Finding the birds that would make it onto this list was difficult because there are so many different species starting with K. The birds that made the list did so for a variety of reasons, including behavior, habitat, and their distinctive looks.
16 BIRDS THAT START WITH THE LETTER K
1. KAEMPFER’S TODY-TYRANT
Scientific name: Hemitriccus kaempferi
Lives in: Southeastern Brazil
The fact that, until the 1990s, only two specimens were known of this bird makes it so unusual. When it was initially seen in the 1990s, this changed. It is protected in its native Brazil and is considered endangered in the United States. It’s distinctive for its four-inch length and olive green color.
Kaemfer’s body-tyrants were only first seen in 1991, after being collected in 1929 and 1950. Fun fact about these birds: They were only first discovered in 1929.
2. KAEMPFER’S WOODPECKER
Scientific name: Celeus obrieni
Lives in: Brazil
Sadly, until it was rediscovered in 2006 and added to the highly endangered species list in 2007, this bird was thought extinct. The gorgeous rufous-chestnut, crimson, and black hues have made it a popular species. The environment of this bird is poorly understood.
Fun fact about kaemfer’s woodpeckers: Emil Kaempfer, the first person to capture a specimen of the bird, was given the name.
3. KAGU
Scientific name: Rhynochetos jubatus
Lives in: New Caledonia
In New Caledonia, the Kagu is most often seen in the woods and shrublands. The Kagu primarily eats lizards, worms, and snails, and is carnivorous. These birds are monogamous and frequently mate for life, which is an interesting fact. Only one egg is laid per year by a female. The female, however, will lay a new egg if the first effort fails.
Fun fact about Kagus: It’s a fairly flightless bird, as far as I can tell. Only through the forest can it move its wings.
4. KAROO LARK
Scientific name: Calendulauda albescens
Lives in: South Africa
The red-backed lark, also known as the Karoo lark, belongs to the lark family. The karoo lark’s natural habitat lies in tropical and subtropical arid shrub land. It digs for food in sandy areas. The primary source of food for insects is plants.
Fun fact about Karoo larks: A medium-sized lark, the karoo lark Males favor singing from bushes.
5. KAROO KORHAAN
Scientific name: Eupodotis vigorsii
Lives in: southern Africa
The bustard family of birds includes the Karoo korhaan. It’s just 24 inches tall, making it one of the smallest bustards. Males weigh 56 ounces and females weigh 48 ounces, which is a significant difference. The only difference between the sexes is that females have less black pigment around their neck region. They are similar in look.
Fun fact about Karoo korhaans: The omnivorous karoo korhaan eats mostly plants, with plants accounting for the bulk of its food.
6. KAROO THRUSH
Scientific name: Turdus smithi
Lives in: Africa
The Northern Cape, Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Little Namaqualand, and the Free State are among the places where the Karoo thrush may be found. It measures 24 centimeters in length and is medium in size. Smith’s thrush is another name for this bird.
Interesting fact about the Karoo thrush: Little light mint green eggs with brown speckles of different sizes are laid by karoo thrushes.
7. KASHMIR FLYCATCHER
Scientific name: Ficedula subrubra
Lives in: north-west Himalayas, central Sri Lanka, the Western Ghats of India
These little birds have a musical and summons song. The cry, on the other hand, sounds more like a sharp “chak,” whereas the melody may be characterized as “sweet-eet sweet-eet-did-he.” Sadly, due to dwindling numbers, this is yet another species that has been designated as endangered. They are only found in Sri Lanka and isolated places throughout India.
8. KAUAʻI ʻAKIALOA
Scientific name: Akialoa stejnegeri
Lives in:the island of Kauai,Hawaii
Sadly, since the 20th century, this bird has been extinct, and in 2021, it was confirmed as such. Its bill was approximately one-third of its body, with a long, downward curve. The Kauaʻi ʻakialoa had a seven-and-a-half-inch body.
Fun fact about Kauaʻi ʻakialoas: In 1964, two scientists named F. published a survey that introduced the bird to the world. J. Richardson is one of the Richardsons. Bowles is a name that has been used for several different people.
9. KAUAʻI ʻELEPAIO
Scientific name: Chasiempis sclateri
Lives in:the Hawaiian Island ofKauai
Their rusty color is what distinguishes them. Although the population of this species was estimated to be around 40,000 in 1970 and dropped by almost half in the 1990s, it appears to have recovered with a 13% growth in recent years.
Fun fact about Kauaʻi ʻelepaios: Surprisingly, it was reclassified as another distinct species in 2010, after being designated a subspecies of Hawaii ʻelepaio.
10. KENTUCKY WARBLER
Scientific name: Geothlypis formosa
Lives in: United States, Kentucky
The olive color that runs down their backs and the brilliant yellow that stretches from their neck to their bellies are clearly visible. They build nests on the ground, in amongst bushes or where there is adequate foliage. Females will lay three to six cream eggs with brown speckles.
Fun fact about Kentucky warblers: Just ten days after hatching, the chicks are generally ready to leave the nest.
11. KERGUELEN TERN
Scientific name: Sterna virgata
Lives in: Southern hemisphere
Colonies of these birds have been documented breeding. The Kerguelen Islands, where they breed, are named after them. At a range of 3500 to 6500, their numbers seem frighteningly low. Marine invertebrates and fish are among the foods they consume.
In coastal regions of the United States, such as Florida, you may observe other varieties of terns, such as royal terns.
Fun fact about Kerguelen terns: When bad weather strikes, they are famous for leaving their colonies.
12. KING EIDER
Scientific name: Somateria spectabilis
Lives in: Northeast Europe, North America, Asia
They lay four to seven eggs at a time during their breeding season, which runs from June to July. A scrape nest on the ground is used to lay eggs. Near water, nests are common. For 22 to 23 days, the female will incubate the eggs. The chicks are raised by the females collectively, which is a really interesting fact about these birds.
Fun fact about King eiders: In 1958, at the age of 18 years 11 months, the oldest king eider died.
13. KING QUAIL
Scientific name: Synoicus chinensis
Lives in: China, Southeast Asia, Southeast Australia
The bird’s color is without a doubt the most striking feature. Brown, blue, dark brown, maroon, and a shade close to black are the hues found in the male range. The orange feet of this ground-dwelling game bird are short. In terms of color, the female is comparable to the male.
Fun fact about King quails: For the privilege of mating with females, males battle one other. All of the prize goes to the winner.
14. KIRTLAND’S WARBLER
Scientific name: Setophaga kirtlandii
Lives in: Michigan and Wisconsin in the United States
Michigan residents refer to the kirtland warbler as the Jack Pine bird. They breed in isolated parts of Northern Michigan and Wisconsin during the breeding months, which they spend in the Bahamas.
One of the United States’ rarest songbirds is the Kirtland warbler. The oldest known bird, however, lived to be nine years old, despite the fact that these birds have short lives. Berries and insects are the majority of their food.
Fun fact about Kirtland’s warblers: Their nests are built on the ground, with vegetation draped over them.
15. KNYSNA TURACO
Scientific name: Tauraco corythaix
Lives in: South Africa
In South Africa, they are referred to as Loeries. The Knysna turaco has an orange-red beak and a white line beneath the eyes. Its primary color is green.
The white line beneath the eyes is missing in the male and female, and the crest is shorter in the offspring. Nests are built from sticks and hung in a tree. During the breeding season, females typically lay two eggs.
16. KILLDEER
Scientific name: Charadrius vociferus
Lives in: Common throughout the United States. Range extends from Northern Canada to Northern South America
These birds are frequently found nesting in gravel well away from any natural bodies of water, despite being technically classified as shorebirds. They are, however, against razing an section of a field or pasture (as livestock owners will notice).
When choosing a nest location, the mating pair performs a scrape ritual, and they usually mate right away. They actually prefer light-colored rocks for their nests, according to one research.
If you get too close to a nest, you can be sure there will be a mother or father there to let you know. Killdeer are ground nesting birds that lay their eggs practically right out in the open. They’re very protective of their nests, and they’ll often aggressively chase you away.