162 marvelous birds in German that'll be a real hoot to learn

Birds are a fascinating and diverse group of vertebrates that includes 18,000 different species in the world - from sleepy eagle owls and talking parrots to the colorful rainbow lorikeets.

Don’t worry, we don’t expect you to learn all 18,000 birds in German when you’ve just started learning the language - especially with names like “Plattschweifsittich,” “Kuckuckskauz” and “Säbelschnäbler” - but if you learn the right ones and you find a way to weave them into a conversation when speaking German, you can seriously impress people.

So we’ve listed some of the cutest, funniest, and most beautiful ones for you!

How to say bird in German

Bird in German is “Vogel,” and the plural is “Vögel.” The trick to pronouncing it is starting with a sharp ‘F’-sound as in German, the “V” is pronounced like an “F.”

When children learn the German alphabet, they often remember the letter as “V wie Vogel”. It helps them because the letter is shaped like a simple version of a flying bird.

Common birds in German

It’s hard to pick from 18,000 different birds, but here are some of our all-time favorites like the eagle, pigeon, and owl in German - plus a number of others that are common in either Germany or North America.

English	Bird name (singular)	Bird name (plural)	IPA pronunciation
Sparrow	Spatz	Spatzen	[ʃpat͡s]
Chicken	Huhn	Hühner	[huːn]
Owl	Eule	Eulen	[ˈʔɔʏ̯lə]
Barn owl	Schleiereule	Schleiereulen	[ˈʃlaɪ̯ɐˌʔɔɪ̯lə]
Brown owl	Waldkauz	Waldkäuze	[ˈvaltkaʊ̯t͡s]
Little owl	Steinkauz	Steinkäuze	[ˈʃtaɪ̯nˌkaʊ̯t͡s]
Long-eared owl	Waldohreule	Waldohreulen	[ˈvaltoːɐ̯ˌʔɔɪ̯lə]
Short-eared owl	Sumpfohreule	Sumpfohreulen	[ˈzʊmp͡fʔoːɐ̯ˌʔɔɪ̯lə]
Eagle owl	Uhu	Uhus	[ˈuːhu]
Snow owl	Schneeeule	Schneeeulen	[ʃneːˈɔɪ̯lə]
Cardinal	Kardinal	Kardinäle	[ˌkaʁdiˈnaːl]
Thrush	Drossel	Drosseln	[ˈdʁɔsl̩]
American robin	Wanderdrossel	Wanderdrosseln	[ˈvandɐˈɔɪ̯lə]
European robin	Rotkehlchen	Rotkehlchen	[ˈʁoːtˌkeːlçən]
Crow	Krähe	Krähen	[ˈkʁɛːə]
Blue jay	Blauhäher	Blauhäher	[blaʊ̯ˈhɛːɐ]
Blackbird	Amsel	Amseln	[ˈamzəl]
Starling	Star	Stare	[ˈʃtaːʁ]
Finch	Fink	Finken	[fɪŋk]
Goldfinch	Goldzeisig	Goldzeisige	[ˈɡɔltˌt͡saɪ̯zɪç]
Goose	Gans	Gänse	[ɡans]
Mallard	Stockente	Stockenten	[ˈʃtɔkʔɛntə]
Martlet	Mauersegler	Mauersegler	[ˈmaʊ̯ɐˌzeːɡlɐ]
Chickadee	Meise	Meisen	[ˈmaɪ̯zə]
Pheasant	Fasan	Fasane; Fasanen	[faˈzaːn]
Grouse	Moorhuhn	Moorhühner	[moːɐ̯huːn]
Stone-curlew	Triel	Triele	[tʁiːl]
Stilt	Stelze	Stelzen	[ˈʃtɛlt͡sə]
Avocet	Säbelschnäbler	Säbelschnäbler	[ˈzɛːbl̩ˌʃnɛːblɐ]
Lapwing	Kiebitz	Kiebitze	[ˈkiːbɪt͡s]
Sandpiper	Wasserläufer	Wasserläufer	[ˈvasɐˌlɔɪ̯fɐ]
Pratincole	Brachschwalbe	Brachschwalben	[bʁaːxˈʃvalbə]
Skua	Große Raubmöwe	Große Raubmöwen	[ˈɡʁoːsə ʁaʊ̯pˈmøːvə]
Jaeger	Raubmöwe	Raubmöwen	[ʁaʊ̯pˈmøːvə]
Murre	Lumme	Lummen	[ˈlʊmə]
Skimmer	Wasserläufer	Wasserläufer	[ˈvasɐˌlɔɪ̯fɐ]
Gannet	Tölpel	Tölpel	[ˈtœlpl]
Northern gannet	Basstölpel	Basstölpel	[ˈbasˌtœlpl]
Spoonbill	Löffler	Löffler	[ˈlœflɐ]
Osprey	Fischadler	Fischadler	[ˈfɪʃˌʔaːdlɐ]
Bittern	Rohrdommel	Rohrdommeln	[ˈʁoːɐ̯ˌdɔməl]
Hoopoe	Wiedehopf	Wiedehopfe	[ˈviːdəhɔp͡f]
Bunting	Wimpel	Wimpel	[ˈvɪmpl̩]
Passerine	Sperling	Sperlinge	[ˈʃpɛʁlɪŋ]
Vireo	Vireo	Vireos	[vi:ʁe:o:]
Shrike-babbler	Rotbauch-Würgertimalie	Rotbauch-Würgertimalien	[ʁo:tbaʊ̯x vʏɐ̯gɐti:ma:lj]
Oriole	Pirol	Pirole	[piˈʁoːl]
Shrike	Würger	Würger	[ˈvʏʁɡɐ]
Magpie	Elster	Elstern	[ˈɛlstɐ]
Nightingale	Nachtigall	Nachtigallen	[ˈnaxtɪɡal]
Lark	Lerche	Lerchen	[ˈlɛʁçə]
Leaf warbler	Laubsänger	Laubsänger	[laʊ̯pˌzɛŋɐ]
Reed warbler	Teichrohrsänger	Teichrohrsänger	[taɪ̯çʁo:ɐ̯zɛŋɐ]
Bush warbler	Japanbuschsänger	Japanbuschsänger	[ˈjapan ˈbʊʃzɛŋɐ]
Bearded reedling	Bartmeise	Bartmeisen	[ˈba:ɐ̯tmaɪ̯zə]
Grassbird	Abendammer	Abendammern	[ˈa:bənd ˈamɐ]
Mockingbird	Spottdrossel	Spottdrosseln	[ˈʃpɔt ˈdʁɔsəl]
Thrasher	Rotspottdrossel	Rotspottdrosseln	[ˈʁo:t ʃpɔt ˈdʁɔsəl]
Flycatcher	Tyrann	Tyrannen	[ty:ˈʁan]
Waxwinger	Seidenschwanz	Seidenschwänze	[zaɪ̯dənʃvant͡s]
Kinglet	Goldhähnchen	Goldhähnchen	[ˈgɔlthɛ:nçən]
Wallcreeper	Mauerläufer	Mauerläufer	[maʊ̯ɐlɔʏ̯fɐ]
Nuthatch	Spechtmeise	Spechtmeisen	[ˈʃpɛçtmaɪ̯zə]
Treecreeper	Waldbaumläufer	Waldbaumläufer	[ˈvaltbaʊ̯mlɔʏ̯fɐ]
Wren	Zaunkönig	Zaunkönige	[ˈtsankø:nɪç]
Dipper	Wasseramsel	Wasseramseln	[ˈvasɐamzəl]
Swan	Schwan	Schwäne	[ʃva:n]
Quail	Wachtel	Wachteln	[ˈvaxtəl]
Partridge	Rebhuhn	Rebhühner	[ˈʁe:phʊn]

Migratory birds in German

When birds migrate South to escape the German winter, many of us get a little jealous. Wouldn’t we all prefer to spread our wings and vacation in the Mediterranean sun? Take us with you, birdies!

English	Bird name (singular)	Bird name (plural)	IPA pronunciation
Albatross	Albatros	Albatrosse	[ˈalbatʁɔs]
Duck	Ente	Enten	[ˈɛntə]
Shearwater	Sturmtaucher	Sturmtaucher	[ˈʃtuʁmˌtaʊ̯xɐ]
Great crested grebe	Haubentaucher	Haubentaucher	[ˈhaʊ̯bn̩ˌtaʊ̯xɐ]
Pigeon	Taube	Tauben	[ˈtaʊ̯bə]
Dove	Weiße Taube	Weiße Tauben	[ˈvaɪ̯sə ˈtaʊ̯bə]
Cuckoo	Kuckuck	Kuckucke	[ˈkʊkʊk]
Swift	Mauerschwalbe	Mauerschwalben	[ˈmaʊ̯ɐˈʃvalbə]
Crane	Kranich	Kraniche	[ˈkʁaːnɪç]
Rail	Ralle	Rallen	[ˈʁalə]
Alcid	Alkenvogel	Alkenvögel	[alknˈfoːɡl̩]
Gull	Möwe	Möwen	[ˈmøːvə]
Seagull	Seemöwe	Seemöwen	[ˈzeːˌmøːvə]
Swallow	Schwalbe	Schwalben	[ˈʃvalbə]
Tern	Seeschwalbe	Seeschwalben	[ˈzeːʃvalbə]
Oystercatcher	Austernfischer	Austernfischer	[ˈaʊ̯stɐnˌfɪʃɐ]
Plover	Regenpfeifer	Regenpfeifer	[ˈʁeːɡn̩ˌp͡faɪ̯fɐ]
Shore bird	Watvogel	Watvögel	[ˈvaːtˌfoːɡl̩]
Loon	Eistaucher	Eistaucher	[ˈaɪ̯sˌtaʊ̯xɐ]
Tube-nosed swimmer	Röhrennase	Röhrennasen	[ˈʁøːʁənˈnaːzə]
(Storm) Petrel	Sturmvogel	Sturmvögel	[ˈʃtuʁmˌfoːɡl̩]
Stork	Storch	Störche	[ʃtɔʁç]
Cormorant	Kormoran	Kormorane	[ˈkɔʁmoˌʁaːn]
Heron	Reiher	Reiher	[ˈʁaɪ̯ɐ]
Ibis	Ibis	Ibisse	[ˈiːbɪs]
Bald ibis	Waldrapp	Waldrappen	[ˈvaltʁap]
Pelican	Pelikan	Pelikane	[ˈpeːlikaːn]
Falcon	Falke	Falken	[ˈfalkə]
Hawk	Habicht	Habichte	[ˈhaːbɪçt]
Goatsucker	Nachtschwalbe	Nachtschwalben	[naxtˈʃvalbə]
Trogon	Trogon; Nageschnäbler	Trogone; Nageschnäbler	[ˈtʁoːɡoːn; ˈnaːɡəˈʃnɛːblɐ]
Roller	Racke	Racken	[ˈʁakə]
Woodpecker	Specht	Spechte	[ʃpɛçt]

Wild / Exotic birds in German

Get ready for an explosion of colors in German with these beautiful, impressive creatures - from peacock blue to flamingo pink!

English	Bird name (singular)	Bird name (plural)	IPA pronunciation
Bird of paradise	Paradiesvogel	Paradiesvägel	[paʁaˈdiːsˌfoːɡll]
Bee-eater	Bienenfresser	Bienenfresser	[ˈbiːnənˌfʁɛsɐ]
Blue-footed booby	Blaufußtölpel	Blaufußtölpel	[ˈblaʊ̯fu:stø:lpəl]
Budgerigar; Budgie	Wellensittich	Wellensittiche	[ˈvɛlənˌzɪtɪç]
Cockatiel	Nymphensittich	Nymphensittiche	[ˈnʏmfn̩ˌsɪtɪç]
Cockatoo	Kakadu	Kakadus	[kaˈkadu]
Condor	Kondor	Kondore	[ˈkɔndoːɐ̯]
Conure	Sittich	Sittiche	[ˈzɪtɪç]
Fantail	Fächerschwanz	Fächerschwänze	[ˈfɛɐʃvant͡s]
Flamingo	Flamingo	Flamingos	[flaˈmɪŋɡo]
Frigate bird	Fregattvogel	Fregattvögel	[fʁɛˈgatfoːɡl̩]
Green aracari	Grünarassari	Grünarassaris	[ˈgʁy:na:ʁasa:ɐ̯i]
Hamerkop	Hammerkopf	Hammerköpfe	[ˈhamɛɐ̯kɔp͡f]
Harpy eagle	Harpyie	Harpyien	[haʁˈpyːjə]
Hornbill	Nashornvogel	Nashornvögel	[ˈnaːsˌhɔʁn ˈfoːɡl̩]
Hummingbird	Kolibri	Kolibris	[ˈkoːlibʁi]
Kaka	Kaka	Kakas	[ˈkaka]
Kea	Kea	Keas	[ˈkeːa]
Kingfisher	Eisvogel	Eisvögel	[ˈaɪ̯sˌfoːɡl̩]
Kookaburra	Rieseneisvogel	Rieseneisvögel	[ˈʁiːzn̩ ˈaɪ̯sˌfoːɡl̩]
Lovebird	Unzertrennlicher (male); Unzertrennliche (female)	Unzertrennliche	[ˈʊnt͡sɛɐ̯ˌtʁɛnlɪçɐ; ˈʊnt͡sɛɐ̯ˌtʁɛnlɪçə]
Macaw	Ara	Aras	[ˈaːʁa]
Morepork	Kuckuckskauz	Kuckuckskäuze	[ˈkʊkʊkskaʊ̯t͡s]
Motmot	Motmot	Motmots	[mɔtmɔt]
Pardalote	Panthervogel	Panthervögel	[ˈpantɐ ˈfoːɡl̩]
Parrot	Papagei	Papageien	[ˌpapaˈɡaɪ̯]
Peacock	Pfau	Pfauen	[p͡faʊ̯]
Puffin	Papageientaucher	Papageientaucher	[papaˈɡaɪ̯ənˌtaʊ̯xɐ]
Pukeko	Pukeko	Pukekos	[pu:ke:ko:]
Queztal	Quetzal	Quetzals	[ˈkvɛt͡sa:l]
Rosella	Plattschweifsittich	Plattschweifsittiche	[ˈplatʃvaɪ̯fzɪtɪç]
Golden pheasant	Goldfasan	Goldfasane; Goldfasanen	[ˈɡɔltfaˌzaːn]
Rainbow lorikeet	Regenbogenlori	Regenbogenloris	[ˈʁeːɡn̩ˌboːɡn̩]
Toucan	Tukan	Tukane	[ˈtuːkan]
Tropicbird	Tropikvogel	Tropikvögel	[ˈtʁo:pi:kˈfoːɡl̩]
Tui	Tui	Tuis	[tu:ɪ]
Vulture	Geier	Geier	[ˈɡaɪ̯ɐ]
Weaver bird	Webervogel	Webervögel	[ˈveːbɐˈfoːɡl̩]
Widowbird	Widah	Widahs	[ˈviːdɐ]
Zebra finch	Zebrafink	Zebrafinken	[ˈt͡sebʁaˌfɪŋk]

Flightless birds in German

They may not be able to fly but they can waddle, swim and impress in other ways. A cassowary can jump 7 feet up into the air and ostriches are strong enough to kill a lion with a single kick!

English	Bird name (singular)	Bird name (plural)	IPA pronunciation
Cassowary	Kasuar	Kasuare	[kazuˈaːɐ̯]
Emu	Emu	Emus	[ˈiːmjuː]
Flightless cormorant	Galapagosscharbe	Galapagosscharben	[ɡaˈlapaɡɔs ˈʃaʁbə]
Kagu	Kagu	Kagus	[ˈkaɡuː]
Kakapo	Kakapo	Kakapos	[ˈkakapoː]
Kiwi	Kiwi	Kiwis	[ˈkiːvi]
Ostrich	Strauß	Strauße	[ʃtʁaʊ̯s]
Penguin	Pinguin	Pinguine	[ˈpɪŋɡuiːn]
Ratite	Laufvogel	Laufvögel	[ˈlaʊ̯fˌfoːɡl̩]
Rhea	Nandu	Nandus	[ˈnandu]
Steamer duck	Dampfschiffente	Dampfschiffenten	[ˈdamp͡fʃɪfˌʔɛntə]
Takahe	Takahe	Takahes	[taˈka:he:]
Turkey	Truthahn (male); Pute (female)	Truthähne (male); Puten (female)	[ˈtʁuːtˌhaːn]
Weka	Wekaralle	Wekarallen	[ˈvɛkaˈʁalə]

Bird songs in German

FAUN - Federkleid (Offizielles Video)

The idea of being able to fly has always inspired humans in art and music.

“Come and fly away with us, let the wind carry you far away from this place. Come and fly as high as you can, let’s chase the sky while we dance”, the nature-inspired folk band Faun sings in their chorus.

Kreis.U.Quer - Frei wie ein Vogel

In “Frei wie ein Vogel”, the Austrian band Kreis und Quer dreams about hitting the road and feeling “Free as a bird”, an important feeling to remember and relive through music, especially in times like ours.

Die Vogelhochzeit | Kinderlieder - die kleine Eule & ihre Freunde

“Die Vogelhochzeit” or “The Bird Wedding” is one of the most famous German children’s songs. It introduces a number of birds, while they come together to join the unconventional wedding of a thrush and a blackbird. Pretty progressive! We like that.

Funny bird-related sayings, quotes, phrases

There are many funny animal-related sayings, quotes, phrases. Some of them include birds of course.

When someone is acting crazy, you ask them “Hast du einen Vogel?” (Do you have a bird?) and when they’re a bit of a weirdo, you say they’re a “komischer Kauz” (a strange little owl).

There are also many sayings about birds that are similar to the English ones. For example, the German version of “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush” is “Der Spatz in der Hand ist besser als die Taube auf dem Dach” (The sparrow in the hand is better than the pigeon on the roof).

A good expression to remember when you don’t know the answer to something is “Weiß der Kuckuck” (The cuckoo only knows) or “Weiß der Geier” (The vulture only knows). Back when people were afraid to say “the devil”, this was a tame way of saying “The devil only knows”. Try one of them with your German teacher and watch their mouth drop.

Just for laughs: A parrot speaking German

Parrot Speaks 12 Languages

Meet Bibi from the Congo! As a true polyglot, this adorable parrot can say hello in 12 different languages including Japanese, Italian, Spanish and of course - German!

Parrots are extremely intelligent. Studies show that they don’t just mimic humans. They do pick up on context and manage to use words appropriately. They can name different foods and ask for the ones they want.

The African Grey Parrot Waldo, who is the lead singer of the heavy metal band Hatebeak (Yes, you read that right), loves bananas and crackers. He knows the words for both of those snacks and when his band colleagues gave him dehydrated banana chips, Waldo called them “banana crackers”! What a clever guy.

Bye bye Birdie!

Let Waldo and other smart little birds like him be your role models. They show us that everything is possible. If a parrot can learn a language, so can you!

Just set your mind to it and invest some time, and you can learn any language you want. The sky's the limit - and if we can teach birds how to talk, who knows, maybe one day birds can teach us how to fly?

Before that day comes, for more fun and free German vocabulary learning, you know where to go.