Birds A–Z

Birds A–Z — 21 species, with pictures

A growing, picture-led guide to the birds people most often want to name — how to tell each one apart, where it lives, what it eats and how it sounds. Filter by region, size, colour or habitat, or just start typing.

21birds, A–Z
21with pictures
Region
Size
Colour
Habitat

Showing all 21 birds

Bright yellow male American goldfinch with a black cap American Goldfinch Spinus tristis In summer the male is canary-yellow with a black cap and wings — a tiny, bouncy seed-eater. American robin with an orange breast and grey back on the ground American Robin Turdus migratorius A grey-backed thrush with a brick-orange breast, bobbing across lawns in search of worms. Bald eagle with a white head and brown body Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus A huge brown sea-eagle with a snow-white head and tail and a heavy hooked yellow bill. Barn owl with a white heart-shaped face and golden-buff back Barn Owl Tyto alba A pale, ghostly owl with a white heart-shaped face that hunts low over fields at dusk. Black-capped chickadee with a black cap and white cheeks Black-capped Chickadee Poecile atricapillus A tiny, tame bird with a black cap and bib and a clear "chick-a-dee-dee" call. Blue jay with a crest and black necklace perched on a branch Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata A bold, crested blue-and-white jay with a black necklace and a loud, ringing call. Common kingfisher with blue back and orange underparts on a perch Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis An electric-blue-and-orange river jewel that dives headlong for fish. Black-and-white downy woodpecker clinging to a branch Downy Woodpecker Dryobates pubescens The smallest North American woodpecker — black-and-white, the male dabbed red on the nape. Eurasian blue tit with a blue cap and yellow underparts Eurasian Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus A small, acrobatic garden bird in blue, yellow and white — a constant at feeders. European goldfinch with a red face and gold wing bars European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis A bright finch with a red face and gold wing-flashes, seen in tinkling "charms". European robin with an orange-red face and breast European Robin Erithacus rubecula The UK's plump garden favourite — an orange-red face and breast, and a sweet song even in winter. Greater flamingo wading, pale pink with a downcurved bill Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus The tall, pale-pink wading bird with a long neck and a black-tipped, downcurved bill. Male house sparrow with a grey crown and black bib perched on a branch House Sparrow Passer domesticus The small brown-and-grey bird that lives wherever people do — males wear a black bib. Male Indian peafowl (peacock) with an iridescent blue neck and breast Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus The peacock — the male's shimmering blue neck and fanned, eye-spotted train are unmistakable. Male and female mallard; the drake has a green head and yellow bill Mallard Anas platyrhynchos The familiar wild duck — the drake's bottle-green head and yellow bill are unmistakable. Grey-brown mourning dove perched, with a long pointed tail Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura A slim, soft grey-brown dove with a long pointed tail and a gentle, mournful coo. Bright red male northern cardinal with a black face and crest Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis The brilliant red songbird with a pointed crest and black face — the female warm buff with red touches. Male red-winged blackbird showing red-and-yellow shoulder patches Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus A glossy black marsh bird whose males flash scarlet-and-yellow shoulder patches. Blue-grey rock pigeon with a glossy green-and-purple neck Rock Pigeon Columba livia The familiar city pigeon — grey with a glossy green-and-purple neck and two dark wing bars. Male ruby-throated hummingbird with a red throat and green back Ruby-throated Hummingbird Archilochus colubris A tiny, glittering green hummingbird; the male flashes an iridescent ruby-red throat. Toco toucan with a large orange bill perched in the open Toco Toucan Ramphastos toco The largest toucan — glossy black with a white throat and an enormous orange bill.
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How this guide is put together

Each entry is written from real, checkable facts — how to recognise the bird, where it lives, what it eats and how it sounds — in plain language, not padded out. Photos are used only where we have one under an open licence, credited on the bird's own page. We add to it in careful batches rather than dumping a thin list.

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