This list includes 61 Birds that start with J, from “Jabiru” to “Juniper Titmouse”. They range from large storks to tiny songbirds, and live in wetlands, forests, and urban areas. You can use this list for birdwatching, teaching, writing, and quick reference.
Birds that start with J are species whose common English names begin with the letter J. A notable example is the Jabiru, a striking stork whose common name traces to Tupi-Guarani origins.
Below you’ll find the table with Common name, Scientific name, Habitat, Wingspan (cm), Range, and Notes.
Common name: The everyday English name you use to recognize and search for species in field notes and guides.
Scientific name: The accepted binomial lets you find precise taxonomic information and avoid name confusion.
Habitat: A concise habitat category tells you where to look for each species in the field.
Wingspan (cm): Typical wingspan in centimetres helps you visualize size and distinguish similar species.
Range: Brief geographic notes indicate continents or regions where the bird commonly occurs or breeds.
Notes: Short remarks include identification tips, migratory status, or notable subspecies you might encounter.
Birds that start with J
| Common name | Scientific name | Primary habitat | Wingspan (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jabiru | Jabiru mycteria | Wetland | 230–280 |
| Jack Snipe | Lymnocryptes minimus | Wetland | 38–42 |
| Jackal Buzzard | Buteo rufofuscus | Montane | 127–143 |
| Jackson’s Francolin | Pternistis jacksoni | Montane | 50–55 |
| Jackson’s Hornbill | Tockus jacksoni | Grassland | 40–50 |
| Jamaican Becard | Pachyramphus niger | Forest | 25–28 |
| Jamaican Crow | Corvus jamaicensis | Forest | 75–85 |
| Jamaican Elaenia | Myiopagis cotta | Forest | 18–20 |
| Jamaican Euphonia | Euphonia jamaica | Forest | 15–17 |
| Jamaican Lizard Cuckoo | Coccyzus vetula | Forest | 38–40 |
| Jamaican Mango | Anthracothorax mango | Forest | 12–14 |
| Jamaican Oriole | Icterus leucopteryx | Forest | 26–30 |
| Jamaican Owl | Asio jamaicensis | Forest | 85–100 |
| Jamaican Spindalis | Spindalis nigricephala | Forest | 20–23 |
| Jamaican Tody | Todus todus | Forest | 10–11 |
| Jamaican Vireo | Vireo modestus | Forest | 14–16 |
| Jamaican Woodpecker | Melanerpes radiolatus | Forest | 42–48 |
| James’s Flamingo | Phoenicoparrus jamesi | Montane | 90–92 |
| Jameson’s Antpecker | Parmoptila jamesoni | Forest | 15–17 |
| Jameson’s Firefinch | Lagonosticta rhodopareia | Grassland | 10–11 |
| Jameson’s Wattle-eye | Platysteira jamesoni | Forest | 12–14 |
| Japanese Accentor | Prunella rubida | Montane | 18–20 |
| Japanese Bush Warbler | Horornis diphone | Forest | 14–18 |
| Japanese Cormorant | Phalacrocorax capillatus | Coastal | 140–150 |
| Japanese Green Pigeon | Treron sieboldii | Forest | 30–35 |
| Japanese Green Woodpecker | Picus awokera | Forest | 45–49 |
| Japanese Grosbeak | Eophona personata | Forest | 35–40 |
| Japanese Murrelet | Synthliboramphus wumizusume | Coastal | 40–43 |
| Japanese Paradise Flycatcher | Terpsiphone atrocaudata | Forest | 35–45 |
| Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker | Yungipicus kizuki | Forest | 13–14 |
| Japanese Robin | Larvivora akahige | Forest | 22–24 |
| Japanese Scops Owl | Otus semitorques | Forest | 55–60 |
| Japanese Sparrowhawk | Accipiter gularis | Forest | 46–58 |
| Japanese Thrush | Turdus cardis | Forest | 35–38 |
| Japanese Wagtail | Motacilla grandis | Freshwater | 25–28 |
| Japanese Waxwing | Bombycilla japonica | Forest | 28–30 |
| Japanese White-eye | Zosterops japonicus | Forest | 15–18 |
| Javan Banded Pitta | Hydrornis guajanus | Forest | 25–30 |
| Javan Cochoa | Cochoa azurea | Montane | 28–32 |
| Javan Frogmouth | Batrachostomus javensis | Forest | 35–40 |
| Javan Hawk-Eagle | Nisaetus bartelsi | Forest | 110–130 |
| Javan Kingfisher | Halcyon cyanoventris | Freshwater | 35–40 |
| Javan Munia | Lonchura leucogastroides | Grassland | 10–11 |
| Javan Scimitar Babbler | Pomatorhinus montanus | Forest | 20–22 |
| Javan Trogon | Apalharpactes reinwardtii | Montane | 45–50 |
| Jerdon’s Baza | Aviceda jerdoni | Forest | 70–80 |
| Jerdon’s Bushchat | Saxicola jerdoni | Wetland | 15–17 |
| Jerdon’s Courser | Rhinoptilus bitorquatus | Grassland | 45–50 |
| Jerdon’s Leafbird | Chloropsis jerdoni | Forest | 25–28 |
| Jocoto Antpitta | Grallaria ridgelyi | Montane | unknown |
| Jordan’s Starling | Onychognathus frater | Montane | 25–30 |
| Juan Fernandez Firecrown | Sephanoides fernandezianus | Forest | 12–14 |
| Juan Fernandez Tit-Tyrant | Anairetes fernandezianus | Forest | 14–16 |
| Jungle Babbler | Argya striata | Urban | 20–25 |
| Jungle Bush Quail | Perdicula asiatica | Grassland | 28–32 |
| Jungle Crow | Corvus macrorhynchos | Urban | 100–130 |
| Jungle Myna | Acridotheres fuscus | Urban | 35–40 |
| Jungle Nightjar | Caprimulgus indicus | Forest | 55–60 |
| Jungle Owlet | Glaucidium radiatum | Forest | 40–45 |
| Jungle Prinia | Prinia sylvatica | Grassland | 16–18 |
| Juniper Titmouse | Baeolophus ridgwayi | Montane | 20–23 |
Descriptions
Jabiru
A massive stork of the Americas with a huge black bill, white body, and a bare black head and neck with a red pouch. It is one of the tallest flying birds found in the Western Hemisphere.
Jack Snipe
A small, secretive wader, much smaller than the Common Snipe. It is known for its distinctive bobbing motion and its reluctance to fly, preferring to rely on its superb camouflage among marsh vegetation.
Jackal Buzzard
A large African bird of prey with dark plumage, a rufous chest, and a black-and-white tail pattern. It is often seen soaring over mountains and rocky hills in southern Africa.
Jackson’s Francolin
A shy, ground-dwelling bird found in the highlands of Kenya and Tanzania. It has finely barred brown plumage that provides excellent camouflage in the dense undergrowth of mountain forests.
Jackson’s Hornbill
A small hornbill of East Africa, recognized by its reddish bill with a low casque in males. It prefers arid savanna and thorn-scrub habitats where it forages for insects and small fruits.
Jamaican Becard
A stocky, medium-sized bird endemic to Jamaica. The male is entirely glossy black, while the female is a dull olive-brown. It typically perches quietly in the mid-canopy of humid forests.
Jamaican Crow
A small, sociable crow endemic to Jamaica, known for its jabbering, un-crow-like calls. It has sooty-grey plumage and a pale grey eye, often found in humid hill forests and woodlands.
Jamaican Elaenia
A small, drab flycatcher found only in Jamaica. It has olive-green upperparts, a whitish throat, and a faint yellow belly. It forages for insects in the canopy of wet and dry forests.
Jamaican Euphonia
A small, finch-like bird endemic to Jamaica. The male is dark blue-grey, while the female is olive-green. It feeds primarily on fruit, especially mistletoe berries, in a variety of wooded habitats.
Jamaican Lizard Cuckoo
A long-tailed, slender cuckoo endemic to Jamaica. It has grey and rufous plumage and a distinctive long, graduated tail. It hunts for lizards and large insects in dense forest undergrowth.
Jamaican Mango
A large, dark hummingbird endemic to Jamaica. The male is a striking velvety black with a violet-purple gorget. It is found in a wide range of habitats, from gardens to mountain forests.
Jamaican Oriole
A slender, long-tailed oriole found in Jamaica and some nearby islands. It has olive-yellow plumage with a black face and throat, and a prominent white wingbar. It favors forests and plantations.
Jamaican Owl
A medium-sized “eared” owl endemic to Jamaica, where it is the island’s only resident owl species. It has mottled brown plumage, prominent ear tufts, and striking amber-colored eyes.
Jamaican Spindalis
A brightly colored tanager-like bird endemic to Jamaica. Males are spectacular, with a black-and-white striped head, orange-yellow chest, and olive back. They are common in montane forests.
Jamaican Tody
A tiny, jewel-like bird endemic to Jamaica. It has brilliant green upperparts, a bright red throat, and a long, flat bill. This charismatic bird excavates a nest burrow in an earth bank.
Jamaican Vireo
A small, inconspicuous songbird found only in Jamaica. It has dull olive-grey plumage and two white wingbars. It is a common but often overlooked resident of forest and woodland undergrowth.
Jamaican Woodpecker
The only woodpecker found in Jamaica, this endemic species is common throughout the island. It has a barred black-and-white back, a dull olive-yellow breast, and a bright red crown in males.
James’s Flamingo
A small, pale pink flamingo of the high Andes. It is distinguished by its bright orange-yellow bill with a black tip and its brick-red legs. It feeds on diatoms in high-altitude salt lakes.
Jameson’s Antpecker
A tiny, elusive bird of Central African rainforests. The male has a crimson forehead and finely spotted underparts. It gleans insects from foliage, often joining mixed-species foraging flocks.
Jameson’s Firefinch
A small, pinkish-red finch found in savanna and woodland habitats in Africa. It is often seen foraging on the ground for seeds, recognized by its pale blue eye-ring and distinctive song.
Jameson’s Wattle-eye
A small, active insect-eating bird of African forests. It is named for the bright blue, fleshy wattle above its eye. It has grey upperparts, white underparts, and a neat black chest band.
Japanese Accentor
A small, sparrow-like bird found in Japan and parts of Russia. It has a streaked brownish back and a grey head and breast. It breeds in alpine meadows and winters at lower elevations.
Japanese Bush Warbler
A small, drab warbler famous for its beautiful, melodic song, which is a classic sound of spring in Japan. It is very secretive, preferring to stay hidden in dense bamboo thickets and scrub.
Japanese Cormorant
A large, black seabird native to East Asia. It has a white throat and cheeks and a partially yellow face patch. It is well-known for its use in the traditional fishing practice of ‘ukai’.
Japanese Green Pigeon
A medium-sized, colorful pigeon of East Asian forests. The male has a beautiful mosaic of green, maroon, and orange plumage. It feeds on fruits and is known to drink from mineral springs.
Japanese Green Woodpecker
A medium-sized woodpecker endemic to Japan. It has greenish upperparts, a grey face and neck, and a prominent red malar stripe and crown in males. It is found in a variety of forest types.
Japanese Grosbeak
A large, powerful finch with a massive yellow bill used for cracking cherry pits. It has a greyish-brown body and a glossy black head, wings, and tail. Found in forests of East Asia.
Japanese Murrelet
A small, vulnerable seabird that breeds on rocky islets off the coasts of Japan and South Korea. It has black upperparts and white underparts, spending most of its life at sea.
Japanese Paradise Flycatcher
A spectacular songbird where the breeding male has extremely long, black central tail streamers. It has a black head and chest, with chestnut or blackish upperparts. It breeds in East Asian forests.
Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker
A tiny woodpecker, scarcely larger than a sparrow, found in Japan and adjacent parts of mainland Asia. It has barred black-and-white upperparts and a fast, high-pitched call.
Japanese Robin
A small, shy songbird that breeds in the forests of Japan. The male has a bright orange-red face, throat, and breast, contrasting with its olive-brown back. It forages on the forest floor.
Japanese Scops Owl
A small, nocturnal owl with prominent ear tufts. It is found in East Asia and is known for its deep, melancholic, two-note call. It has intricately patterned grey-brown or rufous plumage.
Japanese Sparrowhawk
A small bird of prey that breeds in East Asia. Males are grey above and pale below, while females are browner. It is a swift and agile hunter of small birds in wooded areas.
Japanese Thrush
A medium-sized thrush that breeds in Japan and China. The male is distinctively patterned, with a black head and breast, a grey back, and white underparts with black spots on the flanks.
Japanese Wagtail
A handsome, long-tailed bird endemic to Japan. It is larger and darker than most other wagtails, with black upperparts and a white belly. It is always found near fast-flowing rivers and streams.
Japanese Waxwing
A sleek, crested bird with silky plumage and distinctive red, waxy tips on some wing feathers. It breeds in the forests of the Russian Far East and winters in Japan, Korea, and China.
Japanese White-eye
A tiny, active bird with olive-green plumage and a conspicuous white ring around its eye. Often found in flocks, it feeds on nectar and insects in its native East Asia and introduced areas like Hawaii.
Javan Banded Pitta
A stunningly colorful ground-dwelling bird from Java and Bali. Males have a bright yellow eyebrow, black face, blue belly, and brown back. It forages for invertebrates in the forest leaf litter.
Javan Cochoa
A rare and beautiful thrush-like bird endemic to the mountain forests of Java. It has deep blue and silvery-blue plumage with a black mask. It is an elusive species that feeds on fruit and snails.
Javan Frogmouth
A master of camouflage, this nocturnal bird looks exactly like a broken tree branch. It has a huge, wide bill and mottled grey-brown plumage, preying on large insects at night in Javan forests.
Javan Hawk-Eagle
A medium-sized, powerful eagle endemic to the island of Java and the national bird of Indonesia. It has a long, prominent crest and richly colored brown plumage, preying on small mammals and birds.
Javan Kingfisher
A vibrant kingfisher endemic to Java and Bali. Unlike most kingfishers, it is often found far from water. It has a dark purple-blue head and belly, a white throat, and a large red bill.
Javan Munia
A small finch native to Indonesia. It has a dark brown head and breast, white belly, and brown back. It is a social bird, often found in flocks feeding on grass seeds in open habitats.
Javan Scimitar Babbler
A noisy, social bird of Javan forests, recognized by its long, curved, scimitar-shaped bill. It has brown upperparts, white underparts, and a bold black-and-white face pattern.
Javan Trogon
A spectacular, brightly colored bird of the mountain forests of western Java. It has iridescent green and blue upperparts, a yellow belly, and a unique blue patch of bare skin around the eye.
Jerdon’s Baza
A medium-sized, crested bird of prey found in Southeast Asia and parts of India. It has a striking black-and-white crest, brown upperparts, and a barred breast. It primarily eats insects and lizards.
Jerdon’s Bushchat
A small, insectivorous bird that breeds in grasslands and wetlands in Southeast Asia. The male is entirely black, while the female is a warm brown. It perches conspicuously on reed tops.
Jerdon’s Courser
A critically endangered, nocturnal bird known only from a small region in southern India. This wader has a unique pair of brown breast bands and is adapted to arid, scrubby plains.
Jerdon’s Leafbird
A bright green, arboreal bird found in India and Sri Lanka. The male has a black and blue throat patch. It is an accomplished mimic, often imitating the calls of other birds.
Jocoto Antpitta
A large, secretive ground-dwelling bird discovered in Ecuador in 1997. It is known for its loud, dog-like barking call. It has a grey head, brown back, and streaked underparts.
Jordan’s Starling
A glossy black starling with chestnut patches in its primary flight feathers, visible in flight. It is found in rocky, arid mountain regions of Yemen and southwestern Saudi Arabia.
Juan Fernandez Firecrown
A critically endangered hummingbird endemic to Robinson Crusoe Island, off the coast of Chile. The male is a fiery cinnamon-orange, while the female is green with a blue crown.
Juan Fernandez Tit-Tyrant
A small, crested flycatcher found only on Robinson Crusoe Island. It is grey above and whitish below with fine dark streaks. This endangered bird forages actively for insects in the forest canopy.
Jungle Babbler
A noisy, sociable bird found across the Indian subcontinent. It lives in flocks of 7 to 10 individuals, often called the “Seven Sisters,” and forages on the ground with constant chatter.
Jungle Bush Quail
A small, plump quail found in scrub and grassland habitats across India. It has intricately patterned brown and cream plumage, which provides excellent camouflage. It is often seen in small coveys.
Jungle Crow
A large, all-black crow found across Asia. It is larger than its carrion crow relatives, with a heavy bill and a deep, resonant “kaaah” call. It is highly intelligent and adaptable.
Jungle Myna
A common starling-like bird of South and Southeast Asia. It has grey-brown plumage, a yellow bill and legs, and a small crest. It is an adaptable species found in open country and near human habitation.
Jungle Nightjar
A nocturnal bird with cryptic, bark-like camouflage. Found across South and East Asia, it is best known for its loud, repetitive “chuck-chuck-chuck” call heard at dusk and dawn.
Jungle Owlet
A small, compact owl of the Indian subcontinent, often active during the day. It has finely barred brown and white plumage and bright yellow eyes, lacking the ear tufts of many other owls.
Jungle Prinia
A small, long-tailed warbler found in scrub and grassland habitats in South Asia. It has drab brownish plumage and a characteristically loud, repetitive, and somewhat mechanical-sounding song.
Juniper Titmouse
A small, plain gray bird with a short crest, native to the juniper woodlands of the Great Basin in the western United States. It’s an active forager, often seen hopping through branches.