Lake duck, lanner falcon, laced woodpecker, and least auklet are some of the better-known birds whose common names start with the letter L. Each one has its own distinctive look and behaviour that sets it apart from the rest.
Here are a few facts about each of them:
- Laced woodpecker – A woodpecker that has prominent stripes on its wings and red crest.
- Ladder-tailed nightjar – A nocturnal bird that has white ladder-like wedges on its tail, mostly seen in flight.
- Lady Amherst’s pheasant – The male ground-feeding bird of this species is especially striking, with a long tail and cape-like pattern on its body.
- Lake duck – The male lake duck has the largest avian reproductive organ.
- Lance-tailed manakin – A small passerine bird that has a short tail but spiky middle feathers.
- Lanner falcon – A falcon that is often used in the falconry sport which preys on other birds and small animals.
- Large elaenia – A flycatcher bird that is found in South America.
- Large hawk-cuckoo – A type of cuckoo that has an appearance similar to a hawk.
- Large niltava – A male large niltava has a gorgeous dark blue plumage while females have dark, olive-brown color.
- Large-billed tern – A type of South American seabird that has a long yellow bill and short tail.
- Laughing gull – A type of gull that is known for its loud, laugh-like call.
- Lawrence’s goldfinch – A songbird that feeds on shrubs and forb’s seeds.
- Laysan albatross – The Laysan albatross is a large seabird that lives in the North Pacific and is known to be an excellent soarer, capable of flying long distances or maneuvers during storms.
- Lazuli bunting – A songbird that has an appearance similar to the finch and is named after a gemstone.
- Least auklet – The smallest member of the auk family is also one of the largest populations of seabirds in North America.
- Least flycatcher – A North American flycatcher that makes a ‘chebec’ sound.
- Long-billed curlew – A shorebird that has a distinctively long down-curved bill.
- Long-billed starthroat – A solitary hummingbird that feeds on nectar and insects.
- Long-winged harrier – A type of raptor that is known to have a V-shaped glide formation when in flight and has a discernable facial disc.
- Lucifer sheartail – A hummingbird that has a decurved bill and lives in desert canyons and arid slopes.
Conclusion
Birds play an important role in our environment, and learning about the species whose names begin with the letter L is a nice way to appreciate them a little more. From the lake duck to the Lucifer sheartail, every bird on this list has features that set it apart, and each one is a treat to watch in the wild.
Lance-tailed manakin Image by: Greg Kanies, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Large hawk-cuckoo Image by: PJeganathan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Lucifer sheartail Image by: Greg Schechter from San Francisco, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
