Birds That Start With L

11 birds Animals and nature Checked 9 Oct 2026

Here are 11 birds that start with L, each with a one-line description so you can tell what it is. The best-known ones come first, then the full list in A to Z order.

L gives you eleven birds, and singers stand out. The lark is known for its song, the lyrebird of Australia is famous for copying other sounds, and the linnet is a small finch whose male has a red breast and forehead.

The lovebird is the friendliest pick for young children, a small green parrot often kept as a pet. Water lovers include the loon, a diving bird of the northern hemisphere, and the limpkin, a brown wader that feeds mainly on snails. Two names start with laughing: the laughing gull and the laughing owl of New Zealand, which is almost extinct.

Birds starting with L: 11
Best known: lark, loon
Longest name: laughing gull

Best-known birds that start with L

The ones most people will recognise, good for school lists, quizzes and games.

lark
loon
lovebird
limpkin
lyrebird

All birds that start with L

#	Name	What it is
1	lapwing	large crested Old World plover having wattles and spurs
2	lark	any of numerous predominantly Old World birds noted for their singing
3	laughing gull	small black-headed European gull
4	laughing owl	almost extinct owl of New Zealand
5	limpkin	brown wading bird that feeds mainly on snails
6	linnet	small Old World finch whose male has a red breast and forehead
7	little owl	small European owl
8	loon	large somewhat primitive fish-eating diving bird of the northern hemisphere having webbed feet placed far back
9	lory	small brightly colored Australasian parrots having a brush-tipped tongue for feeding on nectar and soft fruits
10	lovebird	small Australian parakeet usually light green with black and yellow markings in the wild but bred in many colors
11	lyrebird	Australian bird famous for mimicry and lyre-shaped tail

Short birds with L

lark
loon
lory

Questions people ask

How many birds start with L?

This list has 11 birds starting with L, from well-known ones like lark, loon, lovebird to rarer kinds.

What birds start with L?

Well-known examples are lark, loon, lovebird, limpkin, lyrebird.

Source: Princeton WordNet, a public dictionary database, reviewed by our editors to keep only clear, real members of the list. Meanings are short dictionary glosses.

See every letter on one page: birds A to Z