Basic Nouns - Birds and Insects

Here you will learn some English nouns related to birds and insects such as "sparrow", "duck", and "crow".

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Basic Nouns
sparrow [noun]

a small common songbird with grayish brown plumage that feeds on seeds or insects

eagle [noun]

a large bird of prey with a sharp beak, long broad wings, and very good sight

Ex: The eagle 's keen eyesight allows it to spot prey from great distances .
robin [noun]

an American migratory songbird which is red on the breast and underpart

owl [noun]

a type of bird with a round face, large eyes and a loud call that hunts smaller animals mainly during the night

Ex:
pigeon [noun]

a bird with short legs and a short beak which typically has gray and white feathers

Ex: Pigeons gather in large flocks in city squares and parks , where they forage for food and roost in trees and on buildings .
seagull [noun]

a grayish white aquatic bird with webbed feet and long wings

parrot [noun]

a tropical bird with bright colors and a curved beak that can be trained to mimic human speech

Ex: The parrot imitated the sound of a ringing phone perfectly .
swallow [noun]

a small fast-flying bird with pointed wings and tail and a short bill, which feeds on insects

Ex: The swallow 's cheerful chirping filled the air as it built its nest beneath the eaves of the farmhouse .
goose [noun]

a waterbird with webbed feet, a long neck, and short beak, which is like a large duck

Ex: Farmers raise domestic geese for their meat , eggs , and feathers , which are used in various culinary dishes and products .
duck [noun]

a bird with short legs and a wide beak that naturally lives near or on water or is kept by humans for its eggs, meat, or feathers

ostrich [noun]

a fast and large bird that is flightless and has long legs and a long neck, native to Africa

Ex: The farmer raised ostriches for their feathers and meat .
peacock [noun]

a male bird with a large shiny colorful tail having eyelike patterns that can be raised for display

Ex: The peacock 's loud call echoed through the forest , announcing its presence to potential mates .
vulture [noun]

a large bird of prey with a bare head, a long neck and weak claws that is famous for scavenging

a bird with a drill-like beak that makes holes in trees in search of insects to feed on

a small tropical bird with colorful plumage and a long narrow bill that can sip nectar and hover or fly backwards

flamingo [noun]

a large aquatic bird with long legs and neck, pink plumage and a broad bill curved downward that lives near warm waters

swift [noun]

a small bird with narrow wings that flies high in the sky and is very fast

canary [noun]

an African songbird of the finch family with yellow feathers, often kept as a pet

a small bird with a large crested head, orange and blue plumage and a long beak that uses to catch fish

chicken [noun]

a farm bird that we keep to use its meat and eggs

Ex: The chicken laid an egg in the nesting box .
chick [noun]

a newly-hatched bird, especially a domestic bird

a North American songbird with a long tail and grayish plumage that is known for its ability to copy the calls of other birds

pelican [noun]

a large water bird with a long beak and a throat pouch that has grayish white plumage

finch [noun]

a small songbird with a short beak that feeds on seeds and nuts and has different colors

blue jay [noun]

a North American songbird with a blue crest and blue feathers on the back

mynah [noun]

a southern Asian passerine with dark plumage that can imitate human speech

falcon [noun]

a predatory fast-flying bird that can be trained for hunting

Ex: The falconer released the hooded falcon from its perch , watching in awe as it soared into the sky .
crow [noun]

a large bird with black feathers and a loud unpleasant call

Ex: Farmers sometimes use scarecrows to deter crows from damaging their crops , although crows can quickly learn to ignore them .
raven [noun]

a large black bird belonging to the crow family with shiny feathers and a loud unpleasant call

Ex: The raven 's intelligence was evident as it solved puzzles to retrieve treats hidden by researchers .
turkey [noun]

a large bird that has a bald head and is often kept for its meat, especially in the US

Ex: Turkeys are social animals , often seen foraging and roosting together in large flocks .
penguin [noun]

a large black-and-white seabird that lives in the Antarctic, and can not fly but uses its wings for swimming

Ex: Sarah watched a documentary about penguins in Antarctica .
emu [noun]

a large terrestrial bird that can run fast, originally from Australia

dove [noun]

a bird that looks like a pigeon but smaller, the white one of which is the symbol of peace

Ex: The bride released a pair of doves into the air , symbolizing peace and love as they soared into the distance .
crane [noun]

a large, long-necked wading bird, typically found in marshes, wetlands, and plains worldwide

Ex: A family of cranes fed in the shallow marsh .
swan [noun]

a large bird that is normally white, has a long neck and lives on or around water

Ex: Children fed breadcrumbs to the swans at the park , marveling at their gentle demeanor and graceful movements .
ant [noun]

a small insect that lives in a colony

Ex: The ant 's ability to lift objects many times its own weight never ceased to amaze scientists .
bee [noun]

a black and yellow insect that collects nectar and produces wax and honey, which can fly and sting

Ex: The bee 's black and yellow stripes serve as a warning to potential predators .

a flying insect with a long, thin body and large, typically brightly colored wings

Ex: The butterfly landed on my hand for a brief moment before taking flight again .
mosquito [noun]

a flying insect that bites people and animals and feeds on their blood

Ex:
beetle [noun]

a large, typically black insect, which has a hard case on its back that covers its wings

Ex: The beetle played a crucial role in the ecosystem by decomposing organic matter .
fly [noun]

a small flying insect that has two wings

Ex: John observed a colorful fly resting on a flower .
ladybug [noun]

a small flying insect which is usually red with black spots

Ex: Ladybugs are often considered good luck charms in many cultures .

a long and small wormlike larva of a moth or butterfly that has many limbs

a flying insect with a pair of colorful wings, mostly found around rivers

Ex: The dragonfly 's multifaceted eyes allowed it to see in all directions , scanning its surroundings for potential prey .
cricket [noun]

an insect known for its chirping sound, found in grassy areas, mostly active at night

Ex: Crickets are nocturnal insects , emerging at night to feed on plant matter and mate .
moth [noun]

a nocturnal winged insect similar to a butterfly that is attracted to the light

firefly [noun]

a flying insect with a soft body and a tail that shines in the dark

Ex: Fireflies create a magical display with their glowing lights in the summer evenings .

a leaping, flying insect with long back legs that feeds on plants and makes a chirping sound

Ex: As summer waned , the grasshopper stored up energy for the cooler months ahead , feasting on tender leaves and shoots .
spider [noun]

a small creature that spins webs to catch insects for food, with eight legs and two fangs by which poison is injected to its prey

Ex: Sarah read a book about different types of spiders found around the world .
flea [noun]

a small leaping insect that feeds on the blood of humans or other animals, which spreads disease

bedbug [noun]

a small brownish bug with an oval shape that feeds on the blood of humans or animals, mainly infesting houses and beds

an arthropod with many pairs of legs and a pair of poisonous fangs

a large brown insect with a broad body, wings, long legs and antennae, considered a household pest

Ex: I screamed when I saw a cockroach scurrying across the kitchen floor .
mantis [noun]

a large usually green predatory insect that catches its prey by its forelimbs, which holds motionless in a prayer state

termite [noun]

a pale social insect living in hot countries that causes damage to trees and timber