingbird, Xinjiang ground jay, and the Xiphocolaptes woodcreepers. However, the sound and use of the letter X makes it very uncommon at the start of bird names. So bird enthusiasts searching for species starting with X only have a few unique options like these to discover.
Bird Name | Description |
---|---|
Xantus’s Hummingbird | Small, vibrantly colored hummingbird found in Baja California, Mexico |
Xinjiang Ground Jay | Desert-dwelling corvid found only in western China |
Xiphocolaptes | Genus of 7 woodcreeper species found in Central/South America |
In this article, we explored some of the few bird species whose names in English start with the letter X. As we’ve discussed, X is a very rare starting letter for bird names due to linguistic conventions and its uncommon usage in many languages. But the handful of birds that do start with X often have very interesting stories behind their names and habitats. Birders who want to find all the rarest species starting with each letter will appreciate these oddball X birds.
Now that we’ve covered some birds starting with X, let’s move on to discussing some bird species whose names start with the letter Y. Compared to X, there are a few more options when it comes to bird names beginning with Y.
Birds Starting with Y
Yellowhammer
One of the most well known birds starting with Y is the yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella). This is a common and widespread songbird found throughout much of Europe and into central Asia. Some key facts about the yellowhammer include:
- Yellowhammers reach lengths of 5.5 to 6.7 inches and weigh 0.9 to 1.1 ounces.
- Their plumage features a bright yellow head and chest, brown back streaked with black, and chestnut rump.
- They inhabit open country with bushes and trees, including farmland, orchards, and gardens.
- Omnivorous, feeding on seeds and insects.
- The male has a signature song which sounds like “a little bit of bread and no cheese.”
- Nest on or near the ground in grass, bushes, or rock piles.
- Population is declining in parts of Europe due to agricultural intensification.
Yellow-naped Amazon
The yellow-naped amazon (Amazona auropalliata) is a parrot species found in Central America. Details include:
- Medium-sized parrot reaching 13-14 inches in length.
- Mostly green plumage with a yellow band or “nape” on the back of its neck.
- Inhabits forest and woodland areas from Mexico to Costa Rica.
- Its diet consists of seeds, fruits, nuts, flowers, and some insects.
- The yellow-naped amazon is social and gathers in large, noisy flocks.
- It is skilled at mimicking human speech and other noises.
- This species is endangered due to habitat loss and capture for the pet trade.
Yellow-breasted Chat
The yellow-breasted chat (Icteria virens) is a unique songbird found in North America. Here are some of its characteristics:
- Stocky bird about 7.1-8.3 inches in length with a long tail and heavy bill.
- Bright yellow on the chest and belly contrasting with olive-gray back.
- Found in dense shrubs near wetlands, streams, or thickets.
- Sings bizarre and variable songs and calls.
- Skulking habits makes it hard to observe, often remaining hidden in bushes.
- Omnivorous, eating insects, berries, seeds, and small vertebrates.
- Population stable, listed as a species of Least Concern.
Yellow Wagtail
There are several subspecies of yellow wagtail (Motacilla flava complex) found through Europe and Asia. In general, they share the following attributes:
- Slender, long-tailed songbirds reaching 5.1-7.5 inches in length.
- Breeding males have yellow underparts and a green back; females are duller.
- Found in open areas with low vegetation near water, including wet meadows and grassy marshes.
- Feed on insects and other small invertebrates, often hunting prey in shallow water.
- Forms large foraging flocks in the nonbreeding season.
- Some populations are long distance migrants between Europe and Africa.
Yellow-bellied Elaenia
The yellow-bellied elaenia (Elaenia flavogaster) is a species of tyrant flycatcher found in South America. Details include:
- A small bird reaching about 5 inches in length.
- Slate gray upperparts and bright yellow underparts and forehead.
- Inhabits woodland edges, scrubby pastures, and gardens.
- Crepuscular, most active at dawn and dusk.
- Feeds on insects caught on short flights from perches.
- Nest is an open cup attached to branches in a bush or tree.
- Has a high-pitched, squeaky call.
Other Bird Names Starting with Y
While not as rare as X, there still are not many bird species whose name starts with Y. Here are a few more examples:
- Yapacana Antbird – Found in Brazil, Bolivia, and Peru
- Yap Olive White-eye – Small island species from Micronesia
- Yellow-legged Buttonquail – Lives in Africa and the Middle East
- Yellow-legged Gull – Large gull species found across southern Europe and coastal Africa
Why Y is Uncommon at Start of Bird Names
There are a number of reasons why Y is still a relatively uncommon starting letter for bird names:
- Like X, the letter Y itself is not very common in English.
- It sometimes makes vowel sounds like “eye” which are not typical name starters.
- Names derived from Greek, Latin, and other languages don’t usually lead to Y beginnings.
- It may get confused with other names starting with vowels like A or I.
- The “y” sound can also be represented by other letters like I or J.
So while Y is a bit more common than X for bird name starts, it is still overshadowed by many other letters. But the handful of birds that do start with Y often have vibrant yellow plumage or other distinctive features.
Conclusion
In this discussion, we’ve explored some of the rare bird species whose names start with X and Y in English. While these two letters are not very common starting points for bird names, there are still some interesting examples like Xantus’s hummingbird, yellowhammer, and yellow-breasted chat. Birders who want to find all birds starting with each letter will appreciate these oddball species starting with X and Y. Their exotic names and attributes help highlight the incredible diversity found in the avian world.
Letter | Example Bird Name |
---|---|
X | Xantus’s Hummingbird |
Y | Yellowhammer |
So while birds starting with X and Y are rare, some exciting species do carry these uncommon starting letters. I hope this overview inspires you to learn more about the diversity of birds across the alphabet!