This list includes 83 Birds that start with H, from “Hadada Ibis” to “Hyacinth Visorbearer”. Many entries are tropical or wetland species, though some live in urban or forest habitats worldwide. Use this list for quick reference in birdwatching, teaching, or general research.
Birds that start with H are a varied group of species whose common names begin with the letter H. The Hadada Ibis is a notable example, famous in southern Africa for its loud “haa-haa” call.
Below you’ll find the table with Common name, Scientific name (binomial), Habitat, Wingspan (cm), and Geographic range.
Common name: The everyday English name of the bird, so you can quickly match field notes and ID guides.
Scientific name (binomial): The Latin genus and species gives precise identification across languages and helps you find taxonomic details.
Habitat: Brief habitat category (forest, wetland, grassland, coastal, urban) to help you narrow likely sightings and behaviors.
Wingspan (cm): Average or range in centimetres so you can compare size quickly when observing or checking field measurements.
Geographic range: A concise note on global distribution or region so you know where the species commonly occurs.
Birds that start with H
| Common name | Scientific name | Habitat | Wingspan (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harpy Eagle | Harpia harpyja | Tropical rainforest | 176-224 |
| Hoatzin | Opisthocomus hoazin | Riparian forest, swamp | 100-110 |
| Hoopoe | Upupa epops | Open woodland, farmland, parks | 44-48 |
| House Finch | Haemorhous mexicanus | Urban, suburban, scrubland | 20-25 |
| Herring Gull | Larus argentatus | Coastal, lakes, urban | 137-155 |
| Harlequin Duck | Histrionicus histrionicus | Fast-flowing rivers, rocky coasts | 56-66 |
| Horned Grebe | Podiceps auritus | Freshwater lakes, coastal bays | 46-55 |
| Horned Lark | Eremophila alpestris | Open country, grassland, tundra | 30-34 |
| Horned Puffin | Fratercula corniculata | Marine, coastal cliffs | 56-66 |
| Hooded Warbler | Setophaga citrina | Deciduous forest understory | 19-21 |
| Harris’s Hawk | Parabuteo unicinctus | Semi-open scrubland, desert | 103-120 |
| Hamerkop | Scopus umbretta | Wetlands, riversides | 90-94 |
| Helmeted Hornbill | Rhinoplax vigil | Rainforest | 150-170 |
| Hermit Thrush | Catharus guttatus | Forest, woodland | 28-30 |
| Himalayan Monal | Lophophorus impejanus | Alpine forest, meadows | 80-90 |
| Himalayan Snowcock | Tetraogallus himalayensis | Alpine slopes, meadows | 95-105 |
| Heermann’s Gull | Larus heermanni | Marine, coastal | 117-130 |
| Hen Harrier | Circus cyaneus | Moors, marshes, open fields | 97-118 |
| Hermit Warbler | Setophaga occidentalis | Coniferous forest | 19-20 |
| Hooded Crow | Corvus cornix | Farmland, open woodland, urban | 93-104 |
| Hyacinth Macaw | Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus | Savanna, palm groves, light forest | 120-140 |
| Hairy Woodpecker | Dryobates villosus | Forest, woodland, parks | 33-41 |
| Harlan’s Hawk | Buteo jamaicensis harlani | Tundra, open country | 120-140 |
| Hartlaub’s Gull | Chroicocephalus hartlaubii | Coastal, urban | 78-82 |
| Hawaiian Hawk | Buteo solitarius | Native forest, agricultural land | 101-117 |
| Hawaiian Goose | Branta sandvicensis | Volcanic slopes, grassland | 110-130 |
| Hadada Ibis | Bostrychia hagedash | Wetlands, savanna, urban parks | 90-105 |
| Helmeted Guineafowl | Numida meleagris | Savanna, scrubland, farmland | 91-100 |
| Honey Buzzard | Pernis apivorus | Woodland, forest | 135-150 |
| Hook-billed Kite | Chondrohierax uncinatus | Forest, woodland, savanna | 80-95 |
| Horned Guan | Oreophasis derbianus | Cloud forest | 80-90 |
| Hume’s Owl | Strix butleri | Rocky desert, canyons | 80-90 |
| House Sparrow | Passer domesticus | Urban, human settlements | 19-25 |
| House Wren | Troglodytes aedon | Open woodland, parks, gardens | 15-17 |
| Hooded Merganser | Lophodytes cucullatus | Forested ponds, wetlands | 60-66 |
| Hooded Oriole | Icterus cucullatus | Open woodland, palm trees, suburbs | 23-26 |
| Himalayan Griffon | Gyps himalayensis | Mountains, plateaus | 260-310 |
| Hyacinth Visorbearer | Augastes scutatus | Rocky fields, scrubland | 9-10 |
| Hoary-headed Grebe | Poliocephalus poliocephalus | Freshwater lakes, estuaries | 38-40 |
| Horsfield’s Bush Lark | Mirafra javanica | Grassland, open country | 20-23 |
| Hawfinch | Coccothraustes coccothraustes | Deciduous woodland, parks | 29-33 |
| Hottentot Teal | Spatula hottentota | Shallow freshwater wetlands | 50-55 |
| Humboldt Penguin | Spheniscus humboldti | Marine, rocky coasts | 60-70 |
| Heuglin’s Gull | Larus heuglini | Coastal, tundra, wetlands | 138-158 |
| Helmeted Friarbird | Philemon buceroides | Forest, mangroves, gardens | 35-40 |
| Hudsonian Godwit | Limosa haemastica | Tundra, mudflats, estuaries | 72-82 |
| Himalayan Bluetail | Tarsiger rufilatus | Montane forest, scrub | 21-23 |
| Hawaiian Petrel | Pterodroma sandwichensis | Marine, volcanic slopes | 91 |
| Hoary Redpoll | Acanthis hornemanni | Tundra, birch scrub, weedy fields | 22-24 |
| Hooded Siskin | Spinus magellanicus | Woodland edge, scrub, gardens | 20-22 |
| Hooded Grebe | Podiceps gallardoi | High-altitude volcanic lakes | unknown |
| Hooded Pitta | Pitta sordida | Rainforest floor, bamboo groves | 35-40 |
| Horned Sungem | Heliactin bilophus | Savanna, open woodland | 9-11 |
| Hispaniolan Woodpecker | Melanerpes striatus | Forest, palm groves, gardens | 38-42 |
| Hispaniolan Trogon | Priotelus roseigaster | Montane forest | 35-38 |
| Helmeted Honeyeater | Lichenostomus melanops cassidix | Swampy gum forest | 20-23 |
| Hartlaub’s Turaco | Tauraco hartlaubi | Montane forest | 40-45 |
| Hardhead | Aythya australis | Deep freshwater wetlands | 60-70 |
| Hill Myna | Gracula religiosa | Tropical forest, forest edge | 45-50 |
| Harrier-hawk, African | Polyboroides typus | Woodland, savanna | 118-152 |
| Himalayan Cutia | Cutia nipalensis | Broadleaf evergreen forest | 24-26 |
| Hose’s Broadbill | Calyptomena hosii | Montane rainforest | 25-28 |
| Himalayan Rubythroat | Calliope pectoralis | Alpine scrub, rhododendron thickets | 22-24 |
| Hodgson’s Frogmouth | Batrachostomus hodgsoni | Subtropical forest | 60-70 |
| Horsfield’s Bronze-Cuckoo | Chrysococcyx basalis | Open woodland, scrub, farmland | 25-28 |
| Heavenly Monarch | Terpsiphone atrocaudata | Broadleaf forest | 18-20 |
| Helmeted Vanga | Euryceros prevostii | Rainforest | 30-35 |
| Honduran Emerald | Amazilia luciae | Arid thorn forest, scrub | 10-11 |
| Humboldt’s Sapphire | Chrysuronia humboldtii | Mangroves, scrubland | 11-12 |
| Hartlaub’s Duck | Pteronetta hartlaubii | Forested rivers, swamps | 75-85 |
| Hepatic Tanager | Piranga flava | Open pine-oak woodland | 25-28 |
| Horned Screamer | Anhima cornuta | Marshes, tropical swamps | 170 |
| Helmeted Manakin | Antilophia galeata | Gallery forest, woodland | 16-18 |
| Hair-crested Drongo | Dicrurus hottentottus | Forest, woodland | 45-50 |
| Half-collared Kingfisher | Alcedo semitorquata | Rivers, streams | 25-28 |
| Handsome Fruiteater | Pipreola formosa | Cloud forest | 18-20 |
| Hawaiian Crow | Corvus hawaiiensis | Mesic forest | 85-95 |
| Hawaiian Coot | Fulica alai | Freshwater marshes, ponds | 55-60 |
| Hawaiian Duck | Anas wyvilliana | Wetlands | 65-75 |
| Hawaiian Stilt | Himantopus knudseni | Coastal wetlands, ponds | 65-70 |
| Hawaiian Thrush | Myadestes obscurus | Native forest | 30-33 |
| Hoary-throated Spinetail | Synallaxis kollari | Riparian forest | 16-18 |
| Himalayan Buzzard | Buteo refectus | Montane forest | 100-120 |
Descriptions
Harpy Eagle
One of the world’s most powerful eagles, native to Central and South America. It preys on sloths and monkeys and is named for the monstrous harpies of Greek mythology. Its population is decreasing due to habitat loss.
Hoatzin
A bizarre, pheasant-sized bird from the Amazon. Its chicks have claws on their wings to help them climb, a unique reptilian-like trait. It digests leaves through bacterial fermentation, giving it a manure-like odor.
Hoopoe
A striking bird with a pinkish-brown body, black-and-white wings, and a prominent crest. Found across Afro-Eurasia, it’s famous for its “oop-oop-oop” call and its foul-smelling nest defense.
House Finch
A common North American bird, often seen at feeders. Males have a rosy red head and breast, while females are plain grayish-brown. Originally native to the West, they are now widespread.
Herring Gull
A large, noisy gull common across the Northern Hemisphere. Adults have a light grey back, white head, and a powerful yellow bill with a red spot. Highly adaptable and frequently found in cities.
Harlequin Duck
A small sea duck whose males have a striking, patterned plumage resembling a harlequin’s costume. Breeds on turbulent streams and winters on rocky coastlines in North America and Eurasia.
Horned Grebe
A small waterbird known for stunning breeding plumage, which includes golden feather “horns” behind its eyes. It’s a fantastic diver, propelling itself underwater with its feet to catch aquatic insects and fish.
Horned Lark
A widespread ground-dwelling bird with a pale yellow face, a black bib, and two tiny black feather “horns” on its head. It’s one of the earliest nesting birds in its northern range.
Horned Puffin
A North Pacific seabird, closely related to the Atlantic Puffin. It’s named for a small, fleshy black “horn” above each eye. Its large, colorful bill is a key feature during the breeding season.
Hooded Warbler
A small, bright yellow songbird of eastern North America. Males have a distinctive black hood and throat surrounding a yellow face. They frequently flick their tails, flashing white outer feathers.
Harris’s Hawk
A social raptor from the Americas, known for hunting cooperatively in family groups, a rare trait among birds of prey. It has dark brown plumage with chestnut shoulders.
Hamerkop
A medium-sized wading bird from sub-Saharan Africa. Its name means “hammer-head” in Afrikaans, referring to its head shape. It builds enormous, sturdy nests of sticks and mud, often several feet across.
Helmeted Hornbill
A very large hornbill from Southeast Asia, critically endangered due to poaching for its solid casque (“helmet”). It has a bizarre, maniacal call that ends in a cackling laugh.
Hermit Thrush
A medium-sized thrush of North America, known for its beautiful, ethereal, flute-like song. It has a spotted breast and a reddish-brown tail that it often raises and lowers slowly.
Himalayan Monal
A spectacular, iridescent pheasant from the Himalayas, and the national bird of Nepal. The male’s rainbow-colored plumage is a dazzling sight. It uses its strong bill to dig for roots and tubers.
Himalayan Snowcock
A large, partridge-like bird found in the high mountains of Central and South Asia. It is well-camouflaged against the rocky terrain and has a loud, whistling call that echoes across valleys.
Heermann’s Gull
A unique gull of North America’s Pacific coast. It has a dusky grey body, a white head in breeding season, and a bright red bill. Unusually, it breeds in Mexico and migrates north for winter.
Hen Harrier
A slender raptor with long wings and tail, known for its low, coursing flight over open ground. Males are pale grey (“ghost-like”), while females are brown and called “ring-tails” for their banded tail.
Hermit Warbler
A small songbird of western U.S. conifer forests. The male has a brilliant yellow head, grey back, and white underparts. It forages high in the canopy, making it difficult to spot.
Hooded Crow
A Eurasian corvid with a distinctive black head and throat and a contrasting ashy grey body. Intelligent and resourceful, it’s closely related to the all-black Carrion Crow, with which it can hybridize.
Hyacinth Macaw
The world’s largest flying parrot, native to South America. Famous for its stunning cobalt-blue plumage and massive black beak used to crack hard nuts. Vulnerable due to the pet trade and habitat loss.
Hairy Woodpecker
A medium-sized woodpecker widespread in North America. It looks very similar to the smaller Downy Woodpecker but has a much longer, more chisel-like bill. Males have a small red patch on their head.
Harlan’s Hawk
A distinctive subspecies of the Red-tailed Hawk, breeding in Alaska and northwest Canada. Often very dark, with a mottled grey, white, or brown tail instead of the typical red.
Hartlaub’s Gull
A small gull endemic to the Atlantic coast of southern Africa. It has a pale grey mantle, a white head, and a slender dark red bill. A common sight in coastal cities like Cape Town.
Hawaiian Hawk
The only hawk native to Hawaii, known as ʻIo. It is a sacred symbol of Hawaiian royalty and is a protected species. It exists in both dark and light color morphs.
Hawaiian Goose
Also known as the Nēnē, this is the state bird of Hawaii. It was saved from extinction by a captive breeding program and has reduced webbing on its feet for walking on lava flows.
Hadada Ibis
A common and extremely loud ibis from sub-Saharan Africa. It has grey-brown plumage with an iridescent purple sheen on the wings. Its “ha-da-da” call is a familiar sound in many African towns.
Helmeted Guineafowl
A large, ground-dwelling bird native to Africa. Known for its featherless head with a bony “helmet,” spotted grey body, and raucous calls. It often forages in large, noisy flocks.
Honey Buzzard
A European raptor that specializes in raiding the nests of wasps and bees for their larvae. It has dense, scale-like feathers on its face for protection against stings. Not a true buzzard.
Hook-billed Kite
A raptor of the Americas with a highly specialized, deeply hooked bill used for extracting snails from their shells. Its plumage is extremely variable, ranging from black to grey to brown.
Horned Guan
A large, turkey-like bird found only in the cloud forests of southern Mexico and Guatemala. It’s named for the bizarre, red, horn-like projection on its head. Endangered due to habitat loss.
Hume’s Owl
A medium-sized earless owl found in the Middle East. It has a pale, sandy-colored appearance that provides excellent camouflage in its rocky desert habitat. Formerly called the Desert Owl.
House Sparrow
One of the most widespread and familiar birds in the world. Native to Eurasia, it has been introduced almost everywhere. Males have a grey crown and black bib, while females are plain brownish-grey.
House Wren
A small, energetic, and plain brown bird found throughout the Americas. Known for its bubbly, complex song and its habit of nesting in birdhouses, mailboxes, and even old shoes.
Hooded Merganser
A small North American diving duck. The male has a striking black and white pattern and a large, fan-shaped white crest that it can raise or lower to dramatic effect. It nests in tree cavities.
Hooded Oriole
A brightly colored oriole of the southwestern US and Mexico. Males are brilliant orange-yellow with a black bib and mask. They are skilled weavers, creating hanging nests from palm fibers.
Himalayan Griffon
A massive Old World vulture found in the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau. It’s one of the largest flying birds, soaring effortlessly on thermal updrafts to scan for carcasses at high altitudes.
Hyacinth Visorbearer
A stunning hummingbird from eastern Brazil. It has a glittering green throat, a blue chest, and a pointed black crest or “visor.” It feeds on nectar from cacti and other native plants.
Hoary-headed Grebe
A small, sociable grebe from Australia. In breeding plumage, it develops fine, silvery-white streaks on its dark head, giving it a “hoary” or frosted look. Often forms large flocks on open water.
Horsfield’s Bush Lark
A small, sparrow-like lark found across Asia and Australia. It’s known for its impressive aerial song-flight, where it hovers and circles high in the air while singing continuously.
Hawfinch
A large, stocky finch of Europe and Asia. It has a massive, powerful bill capable of cracking open cherry stones and other hard seeds with an incredible amount of force.
Hottentot Teal
A small, dabbling duck found in eastern and southern Africa. It has a distinctive dark cap, a pale face with a bright blue bill, and mottled brown body plumage. Often seen in pairs or small groups.
Humboldt Penguin
A medium-sized penguin from the coasts of Peru and Chile. It’s named for the cold Humboldt Current it swims in. Vulnerable due to overfishing, climate change, and habitat disturbance.
Heuglin’s Gull
A large gull that breeds in the tundra of northern Russia. It migrates to the Middle East, South Asia, and East Africa. It has a dark grey back, similar to the Lesser Black-backed Gull.
Helmeted Friarbird
A large, noisy honeyeater from Australia and New Guinea. It has a distinctive bare black face and a prominent knob on its bill. Its loud, clanging calls are a feature of the tropical woodland.
Hudsonian Godwit
A large shorebird that undertakes one of the world’s longest migrations, from the Arctic to southern South America. Breeding males have a rich chestnut-colored belly.
Himalayan Bluetail
A small, warbler-like bird breeding in the Himalayas. The male is deep blue above with bright orange flanks and a white throat. It often cocks its tail while foraging in the undergrowth.
Hawaiian Petrel
An endangered seabird that forages in the open ocean and nests in burrows on the high volcanic slopes of Hawaii. It faces threats from introduced predators like cats and mongooses.
Hoary Redpoll
An arctic-breeding finch, very similar to the Common Redpoll but generally paler and “frostier” looking, with a smaller bill and an unstreaked white rump. It irrupts south in some winters.
Hooded Siskin
A small finch widespread in South America. Males are bright yellow with an olive back and a distinctive black hood. They form large flocks outside the breeding season, feeding on seeds.
Hooded Grebe
A critically endangered grebe found only on a few remote lakes in Patagonia. It is known for its spectacular, tango-like courtship dance. Faces threats from introduced mink and climate change.
Hooded Pitta
A colorful ground-dwelling bird from Southeast Asia. It has a black head, green body, and bright blue wing patch. It uses its stout bill to forage for insects in the leaf litter.
Horned Sungem
A spectacular hummingbird from central South America. The male has iridescent head tufts that shine red, blue, and gold, along with a long, elegant tail. Often hovers over flowers to feed.
Hispaniolan Woodpecker
A noisy and sociable woodpecker endemic to Hispaniola. It has a striking black-and-yellow striped back. Unusually for woodpeckers, they often nest and roost in large communal groups.
Hispaniolan Trogon
The national bird of Haiti, this colorful trogon is endemic to Hispaniola. It has a metallic green back, grey breast, and a bright red belly. It nests in tree cavities, often those abandoned by woodpeckers.
Helmeted Honeyeater
A critically endangered bird, and the state bird of Victoria, Australia. It has a distinctive golden “helmet” of feathers on its forehead and is confined to a tiny remnant of habitat.
Hartlaub’s Turaco
A colorful bird from the highlands of East Africa. It has a striking green body, a blue back and wings, and a prominent crest. Like other turacos, its green pigment contains actual copper.
Hardhead
A species of diving duck from Australia, also known as the White-eyed Duck. The male is a rich chocolate brown with a distinctive white eye and a blue-tipped bill.
Hill Myna
A member of the starling family from Asia, renowned for its incredible ability to mimic sounds, including human speech. It is glossy black with bright yellow wattles on its head.
Harrier-hawk, African
A unique raptor from sub-Saharan Africa. It has an unfeathered face and flexible “double-jointed” legs that allow it to reach into tree holes to extract lizards and insect larvae.
Himalayan Cutia
A stunningly patterned bird from the Himalayas and Southeast Asia. The male has a slaty-blue crown, black mask, and bright chestnut upperparts with black barring. Moves through the canopy in flocks.
Hose’s Broadbill
A vibrant green bird endemic to the mountains of Borneo. The male has a blue belly and black markings. It is secretive and difficult to see in the dense forest canopy.
Himalayan Rubythroat
A small passerine bird that breeds in the high mountains of Central Asia. The male has a spectacular, brilliant scarlet throat patch which it flashes during song and display.
Hodgson’s Frogmouth
A nocturnal bird from the Himalayas and Southeast Asia. It has incredible cryptic camouflage that makes it look exactly like a broken tree branch as it roosts motionlessly during the day.
Horsfield’s Bronze-Cuckoo
A small parasitic cuckoo found across Australia. It has iridescent bronze-green upperparts. The female lays her eggs in the nests of small songbirds, such as fairywrens and thornbills.
Heavenly Monarch
Also known as the Japanese Paradise Flycatcher. The breeding male is spectacular, with extremely long black tail streamers, a black head, and a purplish-black body.
Helmeted Vanga
A striking bird endemic to Madagascar. It has a black head, rufous back, and a massive, hooked blue bill with a black tip, which it uses to tear apart bark and prey on large insects.
Honduran Emerald
A critically endangered hummingbird found only in a few dry valleys in Honduras. It has a glittering blue-green throat and chest. Its survival is threatened by habitat conversion to agriculture.
Humboldt’s Sapphire
A hummingbird found on the Pacific coast from Panama to Ecuador. It has a glittering green head and breast, a blue belly, and a forked blue tail. Named for naturalist Alexander von Humboldt.
Hartlaub’s Duck
A dark-colored duck native to the equatorial rainforests of Africa. It is a secretive bird, often found in pairs or small groups along shaded waterways, feeding on invertebrates and seeds.
Hepatic Tanager
A medium-sized songbird found from the southwestern US to Argentina. The male’s plumage is a dull, liver-red color (hence “hepatic”), while the female is yellowish.
Horned Screamer
A bizarre, goose-like bird from South America. It’s known for its extremely loud calls, the unique slender “horn” projecting from its forehead, and two sharp spurs on each wing for fighting.
Helmeted Manakin
A beautiful manakin from central South America. The male is velvety black with a stunning, helmet-like red crest that runs from its bill to its mid-back, which he uses in courtship displays.
Hair-crested Drongo
A glossy black bird from Asia with a distinctive forked tail and long, hair-like crest feathers. It is a skilled mimic and has a wide variety of calls, often joining mixed-species flocks.
Half-collared Kingfisher
A large, brightly colored kingfisher from Africa. It has deep blue upperparts and a rufous breast. It dives for fish in clear, fast-flowing water, often from an overhanging perch.
Handsome Fruiteater
A colorful bird from the mountains of Venezuela and Colombia. The male has a black head, bright green back, and a yellow belly with an orange throat patch. It feeds on fruit in the forest canopy.
Hawaiian Crow
Known as the ʻAlalā, this crow is extinct in the wild. A small population survives in captivity, with reintroduction efforts underway. It was a key seed disperser in Hawaiian forests.
Hawaiian Coot
An aquatic bird endemic to the Hawaiian Islands, known as the ʻAlae keʻokeʻo. It is similar to the American Coot but often has a larger, more bulbous white facial shield.
Hawaiian Duck
Known as the Koloa maoli, this endangered duck is endemic to Hawaii. It looks similar to a female Mallard, and hybridization with feral Mallards is a major threat to its genetic integrity.
Hawaiian Stilt
The Aeʻo, an endangered stilt endemic to Hawaii. It has the longest legs in proportion to its body of any bird and extensive black on its face and neck.
Hawaiian Thrush
The ʻŌmaʻo, a thrush endemic to the Big Island of Hawaii. It is a plain olive-brown bird with a short bill. It has a varied, flute-like song and feeds on fruits and insects.
Hoary-throated Spinetail
A critically endangered bird from a tiny area of northern Brazil. It has a rufous crown and a distinctive whitish throat with fine black barring, giving it a “hoary” or frosty look.
Himalayan Buzzard
A medium-sized raptor that breeds in the Himalayas and winters further south. It soars over forested hillsides hunting small mammals and reptiles. Formerly considered a subspecies of the Common Buzzard.