la golondrina
La golondrina is a swallow, a small, fast bird often seen darting through the air in towns and cities.
Common Phrases
- ver una golondrina — to see a swallow
- una bandada de golondrinas — a flock of swallows
Example
Veo una golondrina cerca de la estación.
I see a swallow near the station.
Common Mistake
Mixing up the article: la golondrina, not el golondrina.
la gaviota
La gaviota is a seagull, common around coasts, harbors, and sometimes inland city areas.
Common Phrases
- una gaviota sobre el puerto — a seagull over the harbor
- el grito de la gaviota — the seagull's cry
Example
La gaviota pasa muy cerca del muelle.
The seagull passes very close to the dock.
Common Mistake
Misspelling it: gaviota, not gavota.
el nido
El nido is a nest, the place where birds build and raise their young, often in trees, ledges, or rooftops.
Common Phrases
- hacer un nido — to build a nest
- un nido en un árbol — a nest in a tree
Example
Hay un nido pequeño en la cornisa.
There is a small nest on the ledge.
Common Mistake
Using the wrong gender: el nido, not la nido.
el mirlo
El mirlo is a blackbird, a common backyard or park visitor known for its song.
Common Phrases
- el canto del mirlo — the blackbird's song
- un mirlo en el patio — a blackbird in the patio
Example
Un mirlo canta cerca de mi ventana.
A blackbird sings near my window.
Common Mistake
Confusing it with the verb mirar: mirlo is a noun, not mirlo as a verb form.
el tordo
El tordo is a thrush, a bird you might notice feeding in parks or trees, especially when there are berries.
Common Phrases
- un tordo joven — a young thrush
- una bandada de tordos — a flock of thrushes
Example
El tordo busca bayas en el parque.
The thrush looks for berries in the park.
Common Mistake
Mixing it up with similar-looking words: tordo, not toro.
la pluma
La pluma is a feather, but it can also mean a pen depending on context, so the surrounding words matter.
Common Phrases
- una pluma blanca — a white feather
- encontrar una pluma — to find a feather
Example
Encontré una pluma gris en la acera.
I found a gray feather on the sidewalk.
Common Mistake
Assuming it always means "pen": in birdwatching, una pluma is usually a feather.
la garza
La garza is a heron, a tall bird often seen near water, even along urban riverbanks and canals.
Common Phrases
- una garza en la ribera — a heron along the riverbank
- la garza blanca — the white heron
Example
La garza espera quieta junto al canal.
The heron waits quietly next to the canal.
Common Mistake
Mixing up letters: garza, not grasa.
el trino
El trino is a chirp or trill, the small bird sound you hear in the background of city mornings.
Common Phrases
- el trino de un pájaro — a bird's chirp
- oír un trino — to hear a chirp
Example
Oigo el trino desde mi balcón.
I hear the chirp from my balcony.
Common Mistake
Using the verb when you need the noun: el trino (sound) vs trinar (to chirp).