Your go-to resource for Birds That Start With G is here. This informative guide will expand your avian knowledge!
While bird enthusiasts usually focus on species, families, or habitats, it’s also fun to explore avian life alphabetically. If you’re specifically curious about Birds That Start With the Letter G, this guide will provide fascinating insights.
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Birds That Start With G
1. Gadwall
Scientific Name: Anas strepera
The gadwall is a dabbling duck with a subtle gray and brown plumage. Unlike other ducks, it doesn’t possess vibrant coloration but makes up for it with its intricate feather patterns. It’s offers quieter, more subdued calls.
2. Gannet
Scientific Name: Morus
Gannets are sea birds with strikingly streamlined bodies and wingspan exceeding 6 feet. They possess a creamy white plumage and a yellowish head. Specialized in plunge-diving for fish, gannets are a notable mention in this list of birds that start with G.
3. Green Heron
Scientific Name: Butorides virescens
Small and stocky, the green heron captures fish using tools like sticks or insects to lure them. Its feathers display a mix of green, brown, and grey, giving it a somewhat iridescent appearance.
4. Gila Woodpecker
Scientific Name: Melanerpes uropygialis
Indigenous to the deserts of the southwestern United States, this woodpecker species is renowned for its distinctive black and white wing markings. This bird is especially known for drilling holes in saguaro cacti for nests.
5. Grasshopper Sparrow
Scientific Name: Ammodramus savannarum
As the name suggests, this sparrow feeds primarily on grasshoppers. It has a plain, brown appearance and is often found in grasslands. This bird is ground-nesting, preferring areas with dense ground vegetation for concealment.
6. Greater Flamingo
Scientific Name: Phoenicopterus roseus
Famous for their pinkish-white plumage, greater flamingos are the largest species among flamingos. Their distinctive color comes from the carotenoids in their diet, primarily from shrimp and algae.
7. Grey Heron
Scientific Name: Ardea cinerea
With a sleek, gray form and a dagger-like bill, grey herons are often seen in wetlands and coastal regions, stalking their prey in shallow waters. These birds that start with G are highly adaptable and can thrive in urban settings as well.
8. Guira Cuckoo
Scientific Name: Guira guira
Native to South America, the Guira Cuckoo is recognized for its attractive feathers, distinctive orange beak, and eye-ring. Social and loud, this bird often travels in groups, feeding on insects and small vertebrates.
9. Garganey
Scientific Name: Anas querquedula
A migratory dabbling duck, the garganey is noted for its striking facial stripes and small size compared to other ducks. This duck is most active at night.
10. Golden-crowned Sparrow
Scientific Name: Zonotrichia atricapilla
Resident in the far western part of North America, this sparrow sports a distinctive gold patch atop its head. Its diet comprises mainly seeds and insects. This bird is known for its melancholy song.
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11. Golden Eagle
Scientific Name: Aquila chrysaetos
Renowned for their hunting prowess, golden eagles have a regal appearance with brown plumage and a golden tint around their necks. These birds can cover vast territories, often exceeding 150 square miles.
12. Great Crested Grebe
Scientific Name: Podiceps cristatus
This elegant water bird is recognizable by its ornate head plumage. During courtship, this bird performs intricate dances that are fascinating to observe.
13. Glossy Ibis
Scientific Name: Plegadis falcinellus
Known for its iridescent, dark plumage, the Glossy Ibis is often seen probing mud for food. It’s one of the most widespread ibis species in every continent except Antarctica.
14. Gray Catbird
Scientific Name: Dumetella carolinensis
The gray catbird is a medium-sized North American songbird known for its slate-gray plumage and distinctive, cat-like calls. A member of the Mimidae family, this bird thrives in dense shrublands and suburban gardens.
15. Great Tit
Scientific Name: Parus major
With a vibrant yellow belly and a black head, the great tit is a common garden bird in Europe known for its cheerful song. Its varied diet makes this bird highly adaptable to different environments.
16. Grey Wagtail
Scientific Name: Motacilla cinerea
Primarily found along streams and rivers, grey wagtails are characterized by their yellow underparts. These birds that start with G often wag their long tails, a behavior thought to flush out insects.
17. Golden Pheasant
Scientific Name: Chrysolophus pictus
Native to the forests of China, this bird is renowned for its dazzling plumage. This avian wonder is a ground-dweller that prefers dense, dark forests.
18. Great Kiskadee
Scientific Name: Pitangus sulphuratus
This vibrant bird, residing in South and Central America, is famous for its bold yellow chest, white head, and dark bill. It has a varied diet, including insects, fruits, and occasionally fish.
19. Gray Hawk
Scientific Name: Buteo plagiatus
Sporting a light grey plumage, the Gray Hawk is a medium-sized raptor common in forests and wooded areas. This bird often soars on warm thermals while scanning the ground for prey.
20. Greenfinch
Scientific Name: Chloris chloris
The greenfinch has a greenish-yellow plumage and a strong bill suitable for seed-eating. This social bird often forms loose colonies and enjoys basking in the sun.
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21. Galah
Scientific Name: Eolophus roseicapilla
Also known as the rose-breasted cockatoo, the galah is an Australian bird with a striking pink chest and a cheerful demeanor. This bird is popular for its playful antics and strong social bonds.
22. Golden-winged Warbler
Scientific Name: Vermivora chrysoptera
The Golden-winged Warbler is a striking North American bird species characterized by its vibrant yellow wing patches and crown. Common in shrubby, open areas near wetlands, its population is declining due to habitat loss.
23. Grey Partridge
Scientific Name: Perdix perdix
A ground-dwelling game bird, the grey partridge has a subdued, mottled appearance designed for camouflage. As an omnivore, it feeds on various seeds, leaves, and small invertebrates.
24. Golden-crowned Kinglet
Scientific Name: Regulus satrapa
A tiny bird with a yellow and orange crown, this species inhabits forests and woodlands. Its high-pitched calls and rapid movements make it a charming, albeit elusive, subject for birdwatchers.
25. Gyrfalcon
Scientific Name: Falco rusticolus
The gyrfalcon is the largest falcon species, primarily found in the Arctic regions of North America and Eurasia. Popular for its keen hunting abilities, it preys on birds and mammals, including ptarmigans and hares.
26. Green-winged Teal
Scientific Name: Anas carolinensis
A small dabbling duck with vibrant plumage, the green-winged teal is commonly found in wetlands. Its diet consists of aquatic plants, insects, and small fish.
27. Great Spotted Woodpecker
Scientific Name: Dendrocopos major
Recognized for its distinctive black, white, and red plumage, the great spotted woodpecker is frequent in woodlands and parks. This creature is known for its drumming sounds, produced by rapidly pecking on tree trunks.
28. Gouldian Finch
Scientific Name: Erythrura gouldiae
Native to Australia, this vibrant bird is admired for its vividly colored plumage. Due to habitat loss, gouldian finch is now considered an endangered species.
29. Gery-crowned Crane
Scientific Name: Balearica regulorum
Notable for its golden crown of feathers, this African native species stands out for its elaborate courtship dance. It’s an omnivore that feeds on plants and small animals.
30. Great Horned Owl
Scientific Name: Bubo virginianus
Named for its ear tufts resembling horns, this owl is one of the most adaptable birds in America. This bird has excellent hearing and keen eyesight, making it a formidable predator, especially during nighttime.
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31. Green Sandpiper
Scientific Name: Tringa ochropus
The green sandpiper boasts a long beak and a distinct white belly. Primarily insectivorous, it migrates long distances between breeding and wintering grounds.
32. Gray Flycatcher
Scientific Name: Empidonax wrightii
The gray flycatcher, also known as the American gray flycatcher, displays subdued gray plumage. This bird is frequently seen in arid habitats like deserts and exhibits a unique tail-wagging behavior.
33. Garden Warbler
Scientific Name: Sylvia Borin
The garden warbler is a small, inconspicuous European songbird with a plain, olive-brown appearance. This bird is a long-distance migrant traveling from Europe to sub-Saharan Africa during winter.
34. Gray-headed Chickadee
Scientific Name: Poecile cinctus
With a gray crown and white cheeks, these birds that start with G prefer boreal forests, where they forage on seeds and insects. The gray-headed chickadees consume seeds and insects.
35. Greater Scaup
Scientific Name: Aythya marila
The greater scaup is a medium-sized diving duck, often found in large flocks on salt and freshwater. Its diet includes aquatic plants and small invertebrates.
36. Grey Plover
Scientific Name: Pluvialis squatarola
Primarily seen in coastal areas, the grey plover has a round body and a short bill, suited for probing in mudflats for food. This avian wonder is particularly known for its long migratory patterns.
37. Greater Yellowlegs
Scientific Name: Tringa melanoleuca
Easily identified by its long, bright yellow legs, this wading bird visits shallow waters in search of small aquatic animals. It boasts a piercing alarm call that alerts other birds to danger.
38. Great Grey Shrike
Scientific Name: Lanius excubitor
Often perched atop tall branches or poles, this bird is a vigilant predator. Its diet consists of insects but can also include small birds and mammals.
39. Great Egret
Scientific Name: Ardea alba
This elegant bird with all-white plumage is common near water bodies and feeds mainly on fish. Its long neck and sharp beak are perfect tools for spearfishing.
40. Green-tailed Towhee
Scientific Name: Pipilo chlorurus
Frequent in shrublands and forests, Pipilo chlorurus has a striking green tail. It has a beautiful, melodious call that can be heard during early morning and late afternoon.
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