20 Birds That Start With H

Birds beginning with the letter “H” offer incredible variety, from the powerful Harpy Eagle to the small and lively Hummingbird.

Each species is adapted to unique habitats, lifestyles, and behaviors, showcasing the diversity of birdlife worldwide. This list includes each bird’s scientific name, typical location, and an interesting fact.

20 birds starting with “H,”

1.Harpy Eagle

The Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja) is one of the largest and most powerful raptors in the world, found in Central and South America. Its massive talons can rival a grizzly bear’s claws, allowing it to hunt large prey like monkeys and sloths.

Scientific Name: Harpia harpyja
Location: Central and South America
Fun Fact: Has talons as large as grizzly bear claws.

2.Hummingbird

The Hummingbird (Trochilidae spp.) is a small, energetic bird known for its ability to hover and fly backward. Found primarily in the Americas, it flaps its wings up to 80 times per second to hover and sip nectar.

Scientific Name: Trochilidae spp.
Location: Americas
Fun Fact: Can hover and fly backward by flapping wings up to 80 times per second.

3.Hoopoe

The Hoopoe (Upupa epops) is a distinctive bird with a fan-like crest, native to Africa, Europe, and Asia. Known for its “hoop-hoop” call, it’s a ground-forager, using its long bill to probe for insects.

Scientific Name: Upupa epops
Location: Africa, Europe, and Asia
Fun Fact: Known for its unique crest and “hoop-hoop” call.

4.Hooded Crow

The Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix) is a highly intelligent bird commonly found across Europe and parts of Asia. It’s known for its problem-solving skills and adaptability, often seen scavenging near human settlements.

Scientific Name: Corvus cornix
Location: Europe and parts of Asia
Fun Fact: Known for intelligence and scavenging near human areas.

5.Hawaiian Goose (Nene)

The Hawaiian Goose, or Nene (Branta sandvicensis), is the state bird of Hawaii and a unique species adapted to lava plains and grasslands. It is the rarest goose in the world and is only found in Hawaii.

Scientific Name: Branta sandvicensis
Location: Hawaii
Fun Fact: The rarest goose, adapted to Hawaii’s volcanic landscapes.

6.Hairy Woodpecker

The Hairy Woodpecker (Dryobates villosus) is a small, industrious woodpecker found across North America. Known for drumming on tree trunks, it searches for insects hidden beneath bark.

Scientific Name: Dryobates villosus
Location: North America
Fun Fact: Identified by its drumming sound as it forages for insects.

7.Heron

Great-White-Heron-Ardea-herodias-occidentalis

The Heron (Ardea spp.) is a tall, slender bird with long legs, found worldwide in wetland areas. Known for its patience, it stands still in shallow water, waiting to strike at fish and other prey.

Scientific Name: Ardea spp.
Location: Worldwide
Fun Fact: Stands motionless to ambush fish, displaying exceptional patience.

8.Helmeted Guineafowl

The Helmeted Guineafowl (Numida meleagris) is a ground-dwelling bird native to Africa, easily recognizable by its helmet-like casque. Known for its noisy calls, it’s commonly raised as pest control in farms.

Scientific Name: Numida meleagris
Location: Africa
Fun Fact: Often used in farms for pest control due to its diet.

9.Hornbill

The Hornbill (Bucerotidae spp.) is a unique bird with a large, curved bill, found in Africa and Asia. Known for their elaborate nesting habits, females seal themselves in tree cavities during nesting season.

Scientific Name: Bucerotidae spp.
Location: Africa and Asia
Fun Fact: Females seal themselves inside tree cavities for nesting.

10.House Sparrow

The House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) is a small, social bird found worldwide near human settlements. It’s highly adaptable and often seen flocking in cities, towns, and gardens.

Scientific Name: Passer domesticus
Location: Worldwide
Fun Fact: Commonly found near humans, easily adapting to urban environments.

11.Harris’s Hawk

The Harris’s Hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus) is a social raptor found in the southwestern U.S. and South America. Known for hunting in groups, it’s often used in falconry due to its cooperative nature.

Scientific Name: Parabuteo unicinctus
Location: Southwestern U.S. and South America
Fun Fact: One of the few raptors that hunts in groups.

12.Harlequin Duck

The Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus) is a striking waterfowl with vibrant markings, found in North America and parts of Asia. It prefers fast-flowing rivers and coastal waters.

Scientific Name: Histrionicus histrionicus
Location: North America and Asia
Fun Fact: Known for its bold, colorful plumage and preference for fast-moving water.

13.Humboldt Penguin

The Humboldt Penguin (Spheniscus humboldti) is a warm-weather penguin found along the coasts of Peru and Chile. Known for its unique braying calls, it nests in burrows or caves.

Scientific Name: Spheniscus humboldti
Location: Peru and Chile
Fun Fact: Emits a braying call, often called the “donkey penguin.”

14.Hoatzin

The Hoatzin (Opisthocomus hoazin) is a unique, leaf-eating bird from the Amazon basin with a blue face and spiky crest. Young Hoatzins have claws on their wings to help climb branches.

Scientific Name: Opisthocomus hoazin
Location: Amazon Basin
Fun Fact: Known as the “stinkbird” for its leafy diet’s odor.

15.Hawk

The Hawk (Accipitridae spp.) is a powerful raptor family found worldwide, known for its keen eyesight and sharp talons. Hawks are skilled hunters, often using soaring flights to scan for prey.

Scientific Name: Accipitridae spp.
Location: Worldwide
Fun Fact: Hawks are known for their excellent vision, spotting prey from great heights.

16.Herring Gull

The Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) is a large, adaptable seabird found along coastlines and inland regions. Known for its intelligence, it often scavenges near human settlements.

Scientific Name: Larus argentatus
Location: Northern Hemisphere
Fun Fact: Recognized for its adaptability and scavenging behavior.

17.Hooded Merganser

The Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) is a small, striking duck with a fan-like crest, native to North America. Its diet consists mostly of small fish and aquatic insects.

Scientific Name: Lophodytes cucullatus
Location: North America
Fun Fact: Known for its fan-shaped crest and excellent underwater hunting skills.

18.Horned Lark

The Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris) is a small songbird with tiny feather tufts resembling horns, found in open areas worldwide. It sings a sweet song while flying.

Scientific Name: Eremophila alpestris
Location: Worldwide in open areas
Fun Fact: Sings in flight, adding music to open landscapes.

19.Hen Harrier

The Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus) is a medium-sized raptor known for its low, graceful flight over grasslands in search of prey. Males are pale gray, while females are brown.

Scientific Name: Circus cyaneus
Location: Northern Hemisphere
Fun Fact: Known for low, gliding flights while hunting.

20.Himalayan Monal

The Himalayan Monal (Lophophorus impejanus) is a colorful pheasant native to the Himalayan forests. Known for its iridescent plumage, it’s the national bird of Nepal.