Whether you’re playing a word game, researching unique birds, or just curious, this list showcases birds whose names end in H, from finches to thrushes to nuthatches. It will help you learn about their behaviors and appearances, with pictures for easy identification. Join us to explore and recognize these fascinating species.
Let’s dive in!
1. American goldfinch
Scientific Name: Spinus tristis
The American Goldfinch is a small, vibrant bird recognized by its bright yellow feathers in males during the breeding season, complemented by a black forehead, wings, and tail. Females and males outside the breeding season have a more subdued olive-brown coloration. Found across North America, these birds prefer open areas with scattered trees, thriving in gardens, meadows, and parks.
The American Goldfinch is unique in its late breeding season, timed to coincide with the abundance of seeds, particularly from thistles and sunflowers, which constitute their main diet. They are also known for their undulating flight pattern, characterized by a series of wing flaps and glides, and their sweet, twittering calls.
2. Blue finch
Scientific Name: Rhopospina caerulescens
The Blue Finch is a bird found mainly in South America, distinctive for the male’s bright blue plumage and the female’s buff-brown color with heavy streaks below. They have a yellowish bill featuring a dusky upper edge. Preferring rocky savanna habitats, these finches are primarily seed eaters, foraging mostly on the ground.
Encounters with the Blue Finch are special due to their somewhat elusive nature. Their habitat choice includes open to semi-open areas, adapting well to the terrain of highland regions.
3. Chestnut-bellied nuthatch
Scientific Name: Sitta cinnamoventris
The Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch is a small bird notable for its coloration, featuring a slate-gray back and a rich chestnut belly. Found in the forested regions of Southeast Asia, this nuthatch has a strong preference for old-growth forests where it can be seen scaling tree trunks and branches in search of insects.
Unique among nuthatches, it uses its sharp bill to pry under bark and into crevices, displaying remarkable agility. Its calls are a series of sharp notes, contributing to the acoustic environment of its habitat.
4. Common chaffinch
Scientific Name: Fringilla coelebs
The Common Chaffinch, also known as simply the Chaffinch is admired for its colorful plumage. Breeding males display a vivid blue-gray cap and rust-red breast, while females and non-breeding males have more muted tones. This species is widespread across Europe, Asia, and parts of Africa, thriving in woodlands as well as urban parks and gardens.
Its melodious song and distinctive “pink-pink” call are characteristic. The Chaffinch’s diet consists mainly of seeds, with insects added during the breeding season to nourish its young. It has a unique ground feeding behavior, often hopping and tail-flicking as it moves.
5. European goldfinch
Scientific Name: Carduelis carduelis
The European Goldfinch is renowned for its appearance, featuring a red face surrounded by white, with a black and yellow wing pattern. This small bird is found across Europe, North Africa, and western Asia, inhabiting gardens, woodlands, and other areas with scattered trees and bushes.
It feeds predominantly on thistle and teasel seeds, showcasing its adeptness at clinging to stems while feeding. The European Goldfinch is also noted for its pleasant, tinkling song and the ability to mimic other birds.
6. Hermit thrush
Scientific Name: Catharus guttatus
The Hermit Thrush features subtle brown upperparts and distinctive spotted underparts. This bird thrives in the dense underbrush of North American forests, often revealing its presence through its hauntingly beautiful song rather than being seen. It is celebrated for its ethereal, flute-like melodies that resonate in its woodland home. Known for its preference for solitude, the Hermit Thrush’s behavior becomes particularly evident outside the breeding season as it forages alone for insects and berries on the forest floor.
An interesting note on its migration behavior highlights the Hermit Thrush as one of the last thrush species to migrate south in the fall, the first to return north in spring, and notably, it is among the few that choose to winter in the United States.
7. House finch
Scientific Name: Haemorhous mexicanus
The House Finch is a small bird widely recognized for its vibrant red plumage in males, which covers the head, throat, and chest, contrasting with its brown body. Females and juveniles are generally brown and striped, lacking the males’ bright colors. Originally from the western United States and Mexico, this species has adapted well to urban and suburban environments, often found around human habitation. The House Finch is a sociable bird, frequently seen in flocks, and has a melodious song.
8. Laysan finch
Scientific Name: Telespiza cantans
The Laysan Finch is a vulnerable bird species native to Laysan Island in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. It boasts a sturdy build and sports a range of colors from yellowish to brownish, with a significant, curved beak designed for an omnivorous diet that includes seeds, insects, and occasionally seabird eggs.
Known for its bold and curious nature, this finch exhibits little fear of humans. It plays a vital role in its ecosystem, aiding in seed dispersal. The Laysan Finch demonstrates remarkable adaptability in its foraging behavior, creatively using its beak to access food.
9. Louisiana waterthrush
Scientific Name: Parkesia motacilla
The Louisiana Waterthrush is a distinctive bird primarily found along streams in eastern North America. It is easily recognized by its white underparts streaked with dark lines, a broad white eyebrow, and its habit of bobbing its tail. Preferring forested stream environments, it feeds on insects and small aquatic organisms, often seen foraging along riverbanks. Despite its name, it is not a thrush but rather a warbler, known for its loud, melodious song that resonates through its habitat.
10. Northern waterthrush
Scientific Name: Parkesia noveboracensis
The Northern Waterthrush is a warbler known for its affinity for wet habitats, including marshes and wooded swamps across North America. Characterized by its streaked brown upperparts and heavily streaked white underparts, it resembles the Louisiana Waterthrush but can be distinguished by its more pronounced streaking and different habitat preferences.
This bird is notable for its distinctive behavior of constantly bobbing its tail while walking along the water’s edge searching for insects and small invertebrates to eat. Its song is a loud, clear series of notes, often heard during the breeding season.
11. Oriole finch
Scientific Name: Linurgus olivaceus
The oriole finch, a small bird native to tropical regions of Africa and Madagascar, exhibits distinct sexual dimorphism in its plumage. Male oriole finches exhibit a combination of yellow and olive-green plumage with a black head, while females are predominantly olive-green. Both genders feature a pink bill.
These finches inhabit open woodlands and savannas, where they forage for seeds and insects. Known for their melodious songs, they build cup-shaped nests hidden in dense vegetation.
To attract these vibrant birds to your feeder, offering fruits like oranges, and nectar, along with ensuring a supply of fresh water, can create an inviting environment for Oriole Finches and similar species.
12. Purple finch
Scientific Name: Haemorhous purpureus
The purple finch is a small songbird native to North America. Despite their name, the plumage of purple finches is more red than purple. Male purple finches are known for their vibrant raspberry-red plumage, while females have more subdued brown and white markings.
These birds can be found in a variety of habitats including forests, woodlands, and suburban areas, where they forage for seeds, berries, and insects. They are often seen perched in trees or hopping on the ground in search of food. Purple finches build cup-shaped nests in trees or shrubs, where they lay eggs and raise their young.
13. Red-billed chough
Scientific Name: Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax
The red-billed chough is a distinctive bird species found in mountainous regions of Europe, Asia, and North Africa. Both male and female red-billed choughs have glossy black plumage, but males typically have longer bills. Their most striking feature is their bright red bill and legs, which contrast sharply with their dark feathers.
These birds are highly social and often seen in small flocks, performing acrobatic aerial displays. They inhabit a variety of habitats, including rocky cliffs, grasslands, and alpine meadows. Red-billed choughs primarily feed on insects, seeds, and plant matter.
14. Saffron finch
Scientific Name: Sicalis flaveola
The saffron finch is a small songbird native to South America, particularly in regions like Brazil and Argentina. Male saffron finches display vibrant yellow plumage with saturated orange on the forehead, while females have more subdued coloring, often with less intense yellow and orange hues.
These finches are commonly found in open habitats such as grasslands, savannas, and agricultural areas, where they forage for seeds and insects. They are known for their melodious songs, which they use to communicate and attract mates. Saffron finches build cup-shaped nests in shrubs or low trees, where they lay eggs and raise their young.
15. Varied thrush
Scientific Name: Ixoreus naevius
The varied thrush is a bird native to western North America. Male varied thrushes feature bold orange and black plumage, while females exhibit more subdued colors with brown and gray tones. These birds are known for their haunting, flute-like calls, often heard in coniferous forests during the breeding season.
They forage on the forest floor, feeding on insects, berries, and seeds. Varied thrushes prefer dense, moist forests, where they can find ample cover and food sources. During winter, they may migrate to lower elevations or coastal areas.
Mary is an outdoor enthusiast, nature lover, and amateur birdwatcher that enjoys sharing her knowledge and experiences with others.