There are numerous varieties of birds. Each species of bird is unique from the previous one. Some have vivid hues, others have lovely melodies, while still others have the purest voice this world has ever heard.
Birds That Start with M – List of Birds Begins with the Letter ‘M’
But regardless of how these birds appear or sound, the first letter of their names all begin with the letter M. You can read about remarkable M-named birds in this article, which includes matching images and videos. So, get ready to have your mind changed. Check out the names of birds that begin with the letter M.
Merlin
A small member of the falcon family, merlins have multiple subspecies that are dispersed over North America and Eurasia. Some of the birds of this species migrate to tropical and northern tropical regions for the winter even though they nest in the Northern Holarctic.
The males have an orange underpart with black or reddish-brown splotches and a bluish-grey back. Their female counterparts, on the other hand, have lower sections that are white-tinted brown and top parts that are brownish-grey.
Mountain Bluebird
Mountain Bluebirds are little breeding birds found in western North America. This species of bird migrates, spending the winter in Mexico and the summers in Alaska and western Canada.
Although the size of the two sexes in this species is comparable, they exhibit sexual dimorphism in their plumage. While the females are mostly grey with light blue wings and tails, the males have upperparts that are turquoise blue in color, light-colored underparts, and a whitish belly.
Mountain Bluebirds primarily eat insects in the winter and berries in the summer.
Mandarin Duck
A species of medium-sized waterfowl that is unique to the East Palearctic is the mandarin duck. These ducks, which are members of the genus Aix, breed in heavily forested areas near ponds, lakes, and marshes.
The males have a crimson face and a large, whitish crescent above their eyes. The females have whitish flank stripes, hooked bills, and pale underparts.
Although both males and females have crests, the males’ purplish crest is more noticeable. Mandarin ducks mostly eat vegetation and seeds.
Mourning Dove
Strong flyers, mourning doves can be seen in large numbers across North America. The national bird of the British Virgin Islands is a member of this avian species.
Mourning Doves are medium-sized birds with rounded heads, broad elliptical wings, and slender mouths. Males have purplish spots on their necks and greyish-blue crowns.
Their female counterparts are nearly identical, with the exception of a tiny difference in size and a somewhat more overall reddish body tone.
Mourning Doves are omnivores, however, they primarily eat seeds. On rare occasions, you’ll see them eating insects or snails.
Marsh Owl
Marsh Owls are nocturnal, open-grassland, scrub, and marsh-dwelling members of the usual owl family. These birds are frequently seen all throughout the grasslands of South Africa. Interestingly, they have heads that resemble pumpkins quite a bit.
The facial disc of a marsh owl is distinctively marked with polished speckles and a dark brown ring. Their white-tipped tails have dark brown bodies. Generally speaking, guys are lighter in hue than females.
Invertebrates, beetles, rodents, grasshoppers, and other small insects are the main sources of food for marsh owls.
Mottled Duck
The medium-sized mottled duck is a widespread species of dabbling duck found throughout the Mexican Gulf. These waterfowl have lighter heads and necks and dark-colored eyes and bodies. They have orange legs. An eyeball that is vividly greenish-blue is present in both sexes.
In contrast to their female counterparts, which have deep orange bills that are occasionally edged with black spots, male Mottled Ducks have lighter yellow bills.
Mottled Ducks prefer to graze on land or dally in shallow water to catch their meal. They primarily eat aquatic insects and plants.
Melodious Warbler
The medium-sized migratory Melodious Warblers breed in northwest Africa and southwest Europe. These birds migrate to sub-Saharan Africa for the winter.
Open forests and bushes are where you can find the most Melodious Warblers. The underparts of the wings are yellow, and the adults have a simple brownish back. They also have brown legs and a solid, pointed beak.
The adult Melodious Warblers have little to no size and plumage variation since they are sexually monomorphic. They make a soothing babbling noise. Although they occasionally consume berries, their main diet consists of insects.
Mountain Pygmy-Owl
The small Mountain Pygmy Owl is an owl species that is native to Central America. In the highland areas, these raptors live in humid evergreen pine forests. They have pale eyebrows and a face disk that is brownish.
Mountain Pygmy Owls have off-white or mainly off-brown underparts with greyish-brown or brown upperparts with polished white dots on their backs.
Although these birds are nocturnal, it is possible to see them hunting during the hours between twilight and morning. They consume small mammals, birds, reptiles, and other animals in addition to small insects.
Mute Swan
The Mute Swan is a type of waterfowl that is indigenous to the Eurosiberian area and one of the heaviest flying bird species. Additionally, these swans are sporadic visitors to the extreme north of Africa.
Europe’s temperate zones are home to mute swans. The male counterparts have larger bills and larger knobs than the female counterparts. When fully grown, they are white, yet their feathers frequently have an orangish brown appearance.
The main sources of nutrition for Mute Swans are agricultural crop plants, particularly wheat, and oilseeds. They have a strict vegetarian diet.
Mallard
A common species of medium-sized dabbling duck, mallards are found in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. The southern regions of North America are home to large populations of these ducks.
Mallards live in a variety of climates, including subtropical and arctic tundra. While the females often have a bill that is dark black to mottled orange, males typically have a bill that is yellowish-orange with light black flecks.
These waterfowl may be easily identified in flight, thanks to their distinctive purplish-blue speculum feathers. They mostly consume plant material, seeds, and insects.
Mottled Owl
Mottled Owls are a medium-sized owl species that can be found in Mexico, Brazil, and Argentina in Central and South America. The primary habitats of these owls are woodlands, pine forests, and rainforests.
Size sexual dimorphism can be seen in Mottled Owls, with the females being noticeably bigger than the males. They have a smooth brown back, white underparts, and vertical lines on the chest and throat but no ear tufts.
These nocturnal birds eat other insects, tiny mammals, birds, and reptiles.
Martial Eagle
The Martial Eagle is a species of eagle that is endemic to sub-Saharan Africa and is the sole member of the Polemaetus genus. These raptors are able to soar for extended periods of time without stopping.
Due to their low reproduction rates, martial eagle populations are considered to be in danger of extinction. They reside in open wood, the margins of woodlands, and thorny plants.
Martial Eagles exhibit significant sexual dimorphism. They pursue their prey using unusual methods since they are opportunistic predators. They mostly eat reptiles, birds, and mammals.
Masked Booby
Large seabirds belonging to the Sulidae family include the masked boobies. The range of these birds extends from the East African coast to Sumatra and Western Australia, as well as the Arabian Peninsula. These birds are also known by the names “Masked Gannet” and “Blue-faced Booby.”
Masked Boobies have long, elongated tails, narrow wings, and fluid-shaped bodies. They appear white and mask-like because the skin around their face and throat is bluish-black when they are in plumage.
