RareList

Animals that start with W

213 animals, sorted from the ones everyone says first to the ones almost nobody thinks of. 46 of them are in the Rare tier or rarer.

Rare but real

Names that are easy to defend and hard to guess. Good when you need an answer no one else will have.

Warble fly
Hairy bee-like fly whose larvae produce lumpy abscesses (warbles) under the skin of cattle. Insects, Rare
Western spadefoot
This spadefoot toad live in California. Amphibians, Rare
White croaker
Small silvery marine food fish found off California. Fish, Rare
Woolly apple aphid
Primarily a bark feeder on aerial parts and roots of apple and other trees. Insects, Rare
Worm fish
Poorly known family of small tropical shallow-water fishes related to gobies. Fish, Rare
Wilson's phalarope
Breeds on the northern great plains of Canada. Birds, Rare

All 213 animals that start with W

Sorted by search interest, most familiar first. The last column is average monthly US Google searches.

Showing all 213. Tap a name to copy it.

Animals that start with W, with definition, group, rarity tier and monthly searches
NameWhat it isGroup
Any of various predatory carnivorous canine mammals of North America and Eurasia that usually hunt in packs. Mammals Plankton 550K
also Carcajou, Skunk bear Stocky shaggy-coated North American carnivorous mammal. Mammals Plankton 550K
also Hunting spider Ground spider that hunts its prey instead of using a web. Spiders & arachnids Plankton 450K
Large spotted shark of warm surface waters worldwide. Fish Plankton 368K
Any of the larger cetacean mammals having a streamlined body and breathing through a blowhole on the head. Mammals Plankton 246K
Burrowing herbivorous Australian marsupials about the size of a badger. Mammals Plankton 246K
Either of two large northern marine mammals having ivory tusks and tough hide over thick blubber. Mammals Plankton 201K
Social or solitary hymenopterans typically having a slender body with the abdomen attached by a narrow stalk and having a formidable sting. Insects Plankton 201K
also Cottonmouth, Cottonmouth moccasin Venomous semiaquatic snake of swamps in southern United States. Reptiles Plankton 201K
Small carnivorous mammal with short legs and elongated body and neck. Mammals Plankton 165K
breed Small slender dog of greyhound type developed in England. Mammals Plankton 165K
A true bug: large aquatic bug adapted to living in or on the surface of water. Insects Plankton 135K
Any of several families of mostly small beetles that feed on plants and plant products. Insects Plankton 135K
breed Large breed of hound having a smooth greyish coat. Mammals Plankton 135K
also Peckerwood, Pecker Bird with strong claws and a stiff tail adapted for climbing and a hard chisel-like bill for boring into wood for insects. Birds Plankton 135K
also Northern mammoth Very hairy mammoth common in colder portions of the northern hemisphere. Mammals Plankton 135K
Any of numerous relatively small elongated soft-bodied animals especially of the phyla Annelida and Chaetognatha and Nematoda and Nemertea and Platyhelminthes. Worms Plankton 135K
also Brush kangaroo Any of various small or medium-sized kangaroos. Mammals Plankton 110K
also Walleyed pike, Jack salmon Pike-like freshwater perches. Fish Plankton 110K
also Groundhog Reddish brown North American marmot. Mammals Plankton 110K
also Jenny wren Any of several small active brown birds of the northern hemisphere with short upright tails. Birds Plankton 110K
also Water ox, Asiatic buffalo An Asian buffalo that is often domesticated for use as a draft animal. Mammals Too Clever 91K
breed Small white long-coated terrier developed in Scotland. Mammals Too Clever 91K
also Bald-faced hornet North American hornet. Insects Too Clever 91K
also Virginia deer, White tail, Whitetail Common North American deer. Mammals Too Clever 91K
Old World wild swine having a narrow body and prominent tusks from which most domestic swine come. Mammals Too Clever 91K
also Gnu Large African antelope having a head with horns like an ox and a long tufted tail. Mammals Too Clever 91K
also Summer duck, Wood widgeon Showy North American duck that nests in hollow trees. Birds Too Clever 91K
Large fast-moving predacious food and game fish. Fish Too Clever 74K
African wild swine with warty protuberances on the face and large protruding tusks. Mammals Too Clever 61K
American nocturnal goatsucker with grey-and-white plumage. Birds Too Clever 61K
breed Undomesticated or feral domestic horse. Mammals Too Clever 61K
Any small or medium-sized cat resembling the domestic cat and living in the wild. Mammals Too Clever 61K
also Walker foxhoundbreed An American breed of foxhound. Mammals Too Clever 50K
Any of various mostly harmless snakes that live in or near water. Reptiles Too Clever 50K
Large light-grey African rhinoceros having two horns. Mammals Too Clever 50K
Silvery herring-like freshwater food fish of cold lakes of the northern hemisphere. Fish Too Clever 50K
also Whooper swan Common Old World swan noted for its whooping call. Birds Too Clever 50K
also Griffonbreed Breed of medium-sized long-headed dogs with downy undercoat and harsh wiry outer coat. Mammals Too Clever 50K
also Wading bird Any of many long-legged birds that wade in water in search of food. Birds Too Clever 41K
also Leaf insect Tropical insect having a flattened leaflike body. Insects Too Clever 41K
also Stick insect Any of various mostly tropical insects having long twiglike bodies. Insects Too Clever 41K
also Western diamondback rattlesnake Largest and most dangerous North American snake. Reptiles Too Clever 41K
breed A fox terrier with wiry hair. Mammals Too Clever 41K
also Wirehair, Wire-haired terrierbreed A terrier with wiry hair. Mammals Too Clever 41K
Game bird of the sandpiper family that resembles a snipe. Birds Too Clever 41K
Large predatory North American bug that sucks the blood of other insects. Insects Too Clever 33K
Large carnivorous marine gastropods of coastal waters and intertidal regions having a strong snail-like shell. Molluscs Too Clever 33K
breed The largest breed of dogs. Mammals Too Clever 33K
A small active songbird. Birds Too Clever 27K
also Webbing moth Moth that forms a web in which it lives. Insects Too Clever 27K
also Oceanic whitetip shark, White-tipped shark, Carcharinus longimanus Large deep-water shark with white-tipped dorsal fin. Fish Too Clever 27K
A food fish of the Atlantic waters of Europe resembling the cod. Fish Too Clever 27K
Rare North American crane having black-and-white plumage and a trumpeting call. Birds Too Clever 27K
Any of various undomesticated mammals of the family Canidae that are thought to resemble domestic dogs as distinguished from jackals or wolves. Mammals Too Clever 27K
Large ferocious northern deep-sea food fishes with strong teeth and no pelvic fins. Fish Too Clever 27K
Any of several large aquatic salamanders. Amphibians Too Clever 22K
also Water bird, Waterbird Freshwater aquatic bird. Birds Too Clever 22K
also Great white shark, Man-eating shark Large aggressive shark widespread in warm seas. Fish Too Clever 22K
Bluish-grey nuthatch with black head and white breast. Birds Too Clever 22K
also Woolly plant louse Secretes a waxy substance like a mass of fine curly white cotton or woolly threads. Insects Too Clever 22K
Extinct thick-haired species of Arctic regions. Mammals Too Clever 22K
Very large albatross. Birds Too Clever 18K
breed Wire-haired terrier resembling Airedales but smaller. Mammals Too Clever 18K
Small northern whale that is white when adult. Mammals Too Clever 18K
also Arctic wolf Wolf of Arctic North America having white fur and a black-tipped tail. Mammals Too Clever 18K
also Herefordbreed Hardy English breed of dairy cattle raised extensively in United States. Mammals Too Clever 18K
also American dog tick Common tick that can transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia. Spiders & arachnids Too Clever 18K
Wide-ranging light-brown frog of moist North American woodlands especially spruce. Amphibians Too Clever 18K
also American elk Large North American deer with large much-branched antlers in the male. Mammals Too Clever 15K
breed Any dog of two large curly-coated breeds used for hunting waterfowl. Mammals Too Clever 15K
also Pond-skater, Water skater Long-legged bug that skims about on the surface of water. Insects Too Clever 15K
also Corgibreed Either of two Welsh breeds of long-bodied short-legged dogs with erect ears and a fox-like head. Mammals Too Clever 15K
A meadowlark of western North America. Birds Too Clever 15K
Of western North America. Birds Too Clever 15K
Nonvenomous arachnid that resembles a scorpion and that has a long thin tail without a stinger. Spiders & arachnids Too Clever 15K
Small silvery food and game fish of eastern United States streams. Fish Too Clever 15K
also Whitethroat Common North American finch with a white patch on the throat and black-and-white striped crown. Birds Too Clever 15K
also Wood ibis, Flinthead An American stork that resembles the true ibises in having a downward-curved bill. Birds Too Clever 15K
also Blind snake Wormlike burrowing snake of warm regions having vestigial eyes. Reptiles Too Clever 15K
breed A red-and-white breed slightly smaller than the English springer spaniel. Mammals Too Clever 12K
also Blue-belly Common western lizard. Reptiles Too Clever 12K
The common stork of Europe. Birds Too Clever 12K
also Pacific sturgeon, Sacramento sturgeon Food and game fish of marine and fresh waters of northwestern coast of North America. Fish Too Clever 12K
Finch with black-and-white striped crown. Birds Too Clever 12K
Minute insect that feeds on plant juices. Insects Too Clever 12K
Any of various small short-tailed rodents of the northern hemisphere having soft fur grey above and white below with furred tails and large ears. Mammals Too Clever 12K
Large thrush common in eastern American woodlands. Birds Too Clever 12K
Any of numerous aquatic beetles usually having a smooth oval body and flattened hind legs for swimming. Insects Schooler 9.9K
Any of various amphibious rats. Mammals Schooler 9.9K
A kind of gorilla. Mammals Schooler 9.9K
also Ern, Erne, Grey sea eagle Bulky greyish-brown eagle with a short wedge-shaped white tail. Birds Schooler 9.9K
Chiefly tropical marine fishes with fleshy lips and powerful teeth. Fish Schooler 9.9K
also Boat bug Carnivorous aquatic bug having paddle-like hind legs. Insects Schooler 8.1K
also Water chevrotain Largest chevrotain. Mammals Schooler 8.1K
also Daphnia Minute freshwater crustacean having a round body enclosed in a transparent shell. Crustaceans Schooler 8.1K
Any of several large African antelopes of the genus Kobus having curved ridged horns and frequenting e.g. swamps and rivers. Mammals Schooler 8.1K
also Widgeon Freshwater duck of Eurasia and northern Africa related to mallards and teals. Birds Schooler 8.1K
Large North American shorebird of eastern and Gulf Coasts. Birds Schooler 8.1K
also Slater Any of various small terrestrial isopods having a flat elliptical segmented body. Crustaceans Schooler 8.1K
breed Any of several breeds of usually large powerful dogs bred to work as draft animals and guard and guide dogs. Mammals Schooler 8.1K
Long-legged aquatic insect having the front legs fitted for seizing and holding prey and the abdomen extended by a long breathing tube. Insects Schooler 6.6K
also Arkansas kingbird A kingbird seen in western United States. Birds Schooler 6.6K
A crappie that is white. Fish Schooler 6.6K
Small marlin (to 180 pounds) of western Atlantic. Fish Schooler 6.6K
also Dall sheep, Dall's sheep Large white wild sheep of northwestern Canada and Alaska. Mammals Schooler 6.6K
also Vesper mouse American woodland mouse with white feet and underparts. Mammals Schooler 6.6K
Any of various insects or larvae or mollusks that bore into wood. Other invertebrates Schooler 6.6K
An insect that feeds on hemlocks. Insects Schooler 6.6K
Old World woodpecker with a peculiar habit of twisting the neck. Birds Schooler 6.6K
Common large Eurasian vole. Mammals Schooler 5.4K
Brown velvety-plumaged songbirds of the northern hemisphere having crested heads and red waxy wing tips. Birds Schooler 5.4K
Food and game fish of North American coastal waters with a mouth from which hooks easily tear out. Fish Schooler 5.4K
also Weaver finch Finch-like African and Asian colonial birds noted for their elaborately woven nests. Birds Schooler 5.4K
also Maori hen, Wood hen Flightless New Zealand rail of thievish disposition having short wings each with a spur used in fighting. Birds Schooler 5.4K
breed Breed of small ponies originally from Wales. Mammals Schooler 5.4K
Brown rat that infests wharves. Mammals Schooler 5.4K
also Whiptail Any of numerous very agile and alert New World lizards. Reptiles Schooler 5.4K
Large American pelican. Birds Schooler 5.4K
American snipe. Birds Schooler 5.4K
also Cushat Eurasian pigeon with white patches on wings and neck. Birds Schooler 5.4K
Sterile bee specialized to collect food and maintain the hive. Insects Schooler 5.4K
Grey-and-white American kite of warm and tropical regions. Birds Schooler 4.4K
The edible young of especially herrings and sprats and smelts. Fish Schooler 4.4K
An undomesticated duck (especially a mallard). Birds Schooler 4.4K
Any of various New World woodland mice. Mammals Schooler 4.4K
Old World bird having a very long tail that jerks up and down as it walks. Birds Schooler 3.6K
also Bee moth Moth whose larvae live in and feed on bee honeycombs. Insects Schooler 3.6K
A tick that feeds on dusky-footed wood rat and bites humans. Spiders & arachnids Schooler 3.6K
also Prairie rattlesnake, Prairie rattler Widely distributed between the Mississippi and the Rockies. Reptiles Schooler 3.6K
Any of several small fast-moving snakes with long whiplike tails. Reptiles Schooler 3.6K
Aquatic beetle that circles rapidly on the water surface. Insects Schooler 3.6K
also Wilson's blackcap, Wilsonia pusilla Yellow wood warbler with a black crown. Birds Schooler 3.6K
Very thin translucent flounder of the Atlantic coast of North America. Fish Schooler 3.6K
also Periwinkle Edible marine gastropod. Molluscs Schooler 3.6K
Small wren of coniferous forests of northern hemisphere. Birds Schooler 3.6K
Reddish-brown European ant typically living in anthills in woodlands. Insects Schooler 3.6K
Large monkeys with dark skin and woolly fur of the Amazon and Orinoco basins. Mammals Schooler 3.6K
also Tennessee walker, Tennessee walking horse, Plantation walking horsebreed A horse marked by stamina and trained to move at a fast running walk. Mammals Schooler 2.9K
Blackish New World snakebird of swampy regions. Birds Schooler 2.9K
also Western gray squirrel Large grey squirrel of far western areas of United States. Mammals Schooler 2.9K
Amphipod crustacean parasitic on cetaceans. Crustaceans Schooler 2.9K
also Termite Whitish soft-bodied ant-like social insect that feeds on wood. Insects Schooler 2.9K
also Whitetail jackrabbit Largest hare of northern plains and western mountains of United States. Mammals Schooler 2.9K
also Whidah, Widow bird Mostly black African weaverbird. Birds Schooler 2.9K
Undomesticated goat. Mammals Schooler 2.9K
Undomesticated sheep. Mammals Schooler 2.9K
also Stone bass Brown fish of the Atlantic and Mediterranean found around rocks and shipwrecks. Fish Schooler 2.9K
Any of a small order of slender typically tropical insects that nest in colonies in silken tunnels that they spin. Insects Schooler 2.4K
Yellow- or reddish-striped snake of temperate woodlands and grasslands to tropics. Reptiles Schooler 2.4K
Found in western North American grasslands and open woodlands. Reptiles Schooler 2.4K
Of a great variety of habitats from southern Alaska to Baja California west of the Rockies. Amphibians Schooler 2.4K
breed A draft horse harnessed behind others and nearest the wheels of a vehicle. Mammals Schooler 2.4K
also Ox Any of various wild bovines especially of the genera Bos or closely related Bibos. Mammals Schooler 2.4K
European bison having a smaller and higher head than the North American bison. Mammals Schooler 2.4K
Any of several large caribou living in coniferous forests of southern Canada. Mammals Schooler 2.4K
also Slender salamander Any of several small slim salamanders of the Pacific coast of the United States. Amphibians Schooler 2.4K
Any of several equine mammals of Asia and northeast Africa. Mammals Schooler 1.9K
also Cottontail, Cottontail rabbit Common small rabbit of North America having greyish or brownish fur and a tail with a white underside. Mammals Schooler 1.9K
A lizard of the genus Amphisbaena. Reptiles Schooler 1.9K
Any of several small semiaquatic shrews usually living near swift-flowing streams. Mammals Schooler 1.6K
also Blackback flounder Important American food fish in the winter. Fish Schooler 1.6K
A variety of moth that spins a web in which it lives. Insects Schooler 1.3K
Small flycatcher of western North America. Birds Schooler 1.3K
Eurasian butterfly with brown wings and white markings. Insects Schooler 1.3K
Active lizard having a network of dusky dark markings. Reptiles Schooler 1K
Blackish peccary with whitish cheeks. Mammals Schooler 1K
Hairy bee-like fly whose larvae produce lumpy abscesses (warbles) under the skin of cattle. Insects Rare 880
breed A breed of dual-purpose cattle developed in Wales. Mammals Rare 880
This spadefoot toad live in California. Amphibians Rare 880
also Chenfish Small silvery marine food fish found off California. Fish Rare 880
also American blight Primarily a bark feeder on aerial parts and roots of apple and other trees. Insects Rare 880
Poorly known family of small tropical shallow-water fishes related to gobies. Fish Rare 880
Breeds on the northern great plains of Canada. Birds Rare 880
Primarily a prairie turtle of western United States and northern Mexico. Reptiles Rare 720
North American subspecies of tundra swan having a soft whistling note. Birds Rare 720
Small songbird of northern America and Eurasia having a distinctive white rump. Birds Rare 590
Silvery mullet of Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Fish Rare 590
also Gallinule, Marsh hen, Swamphen Any of various small aquatic birds of the genus Gallinula distinguished from rails by a frontal shield and a resemblance to domestic hens. Birds Rare 480
Burrows among roots of shrubs and beneath rocks in desert and rocky hillside areas and beach sand of western United States. Reptiles Rare 480
Masked or pale-faced chimpanzees of western Africa. Mammals Rare 480
also Aperea South American cavy. Mammals Rare 480
also Window oyster, Capiz Marine bivalve common in Philippine coastal waters characterized by a large thin flat translucent shell. Molluscs Rare 480
European woodland warbler with dull yellow plumage. Birds Rare 480
also Tichodrome Crimson-and-grey songbird that inhabits town walls and mountain cliffs of southern Eurasia and northern Africa. Birds Rare 390
Attacks alders. Insects Rare 320
Small secretive toad with smooth tough skin of central and western North America. Amphibians Rare 260
Brown-and-buff European songbird of grassy meadows. Birds Rare 260
Ranges from Central America to southwestern United States. Reptiles Rare 210
Salamander of the Pacific coast of North America. Amphibians Rare 210
Tropical African bird having metallic blackish plumage but no crest. Birds Rare 210
also Swallow shrike Australasian and Asiatic bird related to the shrikes and resembling a swallow. Birds Rare 210
also Woodhewer, Wood-creeper, Tree creeper Any of numerous South American and Central American birds with a curved bill and stiffened tail feathers that climb and feed like woodpeckers. Birds Rare 210
also Warragalbreed Australian wild horse. Mammals Rare 170
also Greater whitethroat, Sylvia communis Greyish-brown Old World warbler with a white throat and underparts. Birds Rare 170
Small brown bird of California resembling a wren. Birds Rare 140
Large blue Pacific remora that attaches to whales and dolphins. Fish Deep Cut 70
also Wheat eel, Wheat eelworm Small roundworm parasitic on wheat. Worms Deep Cut 70
Large black petrel of southern seas having a white mark on the chin. Birds Deep Cut 70
also Great snipe Old World snipe larger and darker than the whole snipe. Birds Deep Cut 70
Any of various insects that secrete a waxy substance. Insects Deep Cut 40
Bluish-green-and-white North American swallow. Birds Deep Cut 30
A butcherbird of western North America. Birds Deep Cut 30
Small Asiatic and African bird. Birds Deep Cut 30
Brownish North American warbler found near streams. Birds Deep Cut 20
Any of several salamanders with webbed toes and very long extensile tongues. Amphibians Deep Cut 20
Bat of western North America having extremely large ears. Mammals Deep Cut 20
A mite that spins a web. Spiders & arachnids Deep Cut 10
also SPipistrellus hesperus Of western North America. Mammals Deep Cut 10
Stilt of the southwest Pacific including Australia and New Zealand having mostly white plumage but with black wings and nape of neck. Birds Deep Cut 10
Tail is white tipped. Mammals Deep Cut 10
Nocturnal indris with thick grey-brown fur and a long tail. Mammals Deep Cut 10
Common snipe of Eurasia and Africa. Birds One in a Krillion <10

Questions about animals that start with W

How many animals start with W?

RareList lists 213 animals that start with W, including 20 breeds. 21 are in the Plankton tier, the names everyone knows, and 46 are in the Rare tier or rarer.

What are common animals that start with W?

The most searched animals starting with W are Wolf, Wolverine, Wolf spider, Whale shark and Whale.

What is a rare animal that starts with W?

Web-spinning mite is one of the rarest. A mite that spins a web. It gets about 10 US searches a month. Other rare picks: Warble fly, Western spadefoot and White croaker.

How does RareList decide what counts as rare?

Each name is ranked by its average monthly Google searches in the United States. Fewer searches means fewer people are likely to think of it, which is what matters in games that reward unique answers. See how we rank for the details.