[ad_1]
Let’s face it, some animals have cooler names than others. For example, how would the blob fish ever hope to compete with the hellbender or the goblin shark? Usually, animals get their name from a combination of variables, including their location, appearance, diet, or original discoverer. For taxonomic purposes, animals within the same family generally share the same last name. Of all animals, few have such imaginative and imaginative names as birds. While some, like the dodo, can hardly be considered cool, others use really epic names. What are some of the coolest bird names you can think of? If you’re stuck, don’t worry, because we’re about to give you a list of 10 birds with the coolest names. Keep reading to find out how these birds got their name, what they look like, and where they live.
#10: Emperor Bird of Paradise
No list of the coolest bird names would be complete without mentioning this first bird. Also known as the Emperor of Germany bird of paradise, the imperial bird of paradise belongs to the family Paradisaeidae. Ornithologist Carl Hunstein named it in honor of Wilhelm II of Germany, the last German Emperor and King of Prussia. Imperial birds of paradise only live in Papua New Guinea, where they extend through forests in hilly areas. On average, they are 12.9 inches long and have a hooked, blue-gray bill. Males have bright plumage including dark green faces and throats, white flank plumes and brown tails, wings and underparts. Their diet consists mainly of fruits such as figs, as well as a wide variety of arthropods. Due to overhunting and loss of habitat, the IUCN currently lists the imperial bird-of-paradise as a near-threatened species.
Also known as the fire-throated metaltail, the fiery-throated metaltail is a member of the hummingbird family Trochilidae. These unique birds with the coolest names can only be found in Peru, especially near the Andes Mountains. In that country, they usually spend their time in moist forests along the slopes of mountains. Although limited to a small range, they are an abundant species in their native habitat. As a result, the IUCN currently lists the fiery-throated metal tail as a species of Least Concern. Like other hummingbirds, its diet includes pollen nectar, which it relies on to fuel its rapid metabolism. In addition, they also eat small insects including beetles, mosquitoes and spiders. It gets its name from its unique plumage, which appears metallic green on the back, head and tail, and dark red on the throat and wing edges.
#8: Harpy Eagle
The next entry on our list of the coolest-named birds is also one of the deadliest. The harpy eagle, or American harpy eagle, is a large bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. The name comes from the ancient Greek legend of the harpies, who were half-female, half-vulture wind spirits. They vary everywhere Central America and South America, especially in tropical rainforests. Harpy eagles are some of the largest birds of prey in the world, with females measuring 2 feet, 10 inches to 3 feet, 6 inches in length. In appearance, their upper plumage is slate black, while their undersides look white and their head is light gray. Their diet includes small mammals such as: monkeys and sloths as well as pets and smaller birds. Due to habitat loss, the IUCN lists the harpy eagle as a near threatened species.
#7: Vampire Ground Finch
This next species on our list of the coolest-named birds is also one of the more disturbing entries. Despite its name, the vampire ground finch actually belongs to the tanager family Thraupidae. You can only find this curious bird in the Galapagos Islands, where the IUCN lists it as a vulnerable species. The other part of its name is derived from its unusual diet. The vampire ground finch occasionally drinks the blood of other birds, especially blue-footed and Nazca breasts. In addition, they also eat the eggs of other birds, guano and carrion. That said, these unusual foods make up a small part of the vampire ground finch’s diet, as it mainly eats seeds and insects. To top it off, males have almost completely black plumage, which only adds to their menacing description.
#6: Greater recoil
Also known as the greater goldback, the greater flameback is a large species of woodpecker in the Picidae family. Whatever name you use, these brightly colored birds make it onto our list of the coolest bird names. These flashy woodpeckers live all over South Asia, especially in open forests near mountains or mangrove forests. Like other woodpeckers, they use their beaks to drill holes in trees to find food. Their diet consists mainly of insects and arthropods, although they also drink nectar from flowers. A large species, most specimens are about 12.9 inches long and males always have a large red crest. As the name implies, the greater flame back has a reddish gold back and wings. Meanwhile, the rest of its plumage can vary depending on the genus and subspecies. Due to its abundance in its natural range, the IUCN lists it as a species of Least Concern.
#5: Invisible Rail
Among the coolest-named birds, this next one sounds like it could als
o
serve as a superhero’s name. Also known as the drummer rail – which is also a cool name – the invisible rail belongs to the rail family Rallidae. These ground-based flightless birds only live in swamps on the Indonesian island of Halmahera in North Moluku. A reportedly shy species, there are few confirmed sightings, which explains the “invisible” part of their name. Meanwhile, they also go by the name drummer rail because of their unique call and wingbeats, which sound like the beating of a drum. As far as we know, most invisible rails are 13 to 16 inches long and have predominantly slate gray plumage. According to data, their diet mainly includes the shoots of sago plants and insects. Due to habitat loss and limited range, the IUCN lists the invisible rail as a vulnerable species.
#4: Razor Blade
Not to be confused with a penguin, the auk or lesser auk is also one of the birds with the coolest names. A member of the auk family Alcidae, the auk is an agile seabird that lives in the subarctic regions of the Atlantic Ocean. Its name comes from its thick, black bill, which contains vertical grooves and a white line at the curved tip. Most auks are 14.5 to 15.3 inches long and weigh between 1 and 2 pounds. Their backs and faces appear black while their bellies look white, which is why people often mistake them for penguins. They spend most of their time looking for fish and shellfish at sea and only return to land to breed. Razorbills are still threatened by the destruction of their breeding grounds. As a result, the IUCN lists them as a near threatened species.
#3: King Vulture
Of all the birds with the coolest names, this next one sounds like the one most likely to be a video game villain. The king vulture is a large carrion eater in the New World vulture and condor family Cathartidae. It is widely distributed in its natural range, which includes lowland forests throughout South America and Central America. On average, they are 26 to 32 inches long and weigh between 6 and 10 pounds. Their plumage appears mostly white, although their wings and tails are black. That said, their most notable feature is their head, which is featherless and contains shades of red, orange and yellow. King vultures mainly eat carrion and will chase other scavengers from a carcass, hence their name. They also feature prominently in Mayan legends, in which the king vulture delivers messages between humans and the gods.
#2: Pirate Flycatcher
The pirate flycatcher is a member of the tyrant flycatcher family Tyrannidae. Depending on the time of year, some populations breed in Central America, while most live year-round in South America. Their preferred habitats are open forests and savannas with plenty of available fruits, their favorite foods. On average they are 5.9 inches long and have brown backs, yellow crowns and white undersides with brown stripes. Among the birds with the coolest names, the pirate flycatcher has one of the most devious habits. These birds do not build their own nests. Instead, they harass other birds until they leave their nest. When the original calm is gone, the pirate flycatcher comes in and the female lays her own eggs. In this sense, the pirate flycatcher behaves like a real pirate, as he uses force to steal what does not belong to him.
#1: Mustached Flower Piercer
Our last entry in our list of birds with the coolest names also owns one of the cutest. The mustachioed flower piercer is a small flower piercer in the tanager family Thraupidae. This cute bird can only be found in Peru and Bolivia, where it lives in tropical forests and grasslands. Like other flower piercers, it uses its long bill to pierce the bases of flowers to get to the nectar inside. As for the rest of its name, the mustachioed flower piercer is named for its distinctive plumage. Although most of its plumage appears black, it has a thick white mustache on its face. Despite its limited range, the IUCN lists the mustachioed flower piercer as a species of least concern.
[ad_2]
Source link