This list includes 57 Birds that start with G, from “Gabar Goshawk” to “Gyrfalcon”. These species span small songbirds to large raptors and occur across forests, wetlands, coasts, grasslands and urban areas. Use this list for birdwatching, classroom reference, and quick field identification.

Birds that start with G are a diverse group of avian species whose common names begin with the letter G. Notable examples include the powerful Gyrfalcon, prized historically by falconers across Arctic regions. Names and data follow widely used taxonomies and common English usage for clarity.

Below you’ll find the table with Common name, Scientific name, Habitat, and Wingspan (cm).

Common name: The widely used English name for each species, helping you quickly recognize birds in field guides and checklists.

Scientific name: The accepted Latin binomial that uniquely identifies each species across languages and taxonomies, useful for precise research.

Habitat: A concise category like forest, wetland, coastal, grassland or urban, so you know where to look for each species.

Wingspan (cm): The typical wingspan range in centimeters, helping you estimate size and distinguish similar species at a glance.

Birds that start with G

Common name Scientific name Habitat Wingspan (cm) Description
Gadwall Anas strepera wetland 90–110 Common dabbling duck with subtle grey-brown plumage and patterned wing speculum; often seen in ponds and marshes.
Garganey Spatula querquedula wetland 60–75 Small migratory teal with a striking male head pattern and quick wingbeat; favors shallow wetlands and flooded fields.
Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos montane 180–230 Large, powerful raptor with a golden nape; soars over mountains and open country hunting mammals and birds.
Golden-crowned Kinglet Regulus satrapa forest 16–22 Tiny, energetic songbird with a bright yellow-and-black crown stripe; flits through conifers searching for insects.
Goldcrest Regulus regulus forest 15–18 Europe’s smallest bird; a minuscule olive bird with a golden crown, often heard before seen in dense woods.
Green-winged Teal Anas carolinensis wetland 50–60 Tiny dabbling duck with an iridescent green wing patch in flight; common in marshes and shallow ponds.
Greylag Goose Anser anser wetland 147–180 Large grey goose and ancestor of many domestic breeds; nests in wetlands and grazes in farmland.
Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons wetland 140–165 Migratory goose with a white facial patch and speckled belly; grazes fields and wetlands.
Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus coastal 140–165 Tall, pink social bird with a curved bill for filter-feeding; forms large flocks on saline lakes and coasts.
Great Egret Ardea alba wetland 130–170 Elegant white heron with long neck and spear-like bill; hunts fish in shallow waters.
Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias wetland 180–200 Large, slate-blue wading bird with long legs and a slow, deliberate stance; common on North American waterways.
Great Tit Parus major forest 22–25 Bold, vocal songbird with black head and yellow belly; highly adaptable in gardens and woodlands.
Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus forest 91–153 Stocky, powerful nocturnal predator with ear tufts and deep hoots; hunts mammals across diverse habitats.
Green Heron Butorides virescens wetland 60–80 Small, secretive heron with a hunched posture and habit of using bait; favors ponds and marsh edges.
Gambel’s Quail Callipepla gambelii desert 40–50 Desert quail with a distinctive topknot and sociable coveys; common in southwestern scrub and deserts.
Gray Catbird Dumetella carolinensis forest 25–33 Slate-gray songster known for cat-like mewing calls and mimicry; frequents thickets and suburban gardens.
Gray Jay Perisoreus canadensis forest 44–55 Curious, friendly jay of boreal forests; caches food and tolerates cold climates.
Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus coastal 140–165 Large, pale gull of cold seas with a heavy bill; scavenges coasts and open water.
Glaucous-winged Gull Larus glaucescens coastal 120–150 Robust North Pacific gull with grey wings; common around shorelines and harbors.
Giant Petrel Macronectes giganteus coastal 170–190 Large, sturdy seabird with a bulky build and scavenging habits; cruises Southern Oceans.
Giant Kingfisher Megaceryle maxima freshwater 60–75 Africa’s largest kingfisher with bold patterning; perches over rivers and dives for fish.
Golden-winged Warbler Vermivora chrysoptera forest 20–23 Small migratory warbler with yellow crown and black throat patches; breeds in shrubby wetlands and edge habitats.
Golden-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia atricapilla brush 25–30 Chunky sparrow with a striking golden crown patch and mellow song; winters in coastal scrub.
Golden-breasted Starling Lamprotornis regius grassland 35–40 Vibrant African starling with metallic plumage and a golden breast; highly social in savannas.
Golden Bowerbird Prionodura newtoniana forest 30–35 Australian bowerbird with rich golden plumage; males build elaborate bowers to attract mates.
Golden-cheeked Warbler Setophaga chrysoparia forest 23–26 Endemic North American warbler with black-and-gold face; breeds in mature juniper–oak woodlands.
Golden-fronted Woodpecker Melanerpes aurifrons forest 30–40 Medium woodpecker with bright yellow nape and bold face pattern; common in open woodlands and suburbs.
Golden Pheasant Chrysolophus pictus forest 70–90 Showy, long-tailed pheasant from Asia with brilliant red and gold plumage; popular in aviaries.
Grasshopper Sparrow Ammodramus savannarum grassland 18–22 Small sparrow noted for an insect-like song; favors native grasses and open fields.
Great Skua Stercorarius skua coastal 125–140 Aggressive seabird known for chasing others to steal food; powerful, stocky and territorial at sea.
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo coastal 120–160 Large, dark waterbird that dives for fish; often seen perched drying wings.
Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus freshwater 90–105 Elegant diving bird with ornate breeding crests and elaborate courtship displays on lakes.
Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus wetland 26–30 Loud, booming songster of reedbeds; a large warbler of marshes and wetlands.
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea wetland 155–195 Tall, long-legged heron widespread across Eurasia; stands motionless hunting fish in shallow waters.
Grey Partridge Perdix perdix grassland 55–65 Stocky ground-dwelling gamebird of farmlands with mottled brown plumage and a short tail.
Green Jay Cyanocorax yncas forest 40–55 Colorful, intelligent jay of Central and South America; noisy and bold near forest edges.
Green Woodpecker Picus viridis forest 34–39 Large green-backed woodpecker that feeds heavily on ants on the ground; often heard laughing calls.
Greater Roadrunner Geococcyx californianus desert 50–60 Fast, terrestrial cuckoo of southwest deserts; famous for running and a varied, opportunistic diet.
Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia grassland 16–21 Skulking, insectivorous warbler with a reeling song; favors tall grasses and marshy meadows.
Green-tailed Towhee Pipilo chlorurus brush 20–25 Rufous-backed, sparrow-like bird with greenish tail tones; inhabits brushy mountain slopes.
Gray Wagtail Motacilla cinerea freshwater 25–29 Slender wagtail with long tail and yellow underparts; common along streams and rivers.
Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus freshwater 60–70 Migratory wader with a bright white rump and solitary habits in freshwater margins.
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus wetland 80–105 Long-legged, iridescent ibis that probes mud for invertebrates; forms noisy flocks in wetlands.
Gouldian Finch Erythrura gouldiae grassland 20–22 Vivid Australian finch with striking head colors; favored in aviaries and found in tropical savanna.
Gila Woodpecker Melanerpes uropygialis desert 34–39 Sonoran desert woodpecker with barred back and loud calls; nests in saguaro cacti and mesquite.
Golden-headed Cisticola Cisticola exilis grassland 12–15 Tiny, streaky African warbler with a bright golden head in breeding plumage; inhabits grasslands and savanna.
Great-tailed Grackle Quiscalus mexicanus urban 39–46 Long-tailed, flashy blackbird that thrives in cities and wetlands; males sing and display frequently.
Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus montane 210–280 Large Old World vulture that soars on thermals feeding on carrion; common over cliffs and open country.
Galapagos Dove Zenaida galapagoensis coastal 35–40 Small, tame dove endemic to the Galápagos with warm brown tones; often found on lava fields and scrub.
Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides forest 17–20 Small insectivorous warbler with a thin song and pale supercilium; breeds in broadleaf forests and scrub.
Greater Scaup Aythya marila coastal 80–95 Diving duck with a rounded head and bright yellow eye; winters on coastal bays and large lakes.
Greater Spotted Eagle Clanga clanga wetland 175–200 Large, dark raptor of wetlands and marshes; threatened and migratory with broad, rounded wings.
Green Kingfisher Chloroceryle americana freshwater 30–33 Small, bright kingfisher of streams and ponds; perches low before diving for small fish.
Gabar Goshawk Micronisus gabar savanna 60–75 Small, agile raptor of open woodlands and savanna; hunts birds and insects with swift flight.
Golden-collared Manakin Manacus vitellinus forest 20–25 Lively Central American lekking bird with bright collar and acrobatic courtship displays.
Gray-cheeked Thrush Catharus minimus forest 25–30 Migratory thrush with a delicate voice and shy behavior; breeds in northern forests and migrates long distances.
Gyrfalcon Falco rusticolus tundra 110–165 World’s largest falcon; powerful, fast aerial hunter of Arctic tundra and coasts.

Descriptions

Gadwall
Garganey
Golden Eagle
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Goldcrest
Green-winged Teal
Greylag Goose
Greater White-fronted Goose
Greater Flamingo
Great Egret
Great Blue Heron
Great Tit
Great Horned Owl
Green Heron
Gambel’s Quail
Gray Catbird
Gray Jay
Glaucous Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Giant Petrel
Giant Kingfisher
Golden-winged Warbler
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Golden-breasted Starling
Golden Bowerbird
Golden-cheeked Warbler
Golden-fronted Woodpecker
Golden Pheasant
Grasshopper Sparrow
Great Skua
Great Cormorant
Great Crested Grebe
Great Reed Warbler
Grey Heron
Grey Partridge
Green Jay
Green Woodpecker
Greater Roadrunner
Grasshopper Warbler
Green-tailed Towhee
Gray Wagtail
Green Sandpiper
Glossy Ibis
Gouldian Finch
Gila Woodpecker
Golden-headed Cisticola
Great-tailed Grackle
Griffon Vulture
Galapagos Dove
Greenish Warbler
Greater Scaup
Greater Spotted Eagle
Green Kingfisher
Gabar Goshawk
Golden-collared Manakin
Gray-cheeked Thrush
Gyrfalcon
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