There are a plethora of beautiful, intriguing, and amazing bird species in the outside world. They inspire us to create works of art by singing, soaring, and inspiring us. To help you learn about birds that begin with the letter I, we’ve created a fun list.
BIRDS THAT START WITH I
The names of the following 13 species begin with the letter I. Here is a list of them. Take a look around!
1. INDIGO-CAPPED HUMMINGBIRD
Scientific name: Saucerottia cyanifrons
Lives in: central Columbia
The body of this brilliant little hummingbird is bright green, with a dark brown back and a purple-blue crown. At an elevation of 1,000 to 2,000 meters, they dwell in woodlands, forest borders, and shrub gardens. In the tropics and subtropics, there are a variety of
Interesting fact: These hummingbirds can only be found in Columbia, South America, and that’s the only place on Earth.
2. IBISBILL
Scientific name: Ibidorhyncha Struthersii
Lives in: Central Asia
A long down-curved red beak, black breast band, red legs, and a black face make up the majority of Ibisbills. They are overall grey with a bright white underside. The total length of each bird is approximately 16 inches. These birds prefer to live near slow-flowing, calm rivers where they can build their nests beside rocky riverbeds.
Interesting fact: Their younger siblings will be looked after by chicks from previous broods!
3. ICELAND GULL
Scientific name: Larus glaucoides
Lives in: mainly Iceland and other areas in the Arctic, sometimes visits Canada, United States, Northern Europe
Each Iceland Gull weighs around 1.8 pounds and measures approximately 22 inches in length. The majority of these species are white, with yellow eyes, and black on their beak and feathers. Plumage, on the other hand, can vary significantly. Several kinds of gulls, including the Thayer’s and Glaucous gulls, are commonly misidentified with this species.
Interesting fact: In the far Arctic, they build nests on high and vertiginous cliffs.
4. ICTERINE WARBLER
Scientific name: Hippolais Icterina
Lives in: Central Europe, Central Africa
The wide-based beak of this little warbler is grayish-olive, and the body is light yellow with pale underparts. The legs are grey to blue. Both of its eyes have a faint ring around them as well. They’re recognized to have a song that attempts to imitate the tones of other bird species, which they sing at a rapid pace.
Interesting fact: In late summer, Icterine warblers supplement their insect-only diet with fruit.
5. IMMACULATE ANTBIRD
These birds, also known as the blue-lored antbird, feed on insects and are found in humid tropical woods like the Andes. Females have brown feathers and a black mask, while males have all-black feathers. Their eyes have a lovely blue patch surrounding them.
Interesting fact: They pursue ant colonies in order to capture any prey that gets entangled!
6. IBIS (WHITE IBIS)
Scientific name: Eudocimus albus
Lives in: eastern United States, coastal Mexico, Central America, northern South America
There are several Ibis species around the globe. The long legs, stocky body, long neck, and long down-curved beak of the ibis make it a popular species. They probe the sand and muck with their long bill, hoping to find food like insects, worms, snails, crabs, and crayfish while wading in shallow water. The ibis has a featherless pink face-mask and pink legs with an all-white body.
Interesting fact: The University of Miami’s mascot, the white ibis, is a tough bird that can survive hurricanes.
7. IMPERIAL SHAG
Scientific name: Leucocarbo Atriceps
Lives in: Antarctic Peninsula, Southern tip of South America
The Imperial Shag, a cormorant measuring approximately 30 inches long and weighing 4 to 8 pounds, is a species of cormorant. An orange nasal crest, a blue ring of skin around each eye, a white belly, and glossy black feathers are all features of each bird. They swim frequently and forage for food in the sea.
Interesting fact: They can eat octopuses and dive to a depth of 80 feet.
8. INCA DOVE
Scientific name: Scardafella Inca
Lives in: Mexico, Central America, Costa Rica, Southwestern United States
Each Inca Dove weighs about 0.1 pound and measures about 6.5 inches in length. They have bodies that are slender and gray-brown, with scales that resemble those of a reptile. The long white tail feathers of these doves create a square form when they are combined. Their cry resembles a “quiet rattling noise.”
Interesting fact: The Inca Doves at the Fort Worth Zoo were forced to flee temporarily since they disturbed the other birds.
9. INDIGO BUNTING
Scientific name: Passerina Cyanea
Lives in: Northern South America, Southern Canada, and Florida
This little bird has significant sexual dimorphism characteristics and measures 4.5 to 5.1 inches in length. The male becomes vivid blue during the breeding season, which lasts from June to August, in order to attract brown-colored females who stay green all year. Open woodland, farmland, and brush areas are common places for these birds to be found.
Interesting fact: During the night, the Indigo Bunting will migrate using stars to guide itself.
10. IVORY GULL
Scientific name: Pagophila Eburnea
Lives in: Northernmost North America, Greenland, Eurasia
This almost entirely white bird features a thick blueish beak with a yellow tip and black legs, measuring about 17 inches in length. Males have been seen to have a vivid red ring around both eyes during the breeding season. It’s only been discovered in the Canadian Arctic region of North America.
Interesting fact: Ivory gulls are omnivorous scavengers that will eat whatever they can find, including waste from Polar Bear kills.
11. INDIAN SKIMMER
Scientific name: Rynchops Albicollis
Lives in: Southern Asia
This strange bird has an orange beak that droops downward, a black head, white underbelly, and brown to black wings. Its length is roughly 16-17 inches. Their big beak’s lower section is longer than the upper, allowing them to “skim” food. Skimmers drop their bottoms into the water until they feel a fish, then quickly close their jaws. They fly low over the surface of the water and let their bottom beak skim over the water’s surface.
Interesting fact: Females have been known to get fish gifts from males.
12. ISLAND THRUSH
Scientific name: Turdus Poliocephalus
Lives in: Samoa, Melanesia, South East Asia
This thrush has orange beaks and legs, as well as brown to black feathers, similar to most thrushes. Earthworms, spiders, beetles, snails, tiny reptiles, and even carrion will be hunt for by the predators on the ground. Islands with rough topography and other high-up locales are preferred by Island Thrushes.
Interesting fact: On a single island, there may be dozens of subspecies of island thrush.
13. INTERMEDIATE EGRET
Scientific name: Ardea Intermedia
Lives in: Southern Asia, Australia, East Africa
Each bird is up to 35 inches tall, completely covered in white plumage, and has a thick yellow beak, far from being the smallest on this list. The Intermediate Egret, like other herons, eats insects, tiny fish, and frogs.
Interesting fact: Birds have been seen chasing fish in the water.