If you want to add an exotic touch to your garden, these bird names that start with F will give you plenty of options.
From feisty flamingos to fabulous flamingos, fat finches, and fuzzy fowl, a feathered friend is waiting to be part of your family!
Read this guide to some of the most fantastic birds named after the letter F.
Don’t forget to check back here often for more fascinating facts about F-named birds and happy bird watching!
1. Ferruginous Hawk
The Ferruginous Hawk(Buteo Regalis) is aptly named for its rust-colored feathers. The colors make it easy to distinguish this bird from others.
In addition, it has a long tail with two white bands on the underside of the tail, which is a distinguishing feature that separates it from other birds of prey.
The Ferruginous Hawk is native to North America and parts of northern Mexico and is one of the largest birds in North America.
This bird primarily feeds on ground squirrels, rabbits, and other small mammals such as moles and rodents.
These bird names that start with F are monogamous animals and have been known to mate for life with their chosen partner.
The Ferruginous Hawk builds nests in trees or on rock ledges at heights up to four meters (13 ft) off the ground.
2. Fish Crow
One among the different bird names that start with F is The Fish Crow, a crow(Corvus ossifragus) species in Costa Rica and Panama.
Unfortunately, there are only about 1,000 Fish Crows left in Central America. The Fish Crow’s name comes from their diet–eating small fish, crabs, and other aquatic animals they find along beaches and rivers.
3. Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl
A small owl found in Central and South America is among the different bird names that start with FFerruginous Pygmy-Owl (Glaucidium brasilianum). Jean Louis Cabanis first documented this species in 1843.
The Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl was named after its rusty brown coloring, which resembles rust or iron oxide deposits.
In addition, the ferruginous pygmy owl has a distinctive call that sounds like wheat or years.
Nocturnal animals hunt for prey like insects, birds, small mammals, and reptiles at night.
One of the coolest things about these owls is that they can rotate their heads 270 degrees! That’s pretty neat.
4. Fischer’s Lovebird
The Fischer’s Lovebird(Agapornis fischeri) is also among bird names that start with F, known as the Fischer’s Parrot, Fischer’s Agapornis, and the Mangrove Lovebird.
This small, green parrot is native to Kenya and Tanzania. They are usually found in mangrove forests or other dense lowland forests.
The males have pale yellow heads, while the females have red beaks and brownish heads. These birds are monogamous; breeding pairs will produce 1-2 eggs per clutch.
5. Flammulated Owl
Another bird names that start with F is The flammulated owl (Psiloscops flammeolus), a small spotted owl in western North America.
The species is sometimes called a little spotted woodpecker because of its small size and similar coloring.
It has yellow eyes with brown lines around them, white eyebrows, and black spots on the back of its head. It gets its name from the Latin word formula, which means little torch.
6. Flightless Cormorant
Among the bird names that start with F, The flightless cormorant (Nannopterum Harris) is a small, dark-brown bird native to New Zealand. These birds are rarely seen on land and are usually found in coastal waters.
Flightless cormorants have evolved to dive underwater to find food as they lack webbed feet, so they cannot swim or float like other birds.
They also have a plumage that prevents them from becoming too buoyant when diving underwater.
In addition, the flightless cormorant has short wings and long, thin legs, which make it easier for them to move through water than air. They tend to live in groups of about five individuals and will often mate for life with their partner.
7. Fiji Goshawk
Among the bird names that start with F, The Fiji Goshawk(Accipiter Rufitorques) is a bird of prey found in Fiji, New Guinea, and nearby islands. They have a dark brown body with a white underside, black tail, redhead, and upper chest.
The word goshawk is thought to come from goose hawk because they were often used for hunting waterfowl.
The name Rufitorques comes from Latin, meaning reddish brown. Fiji Goshawks are also known by their local names, kakato or kilapu.
The Fiji Goshawk has many traditional uses throughout its range, including being used in tribal dances to induce hallucinations and bring on visions during spiritual ceremonies.
It is also used in medicine, such as applying powdered feathers to wounds for healing.
8. Festive Amazon
Several bird names start with F,’ from the Amazona festival, also known as the Festive Amazon(Amazona Festiva), to the Fulica atra, or Black Coot.
The Festive Amazon is native to Central and South America, while you may be more familiar with some of our other avian friends like the Falconiformes or Falconidae.
In their natural habitat, these birds usually live in woodlands, marshes, wetlands, and savannas.
9. Forster’s Tern
Another bird names that start with F is the Forster’s Tern(Sterna Forsteri), also known as Forster’s tern, which is a small seabird just about one-third of the weight of other terns.
The bird comes from George Forster, an explorer and naturalist who traveled to New Zealand in 1773.
They are also often referred to as Forster’s Shearwater. This species is part of the Sterna genus and can be found in coastal regions around New Zealand, Australia, and Japan.
The bird has a wingspan of 54 cm (21 inches) and a dark gray body with white wing feathers and black wing tips.
10. Fasciated Tiger Heron
Among the different bird names that start with F, The Fasciated Tiger-Heron(Tigrisoma Fasciatum) is a heron species that lives in South America and feeds on crabs, shrimp, and other aquatic animals. It is also sometimes known as the Tiger Heron.
The easiest way to distinguish it from its cousins is by observing how it hunts for prey.
The Fasciated Tiger-Heron stands still at the water’s edge and waits for prey to come close before jumping out of cover with a wide open mouth to catch its victim.
11. Field Sparrow
Here, another bird names that start with F called the Field sparrow (Spizella Pusilla), is a small bird with brown streaks on its head and shoulders. They live in fields and brushy areas, like meadows, orchards, and hedgerows.
Field sparrows eat seeds, insects, spiders, snails, and other invertebrates. You can find them throughout most of North America and Central America.
Field sparrows are small birds with brown streaks on their heads and shoulders. They live in fields and brushy areas, like meadows, orchards, and hedgerows.
Field sparrows eat seeds, insects, spiders, snails, and other invertebrates. You can find them throughout most of North America and Central America.
12. Florida Scrub-Jay
In the list of bird names that start with F, The Florida Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens) is a common bird found in Florida scrubland, hence its name.
These birds are blue and black with a white belly and chest. They are one of only two species that can live year-round in Florida.
13. Fulvous Owl
Here is another bird names that start with F, known as The Fulvous Owl(Strix fulvescens). It is a medium-sized bird of prey with a body length of about 20 inches and a wingspan of up to 4 feet.
The feathers on its back, neck, and breast are tan and cream, contrasting with its dark brown head and wingtips.
This owl lives in temperate forests or scrubland from northwestern Mexico to Costa Rica.
There are two subspecies: Strix Fulvescens Fulva, found in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, and Colombia, and Strix Fulvescens Colimaensis (or Colima), found only in western Mexico near Colima City.
This bird of prey typically eats small mammals like rats or rabbits and birds like quail or doves.
14. Fea’s Petrel
In my list of bird names that start with F, the Fea’s petrels(Pterodroma fee) are medium-sized petrels that inhabit both hemispheres’ subtropical and tropical oceans.
These birds have dark brown bodies with white undersides, and their wings are brown with white tips. They feed on plankton, squid, crustaceans, and carrion when they can find it.
The birds make long flights over the water, looking for food, and live in large colonies around islands or offshore rocks.
15. Forest Buzzard
Going deeper into my list of bird names that start with F, I see that the forest buzzard(Buteo Trizonatus) is a medium-sized bird of prey with a wingspan of about one meter.
Its Latin name means triangular-tailed hawk, which describes its long, pointed tail. Forest predators are found in South America and Central America.
These birds hunt for small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and insects from perches on trees or power lines during daylight hours.
16. Fan-Tailed Rave at night
Many bird names start with F. One of these birds is the fan-tailed raven(Corvus Rhipidurus).
The fan-tailed raven is a type of bird found in Indonesia and New Guinea. They are black with a white throat, and their tail feathers are tipped in white.
It may not be easy to see when looking for this bird because they have been known to keep to themselves and stay hidden instead of being out in open spaces.
The fan-tailed raven is classified as a group I species on the IUCN Red List, which means that they are not at high risk of becoming extinct; however, they may still face risks in some regions where they live due to habitat loss or poaching.
17. Forest Kingfisher
Still, on my list of bird names that start with F, The forest kingfisher(Todiramphus Macleayii) is a bird that lives in the woodlands of eastern Australia and New Zealand.
It’s known for its loud call, which can be described as a chet-chat-Chet or jilp. They are blue on top with white below, and their wings are black with white spots.
The forest kingfisher is also known as an Australian kingfisher because it lives there. Their body length ranges from 9 to 11 inches (23 to 28 centimeters), and they weigh 0.2 to 1 pound (0.09 to 0.5 kilograms).
Females lay up to four eggs simultaneously; however, most clutches contain two.
18. Franklin’s Gull
Franklin’s Gull(Leucophaeus Pipixcan) is a medium-sized gull in my list of bird names that start with F. It breeds in Alaska, Canada, and the northeastern United States.
The name commemorates naturalist and American politician John Franklin (1786-1847).
It was first described by American ornithologist Joel Asaph Allen in 1864. Adults are pale gray with a yellowish bill and legs.
In winter, they look similar to herring gulls but can be distinguished because they lack black on their heads and have a white rump patch.
19. Fox Kestrel
Many bird names start with F and range from common to exotic. For example, the Fox Kestrel(Falco Alopex) is a bird of prey found in Africa, Europe, and Asia.
This bird has a wingspan of about forty centimeters and can fly up to speeds of eighty kilometers per hour. These falcons will typically eat smaller birds or mammals.
20. Forest Robin
My list of bird names starts with F Forest robins(Stiphrornis Erythrothorax), which are found in much of Africa. They are usually found in thick forest habitats but sometimes venture into drier areas to look for food.
Forest robins have brown plumage on their head and neck, with a black stripe running down their back.
They also have a red eye ring. They are believed to be monogamous and can live up to five years in captivity.
The name forest refers to the habitat where they are often seen, not their coloration pattern.
21. Falcated Teal
Bird names that start with F. The Falcated Teal(Mareca Falcata) is a waterfowl found in Brazil.
Its wingspan ranges from 53 to 57 centimeters, weighing between 1.7 and 2.2 pounds.
This bird was first identified in 1886 by English naturalist George Robert Gray and is classified as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. What do you think of this bird’s name?
22. Fork-Tailed Flycatcher
In Greek mythology, a bird by the name of Tereus raped Philomela(Tyrannus Savana), who was his sister-in-law.
He cut out her tongue so she couldn’t tell what he had done to her and murdered her son.
To punish him, Zeus turns Tereus into a bird with a forked tail and makes him eat his flesh from now on.
That’s just one of many bird names that start with F inspired by mythology! Let’s look at some more examples:
23. Forest Owlet
One of the bird names that start with F in my list is The forest owlet(Athene Blewitti), a medium-sized owl found in southeastern Asia. They are predominately dark brown or black, with white and dark spots.
Forest owlets have been observed feeding small mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and birds, but their diet typically consists of insects.
Forest owlets live in evergreen forests at an altitude of over 500 meters. The forest owlet’s natural habitat includes highland rainforests of Southeast Asia and lowland rainforests of Indochina.
These birds prefer to nest in holes in trees used by other animals, such as squirrels or large birds like hornbills.
24. Flame Robin
One of my favorite birds is the Flame Robin(Petroica Phoenicea). This little bird can be found all around Australia, but it’s most common in Victoria and Tasmania.
It’s easy to spot a flame robin because it’s got an orange-red head and chest with black stripes on its back.
They’re also known for their high-pitched call, which sounds like pink-pink. The Flame Robin is a small bird weighing about 20 grams (around 1 ounce).
They’re about five inches long (12 centimeters), so they’re not too hard to spot from a distance.
Although they mostly eat insects, occasionally, you’ll find them eating other things like spiders or even snails!
25. Forest Canary
The Forest Canary(Crithagra Scoops) is a small bird that lives in the rainforests and humid areas of Africa.
They are also found in northern India and southern China. This bird is one of the most common birds in eastern Africa.
The forest canary, or Crithagra scoops, as it is sometimes called, is usually about six inches long with an olive-green back and a yellow chest.
The head is black with a little bit of white on top, and there are streaks of black on its forehead that extend down its neck.
The forest canary has two calls- one for when they are alone and another for when they are with their mate or other birds in a flock.
26. Fire-Bellied Woodpecker
Among bird names that start with F, The Fire-Bellied Woodpecker(Chloropicus Pyrrhogaster), also known as the Red-bellied Woodpecker, is a large woodpecker in the family Picidae. It is one of five species in the genus Chloropicus.
This bird has a bright red belly, yellow to a green body, and a black head with white markings on its cheek and chin. Females are less brightly colored than males.
The Fire-bellied Woodpecker’s range includes southern China, Taiwan, eastern Russia, and Indonesia; it has been introduced elsewhere, including parts of Europe and North America.
The bird ranges from 20 to 25 centimeters (8–10 inches) long with a 43–44 centimeter (17 inches) wingspan.
27. Floreana Mockingbird
Among the different bird names that start with F, The Floreana Mockingbird(Mimus Trifasciatus), or Mimus trifasciatus, is a bird in the Mimidae family.
It is native to Ecuador and Peru. The name Floreana derives from its discovery on Floreana Island near Ecuador.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources has classified this bird species as endangered.
One of this bird’s most distinctive features is its feathers, which are blue-grey with white tips, giving it a frosted appearance.
The underside of their wings is also white, which helps to distinguish them from other species of birds found in the same area.
28. Flaming Sunbird
The most amazon on my list of bird names that start with F is The flaming sunbird(Aethopyga flagrans), native to eastern Africa and mainly found in Kenya and Uganda.
These birds are brightly colored, with a bright red beak contrasting with their mostly dark plumage.
Their habitat consists of tropical forests and brushland, making them easy prey for predators such as cats.
The flaming sunbird’s diet consists mostly of fruit and insects, but it will also eat small vertebrates such as lizards or frogs.
They’re one of the most common birds in their range, which makes them a good indicator species to determine overall environmental health.
Flaming sunbirds are monogamous, mating for life and living in small family groups consisting of two adults (usually) and their offspring from previous years; they lay up to four eggs per year, hatching after 18 days.