This list includes 30 Small animals that start with H, from “Hairy woodpecker” to “Humboldt penguin”. They are typically small species you encounter as pets, classroom specimens, or backyard wildlife.

Small animals that start with H are species whose common names begin with H and are generally under five kilograms. For example, hedgehogs have long appeared in folklore and now feature widely in pet culture.

Below you’ll find the table with Common name, Scientific name, Habitat, and Lifespan.

Common name: Shows the species’ everyday name so you can recognize or search for it quickly in pet care or field guides.

Scientific name: Provides the binomial Latin name for precise identification and cross-referencing across scientific and hobbyist resources.

Habitat: Brief habitat note tells you where the species lives naturally and helps plan observation or care settings.

Lifespan: Gives typical lifespan ranges to help you estimate long-term care needs or compare species longevity.

Small animals that start with H

Name Scientific name Habitat Lifespan (years) Description
Hamster Mesocricetus auratus domestic pet 2–3 years Small, round pet rodent with golden fur; popular as a beginner pet, active at night and easy to house.
Hedgehog Atelerix albiventris domestic pet/grassland 3–6 years Spiny, nocturnal mammal often kept as a pet; eats insects and small invertebrates and curls into a ball for defense.
House mouse Mus musculus domestic/commensal 1–3 years Tiny, adaptable rodent found in homes and fields worldwide; prolific breeders and often seen as pests or lab animals.
House sparrow Passer domesticus urban/grassland 3–5 years Small, chunky bird common around people; brown and grey plumage, frequent in towns, parks and farms.
House finch Haemorhous mexicanus urban/woodland 5–8 years Small songbird with streaked brown body; males often have red or orange faces and chests, common at feeders.
House wren Troglodytes aedon gardens/woodland 2–4 years Tiny, energetic brown bird with a loud song; nests in cavities and frequents gardens and brush.
House martin Delichon urbicum cliffs/buildings 2–4 years Small, agile swallow with glossy blue-black upperparts and white rump; nests under eaves and feeds on flying insects.
House gecko Hemidactylus frenatus urban/arboreal 3–8 years Small nocturnal lizard often on walls and ceilings; sticky toes let it climb glass and it eats insects.
Herring Clupea harengus coastal ocean 8–12 years Silvery schooling fish common in temperate seas; important food source for wildlife and people.
Herring gull Larus argentatus coastal/urban 10–15 years Medium coastal gull often seen scavenging around harbors and cities; grey back, white head, loud calls.
Honey bee Apis mellifera gardens/woodland 0.04–3 years Social, pollinating insect kept by beekeepers; workers live weeks to months, queens can live several years.
Hornet Vespa crabro woodland/gardens 0.1–1 years Large wasp with orange-brown markings; builds paper nests and hunts other insects around gardens.
Housefly Musca domestica domestic 0.04–0.08 years Common fly found around people and food; life measured in days to a few weeks, rapid breeders.
Hazel dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius temperate woodland 3–5 years Small, golden-brown arboreal rodent that sleeps long hibernation; lives in hedgerows and deciduous woods.
Harris’s hawk Parabuteo unicinctus scrub/desert 6–12 years Medium raptor known for social hunting; commonly used in falconry, dark plumage with chestnut shoulders.
Hen harrier Circus cyaneus moorland 4–8 years Slim, low-flying raptor of open moors and marshes; males grey, females brown and streaked.
Hoatzin Opisthocomus hoazin tropical river forest 10–12 years Odd, chicken-sized Amazon bird with a crest and leaf-based diet; chicks have clawed wing digits.
Hermit crab Coenobita clypeatus coastal/detritus 10–30 years Small crustacean that lives in shells for protection; common as a pet and found on tropical beaches.
Horned lizard Phrynosoma cornutum arid scrub 5–8 years Flat, spiky-bodied lizard that sits still on desert soils; feeds mainly on ants and can squirt blood defensively.
Hazel grouse Tetrastes bonasia temperate forest 3–6 years Small, secretive forest bird with mottled plumage; prefers dense understory and is shy and ground-dwelling.
Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes woodland 3–7 years Chunky finch with a massive bill for cracking seeds; noticeable by its strong flight and shy habits.
Harlequin shrimp Hymenocera picta coral reef 2–5 years Colorful marine shrimp prized in aquariums; feeds on starfish and has striking white, purple and orange patterns.
Harlequin ladybird Harmonia axyridis gardens/woodland 1–2 years Small, often spotted beetle introduced widely; variable colors and helpful as aphid predators.
Harlequin duck Histrionicus histrionicus rocky coast/streams 10–15 years Small, boldly patterned sea duck that breeds on fast streams and winters along rocky coasts.
House centipede Scutigera coleoptrata houses/leaf litter 3–7 years Long-legged, fast predator often found indoors; feeds on insects and is harmless to most people.
Hooded warbler Setophaga citrina forest understory 2–6 years Small songbird with a bright yellow face and a hooded appearance in males; likes dense woodland undergrowth.
Hairy woodpecker Leuconotopicus villosus woodland 2–7 years Medium-small woodpecker with black-and-white patterning; drums on trees searching for insects.
Hoary bat Lasiurus cinereus forests/roosts 5–14 years Mottled, frosted fur bat that roosts in trees; migratory and feeds on night-flying insects.
Humboldt penguin Spheniscus humboldti coastal rocky shores 10–20 years Medium-sized South American penguin with a black band across the chest; nests in coastal burrows and guano banks.
Heermann’s gull Larus heermanni coastal 10–15 years Sleek grey-white gull mostly along Pacific coasts; noted for unusual migration and social feeding behavior.

Descriptions

Hamster
Hedgehog
House mouse
House sparrow
House finch
House wren
House martin
House gecko
Herring
Herring gull
Honey bee
Hornet
Housefly
Hazel dormouse
Harris’s hawk
Hen harrier
Hoatzin
Hermit crab
Horned lizard
Hazel grouse
Hawfinch
Harlequin shrimp
Harlequin ladybird
Harlequin duck
House centipede
Hooded warbler
Hairy woodpecker
Hoary bat
Humboldt penguin
Heermann’s gull
If you think there is a missing term, let us know using the contact form.