Humans share Earth with over 10,000 bird species, but some of nature’s most striking creatures begin with a single letter: H.

For bird enthusiasts and casual observers alike, identifying and appreciating these feathered wonders can feel overwhelming.

With so many species to learn about and limited time to study them, many people miss out on meeting these remarkable H-named birds that could be living right in their backyard.

Let’s explore the most interesting H-named birds, from the tiny Hermit Thrush with its haunting song to the mighty Harpy Eagle that rules the rainforest canopy.

This guide will introduce you to their unique characteristics, behaviors, and the best places to spot them in their natural habitats.

Rare Birds Starting with H You Should Know

1. Himalayan Monal

The Himalayan Monal is a dazzling pheasant known for its iridescent plumage, especially in males. This bird is the national bird of Nepal and holds cultural significance in Himalayan regions.

It feeds on seeds, roots, and insects, often foraging in alpine meadows.

• Geographical Range: Himalayas of Nepal, India, Bhutan, and Tibet
• Habitat: Alpine meadows, coniferous and mixed forests
• Scientific Name: Lophophorus impejanus

2. Hooded Pitta

The Hooded Pitta stands out with its bright green body, black head, and red underparts.

It’s a ground-dwelling bird that sings melodiously during breeding season. These birds are shy but can be spotted hopping through leaf litter.

• Geographical Range: South and Southeast Asia
• Habitat: Tropical lowland forests, mangroves, and plantations
• Scientific Name: Pitta sordida

3. Harpy Eagle

Among the largest eagles in the world, the Harpy Eagle boasts powerful talons capable of hunting large prey. Its distinctive crown of feathers gives it a majestic appearance.

This apex predator plays a vital role in maintaining forest ecosystems.

• Geographical Range: Central and South America
• Habitat: Lowland rainforests
• Scientific Name: Harpia harpyja

4. Hawaiian Crow (ʻAlalā)

Critically endangered, the Hawaiian Crow is known for its intelligence, particularly tool use.

Sadly extinct in the wild, conservation programs are working hard to reintroduce them. Their survival is crucial for seed dispersal in native forests.

• Geographical Range: Hawaii (Big Island)
• Habitat: Dry and mesic forests
• Scientific Name: Corvus hawaiiensis

5. Hume’s Owl

A nocturnal bird, Hume’s Owl is elusive and difficult to spot. It has a soft, rhythmic hoot and prefers rocky, arid environments.

Despite being widespread, it remains poorly studied in the wild.

• Geographical Range: Middle East, from Egypt to Pakistan
• Habitat: Rocky deserts, semi-desert areas with sparse vegetation
• Scientific Name: Strix butleri

6. Helmeted Hornbill

The Helmeted Hornbill is known for its solid casque, which is targeted by illegal hunters.

Its loud, cackling calls can be heard echoing through the rainforest. Conservationists consider it critically endangered due to habitat loss and poaching.

• Geographical Range: Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo
• Habitat: Lowland tropical forests
• Scientific Name: Rhinoplax vigil

7. Hooded Grebe

With its elegant black hood and striking white body, the Hooded Grebe is one of Argentina’s rarest birds.

It performs intricate courtship dances on remote Patagonian lakes. Unfortunately, it faces extinction due to introduced predators and habitat loss.

• Geographical Range: Southern Patagonia, Argentina
• Habitat: Freshwater lakes at high altitudes
• Scientific Name: Podiceps gallardoi

8. Houbara Bustard

The Houbara Bustard is a shy, ground-dwelling bird often targeted by hunters for sport.

It plays a critical ecological role by dispersing seeds and controlling insect populations. Its population is declining rapidly due to hunting and habitat degradation.

• Geographical Range: North Africa, Middle East, Central Asia
• Habitat: Arid deserts, semi-deserts, steppe regions
• Scientific Name: Chlamydotis undulata

9. Harris’s Sparrow

North America’s only endemic sparrow, Harris’s Sparrow has a distinctive black crown and bib.

This songbird is notable for its long migrations between breeding and wintering grounds. Birdwatchers treasure sightings due to its limited range.

• Geographical Range: Central Canada to southern United States
• Habitat: Boreal forests (breeding); shrublands and prairies (wintering)
• Scientific Name: Zonotrichia querula

10. Hawaiian Duck (Koloa Maoli)

This native Hawaiian duck is often mistaken for the Mallard. Sadly, interbreeding with Mallards threatens its pure genetic line.

Conservation efforts are ongoing to protect wetland habitats critical for its survival.

• Geographical Range: Hawaiian Islands
• Habitat: Freshwater wetlands, streams, and coastal ponds
• Scientific Name: Anas wyvilliana

11. Heermann’s Gull

Heermann’s Gull is one of the most striking gulls, with a dark gray body and bright red bill. Its breeding colony is mostly confined to a single island, making it vulnerable.

These birds are known for their bold behavior, especially when stealing food.

• Geographical Range: Pacific Coast of North America, Mexico to California
• Habitat: Coastal beaches, rocky shores, islands
• Scientific Name: Larus heermanni

12. Hill Myna

Famous for its exceptional ability to mimic human speech, the Hill Myna is a popular bird in the pet trade. It is glossy black with bright orange-yellow patches of bare skin on its head.

In the wild, they live in noisy flocks.

• Geographical Range: South and Southeast Asia
• Habitat: Tropical and subtropical forests
• Scientific Name: Gracula religiosa

13. Horned Guan

The Horned Guan is a rare bird found only in the highlands of southern Mexico and Guatemala. Its unique red horn on the head gives it a prehistoric look.

Habitat destruction poses a significant threat to this ancient species.

• Geographical Range: Southern Mexico and Guatemala
• Habitat: Cloud forests in mountainous regions
• Scientific Name: Oreophasis derbianus

14. Hen Harrier

The Hen Harrier is a graceful raptor often seen gliding low over moorlands. Males are pale grey, while females are brown with a white rump.

It hunts small mammals and birds, playing a vital role in controlling populations.

• Geographical Range: Europe, Asia, and parts of North America
• Habitat: Open country, moorlands, and wetlands
• Scientific Name: Circus cyaneus

15. Hairy-crested Antbird

A secretive forest dweller, the Hairy-crested Antbird follows army ant swarms to catch fleeing insects. Its distinctive spiky crest gives it a striking appearance.

The species is rarely seen due to its elusive behavior and dense habitat.

• Geographical Range: Amazon Basin, South America
• Habitat: Tropical lowland forests
• Scientific Name: Rhegmatorhina melanosticta

16. Hepatic Tanager

Unlike most tanagers, the Hepatic Tanager feeds primarily on insects. Males are brick red, while females are more olive-yellow.

This bird prefers forest edges where it can forage among foliage and bark.

• Geographical Range: Southwestern United States to northern Argentina
• Habitat: Pine-oak woodlands, montane forests
• Scientific Name: Piranga flava

17. Harlequin Duck

The Harlequin Duck is known for its striking plumage of slate blue, white, and chestnut.

It thrives in fast-moving streams where few other waterfowl venture. In winter, it moves to rocky coastlines where it dives for crustaceans.

• Geographical Range: North America and eastern Russia
• Habitat: Mountain streams (breeding); rocky seacoasts (wintering)
• Scientific Name: Histrionicus histrionicus

18. Helmeted Friarbird

With its bare black face and strong call, the Helmeted Friarbird is one of the noisiest birds in its range. It feeds mainly on nectar, playing a role in pollination.

Despite its scruffy appearance, it’s an essential ecosystem contributor.

• Geographical Range: Northern and eastern Australia, Papua New Guinea
• Habitat: Forest edges, woodlands, and mangroves
• Scientific Name: Philemon buceroides

19. Harter’s Camaroptera

A small, active bird, Harter’s Camaroptera is best recognized by its sharp call. It forages low in dense vegetation, often going unnoticed despite being common locally.

Its subtle grey and olive plumage blends perfectly with its environment.

• Geographical Range: Central Africa
• Habitat: Dense scrub, woodlands, and forest edges
• Scientific Name: Camaroptera harterti

20. Hume’s Pheasant

Also known as Mrs. Hume’s Pheasant, this beautiful bird is prized for its coppery plumage and long tail.

It is elusive and inhabits high-altitude forests. Habitat destruction and hunting have caused severe population declines.

• Geographical Range: Northeast India, Myanmar, Thailand, China
• Habitat: Montane forests and grasslands
• Scientific Name: Syrmaticus humiae

21. Hazel Grouse

The Hazel Grouse is shy and difficult to spot, relying on dense vegetation for cover.

Its plumage is beautifully patterned, blending into the forest floor. This bird is a year-round resident, feeding mainly on plant material.

• Geographical Range: Europe and northern Asia
• Habitat: Mixed and coniferous forests with dense undergrowth
• Scientific Name: Tetrastes bonasia

22. Highland Tinamou

The Highland Tinamou is a plump, ground-dwelling bird with a haunting call that echoes through montane forests. It forages for fruits and insects on the forest floor.

Despite its shy nature, its call is a signature sound of its habitat.

• Geographical Range: Andes mountains of Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru
• Habitat: Montane forests and cloud forests
• Scientific Name: Nothocercus bonapartei

23. Hook-billed Kite

The Hook-billed Kite is unique for its strongly hooked bill, adapted to pry snails from their shells. It exhibits remarkable color variation across its range.

This raptor is often seen soaring over forest canopies in search of prey.

• Geographical Range: Southern United States to Argentina
• Habitat: Forests, woodlands, and swampy areas
• Scientific Name: Chondrohierax uncinatus

24. Horned Sungem

A spectacular hummingbird, the Horned Sungem has iridescent plumage and striking horn-like head feathers. It feeds on nectar from flowering plants and plays a role in pollination.

Its dazzling appearance makes it a favorite among birdwatchers.

• Geographical Range: Central Brazil
• Habitat: Cerrado, dry savannas, and open woodlands
• Scientific Name: Heliactin bilophus

25. Hylocitrea (Olive-flanked Whistler)

Its olive and yellow plumage is subtle but distinctive. It remains poorly studied due to its preference for remote mountain forests.

• Geographical Range: Sulawesi, Indonesia
• Habitat: Montane forests at high elevations
• Scientific Name: Hylocitrea bonensis

26. Hume’s Leaf Warbler

A tiny, greenish warbler, Hume’s Leaf Warbler is often identified by its soft call. It flits energetically among leaves while foraging for insects.

This species is a common sight in its breeding grounds but difficult to spot in winter.

• Geographical Range: Central Asia and the Himalayas
• Habitat: Coniferous forests and scrublands
• Scientific Name: Phylloscopus humei

27. Hartlaub’s Turaco

Hartlaub’s Turaco is a vibrant green bird with crimson wing patches visible in flight. Its soft, melodic calls resonate in its forest habitat.

This bird plays an essential role in seed dispersal, contributing to forest regeneration.

• Geographical Range: East Africa (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania)
• Habitat: Forest edges and riverine forests
• Scientific Name: Tauraco hartlaubi

28. Halmahera Cuckooshrike

The Halmahera Cuckooshrike is a lesser-known species endemic to Indonesia’s Maluku Islands. It feeds mainly on insects, foraging high in the canopy.

Limited research has been conducted on this bird due to its remote range.

• Geographical Range: Halmahera Island, Indonesia
• Habitat: Lowland tropical and subtropical forests
• Scientific Name: Coracina parvula

Other Birds that Start with H to Look Out For

29. Hartert’s Double-collared Sunbird

30. Hodgson’s Frogmouth

31. Hainan Blue Flycatcher

32. Hair-crested Drongo

33. Hakalau Honeycreeper

34. Halmahera Paradise-crow

35. Hamerkop

36. Hamilton’s Frogmouth

37. Hamlyn’s Monkey-eating Eagle

38. Harlequin Antbird

39. Harlequin Quail

40. Harlequin Woodpecker

41. Harris’s Hawk

42. Hartlaub’s Babbler

43. Hartlaub’s Duck

44. Hartlaub’s Gull

45. Hartlaub’s Spurfowl

46. Harvey’s Red-headed Weaver

47. Hawaiian Hawk (ʻIo)

48. Hawaiian Petrel

49. Hawaiian Rail

50. Hawaiian Short-eared Owl (Pueo)

51. Hawfinch

52. Hazel-fronted Pygmy Owl

53. Heine’s Finch

54. Helmet Vanga

55. Helmeted Curassow

56. Helmeted Manakin

57. Helmeted Woodpecker

58. Henna-hooded Foliage-gleaner

59. Henst’s Goshawk

60. Hepburn’s Rosy-Finch

61. Herero Chat

62. Hermit Thrush

63. Hermit Warbler

64. Herring Gull

65. Highland Elaenia

66. Highland Parakeet

67. Highland Streaked Fantail

68. Himalayan Bluetail

69. Himalayan Bulbul

70. Himalayan Cuckoo

71. Himalayan Cutia

72. Himalayan Griffon

73. Himalayan Rubythroat

74. Himalayan Shortwing

75. Himalayan Shrike-babbler

76. Himalayan Snowcock

77. Himalayan Swiftlet

78. Himalayan Vulture

79. Hispaniolan Amazon

80. Hispaniolan Crossbill

81. Hispaniolan Emerald

82. Hispaniolan Lizard-Cuckoo

83. Hispaniolan Oriole

84. Hispaniolan Parakeet

85. Hispaniolan Parrot

86. Hispaniolan Pewee

87. Hispaniolan Trogon

88. Hoary Puffleg

89. Hoary Redpoll

90. Hoary-throated Barwing

91. Hoatzin

92. Hock-billed Parrot

93. Hodge’s Hawk

94. Hodgson’s Hawk-Cuckoo

95. Hodgson’s Redstart

96. Hodgson’s Treecreeper

97. Hodgson’s Bushchat

98. Hodgson’s Pipit

99. Hodgson’s Rosy Finch

100. Hoesch’s Rockjumper

101. Hoffmann’s Two-toed Trogon

102. Hoffmann’s Woodpecker

103. Holarctic Longspur

104. Holland’s Babax

105. Holub’s Golden Weaver

106. Holyland Bunting

107. Homeyer’s Grey Shrike

108. Honey Buzzard

109. Honeyguide Greenbul

110. Honeyguide Manakin

111. Honeyguide Warbler

112. Hook-billed Bulbul

113. Hook-billed Hermit

114. Hook-billed Kingfisher

115. Hook-billed Vanga

116. Hook-tailed Kite

117. Hoopoe Starling

118. Hornbill Finch

119. Horned Coquette

120. Horned Lark

121. Horned Puffin

122. Horned Screamer

123. Horned Tapaculo

124. Horned White-eye

125. Hornemann’s Arctic Redpoll

126. Hornero

127. Horsefield’s Bronze Cuckoo

128. Horsfield’s Babbler

129. Horsfield’s Barwing

130. Horsfield’s Bronze-cuckoo

131. Horsfield’s Bush Lark

132. Horsfield’s Jungle Flycatcher

133. Horsfield’s Nightjar

134. Horsfield’s Thrush

135. Horsfield’s Trogon

136. House Crow

137. House Finch

138. House Martin

139. House Sparrow

140. House Wren

141. Howard’s Owl

142. Howell’s Seedeater

143. Hudsonian Curlew

144. Hudsonian Godwit

145. Huet’s Fulvetta

146. Hume’s Bush Warbler

147. Hume’s Ground Jay

148. Hume’s Treecreeper

149. Humblot’s Flycatcher

150. Humblot’s Heron

151. Humblot’s Sunbird

152. Humboldt Penguin

153. Hungarian Partridge

154. Hunan Treecreeper

155. Hunter’s Cisticola

156. Hunter’s Sunbird

157. Hunter’s Weaver

158. Hunting Cuckoo

159. Hutton’s Shearwater

160. Hutton’s Vireo

161. Hyacinth Macaw

162. Hyliota

163. Hylocichla

164. Hylocharis

165. Hylophilus

166. Hypocnemis Antbird

167. Hypocolius

168. Hypophthalmus

169. Hypsipetes Bulbul

170. Hypsirhynchus

171. Hypsipetes Babbler

172. Hypsypetes Thrush

173. Hypsiurus Drongo

174. Hainan Leaf Warbler

175. Hainan Partridge

176. Hainan Peacock-Pheasant

177. Hainan Swamp Pigeon

178. Hainan Treepie

179. Hainan White-eye

180. Hainan Wren-Babbler

181. Haiti Elaenia

182. Haiti Oriole

183. Haitian Spindalis

184. Halmahera Babbler

185. Halmahera Cuckoo-Dove

186. Halmahera Flowerpecker

187. Halmahera Jungle-Flycatcher

188. Halmahera Leaf Warbler

189. Halmahera Scops Owl

190. Halmahera Woodcock

191. Hartert’s Leaf Warbler

192. Hartert’s Swift

193. Hatinh Langur Pheasant

194. Hauberk’s Greenbul

195. Hauberk’s Nuthatch

196. Hauberk’s Robin

197. Hauts-de-France Bunting

198. Havana Greenlet

199. Hawker’s Honeycreeper

200. Headwater’s Laughingthrush

201. Heerman’s Gull

202. Hela’s Babbler

203. Helbig’s Leaf Warbler

204. Heliconia Hummingbird

205. Heliangelus Starthroat

206. Heliodoxa Sunangel

207. Heliornis Sungrebe

208. Heliothrix Purpletuft

209. Helipterum Flycatcher

210. Helminthophila Warbler

211. Heloderma Tapaculo

212. Helmet-crested Flycatcher

213. Helmeted Sunbird

214. Hemprich’s Hornbill

215. Henkel’s Dove

216. Henna-capped Leafbird

217. Henna-crowned Antbird

218. Henna-fronted Barbet

219. Henna-shouldered Flycatcher

220. Henna-winged Flatbill

221. Hepialus Finch

222. Hepialus Pygmy Owl

223. Herberstein’s Nuthatch

224. Herdman’s Ground Roller

225. Herero’s Lark

226. Herman’s Quailfinch

227. Heron’s Bittern

228. Herpetotheres Kite

229. Hesperis Thrush

230. Hess’s Broadbill

231. Hess’s Shrike

232. Heteromyias Whistler

233. Heterophasia Sibia

234. Hewitt’s Weaver

235. Hialeah Finch

236. Hibbertia Honeyeater

237. Highland Blackbird

238. Highland Honeyeater

239. Highland Lorikeet

240. Highland Pigeon

241. Highland Robin

242. Highland Sparrowhawk

243. Highland Starling

244. Highland Swallow

245. Hila’s Minivet

246. Hill Barbet

247. Hill Chachalaca

248. Hill Prinia

249. Hill Sooty Boubou

250. Hill Swallow

251. Hill Triller

252. Hill Vireo

253. Hill White-eye

254. Hill Wren

255. Hillock Kingfisher

256. Hilton’s Greenbul

257. Himalaya Serin

258. Himalayan Babbler

259. Himalayan Flameback

260. Himalayan Forest Thrush

261. Himalayan Greenfinch

262. Himalayan Hill Partridge

263. Himalayan Laughingthrush

264. Himalayan Owl

265. Himalayan Parakeet

266. Himalayan Shrike

267. Himalayan Starling

268. Himalayan Thrush

269. Himalayan White-browed Rosefinch

270. Himalayan White-capped Redstart

271. Hiri’s Flycatcher

272. Hispaniola Grassquit

273. Hispaniola Ibis

274. Hispaniola Nightjar

275. Hispaniola Swallow

276. Hispaniola Yellowthroat

277. Holarctic Siskin

278. Holarctic Warbler

279. Holland’s Chat

280. Holub’s Flycatcher

281. Holy Cross Thrush

282. Homeyer’s Pipit

283. Honey-bellied Sunbird

284. Honey-throated Barbet

285. Honeybird

286. Hook-billed Shrike

287. Hook-tailed Bulbul

288. Hoopoe Lark

289. Hoorn’s Babbler

290. Horned Antwren

291. Horned Barbet

292. Horned Helmet-Shrike

293. Horned Parakeet

294. Horned Warbler

295. Hornero Babbler

296. Horsfield’s Broadbill

297. Hottentot Buttonquail

298. Hubei Leaf Warbler

Interesting Facts About Birds that Start with H

1. Himalayan Monal

This bird’s iridescent plumage makes it one of the most colorful pheasants in the world, and males can have up to nine different shimmering colors on their feathers!

2. Harpy Eagle

With talons larger than a grizzly bear’s claws, the Harpy Eagle can snatch monkeys and sloths straight from trees with incredible power.

3. Helmeted Hornbill

Unlike other hornbills, the Helmeted Hornbill’s casque is solid, making it valuable in illegal wildlife trade as “red ivory”—sadly a major reason for its decline.

4. Hoatzin

This prehistoric-looking bird has a digestive system similar to cows, fermenting leaves in its crop, which gives it a strong, manure-like smell—hence the nickname “stinkbird.”

5. Hawaiian Crow (ʻAlalā)

One of the few bird species known to use tools, the Hawaiian Crow can shape sticks to extract food from crevices, showing remarkable intelligence.

6. Horned Guan

This rare bird has a bright red “horn” on its head, making it look like a relic from the dinosaur age—scientists believe it’s an ancient lineage of gamebirds.

7. Harlequin Duck

Nicknamed the “clown of the sea” due to its striking plumage, this duck thrives in fast-moving whitewater rapids where most other ducks would struggle.

8. Humboldt Penguin

Unlike most penguins that live in icy climates, the Humboldt Penguin lives along the warm coasts of South America, surviving in desert-like conditions.

9. Harris’s Hawk

This is one of the few raptors known for hunting in cooperative packs, working together like wolves to catch prey.

10. Hutton’s Vireo

It looks so similar to the Ruby-crowned Kinglet that even experienced birdwatchers can mistake the two, but the vireo has a slower, more deliberate foraging style.

11. Himalayan Griffon

This giant vulture has one of the largest wingspans of any bird in the Himalayas, and it soars over 20,000 feet high, almost as high as Mount Everest’s base camps.

12. Helmeted Curassow

This rare bird emits low-frequency calls that can be felt as vibrations, allowing them to communicate over long distances in dense forests.

13. Heermann’s Gull

Unlike most gulls that steal from others, Heermann’s Gulls are known for aggressively taking food from brown pelicans, even pulling fish right from their pouches!

14. Hispaniolan Trogon

This vibrant bird is the national bird of the Dominican Republic, symbolizing the country’s rich biodiversity.

15. Hair-crested Drongo

This drongo can imitate the alarm calls of other animals, tricking them into fleeing so it can snatch up their abandoned food.

To Conclude

From the striking Hooded Warbler to the powerful Harrier Hawk, H-named birds showcase nature’s incredible diversity.

These remarkable creatures each play vital roles in their ecosystems – some as essential pollinators, others as skilled hunters maintaining delicate population balances.

Understanding these birds goes beyond simply adding names to a birdwatcher’s list.

Their behaviors and adaptations offer valuable insights into environmental health and the importance of habitat conservation. As climate patterns shift and environments change, protecting these species becomes increasingly critical.

Want to support these amazing birds?

Consider setting up bird-friendly spaces in your garden, joining local bird-watching groups, or contributing to conservation efforts.