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Humor flies, and funny bird names prove this fact to be right! With so much attention given to the more fearsome falcons, hawks, and eagles, we forget the little guys. The Little Bustards and Tiny Sky-Tyrant act like the warm-up gigs. People laugh at and disrespect them for the simple fact that the funny bird's name exists. However, it is not their fault for having such a name!
Scientists and other intelligent people give funny bird names for newly found species. For the most part, the names come up from characteristics or already established terms. Sometimes, it is the barrier of language that results in a wrong translation of the name. So, while the creature might have a fearsome name in Latin when translated to English, the funny bird's name ruins that image.
However, these names don’t come from thin air. Instead, scientists take the time to consider the bird's characteristics before coming up with a name. Learn more about his process down below. However, you can always rush down and check out the funny bird names. Don’t agree with the list? Upvote the birds that you liked. Found the bird you hate? Comment down below!
How Scientists Create Funny Names For Birds?
Animal names are a combination of different characteristics. Birds are no exception. If looking at it scientifically, the names might seem more serious. For example — Eurostopodus diabolicus. Sounds cool and dangerous? Well, if translated to English, then you get Satanic Nightjar. And believe us — it’s not some satanic bird.
Latin plays an important role in the name. The Satanic Nightjar part comes from how English speakers interpret the Latin name. Also, the bird makes a “plip-plop” sound. If you ever heard water drip, you might recognize it. However, the local people instead link the sound to pulling a human eye from the head.
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#1
Satanic Nightjar
Regardless of the name, satanic nightjars don't run cults or offer sacrifices. It's just a medium-sized, greyish brown spotted bird. It was discovered about 90 years ago in Sulawesi (and then re-discovered in 1996). It earned its name because locals believed it was a demonic entity due the sounds it lets out at night.
Ratatouille 4 years ago
Honestly, kind looked like a frog at first with the eye scrunchies and the shiny feathers.
Birgit Merkentrup 4 years ago
In German this bird is called "Ziegenmelker". That's someone who milks goats.
Mary Rose Kent 4 years ago
In English they’re often call goat-suckers, although I’m not sure why.
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RELATED:
#2
Boobies
Boobies are the bird species that can be singled out for their bright blue feet (a feature only the males have, and the bluer they are, the better!). The feet are used to attract prospective mates by performing a high-stepping strut, so the species incorporate a performance with the visuals.
Aragorn II Elessar 4 years ago
Yeah, where do you think they got the name?
Load More Replies... Agnes Jekyll 4 years ago
Blue-Footed Boobies were named so because of how awkward they are on land--Boob--means awkward, stumbling. Boob as slang for breast refers to that meaning--which is also why my mom wouldn't let me use it--it's disrespectful to breasts. Discuss.
Fixin'Ta 4 years ago
It comes from the Spanish word "bobo" which means foolish.
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Pazuzu 4 years ago (edited)
i,d say the person that named these feels like a right tit now---although i guess he had the breast intentions.at least now i can thank him for the mammories
Patricia Kersting 3 years ago
Not all boobies are blue-footed; there are also brown, masked, Nazca, red-footed, and maybe more. These species are not “singled out” by their blue feet.
#3
Little Bustard
Little bustards are one of the larger birds on this list, despite what its name might suggest. Usually fairly quiet and unobtrusive, males preparing for breeding have distinctive plumage with a black neck and double V-shaped white collar. However, the population of these birds is decreasing.
cassiushumanmother 4 years ago
In France we are more savage. "Outarde canePETière", "pet" means "farts", because this bird make fart noises. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmLPXeY2HT4 Maybe it's for the same reason that they are little "bustards" in English.
Selina Ali 4 years ago
Made me laugh out louder than I should’ve at this ungodly hour (I’m in the UK)
#4
Dickcissel
Dickcissels typically can be found in the North American prairies. They eat seeds and are ground foragers, and when it's time to migrate, they can flock in large numbers, sometimes reaching thousands, and while wintering, those flocks can number in the millions.
Chris Hardtke 4 years ago
They mention these birds in the pilot movie of Little House on the Prairie. They also called them dickey birds.
Daniel Marsh 4 years ago
Tits, boobies, dicksizzles. It's like working in the plumbing section of the hardware store all over again. (We actually sold "c**k head nipple screws.")
Mary Rose Kent 4 years ago
A couple of them randomly showed up in San Francisco’s Fort Mason a few years ago. They’re really lovely.
#5
Tiny Sky-Tyrant
Mary Rose Kent 4 years ago
It looks like a member of the swift family (Apodidae). Swifts spend their entire lives in the sky, except for nesting.
denim jackets and jorts 1 year ago
there doesn’t look to be a bird with this name, but there is a tiny tyrant-manakin!
the grey area 3 years ago
You could have picked the dictator sounding ‘black capped pygmy tyrant’
#6
Go-Away-Bird
Go-away-birds are known for their long tails that flop up and down while in flight. They tend to stick to small groups and like to perch on trees and bushes. But their name comes from their nasal sound that sounds very much like “go-waaay,” which earned them the name.
Korrie Broos 4 years ago
I am from Southern Africa, we were always taught that this bird's makes a big noise when you go hunting and that warns the other animals to go away, and the hunters wants this bird to "go-away" In Afrikaans it is Kwe voel. The "Kwe" resembles the noise it makes. No way that this bird's call resembles "go-away"
SupaCab 4 years ago
Fellow Safffer here, and we were fortunate enough to have a whole family of them our garden. It was incredible being able to watch the new chicks grow up each year. They're also tremendously clever birds.
Load More Replies... Eileen Fang 4 years ago
bird, bird, go-away, come again another day, little Johny wants to play, bird, bird, go-away
What Should I Name My Bird?
When it comes to the naming process, the process is the same as with a baby. The weirder (and funnies), the better. Go outside and maybe use funny bird names of the species variety. Take a name that best suits your bird to make the humor factor more potent. If you have a crow pet, name him Little Bustard. You’re not making fun of him or calling him a vulgar name. Instead, you will sound scientifically intelligent.
Or, if you are an extravert, call your parrot Go-Away-Bird. They look alike, so the name perfectly suits your flying pal. Also, if you teach your parrot to talk, teach him the phrase, too. So, the next time your parrot says “Go Away” — he's just referring to his name. Nothing too controversial.
#7
Penduline Tit
Penduline tits live up to their name, making elaborate bag nests which they hang from trees near water. They even use spiderweb, animal hair and soft plant materials to create the nest. The construction even has a false opening that leads to a false chamber, and the true interior of the nest is hidden behind a secret door.
Mary Rose Kent 4 years ago
An American bird—the Bushtit—is in this family. My guess is they’re called Penduline tits because of their long sack-like nests.
#8
Horned Screamer
National Geographic aptly titled horned screamers the unicorns of the bird world. It's the only horned bird in the world, but the horn is not used for fights—it's only ornamental. The horn is loosely attached and will snap off when it grows too big, and then later, it grows back.
The 5-star rated 5-star rating system 4 years ago
Now you can hear their loud screams: https://youtu.be/4FZKMvHE8fI
#9
Fluffy-Backed Tit-Babbler
The fluffy-backed tit-babbler is a near-threatened species found in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. Their preferred habitats are facing deforestation or similar forms of conversion, causing the species to decline.
Norbert McFarlane 4 years ago
i dont think so because if it were ornitologist would of gave it a different name
#10
Sad Flycatcher
Despite the name, the sad flycatcher is not sad in any way. It does have a small bill, but that's not enough to discourage this woodland species. These birds are native to Jamaica and prefer to stick to various forests.
Norbert McFarlane 4 years ago
hey where the sad(not acually sad)flycatcher lives is where my dad was born
#11
Smew
Smews are diving ducks that live in northern Europe and Asia. They are migrating birds, meaning they will leave their natural habitat to spend winters somewhere else in order to escape colder climates. It is male smews that have the distinct white-and-black plumage.
Tiny sky-tyrant
Norbert McFarlane 4 years ago
there was this time where when some person sayd smew the ornitoligist laughed
#12
Sombre Tit
The sombre tit lives in southeast Europe and southwest Asia. These birds make their nest in the holes of the trees, such as juniper or willow, and they lay eggs twice a year. The species also appears to be somewhat stationary, with slight local movements, and they don't migrate half a world away.
Mary Rose Kent 4 years ago
In the U.S., we call our tits chickadees. The Chestnut-backed Chickadee is my favorite chickadee and my favorite garden bird—they’re adorable.
What is the Funniest Bird Name?
Humor is subjective, and the variety of funny bird names proves it. However, when it comes to the funniest one, it has to stick like the weird human names.
To some, humor comes from names that sound similar or exactly like body parts (I'm not going to mention them here). To others, the punchline is the phrase hidden behind the name.
Either way, take the time to look at the species names that are proven comedy gold.
#13
Typical Swift
The typical or common swift follows its name to the letter. Their feathers are in dark colors, with no outrageous features, but it lives up to the swift title, spending as much as ten months per year in continuous flight. Germans even call this bird "wall-glider" as a tribute to its ability to cling to vertical surfaces.
I’m A Black Cat 4 years ago
'Mauersegler' in German. I saved one of those once; it had flown into our copy room at work through a tilted window on a Friday afternoon, when everyone had already left. I happened to be there and heard it making noise. Had to take it into my hands, it was very cute and quite calm, and released it through the window. A nice experience :)
Monika Lachova 1 year ago
Their legs are very weak, therefore they cannot stand on the ground nor perch on the branch. Only possible way for them is to hang on them. Even the Latin name is linked to this fact - Apus apus, means literally legless. They sometimes crash land on the ground and are not able to take off. If taken, they can glide away.
Norbert McFarlane 4 years ago
ahh come on guys come down there only swifts there not acually typical besides if they spoke they would say the same thing back anyway
#14
European Shag
European shags can be found in western Europe and northern Africa. There are three subspecies: living in the north (like Iceland), in mild climates (such as the central Mediterranean), and those preferring warm weather (like the coasts of northern Africa).
Daniel Marsh 4 years ago
In Europe, shag means... well, something dicksizzles want to do when they see boobies/tits, right?
Rhon 4 years ago
Some people take quite innocent words and give them alternate meaning, often rude.
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Mary Rose Kent 4 years ago
I think shags and cormorants have minor differences, but they’re in the same family—phalacrocoracidae. They don’t use preening oil because it affects their buoyancy, which is why you always see them on a log (or what-have-you) drying their wings.
#15
Rough-Faced Shag
The rough-faced shag is a rare species from New Zealand. For close to 200+ years, their small population was confined to four islands in the Marlborough Sounds area, and due to this, these birds are considered vulnerable. And instead of exquisite singing, this bird lets out croaking noises.
Nikki Owens 4 years ago (edited)
As a New Zealander, I can confirm I've seen many rough-faced shags emerging from my flatmates' rooms after a hard night's partying.
#16
Common Loon
Common loons are water birds, often found near coastal waters. They catch fish underwater, using their feet as a propeller. They are fast swimmers and equally fast fliers and can reach speeds of 70 mph. Fun fact: in order to fly, these birds need to have a running start, not unlike a plane that's about to take off.
The 5-star rated 5-star rating system 4 years ago
New bird protection organisation: the SBTB (Stop Bullying The Birds), founded by @JennyBee.
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Capelli rosa e patate 4 years ago
Easily my favorite bird. Such a calming cry too. They are a lil loony though, in an endearing way ☺️
Dark Pearl 4 years ago
Common loons are so cute with their chicks. https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fcottagelife.com%2Fgeneral%2Fheres-whats-causing-the-decline-of-loon-chicks-in-ontario%2F&psig=AOvVaw3FTn-N5cl7J0s44Sk2_t38&ust=1613128889799000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCLCMnsbb4e4CFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD
Mary Rose Kent 4 years ago
They’re strictly northern birds and they’re called Divers in many countries. There are only five species of loons: Common, Arctic, Pacific, Red-throated, and Yellow-billed.
#17
Red-Rumped Bush-Tyrant
The red-rumped bush-tyrant can be recognized for its dual coloring. The upper body of the bird is gray, while the belly is bright. It also has extensive rufous webbing on the tail feathers. The species likes a humid environment with plenty of trees.
Daniel Marsh 4 years ago
OK... that officially beats when I was working in a hardware store selling "ball c**k head nipple screws."
Marcellus the Third 4 years ago
The name "Smew" doesn't belong here, that's a type of duck. This is a kind of Tyrant.
#18
Noisy Pitta
The noisy pitta can be found in areas of Australia and New South Wales. They are known to use anvils (which can be a polished stone stuck in the ground, a tree stump, or even a broken bottle) to break up food such as snails, which are some of their favorite foods. Some anvils can be used for years, like a long-lasting tool.
Mary Rose Kent 4 years ago
Pittas are found in Australia, Asia, and Africa. They’re ground-dwelling birds that are seriously threatened by deforestation.
#19
Noisy Miner
Noisy miners are not the biggest of birds, but despite that, they aggressively attack larger birds such as hawks. They stick to their aggressive strategy so much that there are very few (if any) other bird species in their territory.
Nixxy 3 years ago
But they are really cute, I’ve seen them bond with magpies, ravens and even kookaburras! I wonder if it’s a symbiotic thing or they are just annoying them
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Miss JayJokerFan21 4 years ago
I've seen these buggers chasing away crows much bigger then they are
#20
Spangled Drongo
The spangled drongo has glossy black plumage with iridescent blue-green spots (spangles), hence the name. Its blood-red eyes also stand out from the otherwise dark plumage. These birds are not against working together, as often they flock together to 'hawk' flying insects for food.
Mary Rose Kent 4 years ago
Drongos are gorgeous birds. There are two racquet-tailed species, which means that at the end of tails, there’s a long streamer that hangs down and then there’s another small bit of tail at the end of it. Drongos fly in a swoopy undulating manner and are pretty common throughout Southeast Asia.
Norbert McFarlane 4 years ago
saying refuse to believe these are real just makes me think that you think they are real i dont make sense
#21
Hoary Puffleg
Hoary pufflegs are rare South American hummingbirds. They can be found in areas of the Andes and northwest Ecuador. They prefer evergreen forests at a 1,100-2,500 m altitude. Due to their limited range and declining population, they are considered a threatened species.
Marcellus the Third 4 years ago
Hoary is a perfectly cromulent word! When Ubuntu named their versions as alliterative adjective+animal pairs (like Breezy badger and Maverick meerkat) there was Hoary Hedgehog so I had to look up the word.
#22
Swallow
Swallow is a very broad name encapsulating approximately 90 species. These birds are not very big, and often have dark plumage. They are very agile and spend much of their time in the air, catching insects. They can be found worldwide, and more distinct features depend on specific species.
*sigh*, The Yellow Teletubby 4 years ago
there once was, but as the saying goes, "Spitters are quitters"
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Leisa K 4 years ago
These are the birds of Sailor Jerry's dreams (and tattoos c. 1940s) From Wikipedia: "According to a sailing superstition, swallows are a good omen to those at sea. This probably arose from the fact that swallows are land-based birds, so their appearance informs a sailor that he or she is close to shore."
Daniel Atkins 4 years ago
All i want to know is it African or European and is it capable of carrying coconuts?
Marcellus the Third 4 years ago
This one wasn't named by English speakers, so a bit less relevant than most of the others.
#23
Ruddy Pigeon
Ruddy pigeons can be found in Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Brazil, and they prefer higher, 1500-meter altitudes. They can be recognized by their unpatterned and mainly wine-purple color of the feathers. The species can often be noticed in pairs, searching for fruits and berries.
Marcellus the Third 4 years ago
indeed like "tawny" a brownish red colour. There's a ruddy duck too.
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#24
Drab Seedeater
The drab seedeater is found in South America, typically in Ecuador and Peru, and luckily, they are not facing any form of extinction. They like subtropical or tropical shrublands, and the birds themselves don't have any distinct features, hence the name "drab."
Arenite 1 year ago
Yeah, but they’re not endangered. The Drap keeps them safe from human greed and stupidity.
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#25
Perplexing Scrubwren
Perplexing scrubwrens live in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, preferring moist lowland forests. The species' perplexing name arose due to the difficulty it causes while trying to classify it, since living in some areas, this bird interbreeds with larger scrubwren species, and while living in other regions, it doesn't display this behavior.
#26
Monotonous Lark
The monotonous lark earned its name due to the males insistently singing a croaking, gurgling, distinctive four-note song every 3-5 seconds for hours, regardless of whether it's day or night. While singing, the bird will puff out, stretch its neck, and raise a small crest.
Marcellus the Third 4 years ago
Given that larks are renowned for their fanciful singing, this isn't that weird a name for the black sheep of the family?
#27
Noisy Friarbird
Noisy friarbirds are sometimes referred to as "leatherheads" because of their bare black head. However, despite this species' appearance, they are honeyeaters and you can often spot them in the outer canopy of flowering trees, especially eucalypts.
M O'Connell 4 years ago
In my part of the world, the only birds without feathers on their heads are carrion-eaters. It's interesting to know that there are some birds which aren't! At first glance I thought it was a teeny-tiny Turkey Vulture.
Mary Rose Kent 4 years ago
Sometimes when I see TVs eating I think how filthy and smelly the world would be without vultures.
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#28
Noisy Scrub-Bird
The noisy scrub-bird earned its name for the loud song it performs. Its territorial call starts pleasantly enough, and ends with an ear-splitting finish. It can be found in Western Australia, but its habitat greatly decreased because of the wildfires.
Nilav Shrestha 2 years ago
What about the C**k of the rock (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C**k-of-the-rock) or the Nuttings Flycatcher (https://ebird.org/species/nutfly)
Elaine Dodge 4 years ago
I get the feeling that a lot of birds were named by Calvin from Calvin and Hobbes.
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What do you think ?
Big 4 years ago (edited)
HOW CAN YOU HATE BIRDS? ~ *edit* Seeing as the title of this thread was changed, this comment seems redundant... whatever
Sleazy Weaver 4 years ago (edited)
I love all the bird names but I hate the captions mocking men for not going to therapy. Really? You could've just enjoyed some funny bird names, but instead you just had to go out there & stigmatize men's mental health more than it already is. Also, ANYONE can have an immature sense of humor, not just men. I'm sure plenty of women found this article funny too. Let's quit the toxic masculinity, okay? Just enjoy the damn birds.
Dawn Smith 4 years ago
Do you not know what toxic masculinity actually means? Because yes, it is indeed something that needs to be quit. However, what you are criticizing is not what toxic masculinity is or means. And the original post was, “Ornithologists hate birds.” The jokes are in line with that. It says nothing about men finding this funny and women not. How about just enjoying the jokes and not going on rants about how “unfair” the world is towards men/how stigmatized they are 🙄😒/how they’re being picked on and “Just enjoy the damned birds.” Geez
Load More Replies... Bird Mom 4 years ago
I can imagine- back in the olden days- a father taking his son on his knee. "So son," he says. staring seriously into his son's eyes, "Your Daddy found a new birdy today." The boy opens his mouth in suprise. "You mean it Daddy?!" He squeals, bouncing on his fathers knee. "Yes. You can finally get to name a bird. You are my son, after all." The son looks into his fathers eyes, "How about (fill in random name from the list above)?" "Tremendous," the father says, ruffling his sons hair. "Just wait till we tell your mother." I hope you enjoyed how much my attention wandered. XD
RoseTheMad 4 years ago
My dad is an avid birdwatcher, so I know a few more... Andean c**k-of-the-rock, Bananaquit, Orangequit, Whip-poor-will , Chuck-will's-widow , Killdeer, Ovenbird... and Theres probably more but those are the amusing ones off the top of my head. I feel sorry for will though, Ornithologists hate him. First they whipped him, then they presumably killed him and chucked his widow out the window or something. :(
Sarah Donahue 3 years ago
These were named before our society became disgustingly immersed in sex obsession and saw dirty meanings everywhere. Maybe we should take a look at ourselves instead.
Big 4 years ago (edited)
HOW CAN YOU HATE BIRDS? ~ *edit* Seeing as the title of this thread was changed, this comment seems redundant... whatever
Sleazy Weaver 4 years ago (edited)
I love all the bird names but I hate the captions mocking men for not going to therapy. Really? You could've just enjoyed some funny bird names, but instead you just had to go out there & stigmatize men's mental health more than it already is. Also, ANYONE can have an immature sense of humor, not just men. I'm sure plenty of women found this article funny too. Let's quit the toxic masculinity, okay? Just enjoy the damn birds.
Dawn Smith 4 years ago
Do you not know what toxic masculinity actually means? Because yes, it is indeed something that needs to be quit. However, what you are criticizing is not what toxic masculinity is or means. And the original post was, “Ornithologists hate birds.” The jokes are in line with that. It says nothing about men finding this funny and women not. How about just enjoying the jokes and not going on rants about how “unfair” the world is towards men/how stigmatized they are 🙄😒/how they’re being picked on and “Just enjoy the damned birds.” Geez
Load More Replies... Bird Mom 4 years ago
I can imagine- back in the olden days- a father taking his son on his knee. "So son," he says. staring seriously into his son's eyes, "Your Daddy found a new birdy today." The boy opens his mouth in suprise. "You mean it Daddy?!" He squeals, bouncing on his fathers knee. "Yes. You can finally get to name a bird. You are my son, after all." The son looks into his fathers eyes, "How about (fill in random name from the list above)?" "Tremendous," the father says, ruffling his sons hair. "Just wait till we tell your mother." I hope you enjoyed how much my attention wandered. XD
RoseTheMad 4 years ago
My dad is an avid birdwatcher, so I know a few more... Andean c**k-of-the-rock, Bananaquit, Orangequit, Whip-poor-will , Chuck-will's-widow , Killdeer, Ovenbird... and Theres probably more but those are the amusing ones off the top of my head. I feel sorry for will though, Ornithologists hate him. First they whipped him, then they presumably killed him and chucked his widow out the window or something. :(
Sarah Donahue 3 years ago
These were named before our society became disgustingly immersed in sex obsession and saw dirty meanings everywhere. Maybe we should take a look at ourselves instead.
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