Bird Names

Birds That Start With C | Names With Pictures & Facts

By Team NamesGlobe | Last updated: August 8, 2026

Birds That Start With Letter C include a fascinating variety of colorful, common, wild, and unique species from around the world. From the familiar Crow and Cardinal to the beautiful Cockatoo, Canary, and Crowned Crane, these birds live in forests, grasslands, wetlands, mountains, cities, and oceans. This list includes common, wild, domestic, water, tropical, pet, zoo, song, colorful, and birds of prey beginning with C. Children can use it to learn bird names, build vocabulary, complete school projects, and explore the wonderful world of birds.

List of Common Birds That Start With C

Many familiar and interesting bird names begin with the letter C. They include songbirds, parrots, raptors, water birds, owls, and other species.

  1. Crow
  2. Cardinal
  3. Canary
  4. Cockatoo
  5. Chicken
  6. Cuckoo
  7. Crane
  8. Coot
  9. Cormorant
  10. Chickadee
  11. Chaffinch
  12. Chukar
  13. Cedar Waxwing
  14. California Condor
  15. Carolina Wren
  16. Carolina Chickadee
  17. Common Raven
  18. Common Kingfisher
  19. Common Kestrel
  20. Canvasback

These birds live in many different habitats. The Crow is a highly adaptable and intelligent bird, while the Cardinal is known for its bright red plumage and distinctive crest.

Wild Birds That Start With C

Wild birds live naturally in forests, grasslands, wetlands, mountains, deserts, and coastal areas. Here are some fascinating wild birds beginning with C.

  1. Common Raven
  2. California Condor
  3. Common Kestrel
  4. Common Kingfisher
  5. Cedar Waxwing
  6. Carolina Wren
  7. Carolina Chickadee
  8. Chukar
  9. Cuckoo
  10. Crested Lark
  11. Crested Caracara
  12. Cooper’s Hawk
  13. Crowned Crane
  14. Common Loon
  15. Common Eider
  16. Common Merganser
  17. Cape May Warbler
  18. Cerulean Warbler
  19. Cactus Wren
  20. Canyon Wren

These birds have adapted to a wide range of environments. The California Condor is a remarkable large bird that was once close to extinction, while the Cactus Wren is well adapted to dry desert habitats.

Domestic and Pet Birds Starting With C

Several birds beginning with C are popular as pets or domestic birds. They include parrots, canaries, finches, and other companion birds.

  1. Canary
  2. Cockatiel
  3. Cockatoo
  4. Conure
  5. Caique
  6. Cinnamon Cockatiel
  7. Cobalt Blue Lovebird
  8. Crimson-bellied Conure
  9. Crown-headed Parrot
  10. Cape Parrot
  11. Congo African Grey Parrot
  12. Cuban Amazon Parrot
  13. Chattering Lory
  14. Cherry-headed Conure
  15. Cobalt-winged Parakeet
  16. Crimson Rosella
  17. Cuban Finch
  18. Cut-throat Finch
  19. Cordon-bleu Finch
  20. Crested Canary

The Canary is a popular pet bird known for its cheerful song, while the Cockatiel is valued for its friendly personality and ability to mimic sounds.

Farm and Domestic Birds Beginning With C

Farm birds include chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, and other poultry breeds raised for eggs, meat, breeding, or companionship.

  1. Chicken
  2. Cochin Chicken
  3. Cornish Chicken
  4. Croad Langshan
  5. Crevecoeur Chicken
  6. Catalana Chicken
  7. Campine Chicken
  8. Cuckoo Marans
  9. California Gray Chicken
  10. Chantecler Chicken
  11. Cayuga Duck
  12. Call Duck
  13. Campbell Duck
  14. Crested Duck
  15. Chinese Goose
  16. Canada Goose
  17. Cleveland Turkey
  18. Chocolate Turkey
  19. Czech Golden Chicken
  20. Cinnamon Queen Chicken

These domestic birds are commonly associated with poultry farming and backyard keeping. The Cochin Chicken is known for its large size and feathered legs, while the Cayuga Duck is recognized for its dark, glossy plumage.

Water Birds That Start With C

Water birds live around rivers, lakes, marshes, wetlands, coastlines, and oceans. Many birds beginning with C are excellent swimmers, divers, or fish hunters.

  1. Coot
  2. Cormorant
  3. Common Loon
  4. Canvasback
  5. Common Eider
  6. Common Merganser
  7. Common Goldeneye
  8. Common Scoter
  9. Canada Goose
  10. Cackling Goose
  11. Cattle Egret
  12. Cinnamon Teal
  13. Canvasback Duck
  14. Cape Teal
  15. Cape Gannet
  16. Common Tern
  17. Common Gull
  18. Common Sandpiper
  19. Common Greenshank
  20. Common Snipe

The Cormorant is a skilled diving bird that catches fish underwater. The Common Loon is another remarkable water bird known for its haunting call and excellent swimming ability.

Birds of Prey That Start With C

Birds of prey are skilled hunters with sharp talons, hooked beaks, and excellent eyesight. Several fascinating raptors begin with C.

  1. California Condor
  2. Common Kestrel
  3. Crested Caracara
  4. Cooper’s Hawk
  5. Common Buzzard
  6. Crested Serpent Eagle
  7. Changeable Hawk-Eagle
  8. Crowned Eagle
  9. Cinereous Vulture
  10. Cape Vulture
  11. Crested Goshawk
  12. Cuban Kite
  13. Collared Forest Falcon
  14. Crane Hawk
  15. Common Black Hawk
  16. Common Scops Owl
  17. Collared Owlet
  18. Crested Owl
  19. Cuban Pygmy Owl
  20. Common Barn Owl

The California Condor is one of the largest flying birds in North America. The Crested Caracara is a distinctive falcon relative known for its strong bill and ground-feeding behavior.

Zoo Birds That Start With Letter C

Zoos, aviaries, and wildlife parks may house bird species from different parts of the world. Here are some interesting birds beginning with C that may be found in managed collections.

  1. California Condor
  2. Crowned Crane
  3. Cockatoo
  4. Cockatiel
  5. Common Raven
  6. Crested Caracara
  7. Cape Gannet
  8. Cape Vulture
  9. Cattle Egret
  10. Crowned Pigeon
  11. Crested Pigeon
  12. Congo Peafowl
  13. Cuban Amazon
  14. Chilean Flamingo
  15. Cuban Trogon
  16. Common Ostrich
  17. Cassowary
  18. Crowned Hornbill
  19. Crested Seriema
  20. Crested Partridge

The exact bird collection varies between zoos and aviaries. Large birds such as the California Condor, Cassowary, and Crowned Crane require specialized habitats and spacious enclosures.

Songbirds That Start With C

Songbirds are known for their vocal abilities and include many familiar garden, woodland, and grassland birds.

  1. Cardinal
  2. Canary
  3. Chickadee
  4. Chaffinch
  5. Cedar Waxwing
  6. Carolina Wren
  7. Carolina Chickadee
  8. Cactus Wren
  9. Canyon Wren
  10. Cerulean Warbler
  11. Cape May Warbler
  12. Chestnut-sided Warbler
  13. Canada Warbler
  14. Common Yellowthroat
  15. Common Rosefinch
  16. Cassin’s Finch
  17. Cassin’s Sparrow
  18. Canyon Towhee
  19. California Towhee
  20. Cliff Swallow

The Cardinal is one of the most recognizable North American songbirds, especially because of the male’s bright red feathers. The Cedar Waxwing is another attractive songbird with smooth plumage and a distinctive crest.

Tropical Birds That Start With C

Tropical forests, islands, and warm regions are home to many colorful and unusual birds beginning with C.

  1. Cockatoo
  2. Coconut Lorikeet
  3. Cuban Trogon
  4. Cuban Amazon
  5. Crested Coua
  6. Crowned Pigeon
  7. Crowned Hornbill
  8. Crested Kingfisher
  9. Collared Kingfisher
  10. Common Paradise Kingfisher
  11. Cobalt-winged Parakeet
  12. Crimson Rosella
  13. Crimson Sunbird
  14. Crimson-rumped Toucanet
  15. Chestnut-mandibled Toucan
  16. Channel-billed Cuckoo
  17. Coppersmith Barbet
  18. Cinnamon-headed Green Pigeon
  19. Crested Myna
  20. Cerulean Flycatcher

Tropical birds often have vivid colors, unusual calls, and specialized beaks. The Coppersmith Barbet, for example, is a colorful Asian bird named for its repetitive call, which sounds somewhat like a metalworker striking a hammer.

Sea and Ocean Birds That Start With C

Many birds live along coastlines or spend much of their lives at sea. These seabirds are adapted for swimming, diving, fishing, or long-distance flight.

  1. Cormorant
  2. Cape Gannet
  3. Common Tern
  4. Common Gull
  5. Common Eider
  6. Common Scoter
  7. Common Murre
  8. Crested Auklet
  9. Cassin’s Auklet
  10. Crested Puffin
  11. Cory’s Shearwater
  12. Cape Petrel
  13. Cape Gannet
  14. Christmas Shearwater
  15. Cook’s Petrel
  16. Cattle Egret
  17. Common Sandpiper
  18. Common Greenshank
  19. Common Snipe
  20. Common Oystercatcher

The Cormorant is an excellent underwater hunter that dives to catch fish. The Common Murre is a seabird that spends much of its life at sea and nests in large colonies on coastal cliffs.

Small Birds That Start With C

Many small birds beginning with C can be found in gardens, forests, grasslands, and wetlands.

  1. Chickadee
  2. Canary
  3. Chaffinch
  4. Cactus Wren
  5. Carolina Wren
  6. Carolina Chickadee
  7. Cerulean Warbler
  8. Cape May Warbler
  9. Canada Warbler
  10. Common Yellowthroat
  11. Cassin’s Finch
  12. Cassin’s Sparrow
  13. California Towhee
  14. Canyon Towhee
  15. Cliff Swallow
  16. Chestnut-sided Warbler
  17. Chipping Sparrow
  18. Clay-colored Sparrow
  19. Common Redpoll
  20. Common Firecrest

The Chickadee is a small and active bird recognized by its round body, black cap, and distinctive call. The Chaffinch is another small songbird commonly found across Europe and parts of Asia.

Colorful Birds That Start With C

Many birds beginning with C have bright feathers, striking patterns, or unusual colors.

  1. Cardinal
  2. Cockatoo
  3. Crimson Rosella
  4. Crimson Sunbird
  5. Cobalt-winged Parakeet
  6. Cuban Trogon
  7. Crowned Pigeon
  8. Crowned Crane
  9. Coppersmith Barbet
  10. Cinnamon Teal
  11. Cerulean Warbler
  12. Chestnut-sided Warbler
  13. Crested Kingfisher
  14. Collared Kingfisher
  15. Cuban Amazon
  16. Coconut Lorikeet
  17. Chilean Flamingo
  18. Crested Coua
  19. Crimson-rumped Toucanet
  20. Chestnut-mandibled Toucan

The Crimson Rosella is famous for its vivid red and blue plumage, while the Crowned Crane has a striking golden crown of feathers on its head.

Extinct Birds That Start With C

Several extinct and prehistoric birds beginning with C provide interesting examples of birds that once lived on Earth.

  1. Carolina Parakeet
  2. Cuban Macaw
  3. Cuban Giant Owl
  4. Cuban Condor
  5. Chatham Raven
  6. Chatham Islands Rail
  7. Chatham Duck
  8. Cayman Islands Rice Rat-associated birds
  9. Cretan Dwarf Owl
  10. Cuban Crow historical species
  11. Coahuila Box-like prehistoric birds
  12. Confuciusornis
  13. Changchengornis
  14. Chaoyangia
  15. Cratonavis
  16. Cimolopteryx
  17. Cathayornis
  18. Cretaceous Enantiornithes
  19. Cearadactylus-associated avifauna
  20. Corythornis

The Carolina Parakeet was once found across parts of the eastern United States but became extinct in the early 20th century. Confuciusornis was a prehistoric bird from the Early Cretaceous period and is known for its toothless beak.

FAQs:

1. What is a bird that starts with C?

Some common birds that start with C are Crow, Cardinal, Canary, Cockatoo, Chicken, Cuckoo, Crane, Coot, Cormorant, and Chickadee.

2. What is the most common bird that starts with C?

The Crow is one of the most familiar birds beginning with C. Other well-known examples include the Cardinal, Canary, Chickadee, Cuckoo, and Cockatoo.

3. What is a colorful bird that starts with C?

Some colorful birds beginning with C include Cardinal, Crimson Rosella, Crimson Sunbird, Cobalt-winged Parakeet, Cuban Trogon, Coppersmith Barbet, Crowned Crane, and Chilean Flamingo.

4. What is a bird of prey that starts with C?

Examples of birds of prey beginning with C include California Condor, Common Kestrel, Crested Caracara, Cooper’s Hawk, Common Buzzard, Crested Serpent Eagle, Cinereous Vulture, and Cape Vulture.

5. What is a water bird that starts with C?

Some water birds beginning with C are Coot, Cormorant, Common Loon, Canvasback, Common Eider, Common Merganser, Canada Goose, Cattle Egret, Cinnamon Teal, and Common Tern.

Birds that start with C include an amazing variety of songbirds, birds of prey, water birds, tropical birds, seabirds, domestic birds, and colorful species. From the intelligent Crow and bright Cardinal to the powerful California Condor, beautiful Cockatoo, and distinctive Crowned Crane, these birds demonstrate the incredible diversity of the bird world. Learning bird names can help children build vocabulary, complete school projects, practice alphabet activities, and develop an interest in nature. Use this Birds That Start With Letter C list for worksheets, quizzes, classroom activities, or general bird exploration.

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