This list includes 65 Birds that start with B, from “Bald Eagle” to “Bufflehead”. They range from large raptors to small waterfowl and colorful songbirds found worldwide. Use this list for birdwatching, classroom reference, field identification, or quick species checks.
Birds that start with B are species whose common English names begin with the letter B. Many have cultural roles; for example, the “Bald Eagle” is a national symbol of the United States.
Below you’ll find the table with Common name, Scientific name, Habitat, and Wingspan (cm).
Common name: The everyday name helps you quickly recognize species in field guides, checklists, and casual observation notes.
Scientific name: The accepted binomial gives precise species identity so you can cross-reference scientific literature and databases.
Habitat: A short habitat label tells you where the bird is most likely found for planning sightings or studies.
Wingspan (cm): A wingspan range in centimeters helps you gauge bird size and compare species at a glance.
Birds that start with B
| Common name | Scientific name | Habitat | Wingspan (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bald Eagle | Haliaeetus leucocephalus | coastal | 180–230 |
| Barn Owl | Tyto alba | grassland | 80–95 |
| Barn Swallow | Hirundo rustica | open country | 29–33 |
| Barred Owl | Strix varia | forest | 95–125 |
| Bar-tailed Godwit | Limosa lapponica | coastal | 70–90 |
| Belted Kingfisher | Megaceryle alcyon | freshwater | 41–46 |
| Blue-cheeked Bee-eater | Merops persicus | savanna | 40–46 |
| Black-capped Chickadee | Poecile atricapillus | forest | 16–21 |
| Black-headed Gull | Chroicocephalus ridibundus | coastal | 94–110 |
| Black-necked Stilt | Himantopus mexicanus | wetland | 70–85 |
| Black-bellied Plover | Pluvialis squatarola | coastal | 70–82 |
| Black Swan | Cygnus atratus | freshwater | 160–200 |
| Black-throated Blue Warbler | Setophaga caerulescens | forest | 20–24 |
| Black-headed Grosbeak | Pheucticus melanocephalus | woodland | 33–36 |
| Blue Jay | Cyanocitta cristata | forest | 34–43 |
| Blue-footed Booby | Sula nebouxii | coastal | 150–170 |
| Brambling | Fringilla montifringilla | woodland | 32–36 |
| Brown Pelican | Pelecanus occidentalis | coastal | 200–230 |
| Brown-headed Cowbird | Molothrus ater | grassland | 29–33 |
| Bufflehead | Bucephala albeola | freshwater | 58–66 |
| Brant | Branta bernicla | coastal | 90–110 |
| Brown Thrasher | Toxostoma rufum | shrubland | 33–38 |
| Blackpoll Warbler | Setophaga striata | forest | 20–26 |
| Black-legged Kittiwake | Rissa tridactyla | coastal | 85–95 |
| Black-bellied Whistling-Duck | Dendrocygna autumnalis | wetland | 80–100 |
| Black-and-white Warbler | Mniotilta varia | forest | 20–23 |
| Black Stork | Ciconia nigra | wetland | 145–155 |
| Black Kite | Milvus migrans | open country | 140–160 |
| Black Bittern | Ixobrychus flavicollis | wetland | 45–55 |
| Black Skimmer | Rynchops niger | coastal | 100–120 |
| Black Guillemot | Cepphus grylle | coastal | 54–60 |
| Black-browed Albatross | Thalassarche melanophris | pelagic | 240–260 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | Buteo platypterus | forest | 90–105 |
| Blue-tailed Bee-eater | Merops philippinus | savanna | 38–45 |
| Blue-and-yellow Macaw | Ara ararauna | forest | 95–105 |
| Blue Tit | Cyanistes caeruleus | woodland | 18–20 |
| Blue-winged Teal | Spatula discors | freshwater | 55–65 |
| Bobolink | Dolichonyx oryzivorus | grassland | 33–38 |
| Bonaparte’s Gull | Chroicocephalus philadelphia | coastal | 76–86 |
| Brown Booby | Sula leucogaster | coastal | 120–150 |
| Barnacle Goose | Branta leucopsis | coastal | 120–145 |
| Barred Warbler | Curruca nisoria | scrubland | 20–24 |
| Baltimore Oriole | Icterus galbula | woodland | 35–40 |
| Bank Swallow | Riparia riparia | open country | 25–30 |
| Blue-winged Warbler | Vermivora cyanoptera | woodland | 20–23 |
| Booted Warbler | Iduna caligata | shrubland | 20–22 |
| Bristle-thighed Curlew | Numenius tahitiensis | coastal | 90–110 |
| Black-throated Loon | Gavia arctica | freshwater | 120–130 |
| Black-capped Vireo | Vireo atricapilla | shrubland | 20–22 |
| Black-throated Sparrow | Amphispiza bilineata | desert | 20–24 |
| Black-winged Stilt | Himantopus himantopus | wetland | 70–85 |
| Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike | Hemipus picatus | forest | 18–22 |
| Blue-gray Gnatcatcher | Polioptila caerulea | woodland | 15–18 |
| Blue Grosbeak | Passerina caerulea | woodland | 25–30 |
| Black-throated Gray Warbler | Setophaga nigrescens | woodland | 18–22 |
| Black-throated Green Warbler | Setophaga virens | forest | 18–22 |
| Black-capped Petrel | Pterodroma hasitata | pelagic | 75–85 |
| Black-faced Spoonbill | Platalea minor | wetland | 120–135 |
| Black-faced Cuckooshrike | Coracina novaehollandiae | woodland | 40–50 |
| Black Redstart | Phoenicurus ochruros | rocky | 28–32 |
| Blue Rock Thrush | Monticola solitarius | rocky | 34–38 |
| Black Grouse | Lyrurus tetrix | moorland | 70–90 |
| Brown-headed Nuthatch | Sitta pusilla | woodland | 16–20 |
| Black-faced Monarch | Monarcha melanopsis | forest | 18–22 |
| Black-browed Reed Warbler | Acrocephalus bistrigiceps | wetland | 18–22 |
Descriptions
Bald Eagle
North America’s iconic raptor with a white head and dark body; ID tip: adults’ white head and tail. Often near large lakes and coasts.
Barn Owl
Heart-shaped facial disc, pale plumage and silent flight; ID tip: white face at night. Found in open country worldwide.
Barn Swallow
Glossy blue back and deeply forked tail; ID tip: long outer tail streamers in flight. Widespread migratory swallow.
Barred Owl
Stocky, brown-barred owl with dark eyes; ID tip: “Who cooks for you?” call. Common in mature North American forests.
Bar-tailed Godwit
Long, slightly upturned bill and barred tail in flight; ID tip: long migratory shorebird, famous for transoceanic flights.
Belted Kingfisher
Blue-gray plump bird with shaggy crest and rattling call; ID tip: large head and white collar. Perches near rivers and lakes.
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater
Colorful green bird with blue cheeks and long tail streamers; ID tip: slender, bee-catching flight. Found across Africa and Asia.
Black-capped Chickadee
Tiny, fluffy bird with a black cap and bib; ID tip: short bill and cheeky call. Common in North American woodlands and towns.
Black-headed Gull
Small gull with dark chocolate head in breeding season; ID tip: slender wings and red legs. Widespread Eurasian coastal species.
Black-necked Stilt
Extremely long pink legs and thin bill; ID tip: black back and white underside. Seen on shallow wetlands.
Black-bellied Plover
Chunky shorebird with bold breeding plumage and black belly; ID tip: short thick bill and upright stance. Winters on coasts worldwide.
Black Swan
Large all-black swan with a red bill; ID tip: graceful S-shaped neck. Native to Australia, often in parks and wetlands.
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Male dark-blue back and black throat patch; ID tip: small warbler with white belly. Breeds in eastern North American forests.
Black-headed Grosbeak
Stout, colorful songbird with a thick bill; ID tip: black head on males and warm orange breast. Found in western North America.
Blue Jay
Bold blue crest and black collar; ID tip: loud jay call and white tail spots. Common in eastern North America.
Blue-footed Booby
Marine bird with distinctive bright blue feet; ID tip: comical courtship displays showing feet. Common on tropical eastern Pacific islands.
Brambling
Finch with streaked back and orange breast in winter; ID tip: white rump in flight. Winters widely across Europe and Asia.
Brown Pelican
Large coastal bird that plunge-dives for fish; ID tip: long bill with throat pouch. Common along Americas’ coasts.
Brown-headed Cowbird
Glossy black with brown head in males; ID tip: chunky, parasitic breeder that lays eggs in other species’ nests. Widespread in North America.
Bufflehead
Small diving duck with iridescent head in males; ID tip: large white patch on back of head. Winters on sheltered coastal waters and ponds.
Brant
Small dark goose with pale neck patch; ID tip: compact shape and dark belly. Migratory, found on northern coasts.
Brown Thrasher
Long-tailed, streaked songster with curved bill; ID tip: heavily streaked breast and bold eye. Common in North American thickets.
Blackpoll Warbler
Small warbler with bold streaking and cap in spring; ID tip: dark cap and long migration. Breeds in boreal North America.
Black-legged Kittiwake
Slender gull with black legs and delicate flight; ID tip: rounded wings and small head. Pelagic and coastal in northern oceans.
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck
Long-necked duck-like bird with trumpet call and black belly; ID tip: pink bill and long legs. Found in tropical wetlands.
Black-and-white Warbler
Striped head and back like a tiny nuthatch; ID tip: creeps along trunks and branches. Widespread in North America.
Black Stork
Large black-backed stork with red bill and legs; ID tip: glossy black plumage and white underparts. Secretive in Eurasia and Africa.
Black Kite
Medium raptor with forked tail and buoyant flight; ID tip: often seen scavenging over towns. Widespread in Eurasia and Africa.
Black Bittern
Stocky, secretive heron with dark plumage; ID tip: vertical posture when hiding in reeds. Found in Asia and Australasia.
Black Skimmer
Unique bill with longer lower mandible used to skim water; ID tip: black upperparts and white forehead. Coastal in the Americas.
Black Guillemot
Compact seabird with black summer plumage and white wing patches; ID tip: bright red feet. Arctic and North Atlantic coasts.
Black-browed Albatross
Large seabird with dark eyebrow and long wings; ID tip: pale face with dark brow. Common on southern oceans.
Broad-winged Hawk
Short, broad wings and banded tail; ID tip: perched stocky hawk with rounded wings. Migratory forest raptor in the Americas.
Blue-tailed Bee-eater
Slender, green bee-eater with blue tail and chestnut throat; ID tip: long central tail streamers. Found in South and Southeast Asia.
Blue-and-yellow Macaw
Large colorful parrot with blue wings and yellow belly; ID tip: bare facial patch and loud screech. Native to South American forests.
Blue Tit
Tiny European tit with blue cap and yellow underparts; ID tip: white face with dark eye stripe. Common in gardens and woods.
Blue-winged Teal
Small dabbling duck with blue patch on wing and male’s white facial crescent; ID tip: fast flight with rapid wingbeats. Migratory in the Americas.
Bobolink
Male’s striking breeding plumage with black back and white rump; ID tip: bubbly song in flight. Prefers grassland breeding habitat.
Bonaparte’s Gull
Small gull with delicate features and black ear spot in breeding season; ID tip: graceful buoyant flight. Coastal and inland during migration.
Brown Booby
Dark brown upperparts with white belly and strong plunge-diving habit; ID tip: bulky seabird often seen in flocks. Tropical oceans.
Barnacle Goose
Black head and neck with white face and pale belly; ID tip: compact, short-necked goose. Breeds Arctic, winters on coasts.
Barred Warbler
Plain gray-brown warbler with bold streaks on underparts; ID tip: heavy bill for a warbler. Migratory across Eurasia.
Baltimore Oriole
Flaming orange and black songbird; ID tip: hanging cup nests and thin pointed bill. Common in eastern North American summers.
Bank Swallow
Small swallow with brown breast band and buffy underparts; ID tip: nests in riverbank burrows. Widespread aerial insectivore.
Blue-winged Warbler
Yellow face and olive back with blue-gray wings; ID tip: small size and sharp two-note song. Eastern North American breeder.
Booted Warbler
Small pale warbler with streaky buff back; ID tip: fine bill and rapid insect foraging. Found across Eurasian scrub.
Bristle-thighed Curlew
Large curlew with heavy, decurved bill and bristled thigh feathers; ID tip: long migratory shorebird of Pacific islands.
Black-throated Loon
Diving waterbird with black throat patch and checkered back in breeding plumage; ID tip: low, sleek profile on water. Northern lakes and seas.
Black-capped Vireo
Small vireo with black cap and white spectacles; ID tip: skulks in dense brush singing buzzy phrases. Endemic to parts of North America.
Black-throated Sparrow
Gray sparrow with bold black throat patch and white eye arcs; ID tip: small desert specialist with crisp song. Southwestern North America.
Black-winged Stilt
Ultra-long legs and thin bill with stark black-and-white plumage; ID tip: high-stepping wader on shallow marshes.
Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike
Small, active insect-eater with barred wings and hooked bill; ID tip: often forages in mixed flocks. Tropical Asian forests.
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Tiny bluish bird with long tail and white eye ring; ID tip: constantly flicks tail and hawks insects. Eastern North America.
Blue Grosbeak
Chunky finch with deep blue male plumage and heavy conical bill; ID tip: two-toned wing bars. Found in southern North America.
Black-throated Gray Warbler
Bold black-and-white face and streaked sides; ID tip: black throat and white eyebrow. Western North American breeder.
Black-throated Green Warbler
Olive back with yellow face and dark throat streak; ID tip: thin, nasal song. Breeds in North American forests.
Black-capped Petrel
Pelagic seabird with dark cap and fluttering flight; ID tip: white belly and black cap. Found in tropical Atlantic off islands.
Black-faced Spoonbill
Rare white spoonbill with black face and spatulate bill; ID tip: distinctive spoon-shaped bill used for sweeping prey. East Asian coastal wetlands.
Black-faced Cuckooshrike
Gray, slender songbird with darker face patch; ID tip: long tail and hooked bill. Common in Australia.
Black Redstart
Small dark-backed flycatcher-like thrush with orange tail; ID tip: tail-flicking behavior. Found on cliffs and urban areas in Eurasia.
Blue Rock Thrush
Blue-gray male perched on rocks and buildings; ID tip: upright stance and melodious song. Widespread in Eurasia and North Africa.
Black Grouse
Stocky gamebird with males’ black plumage and lyre-shaped tail; ID tip: males display in leks. Moorlands and open forests in Eurasia.
Brown-headed Nuthatch
Small nuthatch with brown cap and short tail; ID tip: drills into pine bark and often climbs down trunks. Southeastern U.S. pine forests.
Black-faced Monarch
Glossy black-faced flycatcher with white belly in some subspecies; ID tip: tail flicks and agile flycatching. Australia and nearby islands.
Black-browed Reed Warbler
Plain brown warbler with subtle dark eyebrow; ID tip: reed-dweller with simple song. East Asian wetlands (migratory).