100+ cute birds in English to earn a feather in your (vocabulary) cap

Birds are a symbol of freedom. They have a mysterious beauty, recognized by artists and poets since the dawn of time. They are also important in our lives in many ways.

They bring us joy by singing beautifully outside of our windows and help maintain the ecosystem by eating small insects.

You probably already know the names of birds you frequently encounter in your life, such as duck or pigeon in English. But even if English is your native language, you might find it a challenge to name the birds you don’t see that often.

So, in this guide, we’ll cover over 100 names of birds in English. Ready?

How to say “bird” in English

In English, the word “bird” (pronounced bɝːd) originated from the Anglo Saxon word “bredan,” which meant “to breed.” This word then gave origins to the Middle English spelling of “bird,” which was “brid” or “byrd.” The word “bird” as we know it today was popularized during Shakespeare’s time.

Anyway, you probably don’t want to hear about the origins of the word “bird.” You’re here to learn the names of birds in English. Although you can probably name common birds like a hummingbird in English, there are many more to discover!

Very common birds in English

It’s estimated that there are over 18,000 different bird species around the world, divided into 252 different bird families. Needless to say, we won’t cover all 18,000 (we don’t even know that many ourselves!). We’ll focus on the most common and important types of birds that anyone should know.

Migratory birds in English

Migratory birds are those that travel from one place to another. Most migratory birds travel in the winter to warmer places to avoid harsh weather conditions. Typically, they travel back home in spring or summer when the weather becomes favorable again. Some species are even able to migrate between hemispheres each year.

Here are the most common migratory birds in English.

Birds of prey in English

When we say “birds of prey”, we’re not talking about the Harley Quinn movie. We’re talking about the most dangerous bird species out there. The hunters. The meat-eaters. The ones you don’t want to come too close to!

Wild and exotic birds in English

If you’re looking for an explosion of colors, look no more! These exotic birds will wow anyone with their unique combination of beautifully colored feathers.

Here’s a list of the most popular tropical, exotic birds in English. We’ve also thrown in a few wild birds that aren’t so colorful, but equally unique.

Flightless birds in English

Birds are identified as a species by their feathers, beak, wings, and their ability to fly. But not all birds can fly. One of those flightless birds you may remember from biology classes is the penguin.

Here are a few more birds that can’t fly.

Hawkward bird puns that will have you quacking up

Yes, these bird puns may be a little corny. But you have to admit that they’re also quite emu-sing! Plus, they’re an owlsome way to memorize the names of a few birds and bird-related vocabulary!

• Owl by myself
• Owl never give up
• It’s owl, or nothing
• Toucan do it!
• Toucan play this game
• Impeckable
• That’s owlsome
• You’re dove-ly
• I’m so emu-tional
• I have no egrets
• So eggs-sighting
• Winner winner, chicken dinner
• I’m feeling under the feather
• That took a tern!
• This is very unpheasant

It’s time to fly away

We’ve covered a lot of birds in this guide, if you enjoyed this article, don’t stop the fun! Find more free English vocabulary lessons on our learn English blog.