Birds that start with the letter x are rare compared to other letters of the alphabet. There are very few species of birds that have names beginning with this letter like the Xantus’s Hummingbird and the Xantus’s Murrelet. This list will help you learn about some of these unique avian creatures.
1. Xantus’s Hummingbird
The Xantus’s Hummingbird is a rather hefty, average-sized hummingbird found on the southernmost part of the Baja California peninsula. What makes this species so unique is that there are no similar birds in its limited range as it is endemic to this area. Males and females sport a black mask, striking white ear-stripe, and a red base to its bill.
2. Xantus’s Murrelet
The Xantus’s Murrelet, a tiny seabird of the California Current in the Pacific Ocean, was split in 2012 into two separate species: Scripps’s Murrelet (Synthliboramphus scrippsi) and Guadalupe Murrelet (Synthliboramphus hypoleucus), based on differences in face pattern, bill shape, voice and genetics. Their eggs weigh one-fourth as much as the mother’s body weight, which is the highest parent-to-egg size proportion of any bird. These animals have similar characteristics to penguins and whenever it is mating season, they will look for areas such as cracks in rocks or caves on small islands.
3. Xavier’s Greenbul
Xavier’s greenbul is a variety of songbird that falls under the Pycnonotidae family, which you can find in central Africa. This rufous-tailed greenbul is a medium passerine bird that has an olive-green back, yellowish underparts, and a rusty red tail. Since this species has a fairly large range, it does not meet the criteria for the Vulnerable classification in terms of range size.
4. Xenops
The Xenops is a genus of bird in the Furnariidae family, which contains the ovenbirds. The genus is found in South America, Mexico, and Central America, and now holds five recognised species after the plain xenops (X. genibarbis) was split in 2024 into a northern (X. mexicanus) and Amazonian form. Their typical habitat is tropical rain forests. Xenops birds work together to build their nests out of twigs and other materials, and they also enjoy eating insects, with ants being a particular favourite.
5. Xenopsaris Albinucha
The Xenopsaris Albinucha, more commonly known as the White-Naped Xenopasaris, is a small bird with gray and white feathers. It has a distinguishing dark cap that sets it apart from other birds. Theses birds are found in wet regions like open woodlands or near water sources, and typically perches upright on bare branches. It feeds mostly on insects but occasionally consumes fruit as well.
6. Xingu Scale-Backed Antbird
The Xingu scale-backed antbird is a small, South American species of bird that feeds on ants. They have a short tail that is tipped with white feathers. The humid lowland forest’s Xingu Scale-Backed Antbird is a creature that regularly visits swarms of army ants to feed on the insects disturbed by the ants.
7. Xinjiang Ground-Jay
The Xinjiang ground jay, also known as Biddulph’s ground jay, is a species of bird found only in China. This corvid species looks peculiar and is reminiscent of a nutcracker that would live in the desert. The mustache tuft is black and broad, curving upwards near the face. Their wings are black and white, while the body is overall pale brownish. They are also swift runners and can easily outmaneuver predators.
8. Xolmis Dominicanus
The black-and-white monjita, now classified as Heteroxolmis dominicana (formerly known as Xolmis dominicanus), is a passerine bird in the family Tyrannidae. It remains listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, with a declining population estimated at 6,000 to 15,000 mature individuals, mainly because of habitat loss across its grassland range. The places where it is typically found are areas of land that have subtropical or tropical climates, contain grasses, and experience either seasonal wetness or flooding. These locations include fields used for farming as well as pastures.
Final Thoughts
There are a variety of birds that start with the letter X, many of which are unique and interesting in their own ways. Whether it’s the colorful plumage of the Xavier’s greenbul or the unusual appearance of the Xinjiang ground jay, each bird has something that sets it apart from the rest!
Xantus’s Murrelet Image by: David Pereksta, Pacific Southwest Region US Fish And Wildlife Service, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Xingu Scale-Backed Antbird Image by: Hector Bottai, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
