This list includes 42 Birds that start with V, from “Van Dam’s Vanga” to “Vulturine Guineafowl”. It covers global species across forests, wetlands, grasslands, and coastal areas. Names, habitats, and wingspans follow widely used taxonomies and published measurements.
Birds that start with V are species whose common English names begin with the letter V. They range from island endemics like Van Dam’s Vanga to gregarious species such as the Vulturine Guineafowl.
Below you’ll find the table with Common name, Scientific name, Habitat, and Wingspan (cm).
Common name: The everyday English name helps you recognize species in the field and search for them in guides or apps.
Scientific name: The accepted binomial gives precise identification across languages and links you to formal checklists and research.
Habitat: A concise habitat label tells you where the species lives and where you are most likely to find it.
Wingspan (cm): Wingspan ranges in centimeters give a quick sense of size for comparison and practical field identification.
Birds that start with V
| Name | Scientific name | Habitat | Wingspan (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Van Dam’s Vanga | Xenopirostris damii | Dry deciduous forests of western Madagascar. | 28–30 |
| Variable Antshrike | Thamnophilus caerulescens | Forest edges, woodlands, and secondary growth in South America. | 21–24 |
| Variable Hawk | Geranoaetus polyosoma | Open country, mountains, and forest edges in South America. | 110–150 |
| Variable Seedeater | Sporophila corvina | Grassy areas, weedy fields, and roadsides in Central and South America. | 17–19 |
| Varied Bunting | Passerina versicolor | Thorny scrubland and dense thickets in Mexico and the southern US. | 20–22 |
| Varied Lorikeet | Psitteuteles versicolor | Tropical eucalyptus woodlands and savannas in northern Australia. | 30–34 |
| Varied Sittella | Daphoenositta chrysoptera | Eucalypt forests and woodlands throughout Australia. | 21–26 |
| Varied Thrush | Ixoreus naevius | Dense, moist coniferous forests of western North America. | 34–42 |
| Vaux’s Swift | Chaetura vauxi | Forests near water, roosting in hollow trees and chimneys. | 27–30 |
| Veery | Catharus fuscescens | Moist deciduous forests, especially near streams, in North America. | 26–30 |
| Velvet Asity | Philepitta castanea | Rainforests of eastern Madagascar. | 25–28 |
| Velvet-fronted Nuthatch | Sitta frontalis | Open forests and woodlands across South and Southeast Asia. | 20–22 |
| Velvet-purple Coronet | Boissonneaua jardini | Cloud forests of the Andes in Colombia and Ecuador. | 14–16 |
| Velvet Scoter | Melanitta fusca | Nests on tundra lakes, winters on coastal marine waters. | 90–99 |
| Venezuelan Troupial | Icterus icterus | Dry forests, scrubland, savanna, and open woodland. | 35–40 |
| Verdin | Auriparus flaviceps | Desert scrub and mesquite thickets in the southwestern US and Mexico. | 18–20 |
| Verditer Flycatcher | Eumyias thalassinus | Montane forests and woodlands in the Himalayas and Southeast Asia. | 23–26 |
| Vermiculated Screech-Owl | Megascops vermiculatus | Humid montane forests in Central and South America. | 45–55 |
| Vermilion Flycatcher | Pyrocephalus rubinus | Open woodlands, scrub, and agricultural areas across the Americas. | 23–25 |
| Vernal Hanging Parrot | Loriculus vernalis | Forests, woodlands, and plantations in South and Southeast Asia. | 28–32 |
| Versicolored Barbet | Eubucco versicolor | Humid montane forests of the Andes in South America. | 24–26 |
| Vesper Sparrow | Pooecetes gramineus | Grasslands, prairies, and open fields across North America. | 24–27 |
| Victoria Crowned Pigeon | Goura victoria | Lowland and swamp forests of New Guinea. | 125–150 |
| Victoria’s Riflebird | Ptiloris victoriae | Rainforests of the Atherton Tableland region in Queensland, Australia. | 35–40 |
| Vieillot’s Black Weaver | Ploceus nigerrimus | Forest edges, savanna, and gardens in Central and West Africa. | 24–26 |
| Village Indigobird | Vidua chalybeata | Savannas and grasslands, often near human settlements in Africa. | 18–20 |
| Village Weaver | Ploceus cucullatus | Savanna, wetlands, and villages across sub-Saharan Africa. | 21–25 |
| Vinaceous-breasted Amazon | Amazona vinacea | Atlantic Forest of Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina. | 55–60 |
| Violaceous Euphonia | Euphonia violacea | Forests, second growth, and citrus plantations in South America. | 18–20 |
| Violaceous Jay | Cyanocorax violaceus | Forests near rivers in the Amazon and Orinoco basins. | 50–55 |
| Violaceous Quail-Dove | Geotrygon violacea | Humid lowland forests in Central and South America. | 33–37 |
| Violet-backed Starling | Cinnyricinclus leucogaster | Woodlands and savannas across sub-Saharan Africa. | 28–32 |
| Violet-bellied Hummingbird | Chlorestes julie | Humid forest edges and gardens in Central and northern South America. | 9–11 |
| Violet-capped Woodnymph | Thalurania glaucopis | Humid forests, gardens, and parks in southeastern Brazil. | 11–13 |
| Violet-crowned Hummingbird | Ramosomyia violiceps | Canyons and streamsides in the southwestern US and Mexico. | 12–14 |
| Violet-green Swallow | Tachycineta thalassina | Open woodlands and mountains of western North America and Mexico. | 30–35 |
| Violet Sabrewing | Campylopterus hemileucurus | Montane forest edges and coffee plantations in Central America. | 15–18 |
| Violet-tailed Sylph | Aglaiocercus coelestis | Cloud forests of the Andes in Colombia and Ecuador. | 14–21 |
| Violet Turaco | Musophaga violacea | Tropical savannas, forests, and gallery forests in West Africa. | 65–75 |
| Virginia Rail | Rallus limicola | Freshwater marshes and wetlands across North America. | 32–38 |
| Virginia’s Warbler | Leiothlypis virginiae | Dry, brushy mountain slopes in the western United States. | 18–20 |
| Vulturine Guineafowl | Acryllium vulturinum | Dry savanna and scrubland in northeastern Africa. | 90–100 |
Descriptions
Van Dam’s Vanga
A critically endangered Madagascar bird with a massive, hooked bill used to pry bark for insects.
Variable Antshrike
A common South American bird whose plumage varies geographically; males are typically gray, females rufous.
Variable Hawk
A powerful Andean raptor with highly variable plumage, ranging from pale gray to nearly black morphs.
Variable Seedeater
A small finch whose male plumage varies from all-black to black-and-white depending on the region.
Varied Bunting
A shy and stunningly colorful bird; the male is a patchwork of purple, blue, and red.
Varied Lorikeet
A small, nomadic Australian parrot with streaky green plumage, a red cap, and a white eye-ring.
Varied Sittella
Australia’s only sittella, a small, social bird that forages for insects on tree trunks and branches.
Varied Thrush
A striking, robin-like bird with bold orange and slate-gray plumage, often found in dark forest understory.
Vaux’s Swift
A small, fast-flying “cigar with wings” found in the Americas, known for its acrobatic flight.
Veery
A medium-sized thrush with uniformly warm, reddish-brown upperparts and a haunting, flute-like descending song.
Velvet Asity
A unique bird from Madagascar; breeding males are jet-black with remarkable, bright green facial wattles.
Velvet-fronted Nuthatch
A small, colorful nuthatch with blue-violet upperparts, a red bill, and a distinct black patch on its forehead.
Velvet-purple Coronet
A spectacular, medium-sized hummingbird with glittering deep purple and green plumage and white leg puffs.
Velvet Scoter
A large, dark sea duck of Europe and Asia; males are velvety-black with a white patch under the eye.
Venezuelan Troupial
The national bird of Venezuela, this is a large, striking oriole with brilliant orange, black, and white plumage.
Verdin
A tiny, energetic bird of arid regions, recognized by its gray body and bright yellow head.
Verditer Flycatcher
A stunning, all-blue flycatcher whose name “verditer” refers to its vibrant blue-green copper-sulfate color.
Vermiculated Screech-Owl
A small, nocturnal owl with intricate, worm-like (vermiculated) barring that provides superb camouflage.
Vermilion Flycatcher
An unmistakable bird of open habitats; males are a brilliant, fiery red with a dark back and mask.
Vernal Hanging Parrot
A tiny, bright green parrot from Asia, famous for its unique habit of roosting hanging upside down.
Versicolored Barbet
A small, colorful barbet from Andean cloud forests; the male has a stunning multicolored head pattern.
Vesper Sparrow
A subtly patterned sparrow identified by its white eye-ring and the white outer tail feathers it flashes in flight.
Victoria Crowned Pigeon
A spectacular, ground-dwelling bird, one of the largest pigeons in the world, with a magnificent blue lace-like crest.
Victoria’s Riflebird
An Australian bird-of-paradise; males perform a dramatic courtship display, raising their wings to reveal iridescent plumage.
Vieillot’s Black Weaver
A common African weaver where males are entirely glossy black; they build messy, globe-shaped nests in colonies.
Village Indigobird
A small brood parasite that lays its eggs in the nests of Red-billed Firefinches. Males are glossy black.
Village Weaver
A highly social bird famous for weaving intricate nests from reeds and grass, often in large, noisy colonies.
Vinaceous-breasted Amazon
An endangered parrot named for the beautiful wine-red (vinaceous) feathers on its breast and neck.
Violaceous Euphonia
A small, finch-like tanager. Males are a glossy blue-black above and brilliant yellow below, with a sweet song.
Violaceous Jay
A large, highly social jay with a striking pale head, yellow eye, and deep violet-blue body.
Violaceous Quail-Dove
A shy, elusive dove of the dark forest floor, named for the subtle violet sheen on its back.
Violet-backed Starling
A stunning, sexually dimorphic starling; the male has a brilliant iridescent violet back and clean white belly.
Violet-bellied Hummingbird
A small hummingbird where the male has a glittering green throat and a deep violet-blue belly and chest.
Violet-capped Woodnymph
A common hummingbird of Brazil’s Atlantic Forest; males are easily identified by their glittering violet cap.
Violet-crowned Hummingbird
A crisp-looking hummingbird with clean white underparts, a bronze-green back, and a distinctive violet-blue crown.
Violet-green Swallow
A beautiful, iridescent swallow with a velvety green back, violet rump, and bright white underparts.
Violet Sabrewing
One of the world’s largest hummingbirds; the male is a breathtaking deep violet with bold white tail corners.
Violet-tailed Sylph
A spectacular hummingbird of the Andes; males possess an incredibly long, shimmering violet forked tail.
Violet Turaco
A large, unmistakable bird with glossy violet-purple plumage, a yellow forehead, and a bright red bill and eye-ring.
Virginia Rail
A chicken-sized, secretive marsh bird with a long, slender bill, more often heard giving pig-like grunts than seen.
Virginia’s Warbler
A small, drab gray warbler of the American West, livened up by a yellow patch on the breast and rump.
Vulturine Guineafowl
A bizarre and beautiful bird with a vulture-like bare blue head, long neck, and cobalt-blue chest.