20 Birds Starting With The Letter “U”: A Complete Guide

Are you looking for ways to enhance your bird-watching experience? Then you are in the right place.

Because you are about to be introduced to a whole new world full of a diverse range of feathered companions whose names start with the letter “U”.

To get you acquainted with avian diversity, I have sorted out a list with their basic information and facts that will expand your knowledge as well as amplify your appreciation for them.

There are birds in different colors with their combination of plumages in white, grey, blue, yellow, green, etc. Moreover, a wide variety of birds with distinctive appearances such as beaks larger than their body, birds with distinctive crowns, etc will be introduced briefly.

Assemble all the bird enthusiasts and familiarise yourself with the list of avians. I can assure you that this pursuit of yourself will be rewarding once you finish.

Amazing Birds That Start With The Letter “U”

The world of avians is full of diversity that comes in every combination of size, color, shape, etc. It feels humanly impossible to know every one of the species and their subspecies.

So let’s get to know the basics of some of the birds that start with the letter “U” and get our minds stimulated.

Upland Sandpiper

Source: @kingranchwildlife

• Scientific Name: Bartramia longicauda
• Size: 30 cm (12 in)
• Locality: Northern Midwest United States.
• Status: Least Concern
• Breeding Season: Late April and Early May.

The enigmatic bird Upland Sandpiper is known for their unique flute-like melodious whistles. Their callings are sometimes known as “wolf whistle” which is often made while they are either descending or flying up high. Nesting predominantly in natural prairies, this species is seen foraging around shortgrass habitats and migrating at night while in groups.

Recognition

The body of this elegant species consists of brown, buff, black, and white. Their coloration helps them forage while creating camouflage in grasslands. Their upper part is brown and black while the lower part is white. Their body is almost covered with dark streaks all over. Their throat is white with a head similar to a dove.

Habitat

Despite being called a “Sandpiper”, the species do not live in coastal areas but rather in open areas with tall grasses. This migratory species sometimes winters in pampas while making brief pauses along the agricultural fields.

Udzungwa Partridge

Source: @alicehmckay

• Scientific Name: Xenoperdix udzungwensis
• Size: 29 cm (11 in)
• Locality: Udzungwa Mountains in Tanzania.
• Status: Endangered
• Breeding Season: November to March

Udzungwa Partridge, a small unique species with colorful markings, has currently been listed as an “Endangered”  by the IUCN due to their unfortunate habitat loss. Moreover, in its small range, this bird has been facing the risk of hunting and degradation which makes it harder for them to continue their lives.

Recognition

In terms of appearance, this bird does not show any sign of sexual dimorphism and primarily has a combination of brown and grey. Its long compacted body is boldly barred with grey underparts and brown-olive upperparts. It has a bright red bill and distinctive yellow legs as well.

Habitat

The discovery of this species is quite interesting as it was first found in a cooking pot in a Tanzania forest. It is now on the red list of IUCN, however, it was primarily native to forested areas of the Udzungwa mountains and often in the steep places with bamboo.

Ultramarine Grosbeak

Source: @mariocampagnoli

• Scientific Name: Cyanoloxia brissonii
• Size: 15 cm (5.9 in)
• Locality: Central and Northern South America
• Status: Least Concern
• Breeding Season: Between September and February

Ultramarine Grosbeak, a medium-sized species from the Grosbeak family is known for its aggressive territorial behaviour. This behavior becomes prominent in male adults when their territory is invaded by some other male. Rather than flocking, it usually prefers to forage around or fly in pairs or as a single bird.

Recognition

Despite the sexual dimorphism, the striking appearance and juxtaposition of vivid colors in both sexes make this species appealing to avian enthusiasts. The males have a robust body with electric blue color all over its body. Its shoulders and eyebrows are comparatively paler. The females, on the other hand, have a dark reddish brown body.

Habitat

This species primarily prefers to live in heavier forests with dense thickets. Moreover, it likes to inhabit the edge of swamps and plantations as well.

Ural Owl

Source: @stig_lovas

• Scientific Name: Strix uralensis
• Size: 50 to 64 cm (20 to 25 in)
• Locality:  Scandinavia, Montane Eastern Europe, Central Europe, Russia, Sakhalin, and Japan.
• Status: Least Concern
• Breeding Season: March to April

Being a highly territorial species, the Ural Owl prefers to be a permanent resident in their native habitats throughout the year. Some of the males of this species may become especially territorial and even aggressive during the breeding season. There is rarely any movement of this species around places even when they are faced with food scarcity.

Recognition

The Ural Owl, a medium-sized nocturnal species, is known for its unusually long tail. This species has an adorable spherical head and facial disc. Similar to most of its own species, its body is distinctively barred and pale grey-brown to whitish in color. They have almond-colored eyes with buffish bills.

Habitat

This species tends to live in mature forests such as coniferous, mixed, or deciduous areas that are closer to open spaces. Sometimes they can adapt themselves to inhabit high-elevation forests in mountains as well as spaces that are as low as sea level. They are typically seen to avoid places with human habitations, woodland edges, or forest parts with steep slopes.

Upland Goose

Source: @lss.wildlife

• Scientific Name: Chloephaga picta
• Size: 60 to 72.5 cm (23.6 to 28.5 in)
• Locality: The Southern South American Continent, The Falkland Islands
• Status:  Least Concern
• Breeding Season: September to November

Being a highly social bird, the Upland Goose can be typically located to forage around in flocks of thousands. Predominantly herbivore, this species prefers to consume seeds, grains, leaves, stems, etc, which are usually the food of cattle or sheep. This is the reason why they are considered pests by the farmers.

Recognition

Due to the similarity in plumage colors the male Upland Goose is sometimes confused with the Kelp Goose whereas the female reminds one of a Ruddy-Headed Goose. The males of this species have white heads while the females have a more reddish-brown head. The color of their legs is different as well. The males have black legs while the females possess yellow-orange ones.

Habitat

The Upland Goose typically tends to prefer areas consisting of short green grasses, typically temperate grasslands, lowland scrubs, etc. However, recently they have been located in modern landscapes as well.

Ultramarine Flycatcher

Source: @nikhillakare

• Scientific Name: Ficedula superciliaris
• Size: 11·5 to 12 cm (4.6 to 4.7 in)
• Locality:  The Western Himalayas
• Status: Least Concern
• Breeding Season: Middle of April to Early July

The Ultramarine Flycatcher, a stocky build small species, is known for its vibrant plumage. For nourishment, this species chiefly depends on insects. It does not have a distinctive calling or whistles but rather a trilling-like chatter, transcribed as a “trrr” note.

Recognition

It’s a small bird almost similar to a sparrow in size. The males have incandescently stunning electric blue on their upper part, sides of the head, and neck with a dazzling white patch on their underparts. They have a white stripe perfectly positioned in the place of their eyebrow and on their tails. The female, on the other hand, is pale gray-brown-bodied.

Habitat

It prefers to live in open areas and mixed forests of oak, rhododendron, pine, fir, etc. On rare occasions, they are observed in orchards as well.

Unicolored Blackbird

Source: @bioselvagem

• Scientific Name: Agelasticus cyanopus
• Size: 18 to 21 cm (7.1 to 8.3 in)
• Locality: South America
• Status: Least Concern
• Breeding Season: Mainly November – February (October to May)

The Unicolored Blackbirds are known as highly vocal birds. Their melodious tones are performed by both sexes. Their calling is transcribed as “tschew-tchew-tchew” as well as various trills and rattling noises that vary based on their tone and speech.

Recognition

In keeping with its name, the males of this species have jet-black plumage all over its body and dark eyes. As the unique blackbird shows sexual dimorphism, the females have different plumage colors. Their body is brown and black barred and their belly is yellow with brown streaks all over it. This color varies according to their regions as well and can sometimes turn into a dull shade.

Habitat

Typically, this species prefers swampy areas and nearby grasslands. It can be located in wetlands, near marshes, the edges of ponds, and lakes. Mostly they tend to live in spaces with water availability.

Unspotted Saw-Whet Owl

Source: @danielbirding

• Scientific Name: Aegolius ridgwayi
• Size: 18 to 21.5 cm (7.1 to 8.5 in)
• Locality: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, and Panama.
• Status: Least Concern
• Breeding Season: Between March and July

The Unspotted Saw-Whet Owls typically behave like a usual owl. The nocturnal species usually fly around in solitary except during their breeding season. Both sexes of this species give out a shriek-like loud noise. The male species’ callings are transcribed as “hoo hoo hoo” whereas the females give out a “hissing ssirr” sound.

Recognition

This species is not known to exhibit sexual dimorphism and even their subspecies do not display that much variation in color. Their whole body has a combination of shades of brown and gray. Their upper part has a tinge of reddish-brown while their belly is rather buff.

Habitat

Its usual habitat is around humid pine-oak, evergreen forests, cloud forests, pine-oak forests, montane forests, etc. It prefers to reside in forest canopies as well as open areas near forest edges.

Ultramarine Lorikeet

Source: @theexplorersofficial

• Scientific Name: Vini ultramarina
• Size: 18 cm (7.1 in)
• Locality: Ua Huka
• Status: Critically Endangered
• Breeding Season: June to August

The Ultramarine Lorikeet is a unique species that thrived in various plantations during the 1979s. However, unfortunately, it has been put on the red list and has been currently announced as a “Critically Endangered” species by IUCN. It is primarily due to being a victim of black rat and cat predation.

Recognition

Similar to its conservation status, its appearance is a rare combination of colors as well. Predominantly blue and white, the upper part of this species is vividly ultramarine and white underparts. They have a bright reddish-yellow beak and white spots on the neck.

Habitat

As it has been listed as a “Critically Endangered” species, not much is known about its habitats. Currently, about 10,000-2,499 birds are remaining only on Ua Huka. It has been observed to nest in tree cavities.

Upland Buzzard

Source: @jainymariak

• Scientific Name: Buteo hemilasius
• Size: 57 to 72 cm (22 to 28 in)
• Locality:  Central Asia, Northern South Asia, and East Asia from Kazakhstan to Korea
• Status: Least Concern
• Breeding Season:  Between April and August

Being a bird of prey, the Upland Buzzard is known to survive on small mammals, birds, and insects. This species is also seen foraging on house mice, beetles, rock pigeons, etc. It might be harder to spot but it is not in danger of facing extinction.

Recognition

This species has both dark and pale morphs. The pale morph has usually a beige and dark brownish color whereas the dark morph is predominantly fully matte black-brown. Their plumage is similar to that of other buzzards.

Habitat

The Upland Buzzard is primarily found in areas with high elevations and that are open. Sometimes they can be located at sea level as well. During both summer and winter, they have been seen hovering around arable lands as well.

Upchers Warbler

Source: @ferran.lopez.sanz

• Scientific Name: Hippolais languida
• Size: 15 cm (5.9 in)
• Locality: From South Parts of Turkey and East to Pakistan.
• Status: Least Concern
• Breeding Season: Late April to July

The Upchers Warbler is a medium-sized species with a grayish-brown body. It has a stout bill, a dark rounded tail, and pinkish legs.

It is usually located near semi-desert habitats with bushy scrubs and tamarisk woodlands. While nesting, it prefers bushes and low trees.

Unicolored Jay

Source: @cardonaluzs

• Scientific Name: Aphelocoma unicolor
• Size: 32 cm (12.6 in)
• Locality: Northwestern Central America and Southern and Southeastern Mexico
• Status: Least Concern
• Breeding Season: Early March to Late April

The Unicolored Jay is renowned for its captivating appearance and cooperative breeding in Montebello, Chiapas. In terms of appearance, this short-necked bird has a flamboyant blue color all over its body and darker underparts in its long rounded tail. The tip of its wings has jet black in them making them appear more well-defined.

With regard to its habitat, this species is epidemic to cloud forests with a pretty wide range. They are located in flocks in the highland and pine-evergreen forest as well.

Uganda Woodland Warbler

Source: @amostheguide

• Scientific Name: Phylloscopus budongoensis
• Size: 10 cm (3.9 in)
• Locality: Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Kenya, and Uganda.
• Status: Least Concern
• Breeding Season: March to July

The Uganda Woodland Warbler is a small and active species that predominantly has a dull yellowish-green upper part and a grayish underpart. The most striking feature of this bird’s appearance is its pale eyebrows.

Regarding habitat, this species is native to subtropical or tropical lowland forests.

Upland Pipit

Source: @andyrhtphoto

• Scientific Name: Anthus sylvanus
• Size: 17 cm (6.7 in)
• Locality: Afghanistan, China, Hong Kong, India, Nepal, and Pakistan.
• Status: Least Concern
• Breeding Season: March to July

The Upland Pipit is a large-billed species that is mostly brown and buffish-bodied. The whole body has dense dark streaks and dull underparts. This species is rare to spot despite having an expansive range. During breeding seasons, it is found in foothills and mountains, but in winter it is spotted descending.

Uniform Crake

Source: @leonardo32nf

• Scientific Name: Amaurolimnas concolor
• Size: 20 to 23 cm (7.9 to 9.1 in)
• Locality: Mexico, Central America, and South America
• Status: Least Concern
• Breeding Season: Unknown

The Uniform Crake is not known to possess sexual dimorphism but has color variation in its two subspecies. The only difference between the two subspecies is that one of them has an olivaceous brown upper part while the other one has rufous brown underparts.  Generally, the most striking feature is its vivid crescent-red eyes and pinkish-red legs.

It can live in both wet and dry lands, such as forested swamps, flooded woodlands, vegetated streams, dense vegetation, cultivated areas, etc.

Unadorned Flycatcher

Source: @boyacabirds

• Scientific Name: Myiophobus inornatus
• Size: 9.5 to 10.5 cm (3.7 to 4.1 in)
• Locality: Bolivia and Peru.
• Status: Least Concern

The Unadorned Flycatcher mostly hovers around in pairs. Occasionally, it flies in pairs and with mixed flocks. It primarily consumes a varied range of foods from arthropods to vegetation.

Regarding its appearance, this is a pale olive-bodied and medium-sized species. Its wing feathers have rufous hues on the edge and yellowish color on the bottom.

In terms of habitat, it prefers to live in places with lower elevations and subtropical or tropical moist montane woodlands.

Upland Antshrike

• Scientific Name: Thamnophilus aroyae
• Size: 14 cm (5.5 in)
• Locality: Eastern Andes of Bolivia and Southeastern Peru.
• Status: Least Concern

The Upland Antshrike is a small round-bodied species with quite distinctive sexual dimorphism. The male adults have a charcoal grey body barred white spots on the wings and comparatively dull eyes. The females, on the other hand, have brown bodies and gray faces.

Due to its small body, bird watchers usually hear their calls before actually spotting them. They are primarily observed in dense thickets near forest edges, subtropical or tropical moist montane forest lands, and severely deteriorated woodlands.

Unicolored Tapaculo

• Scientific Name: Scytalopus unicolor
• Size: 10.5 cm (4.1 in)
• Locality: Peru
• Status: Near Threatened

The Unicolored Tapaculo, a small monotypic species exhibits slight sexual dimorphism. The male adults usually are gray-bodied with a variation in dark to light shade. Sometimes it has a brownish hue in its body. The females are similar in color except the brownish hue is comparatively darker.

In terms of habitats and its foraging not much is known. But this species has been observed to prefer living in dense understories of humid montane areas.

Urich’s Tyrannulet

Source: @rewild

• Scientific Name: Phyllomyias urichi
• Locality: Venezuela.
• Status: Endangered

Due to Urich’s Tyrannulet being an olive-green-bodied small species, some ornithologists regarded it as “little tiny Shrek”. It has a short bill and a long rounded tail with yellowish wing bars. Both the sexes of this species look similar.

The habitat of this rare species is not that known. However, it has been known to be sighted in thick forested mountainous areas.

Uniform Treehunter

• Scientific Name: Thripadectes ignobilis
• Locality: Colombia and Ecuador.
• Status: Least Concern

The Uniform Treehunter, a medium-sized brownish bird, has less striking features than the rest of its species. The only other presence of color that can be detected is its pale shaded eyebrows and barred throat.

It is usually native to wetlands such as subtropical, or tropical moist lowland forests and similar type areas but in montane forests.

Thoughts

Regardless of which letters the bird’s name starts with may it be B, F, K, U, or any of the alphabets, exploring all bird species comes with its own perks. Studying birds with distinctive features is amusing as well as intellectually stimulating.

Moreover, getting to know each bird feels like a privilege because of the characteristics that set them apart as well as create unique similarities.

Furthermore, we get to be aware of their conservation status as some of the birds in this article are listed as endangered, critically endangered, etc. It helps everyone better understand the situation these birds are facing and find out the reasons behind them.

This will further help us comprehend how to come forth to protect and preserve them in a more efficient way and promote them to prevent additional damage to their conservation status. So let’s enjoy their presence while we can and safeguard them as much as we can.

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Audio Credits: xeno-canto, wikimedia