From small finches to soaring eagles, birds come in all shapes and sizes. These majestic creatures produce a breathtaking diversity of color and sound, entertaining us with their chirps and flutters.
Familiar favorites like robins and sparrows provide hours of joy for amateur bird-watchers young and old alike.
Here are twenty popular bird names with descriptions that will provide insight into the world of avian life!
Table of Contents
What are Birds?
Birds are a diverse class of animals that occupy many niches in our world. They are characterized by a light skeleton, feathered body, wings, and a beak.
Most birds are warm-blooded animals with four-chambered hearts that beat rapidly in order to pump oxygen to their bodies and wings.
They are also highly adapted for flight, using powerful muscles that are lightweight and efficient.
Animals Vs Birds
Animals, on the other hand, typically have a backbone and fur or hair. They are usually much heavier than birds because of their denser bones.
Unlike birds, they lack feathers and wings, and their heart is only three-chambered instead of four.
Animals also do not have the hollow bones that enable a bird’s lightweight and efficient flight.
What Type of Animal is a Bird?
Birds are a type of animal that belongs to the class Aves. They are characterized by their feathers, wings, beak, and other traits that make them unique compared to other animals.
They are warm-blooded, meaning they maintain a constant body temperature regardless of their environment.
Birds also possess two feet with four toes each, which give them varying degrees of agility.
20 Birds Name A to Z
- Bald eagle
- Crow
- Dove
- Flamingo
- Goose
- Hawk
- Ostrich
- Owl
- Parrot
- Peacock
- Penguin
- Pigeon
- Raven
- Robin
- Seagull
- Sparrow
- Stork
- Swan
- Turkey
- Woodpecker
Collective Nouns of Birds
- A bevy of swans
- A brood of hens
- A cadge of peregrines
- A cast of falcons
- A chain of bobolinks
- A colony of gulls
- A conspiracy of ravens
- A covey of ptarmigans
- A descent of woodpeckers
- A flight of birds
- A flock of ostriches
- A flock of turkeys
- A flush of ducks
- A gulp of cormorants
- A gulp of swallows
- A parcel of crows
- A passel of pigeons
- A peep of chickens
- A phalanx of storks
- A prattle of parrots
- A prettying of doves
- A pride of peacocks
- A rafter of turkeys
- A rookery of penguins
- A run of poultry
- A scoop of pelicans
- A squabble of seagulls
- A stand of flamingos
- A stare of owls
- A stream of hawks
- A trimming of finches
- A ubiquity of sparrows
- A wedge of geese
- A whiting of swans
- An aerie of eagles
- An ostentation of peacocks
20 Names of Birds, Description, Example Sentence, and Picture
| 1. Eagle | |
| A bird with large wings, a hooked beak, and keen vision. |  |
| The eagle swooped down and caught its prey. | |
| 2. Pigeon | |
| A small, plump-bodied bird found in cities around the world. |  |
| The pigeon cooed as it perched on the window sill. | |
| 3. Ostrich | |
| The largest living bird, native to Africa and some parts of Asia. |  |
| The ostrich ran across the savannah at an astonishing speed. | |
| 4. Hawk | |
| A medium-sized bird of prey with a wide wingspan and keen vision. |  |
| The hawk hovered in the air, searching for its next meal. | |
| 5. Parrot | |
| A brightly colored bird with a curved beak and the ability to mimic human speech. |  |
| The parrot squawked and repeated the words I had said earlier. | |
| 6. Flamingo | |
| A tall wading bird with long legs and a curved bill. |  |
| The flamingo gracefully strutted across the wetland in search of food. | |
| 7. Cormorant | |
| A large black bird with webbed feet, usually found near water bodies. |  |
| The cormorant perched atop a tree overlooking the lake. | |
| 8. Toucan | |
| A brightly colored, large-billed bird native to tropical regions. |  |
| The toucan perched atop a branch in the rainforest and let out a loud call. | |
| 9. Turkey | |
| A large, domesticated bird found in many parts of the world. |  |
| The Thanksgiving turkey was roasted to perfection. | |
| 10. Swallow | |
| A small migratory bird found in many parts of the world. |  |
| The swallow flitted around the sky, gracefully swooping and diving as it searched for insects. | |
| 11. Hummingbird | |
| A colorful and nimble bird found in the Americas. |  |
| The hummingbird hovered around the flowers, collecting sweet nectar with its long beak. | |
| 12. Peacock | |
| A large, brightly colored bird native to South Asia. |  |
| The peacock fanned out its feathers, displaying its beautiful colors and patterns. | |
| 13. Woodpecker | |
| A small, usually black and white bird with a pointed beak used for drilling holes in trees. |  |
| The woodpecker pecked away at the trunk of the tree, searching for food. | |
| 14. Kingfisher | |
| A brightly colored bird found near water bodies around the world. |  |
| The kingfisher dived into the lake, emerging with a fish in its beak. | |
| 15. Robin | |
| A small songbird found throughout North America and Europe. |  |
| The robin sang its cheerful song as it perched in the tree. | |
| 16. Crow | |
| A black bird found around the world, known for its loud cawing sound. |  |
| The crow flew overhead, letting out its distinctive call. | |
| 17. Vulture | |
| A large predatory bird with broad wings and a bald head. |  |
| The vulture circled in the sky, searching for carrion to feast on. | |
| 18. Quail | |
| A small bird found across parts of Asia and Europe, known for its distinctive call. |  |
| The quail called out from the grassland as it searched for food. | |
| 19. Seagull | |
| A common bird found near coasts and lakes, known for its loud squawking. |  |
| The seagulls soared over the beach, letting out their raucous cries. | |
| 20. Dove | |
| A small, gray bird found around the world, known for its gentle cooing sound. |  |
| The dove perched in the tree and softly cooed, a sign of peace and friendship. |
Birds Names & Detailed Definitions
Toucan
Toucans are found in the tropical forests of Central and South America, and there are many different species of toucan. The largest species is the Toco toucan, which can grow to be almost two feet long!
Toucans are one of the most popular birds in the world and for good reason. These brightly colored creatures are not only beautiful but also fascinating to watch.
Dove
Dove birds are graceful and elegant creatures.
They are seed eaters, though some have been known to enjoy other foods like insects or berries. Their soft feathers provide perfect insulation from the elements and they often build nests with materials sourced from the environment.
Along with their distinct color patterns and beautiful plumage, dove birds have a remarkably protective nature when it comes to guarding their home and young. This makes them an endearing sight in many parts of the world, providing not only wonderment but also a sense of security for those who observe them.
Ostrich
The ostrich is the largest bird in the world and is found in Africa. Ostriches are interesting creatures because they cannot fly, but they can run very fast.
Ostriches are usually gentle and timid birds, but they can become aggressive if they feel threatened. These huge birds are a popular choice for zoos and safari parks.
Turkey
Turkeys are native to North America and are most commonly found in the United States. Turkeys are usually considered to be a traditional Thanksgiving bird, but they are also popular for other holiday meals.
Vulture
Vultures are found all over the world, but they are most common in Africa. These birds are scavengers, and often eat the carcasses of animals that have died.
Vultures are not popular birds, as they are often considered to be ugly and dirty. However, these creatures play an important role in the environment by helping to clean up carcasses.
Peacock
The peacock is a brightly colored bird that is native to Asia. Peacocks are most commonly found in zoos and parks, but they can also be found in the wild.
Hen
Hens are found all over the world and are the most common type of chicken. Hens are usually kept as pets or for their eggs, which are a popular food.
Hens are gentle creatures and are often considered to be good luck charms.
Quail
Quails are small birds that are found all over the world. There are many different species of quail, but the most common is the Japanese Quail.
Quails are usually hunted for their meat, which is a popular delicacy in many countries. These small birds are also kept as pets in some parts of the world.
Rooster
The rooster is the male chicken and is found all over the world. Roosters are usually kept on farms for their meat and eggs.
Roosters are also popular in children’s stories and nursery rhymes. These birds are usually considered to be good luck charms.
Barn owl
The barn owl is a type of owl that is found all over the world. Barn owls are nocturnal creatures, and are often considered to be spooky birds.
Barn owls are not popular pets, but they are interesting creatures to watch. These birds are usually silent, but they can make a loud screeching sound when they are hunting for prey.
Cormorant
The cormorant is a type of bird that is found near water. Cormorants are good swimmers and often dive into the water to catch fish.
Cormorants are not popular birds, as they are often considered to be ugly. However, these creatures play an important role in the environment by helping to control the fish population.
Hawk
Hawks are an incredibly interesting bird species. Their eyesight is incredibly sharp, allowing these birds to spot potential prey from a great distance.
Hawks typically build nests in high areas such as cliffs or tall trees; to this end, their talons are large and curved for gripping tree branches forays into the air, during which time the hawks can reach speeds of up to 200 mph!
In addition to their incredible eyesight and speed, many hawks possess remarkable communication for telling other members of their species about food sources.
Goldfinch
The goldfinch is a type of bird that is found all over the world. Goldfinches are small birds and are often kept as pets.
Goldfinches are not popular birds, as they are often considered to be boring. However, these creatures play an important role in the environment by helping to control the population of insects.
Herring Gull
The Herring Gull is a seagull that can be found all along the coast of the United States. They are one of the most common gulls in North America, and they are easily identified by their gray back and white head.
Herring gulls are known for their scavenging habits, and they will often follow fishing boats in hopes of getting an easy meal. These birds are also very noisy, and their loud cries can often be heard from far away.
Bald eagle
The bald eagle is a type of bird that is found in North America. Bald eagles are the national bird of the United States and are easily identified by their white head and dark body. Bald eagles are predators, and often hunt fish for food.
Bald eagles are not popular birds, as they are often considered to be dangerous. However, these creatures play an important role in the environment by helping to control the population of fish.
Goose
Gooses are amazing birds, with a huge variety of unique characteristics. From the great migration patterns they form and their powerful calls that can be heard from many miles away, to the incredible care they give their young, there is much to appreciate about these feathered friends.
They have long necks and webbed feet which makes them excellent swimmers, allowing them to navigate large bodies of water without much effort. Gooses also have exceptional eyesight, able to spot predators from a great distance away.
Crow
Crows are entertaining and intelligent birds that can be easily identified by their glossy black feathers. The crow’s cawing call is a signature sound of the wild and crows are highly sociable and playful, often seen in large flocks chasing each other around in an aerial dance.
Crows also have exceptional memories and are able to recognize individual humans.
Furthermore, they can use tools as complex as sticks and rocks to improve their chances of food procurement.
Sparrow
Sparrows are small, brown-and-gray songbirds with short tails and stout, conical bills. More than 50 species of sparrows occur in North America, and another 20 or so are found in Eurasia. In the United States, the most familiar sparrows include the house sparrow, tree sparrow, chipping sparrow, white-throated sparrow, and Vesper sparrow.
Pelican
Pelicans are large, waterbirds with long necks, big bills, and small heads. There are eight species of pelicans, and they can be found on every continent except Antarctica. Pelicans are excellent swimmers and divers, and they use their large bills to scoop up fish from the water.
Pigeon
Pigeons are some of the world’s most common birds. The pigeon has an incredible sense of direction – one bird made a flight from Europe to Africa at three hundred miles in one day! Also notable is their homing instinct which allows them to return back to their nests.
Physically, the pigeon is about twelve inches tall and comes in a variety of colors depending on diet, genealogy and location.
They possess loud and discordant tones as well as nasal coos which often carry far distances – so much so that some birds may be able to hear their calls from 52 miles away!
