Most of the 754 genera of birds of Colombia have their etimological roots from Old Greek. Few are derived from Latin, last names or places. Some genera have indigenous roots such as Brazilian Tupi (Ara, Toucan, Tangara, Piranga) or from Mexican Nahuatl roots (Colibri). Whereas the species are mostly derived from Latin, or combination Latin-Greek, or latinized forms of names or places. Both genus and species should be written in italics. 

Latin

Latin  English Spanish
accipitrinus hawk-like como halcón
affinis resembles afin
ago resembles similar a
ala armpit axila
albidus whitish blancuzco
albus white blanco
anas duck pato
angolensis of Angola de Angola
angustus narrow angosto
anthrax charcoal carbón
arcuatus arched arqueado
ardesiacus slate color color tizne
arius dedicated to dedicado a
armatus armada armada
arundo reeds juncos
asio big-earled owl búho orejudo
assimilis resembling que se parece
ater black negro
atratus funeral dress, black vestido de luto, negro
audax daring audaz
aurantia orange naranja
auranticus orange anaranjado
aureus golden dorado
aurum golden dorado
automnalis of autumn del otoño
basilicus magnificent magnífico
bicolor of two colors bicolor
bogotanensis of Bogota de Bogotá
bombus bumble zumbador
boros devours devorador
bracteatus golden dorado
brasiliensis Brazilian brasileño
brevis short corto
brunnescens brownish cafesoso
brunneus brown café
bubo owl buho
caerulescens bluish azuloso
cairina of Cairo de El Cairo
campanisoma sounds like a bell suena como campana
canus grey gris
capere tra atrapar
capillus head hair pelo de la cabeza
caput head cabeza
castaneus brown castaño
cedrorum of the cedar del cedro
ceps head coronilla, cabeza
chalybea steel-like similar al acero 
charadius yellowish bird ave amarillenta
cilla tail cola
cinclus thrush tordo
cincta bands bandas
cinereus ash color color ceniza
cinnamomeus cinnamon acanelado
citreus yellowish-greenish citrino (amarillo verdoso)
clamatus shrills gritón
coelestis heavenly celestial
coeli heaven cielo
cola inhabitant habitante
collis, collaris neck, of neck cuello, de cuello
coloratus pigmented pigmentado
concinnus elegant, organized elegante, ordenado
concolor uniformly colored de color uniforme
conis cone cono
conspicillum with glasses con gafas
cornutus horny cornado
coruscans bright brillante, centelleante
corvinus-a crow, crow-like cuervo
coturnis cornish hen codorniz
crassus thick grueso
crinis hair pelo
crinitus of long feathers de plumas largas
cristatus crested crestado
culex mosquito mosquito
cunicularia that hides escondidizo
cupreus cupper-like color cobrizo
curtatus shortened acortado
cyaneus dark blue azul oscuro
cygnus swan cisne
cymba boat bote
deliciosus delicate delicado
discors different diferente
dorsalis of the back de la espada
dorsum back espalda
dumetum brush, bush maleza, matorral
ecaudatus without tail sin cola
erythros red rojo
euphonia of excellent tune de excellente tono
ex without carente
excelsior renown eminente, reconocido
exortus dusk amanecer
exsul exiled exiliado
farinosus flour-like harinoso
fer that has que lleva
ferox wild feroz, salvaje
festivus happy alegre
fimbriatus fringes, bangs con flecos
flammulatus flamed-marked marcas como llamas
flaveola-us golden dorado
flavus yellow amarillo
fluvius river rio
foetidus stinky fétido
formica ant hormiga
formosa beautiful hermosa
frenatus mustache bigote
frons front frent
fulica coot focha
fuliginosus ashy color hollinoso
fulvus lionated-color color leonado
funereal mournful fúnebre
furcatus bifurcated bifurcado
furnarius baker panadero
fuscater blackish negruzco
fuscus dark oscuro, moreno
fuscus dark oscuro
gallina hen gallina
garrulous too much talk parloteo
gaster womb vientre
gena born nacido
ger, gerere that makes que lleva
gilvus pale yellow amarillo pálido
globulus globule glóbulo
gluttatus with spots moteado
grallarius wader ave zancuda
griseus grey gris
gula throat garganta
gula, gularis throat garganta, de garganta
guttatus pointed punteado
guttula small point pequeño punto
guttur throat garganta
hasitata dives fast que clava rápido
hirsutus hairy peludo
hirundo swallow golondrina
holos complete, whole complete, entero
humeralis of the should del hombro
iaculus fast rápido
ignobilis not famous, ordinary sin fama, ordinario
in without sin
incertae sedis of uncertain placement de ubicación incierta
incundus charming encantador
infuscatus obscure oscuro
ingens big, large grande, enorme
jugularis throat garganta
kelainos black negro
lachrymosus tearful lagrimoso
lanceolatus spear-like en forma de lanza
laniare cut desgarrar, trozar
lanius butcher carnicero
latebra hidden place lugar escondido
latrans bark ladrido
latus-lati wide ancho, amplio
limnas bars barras
lineatus lineated marcado con líneas
longus long largo
luctuosus-a mournful de luto
ludovicius Luis Luis
lupinus fox zorro
luteus yellow amarillo
macula stain mancha
maculatus  stained manchado
maculosus stained manchado
major major mayor
manus hand mano
margaritaceous pearled perlado
maximus maximum el más grande
melancholicus melancholic de mal carácter
melas black negro
mendiculus miserable miserable, mezquino
menstruus menstrual menstrual
mentalis mind, intellect mente, razón
mentum chin mentón
merula black bird ave negra
methopon front frente
mimus mockingbird sinsonte
miniatus dark orange color bermellón
minimus small pequeño
minor minor menor
minutus small pequeño
mirla thrush mirla 
moesta sad triste
molos battle batalla
moschata of Moscow de Moscú
murinus slate grey gris ratón
musca fly mosca
muscicapa flycatcher atrapamoscas
mustelinus weasel como comadreja
naevius spotted, stained manchado
nasica long-nosed de nariz larga
neogranadiensis of Nueva Granada de la Nueva Granada
niger black negro
nigricans blackish negruzco
nitens bright brillante
nobilis known conocido, célebre
notos back espalda
nubis cloud nube
nucha neck nuca
nudus naked desnudo
obsoletus obsolete obsoleto
ocellatus ocelot-like ocelado
ochilus semicircle semicírculo
ogne swallow golondrina
oides looks like que se parece
olagineous olive oliváceo
olivaceus olive color color oliva
ondulatus wavy ondulado
opacus opaque opaco
ornatus ornated adornado
oryza rice arroz
palliatus capped encapotado
parus – pareola tit herrerillo
passerines like a sparrow similar a un gorrión
pectus breast pecho
pelleus crown coronilla
pennis winged alado
peregrinus vagabond vagabundo
pernix agile ágil
perspicax of sharp vision de vista aguda
pes feet patas
petros stone roca
phalerata with medallions adornado con medallones
phasianus small pheasant faisán
pica grackle urraca
picillatus with glasses con anteojos
pilare depilate depillar
pileatus crowned capucha
pileus crown coronilla
pipilo chirp, twit gorjear, piar
pipo that jumps saltarín
platalea spatula espatúla
plesso hit golpear
plumbea lead color plomizo
podex – podicis anus ano, cloaca
porphyrio gallinule of swamps gallina de pantano
procela storm tormenta
procurvus front curved curvado hacia delante
propinquus related, similar similar
pudicus humble modesto
pulsator, pulsatrix beat, mix batir
pumila tiny diminuto
punctatus pointed punteado
punctus spot mancha
punicea purple púrpura
purpurata purple púrpura
pusilllus very small muy pequeño
pygios hip rabadilla
querulous noisy ruidoso
riparius by the rivers de los ríos
rixosus bullish, fighter pendenciero, reñidor
roseus pink rosado
rostris bill, beak pico
rostrum bill, beak pico
rubiginosus reddish rojizo
rufus reddish rojizo, ocre
rupes rock roca
rupestris that live in the rocks de las rocas
rusticus-a rustic, simple rustic
rutilans bright red rojizo brillante
rutilus brownish red rojo, castaño
rutilus red rojo
saltator hopper, jumper bailarín
sanctus saint santo
savannarun of the savanna de la savana
schistaceus grey slate gris pizarra
scutatus coat-of-arms like como escudo
semi half medio
senilis old age senil
serranus range, mountain sierra, cordillera
severus severe severo, cruel
signatus unique inconfundible
spectabilis spectacular notable
squama scale escama
stellatus starry estrellado
strepto chain collar, cadena
strigilatus streaked rayado
stygius hellish infernal
sub somewhat algo
subalaris under the wings debajo de las alas
subulatus shoemaker needle punzón de zapatero
sulcus ridge surco
sulphuratus sulfur-like color color azufrado
sumptuosus sumptuous suntuoso
susurrans whisper susurro
taciturnus quiet silencioso
tenue weak débil
tenuies outstanding esbelto
thorax chest pecho
thoraxicus pectoral pectoral
thrix hair pelo
throsko beget engendrar
tiaris tiara triara, corona
tomentum filled relleno
torques neck cuello
torridus burnt quemado
triangularis triangular triangular
tuberculum swollen hinchazón, chichón
turdus thrash mirla
tyranninus like a flycatcher como un atrapamoscas
tyranus aggressive, tyrant agresivo, tirano
uni only solamente
unicolor unicolor unicolor
vanellus cold bird ave fría
variegatus variegated jaspeado
various several, diverse varios
venter womb vientre
ventris of the womb del vientre
vertex crow coronilla
vicinior near, neighbor cercano, próximo
violaceus violet color color violeta
virens green verde
vireo small bird ave pequeña
virescens greenish verdoso
virga streak estría, raya
viridicatus green verde
vitreolus crystal-like vítreo, cristal
vociferans vociferous vocífero
volatus flyer volador
vorus that feeds on que come