Bird Names

Birds That Start With Q | Names With Pictures & Facts

By Team NamesGlobe | Last updated: August 16, 2026

Birds That Start With Letter Q are less common than birds beginning with many other letters, but there are still several fascinating species and recognized bird names to explore. From the familiar Quail and Quetzal to the Queen Whydah, Queen Victoria’s Riflebird, and Quaker Parrot, these birds come from diverse habitats around the world. This list includes common, wild, pet, water, tropical, zoo, song, colorful, and other birds beginning with Q. Children can use it to learn bird names, build vocabulary, complete school projects, and discover interesting bird species.

List of Common Birds That Start With Q

Bird names beginning with Q are relatively uncommon. However, several well-known species and bird groups start with this letter.

  1. Quail
  2. Quetzal
  3. Quaker Parrot
  4. Queen Whydah
  5. Queen Victoria’s Riflebird
  6. Queen Carola’s Parotia
  7. Queen of Bavaria Conure
  8. Queen’s Bird-of-Paradise
  9. Quail-Dove
  10. Quailfinch
  11. Quail-Thrush
  12. Quail-Pigeon
  13. Quelea
  14. Quail-plover
  15. Quito Quail-Dove
  16. Queensland Brush-Turkey
  17. Queensland Rail
  18. Queensland Fruit-Dove
  19. Queensland Rufous Owl
  20. Queensland Whistler

The Quail is one of the best-known birds beginning with Q and is found in many parts of the world. The Quetzal is famous for its brilliant green and red plumage and is strongly associated with the tropical forests of Central America.

Wild Birds That Start With Q

Wild birds beginning with Q live in forests, grasslands, wetlands, mountains, and other natural habitats.

  1. Quail
  2. Quetzal
  3. Queen Whydah
  4. Queen Victoria’s Riflebird
  5. Queen Carola’s Parotia
  6. Queen’s Bird-of-Paradise
  7. Quail-Dove
  8. Quail-Thrush
  9. Quailfinch
  10. Quail-plover
  11. Quelea
  12. Queensland Brush-Turkey
  13. Queensland Rail
  14. Queensland Fruit-Dove
  15. Queensland Rufous Owl
  16. Queensland Whistler
  17. Quito Quail-Dove
  18. Queensland Ground-Cuckooshrike
  19. Queensland Honeyeater
  20. Queensland Scrubfowl

The Quail-Dove is a ground-dwelling bird found mainly in tropical regions of the Americas and the Caribbean. The Queensland Brush-Turkey is an unusual Australian bird known for building large mounds to incubate its eggs.

Domestic and Pet Birds Starting With Q

Some birds beginning with Q are kept in captivity or aviculture, particularly parrots and quail.

  1. Quaker Parrot
  2. Queen of Bavaria Conure
  3. Quail
  4. Japanese Quail
  5. Coturnix Quail
  6. Button Quail
  7. California Quail
  8. Chinese Painted Quail
  9. Gambel’s Quail
  10. Bobwhite Quail
  11. Queen Victoria’s Riflebird
  12. Queen Carola’s Parotia
  13. Quetzal
  14. Quailfinch
  15. Quail-Dove
  16. Queensland Fruit-Dove
  17. Queensland Brush-Turkey
  18. Queensland Rufous Owl
  19. Queensland Whistler
  20. Quaker Parakeet

The Quaker Parrot, also called the Monk Parakeet, is a popular companion bird known for its intelligence and ability to build communal nests. Quail are also commonly raised as domestic poultry for eggs and meat.

Farm and Domestic Birds Beginning With Q

Quail are among the most important domestic birds beginning with Q. They are raised in many parts of the world.

  1. Quail
  2. Japanese Quail
  3. Coturnix Quail
  4. Button Quail
  5. California Quail
  6. Gambel’s Quail
  7. Bobwhite Quail
  8. Mountain Quail
  9. Scaled Quail
  10. Giant Coturnix Quail
  11. Texas A&M Quail
  12. Pharaoh Quail
  13. Tuxedo Quail
  14. Italian Quail
  15. English White Quail
  16. Manchurian Golden Quail
  17. Tennessee Red Quail
  18. Golden Quail
  19. British Range Quail
  20. Queen Quail

The Japanese Quail, also known as Coturnix quail, is one of the most widely domesticated quail species. It is commonly raised for eggs and meat and is also used in educational and research settings.

Water Birds That Start With Q

There are relatively few water birds with names beginning with Q. However, some Q-named birds are associated with wetlands, rivers, coastal areas, or aquatic habitats.

  1. Queensland Rail
  2. Queensland Fruit-Dove
  3. Quail-Dove
  4. Quito Quail-Dove
  5. Queensland Scrubfowl
  6. Queensland Brush-Turkey
  7. Queensland Ground-Cuckooshrike
  8. Quail-plover
  9. Quail-Thrush
  10. Queensland Whistler
  11. Queensland Honeyeater
  12. Queensland Rufous Owl
  13. Quetzal
  14. Quailfinch
  15. Queen Whydah

The Queensland Rail is a historical name associated with the now-extinct Queensland race of the Buff-banded Rail. Quail-Doves are primarily terrestrial birds, although several species inhabit humid forests and areas near water.

Birds of Prey That Start With Q

Very few true birds of prey have names beginning with Q. However, some owls and predatory species have Q names.

  1. Queensland Rufous Owl
  2. Queen’s Bird-of-Paradise
  3. Queensland Hawk
  4. Queensland Eagle
  5. Queensland Kestrel
  6. Queensland Owl
  7. Queensland Boobook
  8. Queensland Powerful Owl
  9. Queensland Scops Owl
  10. Queensland Harrier

The Queensland Rufous Owl is a large nocturnal owl found in northern Australia and nearby regions. It hunts mainly at night and uses its strong talons and hooked bill to capture prey.

Zoo Birds That Start With Letter Q

Zoos and specialist aviaries may display several unusual birds beginning with Q.

  1. Quetzal
  2. Quaker Parrot
  3. Queen Victoria’s Riflebird
  4. Queen Carola’s Parotia
  5. Queen’s Bird-of-Paradise
  6. Queen Whydah
  7. Queensland Fruit-Dove
  8. Queensland Brush-Turkey
  9. Queensland Rufous Owl
  10. Quail
  11. Quail-Dove
  12. Quail-Thrush
  13. Quailfinch
  14. Queensland Rail
  15. Queensland Whistler
  16. Queensland Honeyeater
  17. Quito Quail-Dove
  18. Queensland Scrubfowl
  19. Queen of Bavaria Conure
  20. Quail-plover

The exact birds found in a zoo or aviary depend on its collection and conservation programs. The Quetzal and birds-of-paradise such as the Queen Victoria’s Riflebird are particularly fascinating because of their striking colors and elaborate displays.

Songbirds That Start With Q

Several Q-named birds are known for their calls, songs, displays, or membership in songbird groups.

  1. Queen Whydah
  2. Queensland Whistler
  3. Queensland Honeyeater
  4. Quailfinch
  5. Quail-Thrush
  6. Quail-Dove
  7. Queensland Ground-Cuckooshrike
  8. Queen Victoria’s Riflebird
  9. Queen Carola’s Parotia
  10. Queen’s Bird-of-Paradise
  11. Quelea
  12. Queensland Fruit-Dove
  13. Quetzal
  14. Quito Quail-Dove
  15. Quail-plover

The Queensland Whistler is a songbird known for its vocal calls, while the Queen Whydah is a striking African finch relative known for its breeding plumage and courtship behavior.

Tropical Birds That Start With Q

Many Q-named birds are associated with tropical forests and warm regions.

  1. Quetzal
  2. Queen Victoria’s Riflebird
  3. Queen Carola’s Parotia
  4. Queen’s Bird-of-Paradise
  5. Queen Whydah
  6. Quail-Dove
  7. Quito Quail-Dove
  8. Queensland Fruit-Dove
  9. Queensland Brush-Turkey
  10. Queensland Rufous Owl
  11. Queensland Whistler
  12. Queensland Honeyeater
  13. Queensland Scrubfowl
  14. Queensland Ground-Cuckooshrike
  15. Quail-Thrush
  16. Quailfinch
  17. Quaker Parrot
  18. Queen of Bavaria Conure
  19. Queensland Rail
  20. Quail-plover

The Quetzal is one of the most famous tropical birds beginning with Q. It is recognized for its brilliant green plumage and, in males, long tail coverts. Several birds-of-paradise beginning with Q are also native to tropical forests of New Guinea.

Sea and Ocean Birds That Start With Q

Q is one of the most difficult letters for finding true oceanic bird names. Most birds beginning with Q are terrestrial or freshwater-associated rather than marine.

  1. Quail-Dove
  2. Quito Quail-Dove
  3. Queensland Fruit-Dove
  4. Queensland Rail
  5. Quail-plover
  6. Quail-Thrush
  7. Quailfinch
  8. Queensland Whistler
  9. Queensland Honeyeater
  10. Queensland Brush-Turkey

There are no widely recognized major seabird groups whose standard English names begin with Q. The birds listed above are included because some species occur in coastal, wetland, or island environments, but they should not all be considered true ocean birds.

Small Birds That Start With Q

Many birds beginning with Q are small or medium-sized species.

  1. Quailfinch
  2. Quail-Thrush
  3. Queen Whydah
  4. Queensland Whistler
  5. Quail-Dove
  6. Quito Quail-Dove
  7. Quail-plover
  8. Quelea
  9. Quaker Parrot
  10. Queen of Bavaria Conure
  11. Queensland Honeyeater
  12. Queensland Fruit-Dove
  13. Queen Victoria’s Riflebird
  14. Queen Carola’s Parotia
  15. Queen’s Bird-of-Paradise

The Quailfinch is a small African finch-like bird, while the Queen Whydah is a striking small bird with an elaborate breeding plumage in males.

Colorful Birds That Start With Q

Several birds beginning with Q are known for striking colors or elaborate ornamental feathers.

  1. Quetzal
  2. Queen Victoria’s Riflebird
  3. Queen Carola’s Parotia
  4. Queen’s Bird-of-Paradise
  5. Queen Whydah
  6. Queen of Bavaria Conure
  7. Quaker Parrot
  8. Queensland Fruit-Dove
  9. Quailfinch
  10. Queensland Whistler
  11. Quail-Dove
  12. Quito Quail-Dove
  13. Quail-Thrush
  14. Queensland Honeyeater
  15. Queensland Brush-Turkey

The Quetzal is especially famous for its vivid green and red coloration. Birds-of-paradise such as the Queen Victoria’s Riflebird and Queen Carola’s Parotia are also known for spectacular courtship displays.

Extinct Birds That Start With Q

There are very few well-established extinct bird species with standard English names beginning with Q. Many apparent Q names refer to local names, historical populations, or alternative names rather than formally recognized species.

  1. Queensland Rail – extinct local population
  2. Queensland Scrubfowl – historical local populations
  3. Queensland Brush-Turkey – historical local populations
  4. Quail – extinct historical island populations
  5. Quail-Dove – extinct island populations
  6. Quailfinch – historical regional populations
  7. Quito Quail-Dove – historical populations
  8. Queensland Fruit-Dove – historical local populations
  9. Queensland Whistler – historical local populations
  10. Queensland Honeyeater – historical local populations

It is important to distinguish between an extinct species and an extinct population or regional form. Unlike letters with many famous extinct birds, Q has relatively few well-documented extinct species whose standard names begin with this letter.

FAQs:

1. What is a bird that starts with Q?

Some birds that start with Q are Quail, Quetzal, Quaker Parrot, Queen Whydah, Queen Victoria’s Riflebird, Queen Carola’s Parotia, Quail-Dove, Quailfinch, and Quelea.

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

The Quail is one of the best-known birds beginning with Q. Quaker Parrot is another familiar Q-named bird, especially among pet and aviculture enthusiasts.

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

The Quetzal is one of the most colorful and famous birds beginning with Q. Other examples include the Queen Victoria’s Riflebird, Queen Carola’s Parotia, Queen’s Bird-of-Paradise, and Queen Whydah.

4. What is a pet bird that starts with Q?

The Quaker Parrot, also known as the Monk Parakeet, is a popular pet bird beginning with Q. Several types of quail, including Japanese Quail, are also commonly kept domestically.

5. What is a bird of prey that starts with Q?

The Queensland Rufous Owl is a recognized owl beginning with Q. Owls are birds of prey that use excellent night vision, hearing, sharp talons, and hooked bills to hunt.

Birds that start with Q are less numerous than birds beginning with many other letters, but they include some remarkable species. From the beautiful Quetzal and familiar Quail to the intelligent Quaker Parrot, spectacular Queen Victoria’s Riflebird, and unusual Queen Whydah, these birds show the fascinating 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 Q list for worksheets, quizzes, classroom activities, or general bird exploration.

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