List of Birds That Start With R

Bird watching has become more than just a hobby for many; it’s a passionate pursuit and a form of connection to nature. It’s fascinating how birds have a multitude of species, each with its own uniqueness. For young minds, especially, it’s a wonderful way to learn and grow. Introducing bird names to children not only adds to their vocabulary but also instils a love for these winged creatures. This article is specially curated for those seeking bird names that start with the letter R. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or simply someone with a love for avian creatures, you’ll find this list of R letter bird names for preschoolers and kids super exciting. It’s more than just a list; it’s a delightful addition to kids’ vocabulary and a fun way to learn about our feathered friends. 

List of Common Birds That Start With R

From raptors soaring high in the skies to rambunctious robins hopping about in our gardens, the avian world is replete with feathery wonders. Among these, the birds beginning with the letter R hold a unique charm, enriching our knowledge of biodiversity. In this section, we’ll embark on a journey through the fascinating world of birds, exploring some commonly known bird names with R.

1. Red-winged Blackbird 

Scientific Name: Agelaius phoeniceus
Where Is It Found: Across North America, especially in wetlands and open fields.

The Red-winged Blackbird is easily identifiable due to its sleek black body contrasted with bright red and yellow patches on its wings. Males are the ones flaunting these flashy colours, while females sport a more subdued brown-streaked appearance. Their song, a sharp, distinct call, often signals the beginning of spring in many regions.

Interesting Facts 

• Males are known to be highly territorial during the breeding season.
• They have been observed chasing away other birds, and even humans, who venture too close to their nesting area.

2. Rufous Hummingbird 

Scientific Name: Selasphorus rufus
Where Is It Found: Western North America, from Alaska to Mexico.

The Rufous Hummingbird is a small bird with an iridescent orange-brown hue. Its rapid wing movement, which allows it to hover in mid-air, and its darting flight patterns make it a joy to watch. Known for their incredible migration journey, these hummingbirds cover thousands of miles, moving between their breeding and wintering habitats.

Interesting Facts

• Rufous Hummingbirds have an excellent memory.
• They remember every flower they’ve visited and the time of the last visit to avoid revisiting too soon.

3. Rock Pigeon 

Scientific Name: Columba livia
Where Is It Found: Worldwide, especially in urban areas.

Most commonly referred to simply as “pigeon”, the Rock Pigeon is a familiar bird name with R for many city dwellers. With a variety of colors and patterns, these birds have adapted well to urban environments, often spotted in parks and city squares.

Interesting Facts

• The homing ability of Rock Pigeons has been used by humans for thousands of years, even being used to deliver messages during wars.

4. Ruddy Turnstone 

Scientific Name: Arenaria interpres
Where Is It Found: Coastlines around the world.

The Ruddy Turnstone, as its name suggests, is known for flipping over stones, shells, and seaweed with its beak to find food underneath. It boasts a unique pattern of black, white, and reddish-brown on its upper parts, making it stand out on rocky shores and sandy beaches.

Interesting Facts

• Despite its small size, this bird is a long-distance migrant, covering distances from Arctic breeding grounds to southern wintering areas.

5. Red-legged Partridge 

Scientific Name: Alectoris rufa
Where Is It Found: Native to southwestern Europe but introduced to other parts of the continent, including the UK.

The Red-legged Partridge is a striking bird with a grey-brown body, bold black markings on its sides, and, as its name suggests, bright red legs. They are commonly found in farmland and heathlands, where their distinct calls resonate.

Interesting Facts

• In the UK, the Red-legged Partridge has earned the nickname “French partridge” to distinguish it from the native grey partridge.

6. Roseate Spoonbill

Scientific Name: Platalea ajaja
Where Is It Found: Wetlands of South America, Central America, the Caribbean, and parts of the US.

The Roseate Spoonbill is a wading bird with a brilliant pink hue and a unique, spatula-shaped bill. They utilize this spoon-like bill to sift through the mud to find food, swinging it side-to-side in shallow waters.

Interesting Facts

• Despite their vibrant pink colour, Roseate Spoonbills aren’t born this way.
• They get their pink shade from their diet, which is rich in carotenoids found in the crustaceans they consume.

7. Red-billed Quelea

Scientific Name: Quelea quelea
Where Is It Found: Sub-Saharan Africa.

Often referred to as the world’s most abundant wild bird species, the Red-billed Quelea is a small, sparrow-like bird with a red bill and distinctive mask. These birds form enormous flocks, especially during migration or when searching for food, creating breathtaking spectacles in the sky.

Interesting Facts

• The Red-billed Quelea is sometimes considered a pest by farmers due to its ability to consume vast quantities of grain crops.
• Their massive flocks can decimate fields in a short time.

8. Razorbill 

Scientific Name: Alca torda
Where Is It Found: North Atlantic coasts, from the northeastern US to the British Isles and northern Europe.

The Razorbill is an aquatic bird with a sleek black back and white underbelly. Known for their sharp, straight bill, Razorbills are efficient divers, often plunging deep underwater to catch their prey.

Interesting Facts

• Razorbills spend most of their lives out at sea, only coming to land to breed on rocky cliffs.
• Their loyalty is commendable; they often mate for life and return to the same nesting sites year after year.

9. Red-lored Parrot 

Scientific Name: Amazona autumnalis
Where Is It Found: Central America and parts of Mexico.

This medium-sized parrot is predominantly green but stands out due to its bright red forehead and blue highlights behind the eyes. Their loud, raucous calls often give away their presence in the rainforests before they are visually spotted.

Interesting Facts

• The Red-lored Parrot is known for its intelligence and ability to mimic sounds.
• Due to its colourful appearance and vocal skills, it’s often sought after in the pet trade, leading to concerns about its population in the wild.

10. Red-breasted Nuthatch 

Scientific Name: Sitta canadensis
Where Is It Found: Throughout the coniferous forests of North America.

The Red-breasted Nuthatch is a small, agile bird with a striking blue-grey upper body and rusty-red underparts. Their sharp, upturned beak is an essential tool, enabling them to forage for insects in the bark of trees. Their behavior of moving headfirst down tree trunks makes them instantly recognizable.

Interesting Facts

• These birds have a unique method of storing their food.
• They often hide seeds under tree bark and remember these locations, ensuring a food supply during winter months.

11. Red Kite

Scientific Name: Milvus milvus
Where Is It Found: Parts of Western Europe, especially in the UK and Spain.

The Red Kite is a majestic bird of prey with a reddish-brown body, a deeply forked tail, and a wingspan that can reach almost two meters. Its graceful, soaring flight is a sight to behold against the backdrop of open countryside.

Interesting Facts

• Once on the brink of extinction in the UK, conservation efforts over the past decades have led to a successful resurgence of the Red Kite population.
• They are now a common sight in some regions.

12. Red-crested Cardinal 

Scientific Name: Paroaria coronata
Where Is It Found: South America, especially in Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay.

Not to be confused with the North American Cardinals, the Red-crested Cardinal boasts a bright red head and chest, with a white underbelly and grey back. These birds are often seen foraging on the ground, seeking out insects, fruits, and seeds.

Interesting Facts

• Despite its name, the Red-crested Cardinal isn’t closely related to the North American Cardinals.
• Its name derives merely from its distinctive red crest.

13. Rufous-tailed Jacamar 

Scientific Name: Galbula ruficauda
Where Is It Found: From southern Mexico to western Panama.

The Rufous-tailed Jacamar is a sleek, colourful bird with an elongated bill, iridescent green upper parts, and a rufous tail and underparts. It’s often found in lowland tropical forests, where it catches flying insects on the wing.

Interesting Facts

• Their long, sharp bills are not just for catching insects.
• They also play a role in nest-building, helping the Jacamar excavate burrows in earthen banks.

14. Ring-necked Pheasant 

Scientific Name: Phasianus colchicus
Where Is It Found: Native to Asia but widely introduced in North America and Europe.

A large, ground-dwelling bird, the Ring-necked Pheasant is easily recognized by its colourful plumage, white neck ring, and long, pointed tail. While males are vibrant and multicoloured, females are more muted with brown, patterned feathers – perfect for camouflage.

Interesting Facts 

• Introduced as a game bird, the Ring-necked Pheasant has successfully established itself in many parts of the world, so much so that in some areas, it’s considered naturalized.

15. Red-throated Loon 

Scientific Name: Gavia stellata
Where Is It Found: Breeds in the Arctic tundras of North America and Eurasia, migrating to coastal areas in the winter.

The Red-throated Loon is the smallest among the loon species, characterized by its slender profile and a distinctive red patch on its throat during breeding season. Outside of the breeding period, the bird boasts a greyish head and white underparts.

Interesting Facts 

• Unlike other loons, the Red-throated Loon can take off directly from land, thanks to its lighter build and wings positioned more toward the centre of its body.

16. Red-capped Robin

Scientific Name: Petroica goodenovii
Where Is It Found: Across much of Australia, primarily in drier regions.

One of the smallest birds in its range, the Red-capped Robin is noted for the male’s striking crimson cap and deep black upperparts. Females are more subdued in colour but equally charming, with a soft grey appearance and a pinkish-red cap.

Interesting Facts

• Male Red-capped Robins are known to perform vivid display flights during the breeding season, aiming to attract a mate and mark their territory.

17. Red-eyed Vireo

Scientific Name: Vireo olivaceus
Where Is It Found: Throughout North America, migrating to South America for winter.

This small songbird is primarily olive-green with a white belly, but its defining feature is the fierce red eye it sports in adulthood. Often found in deciduous woods, the Red-eyed Vireo is known for its continuous singing.

Interesting Facts

• The Red-eyed Vireo’s song has been described as a repetitive philosopher, often phrased as “Here I am, where are you?”

18. Rufous Fantail 

Scientific Name: Rhipidura rufifrons
Where Is It Found: Regions of Australia, Indonesia, Solomon Islands, and Papua New Guinea.

As the name suggests, the Rufous Fantail has a striking rufous-coloured tail, contrasted with brown wings and a white throat. Known for its energetic movements, it flits around tirelessly, fanning its tail and changing directions mid-air while hunting insects.

Interesting Facts

• The Rufous Fantail’s nest is a neat cup shape, often placed on a thin branch, making it sway like a pendulum, which might deter potential predators.

Other Birds Beginning With R

While the birds we’ve already highlighted have their own distinctive charm, the avian world is vast, and there’s more to explore. This section dives deeper into the feathery denizens whose names also start with the letter R. Each bird, whether common or rare, adds its own melody to nature’s symphony. In this list, each name of the bird starts with the letter R.

• Red-backed Shrike
• Red-billed Chough
• Red-breasted Merganser
• Red-billed Quelea
• Red-billed Teal
• Red-billed Tropicbird
• Red-browed Finch
• Red-crested Pochard
• Red-crowned Crane
• Red-footed Falcon
• Red-fronted Tinkerbird
• Red-headed Woodpecker
• Red-legged Kittiwake
• Red-legged Partridge
• Red-lored Amazon
• Red-naped Sapsucker
• Red-necked Grebe
• Red-necked Phalarope
• Red-necked Stint
• Red-shouldered Hawk
• Red-tailed Black Cockatoo
• Red-tailed Tropicbird
• Red-throated Diver
• Red-throated Pipit
• Red-winged Blackbird
• Red-winged Parrot
• Reddish Egret
• Reed Bunting
• Reed Warbler
• Resplendent Quetzal
• Ring-billed Gull
• Ring-necked Duck
• Ring-necked Pheasant
• Ringed Kingfisher
• Ringed Plover
• Ringed Teal
• Rock Dove (commonly known as the pigeon)
• Rock Ptarmigan
• Rook
• Rosy-faced Lovebird
• Rosy-patched Bushshrike
• Rough-legged Buzzard
• Royal Albatross
• Ruby-crowned Kinglet
• Ruby-throated Hummingbird
• Ruddy Duck
• Ruddy Turnstone
• Rufous Hummingbird
• Rufous Treecreeper

From the majestic Royal Albatross to the petite Ruby-throated Hummingbird, each bird starting with the letter R adds a touch of wonder to our world. Their varied habitats, distinctive calls, and vibrant plumages remind us of the diverse beauty nature has to offer.

FAQs

1. Why are birds’ names important for learning?

Bird names are integral for learning as they enhance vocabulary, foster a deeper appreciation for biodiversity, and promote understanding of different species and their unique behaviours.

2. How can I encourage kids to explore more bird names with the letter R? 

You can introduce children to bird-watching, provide them with illustrated bird books, or engage them in interactive bird-related games and apps that focus on birds starting with the letter R.

We hope you enjoyed the extensive selection of bird starting with the letter R. In the vast tapestry of nature, birds hold a special place with their vivid colours, melodious songs, and fascinating behaviours. Exploring bird names, especially those starting with the letter R, not only enriches our vocabulary but also deepens our connection to the diverse world around us.

Birds Names That Begin With (A to Z)