Birds That Start With O

8 birds Animals and nature Checked 9 Oct 2026

Here are 8 birds that start with O, each with a one-line description so you can tell what it is. They are listed below with what each one is.

Only eight birds start with O, yet the list holds some of the best known. The owl and the ostrich are perfect for young children, and the ostrich is the largest living bird. The osprey is a fish-eating hawk found almost everywhere in the world.

The oriole is a songbird whose male is usually bright orange and black. For something unusual, try the oilbird, which lives in caves in South America and eats fruit. The ovenbird is a warbler that builds a domed nest on the ground, and the oystercatcher is a black and white shorebird with a stout bill.

Birds starting with O: 8
Best known: owl, ostrich
Longest name: oystercatcher

All birds that start with O

#	Name	What it is
1	oilbird	nocturnal cave-dwelling South American bird that eats fruit
2	oriole	mostly tropical songbird; the male is usually bright orange and black
3	ortolan	brownish Old World bunting often eaten as a delicacy
4	osprey	large harmless hawk found worldwide that feeds on fish and builds a bulky nest often occupied for years
5	ostrich	fast-running African flightless bird with two-toed feet; largest living bird
6	ovenbird	warbler that builds a domed nest on the ground
7	owl	nocturnal bird of prey with hawk-like beak and claws and large head with front-facing eyes
8	oystercatcher	black-and-white shorebird with stout legs and bill; feed on oysters etc.

Questions people ask

How many birds start with O?

This list has 8 birds starting with O, from well-known ones like owl, ostrich, osprey to rarer kinds.

What birds start with O?

Well-known examples are owl, ostrich, osprey, oriole, oilbird, ovenbird.

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