From hummingbirds to hawks to woodpeckers, the following list of 40 birds all start with the letter R. Each one has a picture and some interesting facts for you to learn about them.
Enjoy!
Birds that start with R
1. Rufous hummingbird
Scientific name: Selasphorus rufus
Rufous hummingbirds are known for being very “feisty” when it comes to sharing feeders and chasing off other hummers. Males are orange all over with a white patch on the upper breast and an orange-red throat. Females are green with rusty patches and a speckled throat.
In the spring they migrate up through California, spend the summer in the Pacific northwest and Canada, then zip back down through the Rockies in the fall. While the rufous is considered a hummingbird of the western U.S., they are probably the second most commonly sighted species on the east coast after the ruby-throated hummingbird.
2. Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Scientific name: Archilochus colubris
Though only common in the eastern half of the United States, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are the most abundant species of hummingbirds in the country. They are also the only breeding species of hummingbird found in the Eastern U.S.
They get their name because males have a bright ruby-red throat. Ruby-throated Hummers are emerald-green on their backs, wings, and heads with white under-parts. Females lack the red throat feathers.
3. Redthroat
Scientific name: Pyrrholaemus brunneus
The redthroat, a grayish-brown Australian bird, is most commonly observed darting between low branches and bushes or bouncing along the ground.
Only mature males have the characteristic tiny, rusty-brown neck patch that gives this species its popular name and makes distinguishing females and youngsters more difficult. The brood parasite, the black-eared cuckoo, often removes the Redthroat’s eggs from its nest and lays its own similar-looking eggs.
4. Red-bellied pitta
Scientific name: Erythropitta erythrogaster
The red-bellied pitta is from the Philippine Islands, excluding the Palawan group and Indonesia, has a sharp beak, a red belly, and a green-blue stripe above it. Its native habitat is wet lowland woodland, either subtropical or tropical.
This species is 17.5 – 20cm tall and has a span of 20 – 25cm. It has short tail feathers and has a small brown head. The red-bellied pitta has been separated into 10 sub-species. Erythropitta erythrogaster is considered the dominant species.
5. Relict Gull
Scientific name: Ichthyaetus relictus
This central Asian gull is about 44 to 45 centimeters in length and has a stocky, heavy body. Adults have dark ear-coverts and hind crowns, white-tipped wings, and also no white leading edge to the outer wing.
Breeding birds feature black hoods, grey-brown foreheads, and broad, white half-moon coloring below, behind, and above their eyes. Their bills are red, and their legs are orange. The gulls breed only in colonies on islands in saltwater lakes.
6. Rook
Scientific name: Corvus frugilegus
The rook is a large bird from the crow family that’s found in Scandinavia and western Europe to eastern Siberia. Adults weight around 12 oz, a length from 17 to 18 in, and a wingspan of up to 40 in. It has dark feathers that frequently have a bluish-purple shine.
The feathers on its neck, head, and shoulders are thick and velvety. The feet and legs are mostly black, with a grey-black beak and a dark brown iris. Male and female rooks bond for life and remain in the flock.
7. Rosella
Scientific name: Platycercus venustus
These vibrantly colored Australian birds have black on the forehead, crown, and neck, with white-on-blue cheek patches. The wing and back feathers are blackish except for the yellow borders, while the belly, breast, and rump feathers are light yellow with black borders, giving the impression of a scalloped pattern, and the tail is blue-green. The bill is a light grey color. These parrots enjoy bathing in puddles of water in the wild and in captivity.
8. Red Kite
Scientific name: Milvus milvus
Red kites live in the Western Palearctic region of Europe and northwest Africa, but have been spotted in Iran. Red kites have a wingspan of 175–179 cm and a length of 60–70 cm; males can weigh 800–1,200 g and females weigh 1,000–1,300 g.
It is a graceful bird, flying on large dihedral wings and a long forked tail. The rufous coloration extends to the torso, upper tail, and wing coverts. The white main flying feathers stand out against the black wing tips. About 1% of Red Kites in the Welsh population hatch with a lighter color than the norm.
9. Redwing
Scientific name: Turdus iliacus
Redwing live in northern regions of Europe and the Palearctic, Iceland, northern Scotland, Scandinavia, the Baltic States, northern Poland and Belarus, as well as most of Russia.
Redwings have a brown back and white underparts with dark brown markings. Their red sides and underwings are distinctive, as is the creamy white band over the eyes. Adults molt from June to September, so some begin replacing flying feathers while still nursing young. In Europe, the redwing has a population of 26-40 million individuals and a range of 10 million square kilometers.
10. Rifleman
Scientific name: Acanthisitta chloris
The female’s beak and claws are longer than the male of this species. Male rifleman birds have a yellow-green rump. On the wing is a golden stripe across the flying feathers. The throat, belly and breast are white. The female is a darker brownish color with ochre flecks on her head and back.
They have small rounded wings, a short tail, and a long thin brownish awl-like beak for cracking. The rifleman was named after a historic New Zealand unit because its plumage resembled that of a soldier in that regiment’s military dress.
11. River Tern
Scientific name: Sterna aurantia
This medium-sized tern has white underparts, dark grey upperparts, long pointed wings, and a forked tail featuring long flowing streamers. It is 38–43 cm in length. The beak is yellow, while the legs are bright red.
When breeding, their plumage resembles a black hat. In the winter, the crown or hat is grayish white with black flecks and streaks, a dark mask across the eye, and a dusky tip to the bill. River terns hunt for fish, crustaceans, tadpoles, and aquatic invertebrates by plunging into rivers and lakes.
12. Ruddy turnstone
Scientific name:Arenaria interpres
This colorful bird lives along the North American coastlines and only passes through most of the U.S. on its way to its breeding grounds in the Canadian archipelago and Greenland. Some ruddy turnstone choose to live all year at the beach so if you want to spot one, head to a beach. They’re quite common at most beaches in the United States.
Both male and female breeding ruddy turnstones like the one pictured above have the chestnut colored feathers, though females are a bit paler than males. Non-breeding birds of this species lose the calico like feathers and become a much browner color.
13. Rhinoceros Auklet
Scientific name: Cerorhinca monocerata
Depending on the time of year, you can find rhinoceros auklets along the west coast from California to Alaska. They are common breeders in Washington and Alaska. These coastal birds feed on fish and actually nest underground in burrows that the male and female dig up to 650 feet from shore.
This species is a close relative of the puffin and get their name from the single vertical horn that protrudes from its orange bill. They were once called horn-billed puffins and unicorn puffins. The actual purpose of the horn on their bill is unknown to scientists.
14. Rivoli’s hummingbird
Scientific name: Eugenes fulgens
The Rivoli’s hummingbird was formerly known as the “magnificent hummingbird”. Males have a dark purple head with a brighter teal colored throat. Their body is green and brown. Often they can appear overall dark in certain light.
Females do not share this coloration and are green above and white below. They are slightly larger than most hummingbirds seen in the U.S., with a longer bill. They are mainly found in Mexico and like shady canyons and mountainous forests.
15. Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Scientific name: Regulus calendula
This tiny kinglet is an olive green with white wing bars, yellow edged wing and tail feathers and a white eye-ring. The male has a small patch of bright red feathers on top of his head that he can flash when excited, however these are usually hidden.
High energy foragers, they are often darting through shrubs and trees and flicking their wings. This constant wing-flicking can help with identification. For such a small bird, they can lay up to 12 eggs at a time!
16. Rose-Breasted Grosbeak
Scientific name: Pheucticus ludovicianus
Rose-breasted grosbeaks spend their winters in Central and South America, so their annual return to the U.S. is exciting for may backyard bird lovers. While females are a streaky brown and white with a bold white eyebrow, males have quite striking colors.
They have a black head and back with white wing spots, and a bright red triangle on the chest. Their fat pink beaks can help them break open tough seeds.
17. Red-bellied Woodpecker
Scientific name: Melanerpes carolinus
These medium-sized woodpeckers are fairly common at feeders and backyards in the eastern U.S. Though they are described as “red-bellied” you may first notice the bright red streak along the back of their heads.
They have a plain white break with an area of pinkish red lower down in their “belly” area which is often not visible. Their wings are what really makes them easy to identify though, with the white and black barring.
18. Red-headed Woodpecker
Scientific name: Melanerpes erythrocephalus
Found throughout the entire state of Louisiana, the Red-headed Woodpecker is easily identified by its completely red/crimson head. They will sometimes visit suet feeders, but again are less common some other types of woodpeckers. Aside from suet they will also eat various nuts and fruits, and they are also very skilled at catching insects in mid-flight.
Red-headed Woodpeckers can be quite aggressive and it’s not uncommon for them to take over nests by knocking eggs out or even puncturing them to kill the young. They are one of only four species of woodpeckers that actively store their food in caches for later use. The Red-headed Woodpecker takes it a step further though and will go so far as to cover the food up with bark or wood to better camouflage its stash.
19. Red-breasted Nuthatch
Scientific name: Sitta canadensis
These little nuthatches have a dark gray back, rusty (ranges from boldly colored to pale) chest and belly, and a boldly black and white striped face. They are quick and active birds most commonly found hopping around on tree trunks and branches looking for insects beneath the bark. They nest in tree cavities, and will even use backyard nest boxes.
20. Red-eyed Vireo
Scientific name: Vireo olivaceus
Red-eyed Vireo’s are one of the most common eastern U.S. summer birds. After spending winters in South America, they travel up to the U.S. for the breeding season. Their backs and tails are a faded olive, with a lighter breast and belly.
As their name suggests, they have a red eye-ring, although it can be hard to see and their eye appears black when in the shadows. Despite how common they are, they aren’t often seen unless you are actively looking.
Also, listen for their song and calls, which once you learn to recognize you will probably start to hear everywhere in the summer since these vireos are known for “talking” all day.
21. Red-winged Blackbird
Scientific name: Agelaius phoeniceus
Among the most abundant birds in all of North America, male Red-winged Blackbirds are unmistakable because of their red and yellow “shoulders” that stand out amongst their black bodies. The females of this species however, look quite different and are mostly brown with light streaks.
They are known as a polygynous species, meaning males will have up to 15 different females that they are mating with. Unfortunately they sometimes show up at feeders in flocks and gobble up seed quickly.
22. Red-tailed Hawk
Scientific name: Buteo jamaicensis
Red-tailed Hawks are probably the most common hawks in the U.S. with almost 2 million nesting hawks in North America. This number accounts for about 90% of the global Red-tailed Hawk population. Red-tailed Hawks are most active during the day or early morning.
They are commonly seen soaring above looking for prey or perched along the roadside on telephone poles. Red-tailed hawks aren’t often seen in backyards lurking around feeders because they prey on larger animals that just songbirds. Learn some interesting facts about the Red-tailed Hawk here.
23. Red-shouldered Hawk
Scientific name: Buteo lineatus
The Red-shouldered Hawk can be found in much of the eastern half of the United States. They eat mostly small mammals, other birds, as well as reptiles and amphibians. The population of Red-shouldered hawks has increased over the last 50 years in their range.
Red-shouldered Hawks are known for living and nesting in wooded areas and forests. The biggest threat to this species is the clearing of wooded areas where they nest and breed. Red-shouldered Hawks will commonly re-use the same nest year after year. Learn some facts about the Red-shouldered hawk here.
24. Royal tern
Scientific name: Thalasseus maximus
Royal terns are fairly large in size. Their beak is orange without any black marking. During the breeding season the cap is black, and during the non-breeding season it is mottled.
They stick closely to saltwater habitats, so it is not very common to find them inland. However, you may catch a few around inland waterbodies during the winter. In flight you can note their long forked tail.
25. Ridgway’s Rail
Scientific name:Rallus obsoletus
This rare bird is only found in mangrove swamps of California, Arizona, Nevada, and coastal western Mexico. Ridgway’s rail are federally endangered, mostly due to habitat loss. This species has special glands that allow it to drink salt water, something most other birds are unable to do.
Ridgway’s rails are medium sized birds, a bit larger than American robins. Their bills are slightly curved downward and they have rounded wings. These birds are opportunistic eaters and feed on crustaceans like crabs, shrimp, and crayfish.
26. Razorbill
Scientific name:Alca torda
Razorbills are found are found along the Gulf of Maine and parts of coastal New England in the United States, but the largest razorbill colony is actually in western Iceland.
At just 20 days old, a young razorbill must jump from the nest that’s on a cliff into the sea below. Razorbills are excellent swimmers that expertly dive into the water from above with precision. They can swim over 300 feet under the water in order to grab fish and secure a meal.
27. Redhead
Scientific name: Aythya americana
Redhead ducks that can be found in every continental U.S. state, and part of Alaska. During the breeding season most fly to the northwestern United States and into Canada. The male of the species has the unmistakable cinnamon-colored head that you see in the picture above.
Redheads winter in southeastern states like Florida, Texas, and Louisiana, and also along the east coast. In the winter, flocks of up to 60,000 redhead show up in a Gulf of Mexico bay in Southern Texas.
28. Rock pigeon
Scientific name: Columba livia
The rock pigeon is one of the most widespread birds in North America and can be found from the tip of South America into Southern Canada. They are common in big cities and urban areas but will also visit backyards and peck at seeds and grains on the ground or on platform feeders.
Egyptian hieroglyphics suggest that pigeons were domesticated more than 5,000 years ago, meaning they have a long history with humans. We’ve used this bird for hundreds of years to send messages because of their remarkable homing ability. Pigeons can even find their way home from a long distance completely blindfolded by using things like the earths magnetic fields, sounds, smells, and the sun.
29. Rock wren
Scientific name: Salpinctes obsoletus
Rock wrens can be seen hopping around and looking for insects and food in western North America. They have long and thin bills and are a bit larger than house wrens, but smaller than bluebirds.
As their name suggests, they prefer rocky environments with crevices and places for shade. Rock wrens nest on flat rocks often using these crevices for protection and cover. As they spend most of their time on the ground, the eat mostly ground dwelling insects like crickets, beetles, and spiders.
30. Roseate Spoonbill
Scientific name: Platalea ajaja
The Roseate Spoonbill is locally common in coastal Florida, Texas, and southwest Louisiana. They prefer to wander in small flocks and will often associate with other waders. Spoonbills feed in shallow waters and use their wide flat bills to sift the muck by swinging their head from side to side.
This gorgeous bird is uncommon and incredibly vulnerable to degradation of feeding and nesting habitats. They were virtually eliminated from the United States as a side-effect of the destruction of wader colonies by plume hunters in the 1860s, and only recently began to re-colonize Texas and Florida in the 20th century.
Most definitely one of the most unique looking birds with big beaks.
31. Rock sandpiper
Scientific name: Calidris ptilocnemis
These small shorebirds are about the size of a robin and winter in parts of the Pacific Northwest, western Canada, and the southern coast of Alaska. They feed on insects, crustaceans, and aquatic invertebrates that they find among the rocks they like to live on.
Rock sandpipers have short legs and long bills giving them a stocky look. They stick to the ground most of the time and are fast runners. Breeding adults have pale heads and chestnut markings on their backs and wings. Non-breeding birds are a pale gray.
32. Rock ptarmigan
Scientific name: Lagopus muta
Rock ptarmigan live in far northern parts of Canada, Alaska, and into Greenland. This hardy bird can survive cold climates and nests in alpine tundra and arctic regions. Both males and females of this species turn completely white in the winter, but during breeding times of the year each gets their own unique coat of feathers.
The female gets mottled light-brown and black feathers and the breeding male gets mottled brown feathers with a white underbelly. This species is not common in most places populated by humans, so look for them in tundra areas at least 7-10 miles from these areas.
33. Ross’s Goose
Scientific name: Anser rossii
Ross’s goose is a white goose that winters in a few midwestern states in the U.S. along with portions of California, with a small wintering population on the Atlantic coast. Their breeding grounds are far north in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago.
34. Ruddy duck
Scientific name: Oxyura jamaicensis
Ruddy ducks breed in marshy lakes and ponds. They prefer to live in dense vegetation in or near wetlands, which can make them hard to spot.
Ruddy ducks have a fan-shaped tail which often sticks up, and a compact “stocky” looking body. Breeding males have a bright blue beak, chestnut body and white cheek.
35. Ruffed Grouse
Scientific name: Bonasa umbellus
Even though males are larger than females, the sexes are hard to tell apart. Plumage is a mixture of whites, browns and grays in a variety of different patterns. They have feathered nostrils and their legs are covered in feathers down to the toes. This mixed plumage makes the ruffed grouse perfect and blending into its surroundings, the forest floor.
They typically only fly in short bursts and mainly stick to walking along the ground. There are over ten other species of grouse world wide. Ruffed grouse are the most widely distributed resident game bird in North America.
36. Rusty blackbird
Scientific name: Euphagus carolinus
Rusty blackbirds spend their winters throughout much of the eastern half of the United States, but head north to boreal forests for the breeding season into Canada and Alaska. This bird is one of North America’s most rapidly declining species with 85% or more of the population disappeared in the last 40 years. Scientists have no idea what has caused it.
Males are glossy black and females are a rusty-brown color. Rusty blackbirds aren’t commonly seen in backyards or at bird feeders and live in a marshes and wetlands for their habitats. They feed mostly on insects and plant matter, but this species has been documented feeding on other birds.
37. Rufous-crowned Sparrow
Scientific name: Aimophila ruficeps
The rufous-crowned sparrow only lives in Mexico, the southwestern United States, and a couple of isolated areas in midwestern states like Oklahoma and Kansas. Adults have a reddish-brown, or rufous, cap on their heads.
These tiny birds are non-migratory and spend much of their time on the ground foraging for food. Rufous-crowned sparrows build their nests on the ground, under crevices, rocks, or other structures for cover.
38. Ring-necked pheasant
Scientific name: Phasianus colchicus
Look for ring-necked pheasants along roadsides and in open fields in much of northern United States and portions of southern Canada. These ground-nesting birds are a little smaller than turkeys and the males have green heads and a prominent white collar around their necks.
Ring-necked pheasants are grouse that prefer to live in grasslands, fields, swamps, and near wetlands where they have easy access to fruits, nuts, and insects. The males have a booming crow, similar to a rooster’s, that can be heard for more than a mile away.
39. Ring-necked duck
Scientific name: Aythya collaris
Ring-necked ducks are common throughout the United States and North America, as well as Cuba and the Caribbean. They breed in Canada and parts of far northern United States. They get their names from a hard to see chestnut colored ring they have around their black feathered necks.
This species can migrate in huge numbers across much of northern and central Untied States as they fly to their Canadian breeding grounds. Flocks of several hundred thousand are known to congregate in some lakes in Minnesota. The males have the glossy black heads and gray sides that you see pictured above.
40. Ring-billed gull
Scientific name: Larus delawarensis
Most often seen far from coastal areas, the ring-billed gull gets its name from the obvious ring that it has going around its beak. While they do occur on both the east and west coast in the winter, ring-billed gulls breed near freshwater mostly in the interior of the United States and southern Canada.
These gulls are omnivores and often seen foraging in parking lots and through trash. Ring-billed gulls are medium-sized birds, about the size of an American crow. Males and females work together to build their nests on the ground, usually somewhere with cover from aerial predators.
Mary is an outdoor enthusiast, nature lover, and amateur birdwatcher that enjoys sharing her knowledge and experiences with others.