Lists

Eight Birds Named After Other Birds

November 12, 2026 by Kai Pflug No Comments

When not aiming to honor fellow ornithologists, those giving names to new bird species have an easy option: find an animal that looks similar to your new species. And end up with a name such as Zebra Finch.

However, this can get a bit confusing when the name-giving animal is a bird itself – which one is the “real” bird, and which one just got roped in for its appearance? The table below gives examples.

Bird nameFirst bird familySecond bird familyWhat they really are
Cuckoo-shrikeCuculidae — cuckoosLaniidae — shrikesCampephagidae — cuckoo-shrikes
Cuckoo-doveCuculidae — cuckoosColumbidae — pigeons and dovesColumbidae — pigeons and doves
Cuckoo-finchCuculidae — cuckoosFringillidae — true finchesViduidae — indigobirds and whydahs
Cuckoo-bee-eaterCuculidae — cuckoosMeropidae — bee-eatersMeropidae — bee-eaters
Hawk-cuckooAccipitridae — hawks and eaglesCuculidae — cuckoosCuculidae — cuckoos
Eagle-owlAccipitridae — eagles and hawksStrigidae — typical owlsStrigidae — typical owls
Owl-finchStrigidae — typical owlsEstrildidae — estrildid finchesEstrildidae — estrildid finches
Owl-parrotStrigidae — typical owlsPsittacidae — parrotsStrigopidae — New Zealand parrots

As a general rule (feel free to call it Kai’s rule in my honor), the first name in these compounds seems to describe what the bird resembles, while the second tells us what kind of bird it is.

However, there are exceptions. One is the Cuckoo-finch. Given its looks, it might be taken for a finch, but it belongs to a different family, the indigobirds and whydahs. And the cuckoo part of its name comes from its habit of parasitizing the nests of other birds rather than bothering with childcare itself. In other words, unlike the other “Cuckoo-xx” birds listed above, the cuckoo reference here is about behaviour rather than appearance.

The Cuckoo-shrike is possibly even more interesting. It is neither a cuckoo nor a shrike, though one might say it looks a bit like both of those. Instead, it is a member of its own family, which – you can guess – is named Cuckoo-shrikes.

So next time someone tells you they have found a cuckoo, an owl, or a shrike, ask for the full name first.

Photo: Black-winged Cuckoo-shrike

Written by Kai Pflug
Kai has lived in Shanghai for 22 years. He only started birding after moving to China, so he is far more familiar with Chinese birds than the ones back in his native Germany. As a birder, he considers himself strictly average and tries to make up for it with photography, which he shares on a separate website. Alas, most of the photos are pretty average as well. He hopes that few clients of his consulting firm—focused on China’s chemical industry—ever find this blog, as it might raise questions about his professional priorities. Much of his time is spent either editing posts for 10,000 Birds or cleaning the litter boxes of his numerous indoor cats. He occasionally considers writing a piece comparing the two activities.