Explore the 35 Incredible 4-Letter Birds

There are over 11,000 living species of birds (Aves) around the world, but only a small percentage of these are known by short and sweet 4-letter common bird names. Read on to discover 35 different 4-letter birds!

1. Chat

Chat is a common name used for multiple types of birds from different families. It primarily refers to some of the members of the flycatcher subfamily Saxicolinae found in Eurasia and Africa. However, there are also Australian honeyeaters known as chats (Ashbyia and Epthianura); Neotropical American cardinals known as chats (Granatellus), and the yellow-breasted chat (Icteria virens) of North America.

2. Coua

A coua is any of nine living species of cuckoos in the Coua genus.

3. Crow

Crow is a common name given to most members of the Corvus genus, with the others known as ravens.

4. Dodo

The dodo (Raphus cucullatus) is a large flightless bird that was driven to extinction in the mid-17th century.

5. Dove

Dove is a common name given to many members of the Columbidae family, a large family of nearly 350 living species which also includes pigeons.

6. Guan

Guan is a common name used for birds in several genera of the Cracidae family (which also includes the chachalacas and curassows): Aburria, Chamaepetes, Oreophasis, Penelope, Penelopina, Pipile, and Ortalis.

7. Gull

Gulls are seabirds in the Laridae family, with 54 living species currently recorded.

8. Hawk

Hawk is a common name given to many birds of prey in the Accipitridae family, especially in the subfamily Accipitrinae (the “true hawks”). In the U.S., birds of the Buteo genus are also commonly called hawks, while referred to as buzzards in most other parts of the world.

9. Huia

The huia (Heteralocha acutirostris) is a species of New Zealand wattlebird that likely went extinct in the early 20th century.

10. Ibis

Ibises are 29 living species of wading birds in the subfamily Threskiornithinae recognizable by their long legs and long, downcurved bills.

11. Iora

Ioras are any of four living species in the passerine family Aegithinidae.

12. Kagu

The kagu (Rhynochetos jubatus), is one of only two living species in the Eurypygiformes order, the other being the Sunbittern (Eurypyga helias).

13. Kaka

The kākā (Nestor meridionalis) is a parrot in the Strigopidae family of New Zealand parrots.

14. Kite

Kite is a common name used for over two dozen birds of prey in the Accipitridae family, mostly in the subfamilies Elaninae, Milvinae, and Perninae.

15. Kiwi

A kiwi is any of five living species of small ratites in the Apteryx genus.

16. Knot

Knot is a common name that usually refers to the red knot (Calidris canutus) but can also refer to the great knot (Calidris tenuirostris), two related species of migratory water birds.

17. Koel

A koel is any of three living cuckoo species in the Eudynamys genus.

18. Lark

Larks are passerine birds of the Alaudidae family, with about 100 species recorded.

19. Loon

A loon, also called a diver, is any of five living species of water birds in the Gavia genus.

20. Lory

Lory is the common name used for four different genera of parrots within the Lorini tribe (with the rest known as lorikeets): Eos, Chalcopsitta, Lorius, and Pseudeos.

21. Myna

Myna is a common name used for dozens of species in the starling family (Sturnidae) found across southern Asia.

22. Nene

The nene (Branta sandvicensis), also known as the Hawaiian goose, is a goose species that is also the official state bird of Hawaii.

23. Rail

Rail is the common name given to the Rallidae family of birds, a diverse group of over 150 species.

24. Rhea

A rhea is any of three living species of ratites in the eponymous Rhea genus.

25. Rook

The rook (Corvus frugilegus) is a corvid species whose collective nesting sites are also known as rookeries.

26. Ruff

The ruff (Calidris pugnax) is a wading bird species in the same family as sandpipers (Scolopacidae).

27. Shag

Shag is a common name used to refer to a number of water birds in the same family as cormorants (Phalacrocoracidae), including the European shag (Gulosus aristotelis) and birds in the Leucocarbo genus.

28. Skua

A skua is any of seven living species of seabirds in the Stercorarius genus.

29. Smew

The smew (Mergellus albellus) is a species of diving duck.

30. Sora

The sora (Porzana carolina), also called the sora rail or sora crake, is a small waterbird species in the rail family.

31. Swan

A swan is any of six living species of long-necked waterfowl in the Cygnus genus.

32. Tern

Terns are birds of the Sterninae family of seabirds.

33. Tody

A tody is any of five living species of small colorful birds in the Todus genus.

34. Weka

The weka (Gallirallus australis), also known as the Māori hen and the woodhen, is a flightless rail species.

35. Wren

Wren is a common name used for birds belonging to three different families of passerines: the Troglodytidae (American wrens and the Eurasian wren); Maluridae (Australian wrens); and Acanthisittidae (New Zealand wrens).

Summary of Explore the 35 Incredible 4-Letter Birds