We’re hopping into the heartwarming and hushed world of birds that start with H. As we hover into this part of our avian adventure, we’ll meet some of the most humble and heroic birds that share our habitats. So, tighten your hiking boots, because we’re about to head out on a journey to hunt for these ‘H’eroic birds that start with H.
First up on our horizon is the Hummingbird, a tiny bird with a huge heart for adventure. Hummingbirds are famous for their rapid wing flapping, buzzing like little helicopters from flower to flower. They are the only birds that can fly backwards, showing us that sometimes looking back can help us navigate what’s ahead. These little dynamos remind us that great power often comes in small packages and that energy and enthusiasm can fill our wings with joy.
Next, we’ll hoot hello to the Hawk, a majestic and mighty bird of prey. Hawks have keen eyesight, which they use to spot their meals from high above the ground, and powerful talons to scoop up their prey. They teach us about focus and precision, proving that having a clear vision can help us achieve our goals, no matter how high we aim.
Then, let’s hear it for the Heron, a tall and stately bird often found standing silently in the waters of lakes, rivers, and wetlands. Herons are patient hunters, waiting calmly for the right moment to strike their fishy feasts. They embody the art of stillness and the power of patience, reminding us that sometimes the best approach to life’s challenges is to stand firm and wait calmly for the right opportunity.
Our happy hike through the world of birds that start with H reveals the humming energy of the Hummingbird, the hawk-eyed focus of the Hawk, and the hushed patience of the Heron. Each ‘H’ bird brings its own hint of wisdom to our journey, encouraging us to spread our wings and soar to new heights. So, let’s keep our eyes on the skies and our hearts ready for more feathered lessons as we continue to explore the amazing world of birds!
Ready to explore more birds throughout the world? Check out our Birds that start with F and our Birds that start with G.
List of Birds That Start With H
Here is a list of birds that start with H in alphabetical order. How many do you know from this list? Scroll down to learn more about each bird!
- Hadada Ibis
- Hainan Blue Flycatcher
- Hainan Leaf Warbler
- Hainan Partridge
- Hainan Peacock-pheasant
- Hair-crested Drongo
- Hairy Woodpecker
- Hairy-backed Bulbul
- Hairy-breasted Barbet
- Hairy-crested Antbird
- Half-collared Kingfisher
- Half-collared Sparrow
- Hall’s Babbler
- Halmahera Boobook
- Halmahera Cuckooshrike
- Halmahera Flowerpecker
- Halmahera Paradise-crow
- Halmahera Swiftlet
- Hamerkop
- Hammond’s Flycatcher
- Handsome Flycatcher
- Handsome Fruiteater
- Handsome Spurfowl
- Handsome Sunbird
- Hangnest Tody-tyrant
- Happy Wren
- Hardhead
- Harlequin Antbird
- Harlequin Duck
- Harlequin Quail
- Harpy Eagle
- Harris’s Hawk
- Harris’s Sparrow
- Hartert’s Camaroptera
- Hartert’s Leaf Warbler
- Hartlaub’s Babbler
- Hartlaub’s Bustard
- Hartlaub’s Duck
- Hartlaub’s Gull
- Hartlaub’s Spurfowl
- Hartlaub’s Turaco
- Harwood’s Spurfowl
- Hauxwell’s Thrush
- Hawaiʻi Creeper
- Hawaiʻi ʻakepa
- Hawaiʻi ʻamakihi
- Hawaiʻi ʻelepaio
- Hawaiian Coot
- Hawaiian Crow
- Hawaiian Duck
- Hawaiian Hawk
- Hawaiian Petrel
- Hawaiian Rail
- Hawfinch
- Hawkins’s Rail
- Hazel Grouse
- Hazel-fronted Pygmy Tyrant
- Heard Island Shag
- Heart-spotted Woodpecker
- Heermann’s Gull
- Heinroth’s Shearwater
- Hellmayr’s Pipit
- Helmet Vanga
- Helmeted Curassow
- Helmeted Friarbird
- Helmeted Guineafowl
- Helmeted Hornbill
- Helmeted Manakin
- Helmeted Myna
- Helmeted Pygmy Tyrant
- Helmeted Woodpecker
- Hemprich’s Hornbill
- Hen Harrier
- Henderson Crake
- Henderson Fruit Dove
- Henderson Petrel
- Henderson Reed Warbler
- Henderson’s Ground Jay
- Henna-capped Foliage-gleaner
- Henna-hooded Foliage-gleaner
- Henslow’s Sparrow
- Henst’s Goshawk
- Hepatic Tanager
- Herald Petrel
- Herero Chat
- Hermit Thrush
- Hermit Warbler
- Hermit Wood Wren
- Heuglin’s Bustard
- Heuglin’s Masked Weaver
- Heuglin’s Spurfowl
- Heuglin’s Wheatear
- Heuglin’s White-eye
- Highland Elaenia
- Highland Guan
- Highland Rush Warbler
- Highland Tinamou
- Hildebrandt’s Spurfowl
- Hildebrandt’s Starling
- Hill Blue Flycatcher
- Hill Partridge
- Hill Pigeon
- Hill Prinia
- Hill Swallow
- Himalayan Beautiful Rosefinch
- Himalayan Black-lored Tit
- Himalayan Bluetail
- Himalayan Bulbul
- Himalayan Buzzard
- Himalayan Cuckoo
- Himalayan Cutia
- Himalayan Flameback
- Himalayan Monal
- Himalayan Owl
- Himalayan Prinia
- Himalayan Quail
- Himalayan Rubythroat
- Himalayan Shortwing
- Himalayan Shrike-babbler
- Himalayan Snowcock
- Himalayan Swiftlet
- Himalayan Thrush
- Himalayan Vulture
- Himalayan White-browed Rosefinch
- Himalayan Woodpecker
- Hinde’s Babbler
- Hispaniolan Amazon
- Hispaniolan Crossbill
- Hispaniolan Emerald
- Hispaniolan Lizard Cuckoo
- Hispaniolan Nightjar
- Hispaniolan Oriole
- Hispaniolan Palm Crow
- Hispaniolan Parakeet
- Hispaniolan Pewee
- Hispaniolan Spindalis
- Hispaniolan Trogon
- Hispaniolan Woodpecker
- Hoary Puffleg
- Hoary-headed Grebe
- Hoary-throated Barwing
- Hoary-throated Spinetail
- Hoatzin
- Hodgson’s Frogmouth
- Hodgson’s Hawk-cuckoo
- Hodgson’s Redstart
- Hodgson’s Treecreeper
- Hoffmann’s Woodpecker
- Hoffmanns’s Woodcreeper
- Hofmann’s Sunbird
- Holub’s Golden Weaver
- Hombron’s Kingfisher
- Honduran Emerald
- Honeyguide Greenbul
- Hood Mockingbird
- Hooded Antpitta
- Hooded Berryeater
- Hooded Butcherbird
- Hooded Crane
- Hooded Crow
- Hooded Cuckooshrike
- Hooded Dotterel
- Hooded Gnateater
- Hooded Grebe
- Hooded Grosbeak
- Hooded Mannikin
- Hooded Merganser
- Hooded Monarch
- Hooded Mountain Tanager
- Hooded Mountain Toucan
- Hooded Oriole
- Hooded Parrot
- Hooded Pitohui
- Hooded Pitta
- Hooded Robin
- Hooded Siskin
- Hooded Tanager
- Hooded Tinamou
- Hooded Treepie
- Hooded Visorbearer
- Hooded Vulture
- Hooded Warbler
- Hooded Wheatear
- Hooded Whistler
- Hooded Yellowthroat
- Hook-billed Bulbul
- Hook-billed Hermit
- Hook-billed Kingfisher
- Hook-billed Kite
- Hook-billed Vanga
- Hornbill Friarbird
- Hornby’s Storm Petrel
- Horned Coot
- Horned Curassow
- Horned Grebe
- Horned Guan
- Horned Lark
- Horned Parakeet
- Horned Puffin
- Horned Screamer
- Horned Sungem
- Horsfield’s Babbler
- Horsfield’s Bronze Cuckoo
- Horsfield’s Bush Lark
- Horus Swift
- Hose’s Broadbill
- Hose’s Partridge
- Houbara Bustard
- House Bunting
- House Crow
- House Finch
- House Sparrow
- House Swift
- House Wren
- Huallaga Tanager
- Huayco Tinamou
- Hudson’s Black Tyrant
- Hudson’s Canastero
- Hudsonian Godwit
- Hudsonian Whimbrel
- Huet’s Fulvetta
- Huia
- Humaita Antbird
- Humblot’s Flycatcher
- Humblot’s Heron
- Humblot’s Sunbird
- Humboldt Penguin
- Humboldt’s Sapphire
- Hume’s Bush Warbler
- Hume’s Hawk-owl
- Hume’s Leaf Warbler
- Hume’s Short-toed Lark
- Hume’s Treecreeper
- Hume’s Wheatear
- Hume’s White-eye
- Hume’s Whitethroat
- Hunstein’s Mannikin
- Hunter’s Cisticola
- Hunter’s Sunbird
- Huon Astrapia
- Huon Catbird
- Huon Melidectes
- Hutton’s Shearwater
- Hutton’s Vireo
- Hyacinth Macaw
- Hyacinth Visorbearer
- Hylocitrea
Fun Facts about Birds That Start With H
Ready to increase your knowledge of birds that start with H? Dive in and learn more about all the different birds on the list!
- Hadada Ibis: This bird has a really loud call that sounds like “haa-haa-haa-de-dah.” It has shiny, greenish-black wings and a long bill for poking into the mud to find food.
- Hainan Blue Flycatcher: A small and pretty bird with bright blue feathers on top and a white belly. It likes to catch insects in midair in the forests of Hainan, China.
- Hainan Leaf Warbler: This tiny bird loves to hide in the leaves of Hainan Island’s trees. It’s greenish above and whitish below, and it sings sweetly as it hops around.
- Hainan Partridge: A shy bird that lives on the ground in the forests of Hainan. It has brown and gray feathers that help it blend in with the forest floor.
- Hainan Peacock-pheasant: A beautiful bird with bright colors and long tail feathers that look like those of a peacock. It’s very rare and lives quietly in the forests.
- Hair-crested Drongo: This bird has glossy black feathers and a spiky crest on its head. It’s known for its bold behavior and mimicking the calls of other birds.
- Hairy Woodpecker: A busy bird that pecks at trees with its sharp beak to find insects. It has black and white stripes across its head and a loud pecking sound.
- Hairy-backed Bulbul: Found in the tropical forests, this bird has a fluffy-looking back and loves to sing from the treetops.
- Hairy-breasted Barbet: With a ‘hairy’ look around its beak and breast, this colorful bird uses its sharp bill to dig holes in trees to nest.
- Hairy-crested Antbird: A mysterious bird from the Amazon that stays low in the undergrowth. It’s not hairy; it gets its name from the feathers on its head.
- Half-collared Kingfisher: A stunning bird with bright blue feathers and a white belly. It dives into water to catch fish with its sharp bill.
- Half-collared Sparrow: This sparrow isn’t really wearing a half-collar; it has a pretty grey head that looks a bit like it’s wearing a tiny collar.
- Hall’s Babbler: A chatty bird from Australia, known for its noisy gatherings where it talks a lot with its friends.
- Halmahera Boobook: An owl from the Halmahera islands in Indonesia, known for its eerie call at night.
- Halmahera Cuckooshrike: This bird loves to eat insects and lives in the lush forests of Halmahera. It has a gray body and a long tail.
- Halmahera Flowerpecker: A tiny bird with a big appetite for nectar and small insects, found flitting around flowers in Halmahera.
- Halmahera Paradise-crow: Despite being called a crow, this bird is part of the birds-of-paradise family and has stunning black feathers.
- Halmahera Swiftlet: A swift flyer, this bird spends most of its life in the air, catching insects in Halmahera’s skies.
- Hamerkop: A bird with a funny-looking head that looks like a hammer. It builds huge nests and loves catching fish.
- Hammond’s Flycatcher: A small, inconspicuous bird that catches insects in the air. It loves dense forests in North America.
- Harlequin Quail: This small bird has a colorful pattern that looks like a patchwork quilt. It likes to hide in the grass and is very shy!
- Harpy Eagle: One of the largest eagles in the world, the harpy eagle has huge talons and lives in the rainforests. It’s very strong and can lift heavy animals like monkeys.
- Harris’s Hawk: This hawk is unique because it hunts in groups, like wolves. It has a beautiful reddish-brown color with a white tail tip.
- Harris’s Sparrow: The largest of the North American sparrows, it has a black head and pink bill. It’s very social during winter.
- Hartert’s Camaroptera: A little greenish bird found in Africa. It loves to stay hidden while singing its sweet song.
- Hartert’s Leaf Warbler: This tiny bird has a lovely yellow throat and enjoys flitting around in trees looking for insects.
- Hartlaub’s Babbler: A friendly bird that likes to chat a lot with its mates, living in groups in Africa.
- Hartlaub’s Bustard: This shy bird prefers walking to flying and shows off beautiful feathers during its dance to attract mates.
- Hartlaub’s Duck: A rare duck found in Madagascar, with pretty colors and a calm nature.
- Hawfinch: A bird with a strong bill that can crack open cherry pits! It has a lovely reddish-brown color.
- Hen Harrier: A graceful bird of prey that flies low over fields to catch small animals. Males are gray and females are brown.
- Henderson Crake: A mysterious little bird that lives on a remote island and is rarely seen by people.
- Henderson Fruit Dove: Beautifully colored in green, purple, and yellow, this dove lives peacefully in trees on its island home.
- Henderson Petrel: A seabird that makes a long journey across the oceans and only comes to land to breed.
- Henderson Reed Warbler: This bird loves to sing from the reeds and is found only on Henderson Island.
- Henderson’s Ground Jay: Unlike most birds, this one likes to stay on the ground, searching for food in the desert.
- Henna-capped Foliage-gleaner: A small bird that looks for insects in leaves, moving up and down tree trunks.
- Hepatic Tanager: This bird is called ‘hepatic’ because of its liver-colored feathers and loves eating fruits and insects.
- Herald Petrel: A large seabird that can be spotted by its long wings and graceful flight over the ocean.
- Herero Chat: A small, tough bird that lives in dry areas of Africa and isn’t afraid of the hot sun.
- Hermit Thrush: Famous for its beautiful singing, this little bird has a brown back and a white belly.
- Hermit Warbler: Lives high in the pine forests and has a yellow face that looks like it’s wearing a bright mask.
- Hermit Wood Wren: A shy bird that likes to stay hidden in the thick woods, singing a lovely tune.
- Heuglin’s Bustard: A big bird that prefers walking and can be seen strutting around African savannas.
- Heuglin’s Masked Weaver: Known for weaving intricate nests that hang from tree branches in Africa.
- Hoatzin: Often called the ‘stinkbird’ because of its smell, it has a funky, punk-rock feather style and climbs around in trees.
- Hodgson’s Frogmouth: A bird with a big mouth that it uses to catch insects at night, looking almost like a piece of bark during the day.
- Hodgson’s Hawk-cuckoo: Known as a trickster, it lays its eggs in the nests of other birds.
- Hodgson’s Redstart: A small bird with bright orange feathers that flash as it flits around looking for insects.
- Hodgson’s Treecreeper: Climbs up tree trunks like a little mouse, using its curved bill to pick insects from bark.
- Horned Coot: This special bird has little horn-like feathers on its head and likes to build big nests on lakes in South America.
- Horned Curassow: A rare bird from the forests of Bolivia, it has a striking appearance with a horn-like crest on its head.
- Horned Grebe: A small water bird that can change its feathers from grey and white in winter to a fancy black and gold in the summer.
- Horned Guan: This bird is very rare and lives in the mountains. It has a red ‘horn’ on top of its head which makes it easy to spot.
- Horned Lark: Loves open fields and sings beautifully. It’s called ‘horned’ because of the little black tufts on its head.
- Horned Parakeet: Found in New Caledonia, this colorful parakeet has two little black feathers that stick up like horns.
- Horned Puffin: Similar to a clown with its colorful beak, this bird is a great swimmer and can catch lots of fish.
- Horned Screamer: A big bird from South America that has a small horn on its head and makes loud calling sounds.
- Horned Sungem: A type of hummingbird with shiny feathers and a small, spiky crest that looks like a tiny horn.
- Horsfield’s Babbler: This bird likes to stay hidden in thickets and has a lovely song it shares with its group.
- Horsfield’s Bronze Cuckoo: Known for its shiny, bronze feathers, this little cuckoo lays its eggs in other birds’ nests.
- Horsfield’s Bush Lark: A small bird that loves grassy fields in Asia, singing sweet songs from the ground or low bushes.
- Horus Swift: Fast and agile, this bird zooms through the skies of Africa, catching insects on the wing.
- House Finch: A cheerful bird that might visit backyard feeders, showing off bright red feathers if it’s a male.
- House Sparrow: Very common in cities and towns, this little bird loves to chirp and hop around people.
- House Swift: Zooming through the sky, this swift is rarely seen resting as it eats, drinks, and even sleeps while flying!
- House Wren: A tiny bird with a mighty song, it loves building messy nests in small spaces near homes.
- Huallaga Tanager: A brightly colored bird found in the forests of Peru, it loves eating fruits and insects.
- Huayco Tinamou: A shy bird from South America that prefers to walk and hide rather than fly.
- Hudson’s Black Tyrant: This small flycatcher wears a sleek black coat and is a master at catching insects mid-air.
- Hudson’s Canastero: Found in the grasslands of South America, this bird is a diligent builder of large, grassy nests.
- Hudsonian Godwit: A long-legged bird that travels very far distances between North and South America to find the perfect place to live.
- Hudsonian Whimbrel: Known for its long, curved beak, this bird loves to probe mud for crabs and other seaside snacks.
- Huet’s Fulvetta: A little bird that fluffs up its feathers, living in the forests of Asia and hanging out in groups.
- Huia: Once found in New Zealand, this unique bird had different beak shapes between males and females, but is now sadly extinct.
- Humaita Antbird: Lives deep in the Amazon rainforest, staying low in the underbrush and singing a deep, echoing song.
- Humblot’s Flycatcher: This bird is a rare sight, found only on a few islands in the Indian Ocean, where it flits around catching insects in midair.
- Humblot’s Heron: Native to Madagascar, this large heron prefers shallow waters where it stands still, waiting to catch fish with its long bill.
- Humblot’s Sunbird: A dazzling bird with iridescent feathers that lives in the lowland forests of Madagascar, sipping nectar from flowers.
- Humboldt Penguin: Named after the cold water current it swims in, this penguin has a black and white tuxedo look and loves to eat fish.
- Humboldt’s Sapphire: A tiny hummingbird with shimmering blue feathers, found fluttering around the flowers in South America’s forests.
- Hume’s Bush Warbler: This small bird loves to hide in thick shrubs and sing its sweet song across the mountains of Asia.
- Hume’s Hawk-owl: A night-time hunter from the dense forests of Myanmar and Thailand, known for its distinctive hooting calls.
- Hume’s Leaf Warbler: A tiny, greenish-yellow bird that flits through the trees of Asia, singing a high-pitched song and munching on insects.
Did you discover some pretty cool birds that start with H on the list? Which one are you excited to see in real life? Share it with us in the comments!
