Taxonomic Class

Birds Encyclopedia

Feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic egg-laying vertebrates. Showing 40 species cataloged in this class.

Mammals Birds Reptiles Amphibians Fish Invertebrates

Acadian Flycatcher

Acadian Flycatcher

Empidonax virescens

Diet: Insectivore and aerial predator
Wild lifespan: Often much shorter, but the banding record exceeds 12 years

African Grey Parrot

African Grey Parrot

Psittacus erithacus

Diet: Frugivore
Wild lifespan: Wild longevity is incompletely known; one compiled estimate is about 22.7 years

American Goldfinch

American Goldfinch

Spinus tristis

Diet: Specialized granivore with minor seasonal animal food
Wild lifespan: Many survive only a few years; banded individuals have exceeded ten years

American White Pelican

American White Pelican

Pelecanus erythrorhynchos

Diet: Primarily small fish, with other aquatic prey taken opportunistically
Wild lifespan: Can live more than 20 years; the oldest banded bird exceeded 23 years

Andean Cock-of-the-Rock

Andean Cock-of-the-Rock

Rupicola peruvianus

Diet: Omnivore
Wild lifespan: Wild lifespan is not well quantified; likely more than a decade for surviving adults

Anhinga

Anhinga

Anhinga anhinga

Diet: Primarily piscivorous wetland predator
Wild lifespan: Wild longevity record exceeds 12 years

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle

Haliaeetus leucocephalus

Diet: Carnivore and opportunistic scavenger
Wild lifespan: Often 20–30 years in the wild

Barn Owl

Barn Owl

Tyto alba

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: Often 4–8 years in the wild, with some much older

Blue Jay

Blue Jay

Cyanocitta cristata

Diet: Omnivore
Wild lifespan: Many live several years; the oldest known banded wild bird exceeded 26 years

Cactus Wren

Cactus Wren

Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus

Diet: Omnivore, mainly insectivore
Wild lifespan: Several years; banded individuals have lived more than seven years

Chinstrap Penguin

Chinstrap Penguin

Pygoscelis antarcticus

Diet: Marine carnivore, strongly dependent on Antarctic krill
Wild lifespan: Commonly estimated at 15–20 years

Common Ostrich

Common Ostrich

Struthio camelus

Diet: Omnivore, primarily herbivorous
Wild lifespan: Often 30–40 years

Eagle

AvesAnimal group

Eagle

Accipitridae

Diet: Carnivore and scavenger; prey differs by species
Wild lifespan: Species-specific; many large eagles can live for decades

Elf Owl

Elf Owl

Micrathene whitneyi

Diet: Mostly insects and other arthropods
Wild lifespan: Oldest known wild record at least 5 years 10 months

Emperor Penguin

Emperor Penguin

Aptenodytes forsteri

Diet: Marine carnivore
Wild lifespan: Often 15–20 years in the wild

Goose

AvesAnimal group

Goose

Anserini

Diet: Primarily herbivorous waterfowl
Wild lifespan: Species-specific; banding records show some wild geese surviving more than 20 years

Greater Flamingo

Greater Flamingo

Phoenicopterus roseus

Diet: Filter-feeding omnivore
Wild lifespan: Often 30–40 years in the wild

Harpy Eagle

Harpy Eagle

Harpia harpyja

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: Possibly 25–35 years in the wild

Indian Runner Duck

Indian Runner Duck

Anas platyrhynchos domesticus

Diet: Omnivore
Wild lifespan: Often 8–12 years with good care

Jacana

AvesAnimal group

Jacana

Jacanidae

Diet: Mostly aquatic invertebrates plus seeds and plant material
Wild lifespan: Species-specific; no reliable family-wide figure

Keel-billed Toucan

Keel-billed Toucan

Ramphastos sulfuratus

Diet: Omnivore, mainly fruit
Wild lifespan: Often 15–20 years

Kiwi Bird

AvesAnimal group

Kiwi Bird

Apteryx

Diet: Omnivore; mainly soil and litter invertebrates plus fruit and seeds
Wild lifespan: Often 25–50 years; varies by species and conditions

Little Penguin

Little Penguin

Eudyptula minor

Diet: Carnivore; pursuit-diving seabird
Wild lifespan: Commonly six to seven years, although banded individuals can live much longer

Northern Cardinal

Northern Cardinal

Cardinalis cardinalis

Diet: Omnivore dominated by seeds and fruit
Wild lifespan: Most live only a few years, but the longevity record exceeds 15 years

Peregrine Falcon

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: Often 8–15 years in the wild

Scarlet Macaw

Scarlet Macaw

Ara macao

Diet: Primarily herbivore with opportunistic animal food
Wild lifespan: Often 40–50 years in the wild

Secretary Bird

Secretary Bird

Sagittarius serpentarius

Diet: Carnivorous raptor
Wild lifespan: Wild longevity is poorly documented; managed birds may live around 15–20 years

Shoebill

Shoebill

Balaeniceps rex

Diet: Aquatic carnivore
Wild lifespan: Can exceed 30 years

Snowy Owl

Snowy Owl

Bubo scandiacus

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: Often at least 10 years in the wild

Tawny Frogmouth

Tawny Frogmouth

Podargus strigoides

Diet: Carnivore, primarily insectivore
Wild lifespan: Wild individuals can live for many years; precise typical survival is uncertain

Upland Goose

Upland Goose

Chloephaga picta

Diet: Herbivore
Wild lifespan: Can live for many years; precise typical wild lifespan varies among populations

Upland Sandpiper

Upland Sandpiper

Bartramia longicauda

Diet: Primarily insectivore
Wild lifespan: Many migrants die young, but banded individuals can survive for years

Ural Owl

Ural Owl

Strix uralensis

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: Wild birds may survive around a decade or longer, but annual survival varies with prey and hazards

Vulturine Guineafowl

Vulturine Guineafowl

Acryllium vulturinum

Diet: Ground-foraging omnivore
Wild lifespan: Up to about 15 years reported under managed care; wild longevity is less certain

Wild Turkey

Wild Turkey

Meleagris gallopavo

Diet: Omnivore
Wild lifespan: Many die young; birds surviving early hazards can live several years

Wood Duck

Wood Duck

Aix sponsa

Diet: Omnivore with a strongly plant-based diet
Wild lifespan: Most live much shorter lives, but the longevity record exceeds 22 years