Here you’ll find 45 Birds that start with M, organized from “MacGillivray’s Warbler” to “Mute Swan”. These species range from small songbirds to large waterfowl and serve birdwatching, teaching, and general reference needs.

Birds that start with M are species whose common English names begin with the letter M. Familiar examples include the migratory MacGillivray’s Warbler and the iconic Mute Swan.

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

Common name: The everyday English name helps you recognize species in field guides and during birding trips.

Scientific name: The Latin binomial gives precise species identification and helps you cross-check global taxonomies and sources.

Habitat: A short habitat tag shows where the bird usually lives, helping you narrow search locations quickly.

Wingspan (cm): Wingspan ranges in centimeters let you compare size and plan observation or identification in the field.

Range: A brief distribution note indicates where the species occurs globally and whether it migrates seasonally.

Conservation status: A concise status helps you assess rarity and conservation concerns for planning observations or research.

Birds that start with M

Name Scientific name Habitat Wingspan (cm) Description
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos wetland 81-98 cm Familiar dabbling duck across the Northern Hemisphere; glossy green-headed males and adaptable habits make them common in parks and marshes.
Mute Swan Cygnus olor wetland 200-240 cm Large white swan with an orange bill and graceful neck; found on lakes and rivers across Europe and introduced worldwide.
Muscovy Duck Cairina moschata wetland 120-140 cm Large, often domesticated duck with bare facial caruncles; native to Central and South America and common around ponds and farms.
Macaroni Penguin Eudyptes chrysolophus coastal 50-60 cm Crest-plumed penguin of subantarctic islands; colonies are noisy and dense, with bright yellow head plumes.
Magellanic Penguin Spheniscus magellanicus coastal 60-80 cm Black-and-white penguin breeding on southern South American coasts; nests in burrows and coastal scrapes.
Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus coastal 88-100 cm Long-distance migrant that breeds in burrows; flies low over seas with stiff-winged glides.
Marabou Stork Leptoptilos crumenifer wetland 250-300 cm Large, scavenging stork of Africa with bald head and huge bill; often seen near carcasses and landfills.
Magnificent Frigatebird Fregata magnificens coastal 200-230 cm Aerial, fork-tailed seabird with a male’s inflatable red gular pouch; piracy and kleptoparasitism are common behaviors.
Masked Booby Sula dactylatra coastal 150-165 cm Large tropical booby with a black facial mask; nest on islands and plunge-dive for fish.
Masked Lapwing Vanellus miles grassland 65-75 cm Common in Australia; yellow facial wattles and noisy territorial displays over lawns and wetlands.
Masked Tityra Tityra semifasciata forest 37-42 cm Stout Neotropical bird with a black mask; sits conspicuously and eats fruits and large insects.
Masked Shrike Lanius nubicus shrubland 32-36 cm Striking shrike with a black facial mask and hooked bill; feeds on large insects and small vertebrates.
Merlin Falco columbarius grassland 53-64 cm Small, fast falcon that catches birds mid-air; widespread across the Northern Hemisphere.
Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura shrubland 42-47 cm Slim, soft-voiced dove common in North American backyards; long pointed tail and mournful call.
Mountain Bluebird Sialia currucoides grassland 33-36 cm Sky-blue thrush-like bird of open western mountains; hovers and perches on fenceposts while hunting insects.
Mountain Chickadee Poecile gambeli forest 19-22 cm Small, crested tit with a white eyebrow stripe; common in coniferous mountain forests of western North America.
Mountain Plover Charadrius montanus grassland 52-60 cm Ground-nesting plover of western North American prairies; cryptic plumage and declining due to habitat loss.
Mountain Quail Oreortyx pictus shrubland 45-50 cm Secretive, crested quail of western mountains; forms coveys and feeds on seeds and insects.
Maccoa Duck Oxyura maccoa wetland 60-72 cm African stiff-tailed duck with a compact body and spiky tail; prefers shallow freshwater lakes.
Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis grassland 27-32 cm Slim, streaked songbird of Europe’s grasslands and moors; characteristic parachuting song-flight display.
Mangrove Cuckoo Coccyzus minor coastal 38-45 cm Secretive Neotropical cuckoo of mangrove and coastal thickets; long tail and plaintive call.
Magpie-lark Grallina cyanoleuca urban 30-36 cm Australian pied passerine often seen on lawns and fences; melodious calls and territorial behavior.
Marbled Murrelet Brachyramphus marmoratus coastal 50-58 cm Small seabird that nests inland in old-growth forests; cryptic plumage and dives for fish offshore.
Masked Finfoot Heliornis personatus wetland 50-60 cm Rare, secretive wetland bird of Southeast Asia with a broad bill and masked face; excellent swimmer.
Marbled Godwit Limosa fedoa coastal 80-90 cm Large, long-billed shorebird with upcurved bill; probes mudflats for invertebrates.
Magnolia Warbler Setophaga magnolia forest 21-24 cm Brightly patterned Neotropical migrant with a black bib and yellow face; skulks in conifers during migration.
MacGillivray’s Warbler Geothlypis tolmiei forest 20-24 cm Shy warbler of western North American thickets with a fluty song and olive plumage.
Mottled Duck Anas fulvigula wetland 80-90 cm Non-migratory dabbling duck of southeastern US and Caribbean marshes; mottled brown plumage.
Mealy Parrot Amazona farinosa forest 52-60 cm Large Amazon parrot with dull green plumage and fluffy (mealy) appearance; found in tropical forests.
Military Macaw Ara militaris forest 100-112 cm Green macaw with a red forehead and strong flight; endangered in parts of its range.
Monk Parakeet Myiopsitta monachus urban 48-58 cm Social, communal-nesting parrot native to South America and established in many cities worldwide.
Montezuma Oropendola Psarocolius montezuma forest 50-60 cm Large icterid with hanging woven nests and loud, bubbling songs in Central American forests.
Mourning Warbler Geothlypis philadelphia forest 19-24 cm Plain, olive-brown warbler of dense understory; males show a hood-like dark throat patch in summer.
Marsh Wren Cistothorus palustris wetland 18-21 cm Tiny, bubbly-singing wren of marshes; builds multiple nests and is highly territorial.
Marsh Tit Poecile palustris forest 18-21 cm Small, plain tit of Eurasian woodlands with a glossy black cap and melodious calls.
Mississippi Kite Ictinia mississippiensis grassland 88-102 cm Graceful, small raptor that hawks insects and small birds over open country; summers in North America.
Montagu’s Harrier Circus pygargus grassland 97-120 cm Slim harrier that migrates between Eurasia and Africa; males pale and females streaked.
Magellanic Woodpecker Campephilus magellanicus forest 64-70 cm One of the largest woodpeckers, native to southern South American forests; striking red head in males.
Middle Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocoptes medius forest 34-38 cm Small, gentle woodpecker of mature European deciduous woodlands with a red crown.
Mountain Thrush Turdus plebejus montane 34-38 cm Dusky thrush of Central American highlands; sings melodious phrases from canopy perches.
Mountain Wren Troglodytes solstitialis montane 15-18 cm Tiny, loud-voiced wren of Andean cloud forests; skulks in dense understory.
Mitred Parakeet Psittacara mitratus forest 50-58 cm Sturdy green parakeet with red forehead markings; often seen in flocks in Andean woodlands and towns.
Magpie Tanager Cissopis leverianus forest 35-40 cm Long-tailed, black-and-white tanager of South American forests and edges; noisy and gregarious.
Moluccan Cockatoo Cacatua moluccensis forest 95-105 cm Large, salmon-pink cockatoo from the Moluccas with an impressive crest and loud calls.
MacQueen’s Bustard Chlamydotis macqueenii desert 160-175 cm Large steppe bustard of Central Asian deserts; males perform elaborate display flights in breeding season.

Descriptions

Mallard
Mute Swan
Muscovy Duck
Macaroni Penguin
Magellanic Penguin
Manx Shearwater
Marabou Stork
Magnificent Frigatebird
Masked Booby
Masked Lapwing
Masked Tityra
Masked Shrike
Merlin
Mourning Dove
Mountain Bluebird
Mountain Chickadee
Mountain Plover
Mountain Quail
Maccoa Duck
Meadow Pipit
Mangrove Cuckoo
Magpie-lark
Marbled Murrelet
Masked Finfoot
Marbled Godwit
Magnolia Warbler
MacGillivray’s Warbler
Mottled Duck
Mealy Parrot
Military Macaw
Monk Parakeet
Montezuma Oropendola
Mourning Warbler
Marsh Wren
Marsh Tit
Mississippi Kite
Montagu’s Harrier
Magellanic Woodpecker
Middle Spotted Woodpecker
Mountain Thrush
Mountain Wren
Mitred Parakeet
Magpie Tanager
Moluccan Cockatoo
MacQueen’s Bustard
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