el halcón
El halcón is a falcon, a hunting bird known for fast, direct flight and sudden dives. You will often describe what it does in the sky.
Common Phrases
- ver un halcón en vuelo — to spot a falcon in flight
- un halcón en picado — a falcon diving
Example
Al anochecer, veo un halcón en vuelo sobre el valle.
At dusk, I spot a falcon in flight over the valley.
Common Mistake
Spelling: keep the accent in halcón, not halcon.
el búho
El búho is an owl, often described as still, watchful, and active in low light. It is common to mention where it is perched.
Common Phrases
- oír a un búho — to hear an owl
- un búho en una rama — an owl on a branch
Example
Oigo un búho desde una rama alta.
I hear an owl from a high branch.
Common Mistake
Spelling: write búho with the accent, not buho.
el conejo
El conejo is a rabbit, usually smaller and rounder than a hare. In sightings, it is common to mention cover like bushes or the edge of a path.
Common Phrases
- un conejo salvaje — a wild rabbit
- huellas de conejo — rabbit tracks
Example
Veo un conejo salvaje junto a los arbustos.
I spot a wild rabbit next to the bushes.
Common Mistake
Mixing animals: use conejo for a rabbit, not liebre when you mean the smaller, rounder animal.
el cuervo
El cuervo is a crow (and in many contexts, also used for raven-like birds). You can describe its color, its call, or its flight across the fading sky.
Common Phrases
- un cuervo negro — a black crow
- el graznido del cuervo — the crow's caw
Example
Un cuervo negro cruza el cielo al anochecer.
A black crow crosses the sky at dusk.
Common Mistake
Spelling: cuervo needs ue, not cuervo with a missing letter like cuervo.
el lince
El lince is a lynx, a wild cat known for cautious movement and intense watching. It often appears in sentences about silence and sudden motion.
Common Phrases
- un lince ibérico — an Iberian lynx
- ojos de lince — sharp eyes (literally "lynx eyes")
Example
Un lince aparece entre los pinos y mira fijo.
A lynx appears among the pines and stares steadily.
Common Mistake
Pronunciation-spelling mix-up: write lince, not linze.
el zorro
El zorro is a fox, often described as quick, cautious, and low to the ground. In dusk scenes, it is common to mention paths, edges, and open crossings.
Common Phrases
- un zorro rojo — a red fox
- la cola del zorro — the fox's tail
Example
Un zorro rojo cruza el camino al anochecer.
A red fox crosses the path at dusk.
Common Mistake
Spelling: keep the double rr in zorro, not zoro.
la liebre
La liebre is a hare, typically leaner and longer-legged than a rabbit. It is often described with speed and open fields.
Common Phrases
- una liebre veloz — a fast hare
- una liebre en el campo — a hare in the field
Example
Una liebre veloz cruza el campo cerca del sendero.
A fast hare crosses the field near the trail.
Common Mistake
Article: it is la liebre, not el liebre.
el cisne
El cisne is a swan, often described as calm and smooth on water. It is common to mention the pond or shoreline in your sentence.
Common Phrases
- un cisne blanco — a white swan
- un cisne en el estanque — a swan on the pond
Example
En el estanque, un cisne blanco flota en calma.
On the pond, a white swan floats calmly.
Common Mistake
Spelling: it is cisne with no accent, not cisné.