Here you’ll find 104 Birds that start with P that begin with P, organized from “Pacific Black Duck” to “Pyrrhuloxia”. These species span tiny hummingbirds to large waterbirds, occur worldwide, and support birdwatching, classroom use, species identification, and nature writing.
Birds that start with P are English common-name entries for species whose usual names begin with the letter P. A notable example is the Pacific Black Duck, common in Australasia, while peafowl carry deep cultural symbolism across Asia.
Below you’ll find the table with Common name, Binomial, Habitat, and Wingspan (cm).
Common name: The everyday English name you will look for when identifying or recording species in field guides or lists.
Binomial: The scientific Latin name gives a precise species identifier you can use for research and accurate cross-referencing.
Habitat: A concise category (forest, wetland, grassland, coastal, urban) showing where you are most likely to find the species.
Wingspan (cm): Typical wingspan range or mean in centimeters helps you judge size and compare similar species at a glance.
Birds that start with P
| Common name | Scientific name | Habitat | Wingspan (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific Black Duck | Anas superciliosa | Freshwater, Wetland | 82-93 |
| Pacific Diver | Gavia pacifica | Marine, Freshwater | 110-128 |
| Pacific Golden-Plover | Pluvialis fulva | Coastal, Grassland | 60-67 |
| Pacific Gull | Larus pacificus | Coastal, Marine | 137-157 |
| Pacific Hornero | Furnarius cinnamomeus | Forest, Urban | 25-30 |
| Pacific Parrotlet | Forpus coelestis | Forest, Desert | 30-34 |
| Pacific Screech-Owl | Megascops cooperi | Forest, Woodland | 50-60 |
| Pacific Wren | Troglodytes pacificus | Forest, Woodland | 12-16 |
| Painted Bunting | Passerina ciris | Scrub, Woodland | 21-23 |
| Painted Stork | Mycteria leucocephala | Wetland, Freshwater | 150-160 |
| Palawan Peacock-Pheasant | Polyplectron napoleonis | Forest | 60-65 |
| Pale-billed Woodpecker | Campephilus guatemalensis | Forest | 45-50 |
| Pale-faced Sheathbill | Chionis albus | Coastal, Tundra | 75-80 |
| Pallas’s Fish-Eagle | Haliaeetus leucoryphus | Wetland, Freshwater | 180-215 |
| Pallas’s Sandgrouse | Syrrhaptes paradoxus | Grassland, Desert | 60-70 |
| Pallid Harrier | Circus macrourus | Grassland, Wetland | 97-118 |
| Palm Cockatoo | Probosciger aterrimus | Forest, Woodland | 70-100 |
| Palm-nut Vulture | Gypohierax angolensis | Forest, Wetland | 130-150 |
| Palm Tanager | Thraupis palmarum | Forest, Urban | 32-34 |
| Palm Warbler | Setophaga palmarum | Forest, Scrub | 20-22 |
| Paradise Crow | Lycocorax pyrrhopterus | Forest | 60-65 |
| Paradise Riflebird | Ptiloris paradiseus | Forest | 85-90 |
| Paradise Tanager | Tangara chilensis | Forest | 26-28 |
| Paradoxbill, Reed | Panurus biarmicus | Wetland | 16-18 |
| Parasitic Jaeger | Stercorarius parasiticus | Marine, Tundra | 100-115 |
| Pardalote, Spotted | Pardalotus punctatus | Forest, Woodland | 18-22 |
| Parrot, Red-crowned | Amazona viridigenalis | Forest, Urban | 60-65 |
| Parrot, Sun | Aratinga solstitialis | Forest, Grassland | 45-50 |
| Parrotbill, Great | Conostoma aemodium | Forest, Montane | 35-40 |
| Partridge, Chukar | Alectoris chukar | Grassland, Montane | 53-58 |
| Partridge, Gray | Perdix perdix | Grassland, Farmland | 50-56 |
| Passenger Pigeon | Ectopistes migratorius | Forest | 60-66 |
| Pastel-colored Starling | Sturnus sericeus | Forest, Farmland | 40-45 |
| Patagonian Sierra-Finch | Phrygilus patagonicus | Forest, Montane | 25-28 |
| Peach-faced Lovebird | Agapornis roseicollis | Desert, Scrub | 30-33 |
| Peacock, Indian | Pavo cristatus | Forest, Farmland | 140-160 |
| Pelican, American White | Pelecanus erythrorhynchos | Wetland, Freshwater | 240-300 |
| Pelican, Brown | Pelecanus occidentalis | Coastal, Marine | 180-200 |
| Pelican, Great White | Pelecanus onocrotalus | Wetland, Freshwater | 270-360 |
| Penguin, Adélie | Pygoscelis adeliae | Marine, Tundra | 46-51 |
| Penguin, Emperor | Aptenodytes forsteri | Marine, Tundra | 90-100 |
| Penguin, Galápagos | Spheniscus mendiculus | Coastal, Marine | 40-45 |
| Penguin, Gentoo | Pygoscelis papua | Marine, Tundra | 51-56 |
| Penguin, King | Aptenodytes patagonicus | Marine, Tundra | 85-95 |
| Penguin, Little | Eudyptula minor | Coastal, Marine | 30-33 |
| Penguin, Magellanic | Spheniscus magellanicus | Coastal, Marine | 40-45 |
| Peregrine Falcon | Falco peregrinus | Coastal, Urban | 74-120 |
| Petrel, Bermuda | Pterodroma cahow | Marine | 86-90 |
| Petrel, Hawaiian | Pterodroma sandwichensis | Marine, Montane | 91 |
| Pewee, Olive-sided | Contopus cooperi | Forest, Montane | 30-34 |
| Phainopepla | Phainopepla nitens | Desert, Woodland | 26-29 |
| Pheasant, Common | Phasianus colchicus | Farmland, Grassland | 70-90 |
| Philippine Eagle | Pithecophaga jefferyi | Forest | 184-220 |
| Phoebe, Black | Sayornis nigricans | Freshwater, Urban | 27-30 |
| Phoebe, Eastern | Sayornis phoebe | Forest, Farmland | 26-28 |
| Picathartes, White-necked | Picathartes gymnocephalus | Forest, Montane | 38-40 |
| Piculet, White-bellied | Picumnus spilogaster | Forest, Scrub | 18-20 |
| Pied Butcherbird | Cracticus nigrogularis | Woodland, Urban | 50-57 |
| Pied Cormorant | Phalacrocorax varius | Coastal, Wetland | 110-120 |
| Pied Currawong | Strepera graculina | Forest, Urban | 75-85 |
| Pied Flycatcher | Ficedula hypoleuca | Forest, Woodland | 22-25 |
| Pied Imperial-Pigeon | Ducula bicolor | Forest, Coastal | 70-75 |
| Pied Oystercatcher | Haematopus longirostris | Coastal | 85-95 |
| Pied Stilt | Himantopus leucocephalus | Wetland, Coastal | 60-65 |
| Pigeon, Crested | Ocyphaps lophotes | Woodland, Urban | 45-50 |
| Pigeon, Nicobar | Caloenas nicobarica | Forest, Coastal | 70-80 |
| Pigeon, Snow | Columba leuconota | Montane, Grassland | 60-65 |
| Pigeon, Speckled | Columba guinea | Urban, Grassland | 65-70 |
| Pileated Woodpecker | Dryocopus pileatus | Forest, Woodland | 66-75 |
| Pine Grosbeak | Pinicola enucleator | Forest, Montane | 40-45 |
| Pine Siskin | Spinus pinus | Forest, Urban | 18-22 |
| Pine Warbler | Setophaga pinus | Forest | 20-23 |
| Pink-footed Goose | Anser brachyrhynchus | Tundra, Farmland | 150-170 |
| Pink-headed Warbler | Cardellina versicolor | Forest, Montane | 18-20 |
| Pink-spotted Fruit-Dove | Ptilinopus perlatus | Forest | 35-40 |
| Pintail, Northern | Anas acuta | Wetland, Tundra | 80-95 |
| Pinyon Jay | Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus | Forest, Woodland | 45-50 |
| Piping Plover | Charadrius melodus | Coastal, Freshwater | 47-50 |
| Pitta, Blue-winged | Pitta moluccensis | Forest, Scrub | 32-35 |
| Pitta, Rainbow | Pitta iris | Forest, Woodland | 28-30 |
| Plains-wanderer | Pedionomus torquatus | Grassland | 28-36 |
| Plum-headed Parakeet | Psittacula cyanocephala | Forest, Woodland | 40-45 |
| Po’ouli | Melamprosops phaeosoma | Forest | 20-22 |
| Pomarine Jaeger | Stercorarius pomarinus | Marine, Tundra | 110-125 |
| Prairie Falcon | Falco mexicanus | Grassland, Desert | 90-110 |
| Pratincole, Collared | Glareola pratincola | Wetland, Grassland | 55-65 |
| Prince Ruspoli’s Turaco | Tauraco ruspolii | Forest, Woodland | 65-70 |
| Princess Parrot | Polytelis alexandrae | Desert, Scrub | 35-40 |
| Prothonotary Warbler | Protonotaria citrea | Forest, Wetland | 22 |
| Ptarmigan, Rock | Lagopus muta | Tundra, Montane | 54-60 |
| Ptarmigan, White-tailed | Lagopus leucura | Tundra, Montane | 50-55 |
| Puffin, Tufted | Fratercula cirrhata | Marine, Coastal | 60-65 |
| Pukeko | Porphyrio porphyrio | Wetland, Farmland | 50-55 |
| Purple Finch | Haemorhous purpureus | Forest, Urban | 22-26 |
| Purple Gallinule | Porphyrio martinica | Wetland, Freshwater | 50-57 |
| Purple Grenadier | Uraeginthus ianthinogaster | Grassland, Scrub | 15-17 |
| Purple Heron | Ardea purpurea | Wetland, Freshwater | 120-150 |
| Purple Martin | Progne subis | Urban, Forest | 38-41 |
| Purple Sandpiper | Calidris maritima | Coastal, Tundra | 40-45 |
| Purple Sunbird | Cinnyris asiaticus | Urban, Forest | 15-17 |
| Purple-crowned Fairywren | Malurus coronatus | Scrub, Wetland | 15-17 |
| Pygmy Cormorant | Microcarbo pygmaeus | Wetland, Freshwater | 75-90 |
| Pygmy Nuthatch | Sitta pygmaea | Forest | 19-21 |
| Pyrrhuloxia | Cardinalis sinuatus | Desert, Scrub | 25-28 |
Descriptions
Pacific Black Duck
A dabbling duck found in much of Indonesia, New Guinea, Australia, and New Zealand. It’s recognized by its dark body, pale face with two dark stripes, and a green speculum on the wing. LC.
Pacific Diver
Also known as the Pacific Loon, this seabird breeds on tundra lakes and winters along the Pacific coast. It has a striking gray head, black throat, and checkered back in breeding plumage. LC.
Pacific Golden-Plover
A medium-sized plover that undertakes a remarkable long-distance migration from its Arctic breeding grounds to coasts and islands throughout the Pacific and Asia. Its breeding plumage is a spangled gold and black. LC.
Pacific Gull
A very large, powerful gull native to the coasts of Australia. It has a massive, deep bill tipped with red, a white head, dark back, and a slow, majestic flight style. LC.
Pacific Hornero
Found in Ecuador and Peru, this ovenbird is known for building large, sturdy mud nests that resemble ovens. Its plumage is a warm rufous-brown, and it has a loud, ringing song. LC.
Pacific Parrotlet
A small, vibrant green parrot from western Ecuador and Peru, often kept as a pet. They are social birds with a bold, curious nature, known for forming strong pair bonds. LC.
Pacific Screech-Owl
A small owl found from southern Mexico to Costa Rica. Its plumage provides excellent camouflage against tree bark. It has bright yellow eyes and prominent ear tufts. LC.
Pacific Wren
A tiny, energetic brown bird with a short, often cocked tail. Found in coniferous forests of western North America, it has an incredibly complex and rapid song for its size. LC.
Painted Bunting
Arguably North America’s most beautiful bird, the male has a stunning mix of blue, green, yellow, and red. They breed in the southern US and winter in Central America and the Caribbean. NT.
Painted Stork
A large wading bird with a distinctive pinkish tinge on its wing feathers and a drooping yellow-orange bill. Found in the wetlands of tropical Asia, it nests colonially in trees. NT.
Palawan Peacock-Pheasant
A stunning but threatened pheasant endemic to the island of Palawan in the Philippines. The male has iridescent blue-purple plumage and large, metallic blue-green ocelli (eyespots) on its tail. VU.
Pale-billed Woodpecker
A large, powerful woodpecker of Central America, similar in size to the Pileated Woodpecker. It has black and white plumage and a prominent red crest, with a pale ivory-colored bill. LC.
Pale-faced Sheathbill
A strange, all-white, pigeon-like bird of the Antarctic Peninsula. It is an opportunistic scavenger, often found around penguin and seal colonies, and is the only land bird native to Antarctica. LC.
Pallas’s Fish-Eagle
A large, powerful bird of prey found across Central Asia. It has a pale tan head, dark brown body, and a distinctive white band across its tail. It feeds mainly on fish. VU.
Pallas’s Sandgrouse
Known for its long, pointed tail feathers and feathered feet, this bird is adapted to the steppes of Central Asia. Males fly long distances to water sources, soaking their belly feathers to carry water to their chicks. LC.
Pallid Harrier
A graceful bird of prey with long wings and a slender body. Males are strikingly pale gray and white. It breeds in open grasslands of Eastern Europe and Asia and winters in Africa and India. EN.
Palm Cockatoo
A very large, smoky-grey parrot from New Guinea and northern Australia. It has a huge black bill and a prominent red cheek patch that changes color when the bird is excited. LC.
Palm-nut Vulture
An unusual vulture from sub-Saharan Africa whose diet primarily consists of the fruit of the oil palm, though it also eats crabs and fish. It has striking black and white plumage. LC.
Palm Tanager
A common and widespread tanager in South and Central America, often found in gardens and plantations. Its plumage is a fairly drab olive-gray, but it is an active and vocal bird. LC.
Palm Warbler
A small North American warbler recognized by its constant tail-wagging. It breeds in northern bogs and winters in the southeastern US and Caribbean, often found in open, brushy fields. LC.
Paradise Crow
A bird-of-paradise from the Maluku Islands of Indonesia that looks more like a crow. It has silky, dark plumage with an iridescent sheen and a distinctive white iris. LC.
Paradise Riflebird
A spectacular bird-of-paradise from eastern Australia. During his display, the male fans his wings into a circle, revealing iridescent turquoise plumage, and throws his head back. LC.
Paradise Tanager
A stunningly colorful bird from the Amazon basin. It has a bright green head, black upperparts, a turquoise belly, and a brilliant scarlet or yellow rump, depending on the subspecies. LC.
Paradoxbill, Reed
Also known as the Bearded Reedling, this small, acrobatic bird lives in reed beds across Europe and Asia. The male has a cinnamon-colored body, long tail, and distinctive black “moustaches”. LC.
Parasitic Jaeger
A seabird known for kleptoparasitism—aggressively chasing other birds like terns and gulls to force them to drop their catch. It breeds in the Arctic and is a powerful, agile flyer. LC.
Pardalote, Spotted
A tiny, jewel-like bird from Australia, sometimes called a “diamondbird”. It is covered in intricate spots and streaks of white, black, and yellow, with a bright red rump. LC.
Parrot, Red-crowned
A bright green parrot with a brilliant red forehead, native to northeastern Mexico but now established in several US cities. It is a highly social and vocal species, but endangered in its native range. EN.
Parrot, Sun
Also known as the Sun Conure, this brilliantly colored parrot from South America is a popular pet. Its plumage is a vibrant mix of golden-yellow, orange, and red. Sadly, it is endangered in the wild. EN.
Parrotbill, Great
A large, sociable parrotbill found in the Himalayas. It has a heavy, parrot-like bill, grayish-brown plumage, and a distinctive deep, gruff call. It moves through the forest in noisy flocks. LC.
Partridge, Chukar
A plump game bird native to the Middle East and Asia, widely introduced elsewhere. It is recognized by the bold black line running through its eye and down its neck, framing a white throat. LC.
Partridge, Gray
A round, ground-dwelling bird native to Europe and Asia, introduced to North America for sport. It has a distinctive orange face and a chestnut-colored horseshoe mark on the belly of the male. LC.
Passenger Pigeon
Once the most numerous bird in North America, flying in continent-darkening flocks. Relentless hunting and habitat loss drove this species to extinction in the early 20th century. EX.
Pastel-colored Starling
Also known as the Silky Starling, this bird from southeastern China has smooth, pale grayish-white plumage with a contrasting black-and-white wing pattern. It is often seen in flocks. LC.
Patagonian Sierra-Finch
A colorful finch found in the southern Andes of Chile and Argentina. The male has a gray head, olive back, and bright yellow underparts. It often forages on the ground near forest edges. LC.
Peach-faced Lovebird
A small, highly social parrot native to arid regions of southwestern Africa. It has a green body and a prominent rosy-pink face. It is one of the most popular pet parrot species. LC.
Peacock, Indian
Also known as Indian Peafowl, the male is famous for its enormous, iridescent tail train with dozens of ocelli (eyespots), which it fans during courtship displays. It is the national bird of India. LC.
Pelican, American White
An enormous white bird with black flight feathers and a huge orange bill. Unlike the Brown Pelican, it does not dive-bomb for fish but instead fishes cooperatively in groups on inland lakes. LC.
Pelican, Brown
A large seabird of the Americas known for its dramatic plunge-dives from high above the water to catch fish. Its population recovered after being decimated by DDT pesticide use. LC.
Pelican, Great White
One of the world’s largest flying birds, found from Europe to Asia and Africa. It is distinguished by its pure white plumage, a pinkish facial pouch, and its habit of fishing in large, synchronized flocks. LC.
Penguin, Adélie
A classic black-and-white penguin of the Antarctic coast, identified by the distinct white ring around its eye. They are feisty, curious birds that nest in huge, noisy colonies. LC.
Penguin, Emperor
The largest and heaviest of all penguins, famous for breeding during the harsh Antarctic winter. Males incubate a single egg on their feet for two months without eating, enduring extreme cold. NT.
Penguin, Galápagos
The only penguin species found north of the equator. It is one of the smallest penguins and survives in the tropical Galápagos Islands thanks to the cool, nutrient-rich Cromwell and Humboldt currents. EN.
Penguin, Gentoo
Easily recognized by the wide white stripe extending across the top of its head. It is the third-largest penguin species and is known for being the fastest underwater swimmer among all penguins. LC.
Penguin, King
The second-largest penguin, with a striking orange-yellow patch on its upper chest and head. They form massive colonies on subantarctic islands. Their chicks have a unique, fluffy brown plumage. LC.
Penguin, Little
The smallest species of penguin, also known as the Blue Penguin or Fairy Penguin. Found on the coastlines of southern Australia and New Zealand, they have a unique slate-blue or indigo plumage. LC.
Penguin, Magellanic
A South American penguin that nests in burrows along the coasts of Argentina, Chile, and the Falkland Islands. It is identified by the two black bands across its white chest. NT.
Peregrine Falcon
The fastest animal on the planet, capable of reaching speeds over 320 km/h (200 mph) in a dive. This powerful falcon is found worldwide and preys on other birds. LC.
Petrel, Bermuda
Known as the Cahow, this seabird was thought extinct for over 300 years until it was rediscovered in 1951. It nests only on a few small islands in Bermuda and is a celebrated conservation success story. EN.
Petrel, Hawaiian
A seabird that nests in high-elevation burrows on the Hawaiian Islands and forages over the open ocean. It is threatened by introduced predators and habitat loss. VU.
Pewee, Olive-sided
A stout flycatcher of North American coniferous forests, known for its distinct, whistled “quick, three beers!” song. It perches at the very top of tall snags to hunt for flying insects. NT.
Phainopepla
A silky, crested flycatcher of the southwestern US and Mexico. The male is a glossy black, while the female is gray. They feed almost exclusively on mistletoe berries. LC.
Pheasant, Common
A familiar game bird, native to Asia but widely introduced across the world. The male is brightly colored with a green head, red wattles, and a long, pointed tail. LC.
Philippine Eagle
A massive and critically endangered eagle from the Philippines, also known as the Monkey-eating Eagle. It has a shaggy crest and piercing blue-gray eyes, and it is one of the world’s largest eagles. CR.
Phoebe, Black
A dapper flycatcher of the American West, usually found near water. It constantly pumps its tail while perched and sallies out to catch insects. It often builds its mud nest on bridges and buildings. LC.
Phoebe, Eastern
A common flycatcher in eastern North America, known for its namesake “fee-bee” call and its constant tail-wagging. It often nests under the eaves of buildings. LC.
Picathartes, White-necked
An bizarre and elusive bird from the rainforests of West Africa. It has a featherless, bright yellow head, a long neck, and builds mud nests on rock faces and in caves. VU.
Piculet, White-bellied
A tiny woodpecker relative from South America. It lacks the stiff tail feathers of larger woodpeckers and forages more like a nuthatch, creeping along small branches. NT.
Pied Butcherbird
An Australian songbird with a striking black-and-white pattern and a large, hooked bill. It is renowned for its beautiful, flute-like, and melodious song. LC.
Pied Cormorant
A large black-and-white cormorant found in Australia and New Zealand. It is a social bird, often seen in large flocks, and nests in colonies in trees, cliffs, or on the ground. LC.
Pied Currawong
A large, intelligent Australian bird related to butcherbirds. It is mostly black with white patches on the wings and tail, and has bright yellow eyes. Known for its ringing “curra-wong” call. LC.
Pied Flycatcher
A small migratory songbird that breeds across Europe. The breeding male is a distinct black and white, while the female is brown. It nests in tree cavities. LC.
Pied Imperial-Pigeon
A large, striking pigeon of Southeast Asia and northern Australia. Its plumage is clean white with black flight feathers and tail tip. It travels in flocks between coastal islands to feed on fruit. LC.
Pied Oystercatcher
A conspicuous shorebird of Australia with bold black-and-white plumage, a long, bright red-orange bill, and pink legs. It uses its strong bill to pry open shellfish. LC.
Pied Stilt
A graceful wading bird with a black back and wings, a white body, and incredibly long, slender pink legs. Found in Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia. LC.
Pigeon, Crested
A common Australian pigeon known for its tall, thin, black crest. When it takes flight, its wings produce a characteristic whistling sound. LC.
Pigeon, Nicobar
A stunning, ground-dwelling pigeon found on small islands in Southeast Asia. It has dark, iridescent plumage with metallic green and copper hackles on its neck. It is the closest living relative to the dodo. NT.
Pigeon, Snow
A high-altitude pigeon from the Himalayas and mountains of Central Asia. It has a striking pattern with a dark head, white neck collar, and checkered wings. LC.
Pigeon, Speckled
A common pigeon of sub-Saharan Africa, recognized by the reddish, featherless skin around its eyes and white speckles on its wings. Often found in towns and cities. LC.
Pileated Woodpecker
One of the largest woodpeckers in North America, a crow-sized bird with a flaming red crest. It drills distinctive large, rectangular holes in dead trees to find carpenter ants. LC.
Pine Grosbeak
A large, plump finch of northern boreal forests. Males are a beautiful rosy-red, while females are a duller yellow-olive. They have a stout bill for eating seeds and buds. LC.
Pine Siskin
A small, heavily streaked finch with subtle yellow markings on its wings and tail. They are nomadic and social, often traveling in large, chattering flocks in search of seeds. LC.
Pine Warbler
A North American warbler strongly associated with pine forests. The male is yellowish-olive with two white wingbars. It is one of the few warblers that regularly eats seeds, especially in winter. LC.
Pink-footed Goose
A goose that breeds in Greenland, Iceland, and Svalbard and winters in northwestern Europe. It has a dark head, a gray-brown body, and its namesake pink feet. LC.
Pink-headed Warbler
A beautiful and unique warbler from the highlands of southern Mexico and Guatemala. It has a stunning deep red body with a silvery-pink head and chest. LC.
Pink-spotted Fruit-Dove
A colorful pigeon from New Guinea, easily identified by the bright pink spots on its green wings. Like other fruit-doves, it feeds on fruit in the forest canopy. LC.
Pintail, Northern
An elegant dabbling duck with a long, slender neck. The male has a chocolate-brown head, white breast, and a long, needle-like central tail feather that gives the species its name. LC.
Pinyon Jay
A highly social, blue-gray corvid of the western US, living in permanent flocks. It relies heavily on the seeds of pinyon pines, which it caches in huge numbers to eat later. VU.
Piping Plover
A small, pale shorebird that nests on open sandy beaches in North America. Its population is threatened by coastal development and human disturbance. NT.
Pitta, Blue-winged
A brightly colored, secretive ground-dwelling bird that breeds in Southeast Asia and migrates to Malaysia and Indonesia. It has a buffy body, green back, blue wings, and a black-and-tan head. LC.
Pitta, Rainbow
A vibrant and tiny pitta endemic to northern Australia. It has a black head with chestnut stripes, a green back, and a bright red belly. It hops on the forest floor searching for insects. LC.
Plains-wanderer
A rare, quail-like bird from the grasslands of southeastern Australia, and the only member of its family. The female is larger and more brightly colored than the male, who handles incubation and chick-rearing. EN.
Plum-headed Parakeet
A slender parakeet from the Indian subcontinent. The male has a stunning deep red to purple head that resembles a ripe plum, contrasting with its green body. LC.
Po’ouli
A critically endangered or, more likely, extinct honeycreeper from Maui, Hawaii. It had a distinctive black mask and fed on snails. The last known individual died in 2004. CR (possibly EX).
Pomarine Jaeger
The largest of the jaegers, a powerful seabird that bullies other birds for their food. In breeding plumage, it has distinctive blunt, twisted central tail feathers. LC.
Prairie Falcon
A swift falcon of open country in western North America. It is paler and sandier in color than the Peregrine and has distinctive dark “armpits” visible in flight. LC.
Pratincole, Collared
A unique, long-winged shorebird that behaves like a swallow, catching insects on the wing. It has a deeply forked tail and a creamy throat patch bordered by a black line. LC.
Prince Ruspoli’s Turaco
A brightly colored and elusive bird endemic to a small area of southern Ethiopia. It has green plumage, a white and red crest, and crimson wing patches visible in flight. VU.
Princess Parrot
A slender, pastel-colored parrot from the arid interior of Australia. It has a unique mix of soft green, pink, and blue plumage. Its nomadic nature makes it difficult to find. VU.
Prothonotary Warbler
A brilliant golden-yellow warbler of wooded swamps in the southeastern US. Unusually for a warbler, it nests in tree cavities over water. Its population is declining due to habitat loss. LC.
Ptarmigan, Rock
A hardy grouse adapted to Arctic and high-mountain environments. Its plumage changes seasonally, from mottled brown in summer to pure white in winter for camouflage in the snow. LC.
Ptarmigan, White-tailed
The smallest of the ptarmigans, found in alpine regions of North America. It is the only bird in North America that stays in the alpine zone year-round. Its plumage is pure white in winter. LC.
Puffin, Tufted
A charismatic seabird of the North Pacific, recognized by its thick orange bill and long, pale feather tufts that appear during the breeding season. It nests in burrows on coastal cliffs. LC.
Pukeko
Also known as the Purple Swamphen, this large rail is found in New Zealand and Australia. It has deep blue and black plumage, a bright red bill and frontal shield, and long, spindly legs. LC.
Purple Finch
A finch of North American forests. The male looks as if it’s been “dipped in raspberry juice,” a much more wine-colored red than the House Finch. The female is brown and heavily streaked. LC.
Purple Gallinule
A stunningly colored waterbird of the Americas with iridescent purple-blue plumage, a red and yellow bill, and long yellow legs with huge feet that allow it to walk on floating vegetation. LC.
Purple Grenadier
A beautiful estrildid finch from East Africa. The male has a deep blue face and iridescent purple underparts, contrasting with its cinnamon-brown back. LC.
Purple Heron
A large, slender heron found in Africa, Asia, and Europe. More secretive than the Gray Heron, it has a darker, reddish-brown and slaty-grey plumage that helps it blend into reed beds. LC.
Purple Martin
The largest swallow in North America. Males are a glossy, iridescent dark blue-purple. In the east, they are almost entirely dependent on human-provided nesting gourds and houses. LC.
Purple Sandpiper
A stocky, robust shorebird that breeds in the high Arctic and winters on rocky coastlines farther south. It has a dark, slightly purplish-gray winter plumage and yellowish legs. LC.
Purple Sunbird
A small, active sunbird found across South Asia. The breeding male has a glossy, metallic purple-black plumage that shines in the sun, while the female is a dull olive-green. LC.
Purple-crowned Fairywren
A spectacular fairywren from northern Australia, found only along grassy, pandanus-lined creeks. The breeding male has a brilliant, iridescent amethyst crown bordered with black. VU.
Pygmy Cormorant
A small cormorant found in southeastern Europe and southwestern Asia. It has dark, glossy plumage and is often found in large flocks at freshwater lakes and deltas. LC.
Pygmy Nuthatch
A tiny, sociable nuthatch of western North American pine forests. It has a grayish-blue back and a brownish-gray cap. These birds forage in noisy groups and roost huddled together in cavities. LC.
Pyrrhuloxia
A desert cardinal of the southwestern US and Mexico. It is grayer than the Northern Cardinal, with a red crest, face, and belly stripe. It has a distinctive stout, yellow, parrot-like bill. LC.