List of Birds That Start With B

Bird watching is a delightful hobby that nurtures our connection to nature, and for many, it begins at an early age. When parents or educators are on the lookout for bird names that start with the letter B, it often stems from a desire to expand kids’ vocabulary in an exciting and interactive way. Introducing B letter bird names for preschoolers and kids will surely fill the learning experience with awe-struck moments when you get to the facts. This list of bird names that start with the letter B not only offers names but also weaves stories about these feathered friends, making it a delightful addition to kids’ vocabulary.

List of Common Birds That Start With B

Birds are incredibly diverse, and many species have names that begin with the letter B. In this list, we will explore some birds beginning with the letter b, delving into their scientific names, habitats, descriptions, and some interesting facts. Each bird name with B possesses unique qualities that will surely make learning worthwhile!

1. Bald Eagle

Scientific Name: Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Where Is It Found: Primarily in North America

The Bald Eagle is a large bird of prey known for its white head and tail contrasting with its dark brown body. It is the national bird of the United States.

Interesting Facts:

• Bald Eagles have a wingspan ranging from 6 to 7.5 feet.
• Their nests, which are reused and added to each year, can weigh up to a ton!

2. Baltimore Oriole

Scientific Name: Icterus galbula
Where Is It Found: Eastern North America

This small bird boasts bright orange and black plumage, which makes it easily recognizable. It is named after the heraldic colours of Lord Baltimore.

Interesting Facts:

• The Baltimore Oriole has a sweet tooth and is often attracted to fruit and nectar.
• Their nests are woven and hang from tree branches, resembling a sock.

3. Barn Owl

Scientific Name: Tyto alba
Where Is It Found: Worldwide, except for polar and desert regions

With a heart-shaped face and ghostly appearance, the Barn Owl is known for its silent flight and exceptional hunting abilities in the dark.

Interesting Facts:

• Barn Owls can locate prey using their acute sense of hearing, even if the prey is hidden under snow or vegetation.
• They’re also one of the most widely distributed bird names with B.

4. Barn Swallow

Scientific Name: Hirundo rustica
Where Is It Found: Almost Worldwide

The Barn Swallow is a small bird with a deep blue upperpart and a long, forked tail. They are agile flyers known for their acrobatic flight patterns.

Interesting Facts:

• The Barn Swallow covers large distances during migration, travelling over 200 miles per day.
• Their mud nests are commonly built on human-made structures.

5. Bar-tailed Godwit

Scientific Name: Limosa lapponica
Where Is It Found: Eurasia, Africa, Australasia

This wader has a long, slightly upturned bill and displays a barred tail pattern during flight. Its migratory routes, spanning continents, are impressive.

Interesting Facts:

• The Bar-tailed Godwit holds the record for the longest known non-stop flight by any bird – over 7,000 miles from Alaska to New Zealand.
• It has a special style of feeding by probing its long bill in the mud.

6. Bee-eater

Scientific Name: Meropidae (family)
Where Is It Found: Across Africa, Asia, Europe, and Australasia

Bee-eaters are colourful birds with slender bodies, elongated central tail feathers, and strong bills. They catch bees and other flying insects in mid-air.

Interesting Facts:

• These birds are aptly named as they predominantly feed on bees and wasps.
• They have a unique ability to remove the sting of a bee by repeatedly hitting and rubbing the insect on a hard surface.

7. Bellbird

Scientific Name: Anthornis (genus)
Where Is It Found: New Zealand

Bellbirds have a melodic song with greenish colouration and a slightly curved bill. Their songs often resonate in the forests of New Zealand.

Interesting Facts:

• The bellbird’s song can sometimes be mistaken for actual bells.
• Maori legends often reference the bellbird for its distinct and melodious call.

8. Black-capped Chickadee

Scientific Name: Poecile atricapillus
Where Is It Found: North America

Recognizable by its black cap and bib, the Black-capped Chickadee is a small, active bird known for its curious nature and distinctive chick-a-dee-dee call.

Interesting Facts:

• The “chick-a-dee-dee-dee” call changes in length and intensity when they spot a predator, effectively serving as an alarm call.
• Each autumn, Black-capped Chickadees undergo a process where they replace old brain neurons with new ones, enabling them to adapt to changes within their social groups and surroundings.

9. Black-naped Oriole

Scientific Name: Oriolus chinensis
Where Is It Found: Across Asia

This oriole is bright yellow with a black head and nape, making it stand out in its habitat. It is often found in woodlands and gardens.

Interesting Facts:

• The Black-naped Oriole’s melodious call is a treat to the ears and is often mimicked by the Asian Koel.
• It is believed that Black-naped Oriole potentially facilitated the spread of Ficus species to the island of Krakatoa, where they were among the first pioneering plant species to establish themselves.

10. Black-throated Blue Warbler

Scientific Name: Setophaga caerulescens
Where Is It Found: North America

Sporting a blue back, black face, and white underparts, this warbler is a delight to spot during migration. They breed in the eastern deciduous forests and winter in the Caribbean.

Interesting Facts:

• The male and female Black-throated Blue Warblers look so different that they were initially believed to be two different species.
• The usual description of blue back and head and black throat is for males. Females, on the other hand, have plain greyish backs with beige fronts.

11. Blue-footed Booby

Scientific Name: Sula nebouxii
Where Is It Found: Eastern Pacific Ocean, especially the Galápagos Islands

Known for their striking blue feet, these seabirds are agile divers, plunging from great heights to catch fish.

Interesting Facts:

• The brighter a male booby’s feet, the more attractive he is to a potential mate.
• Males show off their feet in a unique mating dance.

12. Bulbul

Scientific Name: Pycnonotidae (family)
Where Is It Found: Across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East

Bulbuls are medium-sized songbirds with short necks, rounded heads, and long tails. They often have a crest or tuft on their head.

Interesting Facts:

• Many species of bulbuls are renowned for their melodious songs, and they’re quite adaptable, with some species thriving even in urban settings.
• There are more than 150 species of bulbul present worldwide.

13. Bufflehead

Scientific Name: Bucephala albeola
Where Is It Found: North America

Buffleheads are small diving ducks with a large, round head, short neck, and a distinctive white patch on the back of the head. They are quick and agile fliers.

Interesting Facts: 

• Buffleheads are cavity-nesting ducks and often use abandoned Northern Flicker holes for their nests.
• The name “bufflehead” is derived from “buffalo head” due to their disproportionately large head.

14. Brambling

Scientific Name: Fringilla montifringilla
Where Is It Found: Across Europe and Asia

Bramblings have a distinctive orange breast and a shoulder with a white belly. They are closely related to the chaffinch and often migrate in large flocks.

Interesting Facts:

• During winter, they often mix with chaffinch flocks.
• Their numbers can sometimes be so vast that they create a spectacle, with thousands of birds descending on favoured feeding grounds.

15. Brown Pelican

Scientific Name: Pelecanus occidentalis
Where Is It Found: Coastal areas of the Americas, from North America to the Amazon River

Brown Pelicans are large water birds known for their long bill and extensible throat pouch. They often glide in long lines close to the water’s surface.

Interesting Facts:

• Unlike other pelicans, brown pelicans dive from the air to catch their prey.
• Due to their feeding style, they are often seen making dramatic plunges into the water.

16. Bohemian Waxwing

Scientific Name: Bombycilla garrulus
Where Is It Found: Northern parts of North America and Eurasia

Bohemian Waxwings are sleek birds with a distinctive crest and colourful wax-like wing tips. They primarily feed on berries and fruit.

Interesting Facts :

• In winter, large flocks can devour an entire tree’s berries in a short span.
• They’ve been known to get intoxicated if they eat fermented berries.

17. Black Kite

Scientific Name: Milvus migrans
Where Is It Found: Across Asia, Europe, and parts of Australia and Africa

Black Kites are medium-sized raptors with angled wings and a long forked tail. They are opportunistic hunters and are often seen scavenging.

Interesting Facts:

• Black Kites have adapted well to urban environments and can often be seen soaring above cities.
• They are known to snatch food items directly from people’s hands in some populated areas.

Other Birds Beginning With B

While we’ve covered a few notable birds that start with the letter B, there are many more in this category. Birds are incredibly diverse, and when considering the ones where the name of a bird starts with the letter B, we found a plethora of species scattered across the globe. Here are some additional bird names for those interested:

• Baikal Teal
• Baillon’s Crake
• Baker’s Bulbul
• Bald Parrot
• Bali Myna
• Band-rumped Swift
• Band-tailed Antbird
• Band-tailed Manakin
• Band-tailed Pigeon
• Band-tailed Seedeater
• Banjo Babbler
• Barbary Falcon
• Barbary Partridge
• Barbuda Warbler
• Bare-cheeked Babbler
• Bare-eyed Pigeon
• Bare-faced Curassow
• Bare-faced Go-away-bird
• Bare-faced Ground Dove
• Bare-faced Ibis
• Bare-faced Rail
• Bare-eyed Myna
• Bare-eyed Thrush
• Bare-legged Owl
• Bare-necked Fruitcrow
• Bare-throated Bellbird
• Barred Antshrike
• Barred Becard
• Barred Buttonquail
• Barred Cuckooshrike
• Barred Fruiteater
• Barred Hawk
• Barred Honeyeater
• Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo
• Barred Owl
• Barred Parakeet
• Barred Rail
• Barred Tinamou
• Barred Warbler
• Barred Woodcreeper
• Barrow’s Goldeneye
• Bartlett’s Tinamou
• Basalt Wheatear
• Bashful Babbler
• Bassian Thrush
• Bates’s Nightjar
• Bates’s Swift
• Bay Coucal

FAQs

1. What is the most famous bird that starts with the letter B?

The Bald Eagle, primarily known as the national bird of the United States, is arguably the most famous bird beginning with the letter ‘b’.

2. Are there any endangered birds that start with B?

Yes, the Bali Myna and the Bald Parrot are among the birds starting with ‘b’ that are currently listed as endangered.

3. Which bird with a name beginning with B has the longest migration?

The Bar-tailed Godwit is known for its impressive migration, covering over 7,000 miles non-stop from Alaska to New Zealand.

4. Are Bee-eaters exclusively dependent on bees for their diet?

No, although Bee-eaters predominantly feed on bees, they also consume other flying insects.

5. Which bird beginning with ‘B’ is known for its bright blue feet?

The Blue-footed Booby is renowned for its striking blue feet, which play a role in its mating rituals.

Birds that start with the letter ‘b’ present a captivating array of species, each with its unique characteristics, habitats, and behaviours. From the iconic Bald Eagle to the vibrant Blue-footed Booby, these birds enrich our world with their beauty and ecological contributions. Whether you’re an ornithologist or just a curious nature enthusiast, there’s a world of feathery wonders beginning with ‘B’ waiting to be explored.

Birds Names That Begin With (A to Z)