111 Birds That Start With I [Complete List]

Today, we’re initiating an interesting investigation into the intriguing world of birds that start with I. As we immerse ourselves in this installment of our avian adventure, we’ll discover some of the most interesting and intelligent birds under the sun. So, let’s ignite our curiosity and zoom in on these ‘I’ncredible birds that start with I.

featured images of Birds That Start With I with several images of birds in peach background

First in our lineup is the iconic Ibis. You might recognize these birds from their curved, slender beaks and their love for wading in the water. Ibises are found all around the world and are often seen probing the mud for food with their long bills. These birds teach us about adaptability and the importance of environments, showing how each creature plays a role in maintaining the health of our planet.

The impressive Icterid, are known for their vibrant colors and melodious songs. This group includes birds like Orioles and Blackbirds, which are often adorned in bright yellows and deep blacks. Icterids are not just a treat for the eyes and ears; they play significant roles in spreading seeds and controlling insects, proving that beauty and utility can go hand-in-hand.

Then, let’s introduce the inquisitive Indian Roller, a bird famous for its spectacular aerial acrobatics during mating displays. With their brilliant blue and brown plumage, Indian Rollers are a spectacle to behold when they dive and roll in the sky. They remind us that the sky’s the limit when it comes to showing off your talents and attracting attention.

Our insightful journey through the world of birds that start with I shows us the ingenuity of the Ibis, the importance of Icterids, and the impressive displays of the Indian Roller. Each bird brings a unique story and lesson into our lives, inspiring us to look closely and learn from the natural world around us. So, let’s keep our binoculars handy and our minds open as we continue to explore the fascinating lives of birds!

Ready to explore more birds throughout the world? Check out our Birds that start with G and our Birds that start with H.

White text that says "111 Birds That Start With I" on a blue banner. On the top are two images of birds that start with I and on the bottom are another two images.

List of Birds That Start With I

Here is a list of birds that start with I in alphabetical order. How many do you know from this list? Scroll down to learn more about each bird! 

  • Iago Sparrow
  • Ibadan Malimbe
  • Ibera Seedeater
  • Iberian Chiffchaff
  • Iberian Green Woodpecker
  • Iberian Grey Shrike
  • Iberian Magpie
  • Ibisbill
  • Iceland Gull
  • Icterine Greenbul
  • Icterine Warbler
  • Ihering’s Antwren
  • Ijima’s Leaf Warbler
  • Imeri Warbling Antbird
  • Imitator Goshawk
  • Imperial Amazon
  • Imperial Shag
  • Imperial Snipe
  • Imperial Woodpecker
  • Inaccessible Island Finch
  • Inaccessible Island Rail
  • Inagua Woodstar
  • Inambari Gnatcatcher
  • Inambari Woodcreeper
  • Inca Dove
  • Inca Flycatcher
  • Inca Jay
  • Inca Tern
  • Inca Wren
  • Indian Black-lored Tit
  • Indian Blackbird
  • Indian Blue Robin
  • Indian Bush Lark
  • Indian Cormorant
  • Indian Courser
  • Indian Cuckoo
  • Indian Eagle-owl
  • Indian Golden Oriole
  • Indian Grassbird
  • Indian Grey Hornbill
  • Indian Jungle Crow
  • Indian Nightjar
  • Indian Nuthatch
  • Indian Paradise Flycatcher
  • Indian Peafowl
  • Indian Pitta
  • Indian Pond Heron
  • Indian Robin
  • Indian Roller
  • Indian Scimitar Babbler
  • Indian Scops Owl
  • Indian Silverbill
  • Indian Skimmer
  • Indian Spot-billed Duck
  • Indian Spotted Creeper
  • Indian Spotted Eagle
  • Indian Stone-curlew
  • Indian Swiftlet
  • Indian Vulture
  • Indian White-eye
  • Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross
  • Indigo Bunting
  • Indigo Flowerpiercer
  • Indigo Flycatcher
  • Indigo-banded Kingfisher
  • Indigo-capped Hummingbird
  • Indochinese Barbet
  • Indochinese Blue Flycatcher
  • Indochinese Bush Lark
  • Indochinese Cuckooshrike
  • Indochinese Fulvetta
  • Indochinese Green Magpie
  • Indochinese Roller
  • Indochinese Yuhina
  • Indonesian Honeyeater
  • Inland Dotterel
  • Inland Thornbill
  • Intermediate Egret
  • Invisible Rail
  • Iphis Monarch
  • Iquitos Gnatcatcher
  • Iraq Babbler
  • Iringa Akalat
  • Iriomote Tit
  • Iris Lorikeet
  • Isabela Oriole
  • Isabelline Bush-hen
  • Isabelline Shrike
  • Isabelline Wheatear
  • Island Bronze-naped Pigeon
  • Island Imperial Pigeon
  • Island Leaf Warbler
  • Island Monarch
  • Island Scrub Jay
  • Island Swiftlet
  • Island Thrush
  • Island Whistler
  • Islet Kingfisher
  • Isthmian Wren
  • Italian Sparrow
  • Itatiaia Spinetail
  • Itombwe Flycatcher
  • Ituri Batis
  • Ivory Gull
  • Ivory-backed Woodswallow
  • Ivory-billed Aracari
  • Ivory-billed Coucal
  • Ivory-billed Woodcreeper
  • Ivory-billed Woodpecker
  • Ivory-breasted Pitta
  • Izu Thrush
A background with a colorful bird border. On the white background there are letters that say "birds that start with I" and a list of all the birds.

Fun Facts about Birds That Start With I

Ready to increase your knowledge of birds that start with I? Dive in and learn more about all the different birds on the list!

A grey background on the left is the letter E in the center of a white circle. On the right is the word "iago sparrow" in white lettering with a picture of iago sparrow bird below it.
  • Iago Sparrow: This small bird is named after an island in the Cape Verde group. It has a lovely gray and brown feather coat and likes to chatter in bushes and trees.
  • Ibadan Malimbe: Found in Nigeria, this bird has striking red and black colors. It uses its beak to weave complex nests out of grass and twigs.
  • Ibera Seedeater: This little bird is from South America and loves to munch on seeds. It has a sweet song that it sings while hopping around in the grass.
  • Iberian Chiffchaff: A tiny bird from Spain and Portugal, it flits around trees catching tiny bugs. It has a cheerful “chiff-chaff” song, which is how it got its name!
  • Iberian Green Woodpecker: This bird is famous for its bright green feathers and red crown. It pecks at tree trunks in the woodlands of Spain and Portugal to find insects.
  • Iberian Grey Shrike: Known for its bandit-like mask, this bird perches on high spots to watch for insects and small animals, which it catches with a quick flight.
  • Iberian Magpie: Very social and clever, this bird has shiny blue and white feathers and loves to collect shiny objects around its habitat in the Iberian Peninsula.
  • Ibisbill: Unique for its curved bill, this bird is found along the stony riverbanks of the Himalayas where it picks up insects and small shellfish.
  • Iceland Gull: This medium-sized white gull breeds in Greenland but visits Iceland, where it’s easily spotted because of its pale grey wings.
  • Icterine Greenbul: Living in the forests of Africa, this bird has a bright yellowish-green body and loves to eat fruits and insects.
  • Icterine Warbler: This small bird travels all the way from Africa to Europe to breed. It has a lovely yellowish-green color and sings beautifully.
  • Ihering’s Antwren: Found in the dense forests of Brazil, this tiny bird is hard to spot as it flits quickly through underbrush hunting for insects.
  • Ijima’s Leaf Warbler: This delicate bird is from Japan, with greenish upperparts and a sweet song, thriving in dense green forests.
  • Imeri Warbling Antbird: A rare bird from South America, it lives in lowland forests where it sings melodious tunes.
  • Imitator Goshawk: As the name suggests, this bird can mimic the calls of other birds. It’s a skilled hunter living in New Guinea’s forests.
  • Imperial Amazon: This parrot is brilliant with green, purple, and blue feathers. It’s only found on the Caribbean island of Dominica and is very rare.
  • Imperial Shag: A black and white bird that looks like it’s wearing a tuxedo, it can be found diving into cold South Atlantic waters searching for fish.
  • Imperial Snipe: A secretive bird that hides in South American grasslands. It’s known for its dramatic aerial displays during mating season.
A grey background on the left is the letter E in the center of a white circle. On the right is the word "imperial shag" in white lettering with a picture of imperial shag bird below it.
  • Imperial Woodpecker: This bird used to live in Mexico and was the largest woodpecker in the world, but it’s now sadly believed to be extinct.
  • Inaccessible Island Finch: This tiny bird is found only on Inaccessible Island in the South Atlantic Ocean. It has a brown and white speckled pattern that helps it blend into its surroundings.
  • Inaccessible Island Rail: This small, flightless bird is also native to Inaccessible Island. It’s known for its ability to run fast through the island’s underbrush to escape predators.
  • Inagua Woodstar: A tiny hummingbird found only on the Inagua islands in the Bahamas. It’s known for its dazzling green feathers and rapid, darting flight.
  • Inambari Gnatcatcher: This small bird lives in the Amazon rainforest and loves eating tiny insects. It has a grey body and a distinctive long tail.
  • Inambari Woodcreeper: Living in the Amazon basin, this bird uses its curved beak to peel bark from trees and find insects hiding underneath.
  • Inca Dove: This small dove has a scaly pattern on its feathers and is found throughout Central and South America. It makes a soft cooing sound that adds a gentle rhythm to its habitat.
  • Inca Flycatcher: Found in the cloud forests of Peru, this bird has a vibrant yellow belly and loves to catch flies in mid-air with its quick flights.
  • Inca Jay: This colorful bird lives in the Andes mountains and is known for its intelligence. It has bright blue and yellow feathers and a loud, musical call.
  • Inca Tern: This striking bird has a dark grey body, a bright red beak, and white mustache-like feathers. It lives along the coasts of Peru and Chile and dives into the ocean to catch fish.
  • Inca Wren: Tiny and elusive, this bird is found only in the dense undergrowth of Peru’s Machu Picchu area. It has a unique pattern of brown and cream stripes.
  • Indian Black-lored Tit: A small bird with a bright yellow face and a black line through its eyes. It’s found in the forests across India and is active and chirpy.
  • Indian Blackbird: This bird looks similar to the common blackbird but has darker, more glossy feathers. It’s found across the Indian subcontinent and has a melodious song.
  • Indian Blue Robin: Known for its beautiful blue and orange plumage, this bird migrates between the Himalayas and the forests of southern India.
  • Indian Bush Lark: Found in open fields across India, this small bird has a brownish body and sings beautifully, especially during the breeding season.
  • Indian Cormorant: This bird is often seen diving underwater in lakes and rivers across India. It has a long neck and an almost snake-like appearance when swimming.
  • Indian Courser: Known for its incredible speed on the ground, this bird has long legs and a striking eye pattern. It’s often seen in dry open fields hunting for insects.
  • Indian Cuckoo: Famous for its melodious call that sounds like “one more bottle,” this bird is a summer visitor to many parts of Asia and lives in forests and woodlands.
  • Indian Eagle-owl: This large owl has striking orange eyes and a deep hooting call. It lives in forests and rocky hills in India, hunting small animals at night.
A grey background on the left is the letter E in the center of a white circle. On the right is the word "inca dove" in white lettering with a picture of inca dove bird below it.
  • Indian Golden Oriole: A beautiful yellow and black bird, the Indian Golden Oriole loves to eat fruit and insects. It sings a lovely melody and hides in tall trees.
  • Indian Grassbird: This shy bird lives in tall grasslands in India. It has a brown color which helps it hide from predators while it searches the ground for insects.
  • Indian Grey Hornbill: With a large curved beak, this bird loves to eat fruits and is found mainly in the forests of India. They often fly in pairs and make loud calls.
  • Indian Jungle Crow: Larger and louder than city crows, the Indian Jungle Crow is smart and can use tools to get food.
  • Indian Nightjar: A master of camouflage, this bird is hard to spot during the day. It becomes active at night, flying quietly to catch moths and other insects.
  • Indian Nuthatch: A small, agile bird that can walk down trees headfirst! It has a lovely blue and beige color and lives in woods, where it searches for insects under the bark.
  • Indian Paradise Flycatcher: Famous for its long streaming tail, this stunning bird flits through the forest catching insects. The males are especially pretty with their white bodies and glossy black heads.
  • Indian Peafowl: Known as peacocks, these birds are celebrated for their spectacular tail feathers that they spread into a fan. The males have a dazzling blue and green color.
  • Indian Pitta: This colorful bird is a real treat to see with its bright green, blue, and yellow feathers. It stays low in the undergrowth and has a strong, sweet call.
  • Indian Pond Heron: Often seen standing still near water, this bird quickly strikes to catch fish. It looks plain brown when resting but flies with white wings.
  • Indian Robin: Males have a striking black and white color with a red underside, and they love singing from perches.
  • Indian Roller: When it flies, the brilliant blues and purples of its wings are visible. It’s known for its acrobatic flight stunts.
  • Indian Scimitar Babbler: This bird has a curved beak like a scimitar. It loves to chatter and lives in small groups in the forest.
  • Indian Scops Owl: A small owl with big, round eyes and excellent night vision, perfect for seeing insects in the dark.
  • Indian Silverbill: This tiny bird has a white and brown color and a distinctive conical beak. It feeds on small seeds.
  • Indian Skimmer: Known for its unique bill, with the lower part longer than the top, which it uses to skim over water to catch fish.
  • Indian Spot-billed Duck: Easily identified by the spots on its bill, this duck is found in lakes and wetlands across India.
  • Indian Spotted Creeper: It creeps up tree trunks looking for insects hidden in the bark, using its sharp claws and curved beak.
A grey background on the left is the letter E in the center of a white circle. On the right is the word "Indian black-lored tilt" in white lettering with a picture of Indian black-lored tilt bird below it.
  • Indian Spotted Eagle: A powerful bird of prey with a sharp gaze, known for its incredible eyesight and strong talons to catch prey.
  • Indian Stone-curlew: With large yellow eyes and a strong beak, this bird is great at catching insects, lizards, and small snakes.
  • Indian Swiftlet: Small and fast, these birds spend most of their time in the air, catching insects with their wide mouths.
  • Indian Vulture: An important scavenger that helps clean the environment by eating dead animals.
  • Indian White-eye: Tiny and nimble, with a distinctive white ring around its eye, this bird flits through trees and shrubs looking for insects and nectar.
  • Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross: This seabird has a yellow stripe on its beak and spends most of its life flying over the ocean, only coming to land to breed.
  • Indigo Bunting: A small bird with striking blue feathers, it sings beautifully and migrates long distances.
  • Indigo Flowerpiercer: This bird has a unique beak shaped to pierce flowers and drink nectar.
  • Indigo Flycatcher: A small bird with lovely dark blue feathers, it catches insects in mid-air with quick, darting flights.
  • Indigo-banded Kingfisher: A brightly colored kingfisher that dives into water to catch fish with its sharp beak.
  • Indigo-capped Hummingbird: Tiny and vibrant, with a shimmering blue cap, it hovers near flowers to sip nectar.
  • Indochinese Barbet: This colorful bird has a green body, red head, and a strong bill. It uses its bill to carve out nests in tree trunks and loves eating fruit.
  • Indochinese Blue Flycatcher: A small, vibrant bird with lovely blue feathers on its back and a white belly, it flits through the forest catching insects.
  • Indochinese Bush Lark: Found in grasslands, this bird is brown and blends into its surroundings. It sings beautifully, often while flying up into the air.
  • Indochinese Cuckooshrike: A sleek bird with gray and black feathers, it hunts for insects in the treetops and has a loud, distinctive call.
  • Indochinese Fulvetta: A small, fluffy bird with a gray body and a strong voice, it moves in groups through the underbrush, eating insects.
  • Indochinese Green Magpie: Bright green with red eyes, this magpie is not just pretty but also very clever. It can solve puzzles to find food.
  • Indochinese Roller: Known for its spectacular aerial acrobatics during mating season, it has a blue body and a brown back and enjoys catching insects on the ground.
A grey background on the left is the letter E in the center of a white circle. On the right is the word "Indian yellow-nosed albatross" in white lettering with a picture of Indian yellow-nosed albatross bird below it.
  • Indochinese Yuhina: With a cute crest on its head and a chatty nature, this bird loves hopping around in large groups looking for berries and small insects.
  • Indonesian Honeyeater: This bird loves sweet flower nectar and has a long beak perfect for reaching into blossoms. It has a striking black and yellow plumage.
  • Inland Dotterel: Found in dry, open areas, this ground bird is camouflaged with sandy colors. It runs rather than flies to escape predators.
  • Inland Thornbill: Tiny and energetic, it has a soft brown color and loves to move through bushes and trees searching for insects.
  • Intermediate Egret: A tall, white bird that wades in water to catch fish with its long, sharp beak. It stands still and then strikes quickly.
  • Invisible Rail: Known for being very hard to spot, this bird lives in dense marshes and has a mysterious, ghost-like call.
  • Iphis Monarch: A small, elusive bird with striking black and white feathers. It’s very rare and loves to live in undisturbed forests.
  • Iquitos Gnatcatcher: Tiny and gray, this bird is a bundle of energy, constantly flicking its tail while it hunts for tiny insects in the foliage.
  • Iraq Babbler: This sociable bird is found in marshes and has a loud, joyful song. It’s brown and loves to bathe in shallow water.
  • Iringa Akalat: A shy bird with a lovely orange belly and a melodious song, found in the dense underbrush of African forests.
  • Iriomote Tit: A small bird with bold black and white markings. It’s very active and loves to hang upside down on branches as it searches for bugs.
  • Iris Lorikeet: A small, brightly colored parrot with a sweet disposition, known for its vibrant green and purple feathers and playful nature.
  • Isabela Oriole: This rare bird has striking yellow and black plumage. It’s very secretive and lives only in certain areas of the Philippines.
  • Isabelline Bush-hen: This bird loves to hide in dense bushes where it’s hard to see. It’s named for its beautiful sandy-colored feathers that help it blend into its surroundings.
  • Isabelline Shrike: This small bird has a sandy color and a black mask. It’s known for its unusual habit of impaling its food on thorns or barbed wire to save for later.
  • Isabelline Wheatear: This bird travels a long way from Africa to Asia each year. It’s pale, sandy color with a striking black tail pattern makes it unique.
  • Island Bronze-naped Pigeon: Found only on certain islands, this pigeon has a shiny bronze patch on its neck and loves to eat fruits from forest trees.
  • Island Imperial Pigeon: This large, hefty pigeon has a soothing greenish color and is often seen soaring across islands in the Pacific, looking for fruits to eat.
A grey background on the left is the letter E in the center of a white circle. On the right is the word "Inland tornbill" in white lettering with a picture of Inland tornbill bird below it.
  • Island Leaf Warbler: A tiny bird that lives on islands in the Pacific, flitting around in the treetops and singing a pretty song.
  • Island Monarch: A striking black-and-white bird found on islands in the Pacific, where it rules over its territory like a king.
  • Island Scrub Jay: Unique to the Channel Islands off California, this blue and gray bird is smarter than most, known for using tools to find food.
  • Island Swiftlet: This bird spends most of its life flying over islands in the Pacific, only landing to nest in dark caves.
  • Island Thrush: Found on various islands, this bird varies in color from dark to light, singing sweet songs from the treetops.
  • Island Whistler: A cheerful bird with a loud, whistling call, found in the forests of Pacific islands.
  • Islet Kingfisher: This tiny kingfisher lives on small islands, diving into clear waters to catch fish with its sharp beak.
  • Isthmian Wren: This little bird with a powerful voice can be found in the dense forests of Central America, singing away from morning till night.
  • Italian Sparrow: Mostly found in Italy, this sparrow is like a mix between a house sparrow and a Spanish sparrow, loving to live close to people.
  • Itatiaia Spinetail: This bird is from the mountainous regions of Brazil, named after the Itatiaia National Park, and is known for its spikey tail feathers.
  • Itombwe Flycatcher: A rare bird from the Itombwe mountains in Africa, it loves to catch insects in the cool mountain air.
  • Ituri Batis: This small, striking bird with bold markings on its face and body lives in the Ituri forest in Africa, flitting around the undergrowth.
  • Ivory Gull: A beautiful white gull that lives in the Arctic, known for following polar bears to scavenge leftovers.
  • Ivory-backed Woodswallow: Found in Australia, this bird has a lovely contrast of ivory white on its back against darker wings.
  • Ivory-billed Aracari: A colorful bird with a striking ivory bill, part of the toucan family, living in the rainforests of South America.
  • Ivory-billed Coucal: A secretive bird from New Guinea, with a distinctive ivory-colored bill and deep, resonant calls.
  • Ivory-billed Woodcreeper: Found in the dense forests of South America, this bird uses its strong, ivory bill to peel bark from trees and find insects.
  • Ivory-billed Woodpecker: Often called the “ghost bird,” it is one of the largest woodpeckers, presumed extinct, but rumored to be seen in American forests.
  • Ivory-breasted Pitta: A vividly colored bird from the islands of Indonesia, known for its beautiful ivory-colored chest and joyful hops along the forest floor.
  • Izu Thrush: Native to the Izu Islands off Japan, this bird is known for its beautiful singing and striking plumage contrasts.

Did you discover some pretty cool birds that start with I on the list? Which one are you excited to see in real life? Share it with us in the comments!

A yellow banner with blue lettering saying "111 Birds That Start With I" above and below that are photos of  birds that start with I

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