63 adorable birds in Italian to make your vocab soar like an eagle

You probably chose to study and learn the Italian language so that you can converse with other people, whether it is for work, or just to buy a cone in an italian gelateria… However, we’re not alone in this world!

In this article you will learn the names of the many living beings that populate our cielo (the sky!). Yes, I’m talking about birds. We’ll look at the most common flying feathered friends, so that if you want to, you can chat to the café waiter in a piazza about i piccioni (pigeons).

We’ll also cover some more specific names of birds in Italian, so that you’ll have all the vocab you need if you go on a bird-watching trip to the mountains or countryside of the beautiful Italian country.

Learning the names of birds in Italian is a great idea if you want to expand your vocabulary and add a new, fun topic to your repertoire. If you’re interested in other animals too, read our article about adorable animals in Italian.

If your animale preferito (favourite animal) is a bird, impress your Italian friends with its Italian name!

How to say “bird” in Italian

The word for bird in Italian is l’uccello / gli uccelli (loo-chell-loh / lly oo-chell-leeh). As you can see, the definite article for the singular is l’ as the word starts with a vowel. The definite article for the plural, however, remains gli.

Sometimes, when referring to small birds or when talking to children, we use the diminutive uccellino.

Another word used to talk about our feathery friends is pennuto (pen-noo-toh), although it is not as common. This comes from the word penna, which means feather. (Yes, penna also means “pen”! That’s where it comes from, as people used to write with feathers in old times…). The more scientific word for describing flying creature is volatile (voh-lah-tee-leh).

Common birds in Italian

Would you like to find out how to say eagle in Italian? Here’s a list of the most common birds.

Hummingbird and other common birds in Italian.

English Bird name (singular) Bird name (plural) Pronunciation
Pigeon Piccione Piccioni pee-cho-neh
Sparrow Passero Passeri pass-seh-roh
Crow Corvo Corvi korr-voh
Dove Colomba Colombe coh-lomm-bah
Hummingbird Colibrì Colibrì coh-lee-breeh
Chicken Pollo Polli poll-loh
Hen Gallina Galline gahl-lee-nah
Cockerel Gallo Galli gahl-lee
Eagle Aquila Aquile ah-kwee-lah
Duck Anatra Anatre ah-nah-trah
Duckling Anatroccolo Anatroccoli ah-nah-trok-koh-loh
Goose Oca Oche oh-kah
Grebe Svasso Svassi svah-sso
Pheasant Fagiano Fagiani fah-djah-noh
Grouse Gallo cedrone Galli cedroni Gahl-loh cheh-droh-neh
Cuckoo Cuculo Cuculi coo-coo-lo
Nightingale Usignolo Usignoli oo-see-nyoh-loh
Nightjar Succiacapre Succiacapre suh-cha-cah-preh
Peacock Pavone Pavoni pah-voh-neh
Swift Rondone Rondoni ron-doh-neh
Swan Cigno Cigni chee-nyoh
Common teal Alzavola Alzavole ahl-tsah-voh-lah
Quail Quaglia Quaglie kwah-llyah
Vulture Avvoltoio Avvoltoi ah-vol-toy
Magpie Gazza Gazze gadz-zah
Goldfinch Cardellino Cardellini carr-dell-lee-noh
Turtle dove Tortora Tortore torr-toh-rah
Carrion crow Cornacchia Cornacchie corr-nak-kyah
Blackbird Merlo Merli merr-loh
Great tit Cinciallegra Cinciallegre chieen-chal-leh-grah
Robin Pettirosso Pettirossi pet-tee-ross-soh
Starling Storno Storni storr-noh
Canary Canarino Canarini cah-nah-ree-noh
Bullfinch Ciuffolotto Ciuffolotti choof-foh-lot-toh
Falcon Falco Falchi fahl-coh
Cormorant Cormorano Cormorani corr-moh-rah-noh
Pelican Pellicano Pellicani pell-lee-kah-noh
Seagull Gabbiano Gabbiani gab-byah-noh
Woodpecker Picchio picchi peek-kyoh
Turkey Tacchino Tacchini tak-kee-noh

Migratory birds in Italian

Let’s now look at a list of the major uccelli migratori, which are birds that change continents with the seasons.

A stork and other migratory birds in Italian.

English Bird name (singular) Bird name (plural) Pronunciation
Albatross Albatros Albatros ahl-bah-tross
Ducks Anatra Anatre ah-nah-trah
Short-toed snake eagle Biancone Bianconi byan-coh-neh
Montagu’s harrier Albanella Albanelle ahl-bah-nehl-lah
Garganey Marzaiola Marzaiole marr-tsa-yoh-lah
Stork Cicogna Cicogne chee-koh-nyah
Swift Rondone Rondoni ron-doh-neh
Swallow Rondine Rondini rohn-dee-nee
Hoopoe Upupa Upupe ooh-pooh-pah

Wild and exotic birds in Italian

Sure, it is great to know the names of the birds you can find in Italy, but it is also good to know some exotic birds in Italian, just to make your knowledge more complete.

A zebra finch is a wild and exotic bird in Italian.

English Bird name (singular) Bird name (plural) Pronunciation
Flamingo Fenicottero Fenicotteri feh-nee-cot-teh-roh
Crane Gru Gru grooh
Parrot Pappagallo Pappagalli pap-pah-gahl-loh
Bird of paradise Uccello del paradiso Uccelli del paradiso Ooch-chel-loh del pah-rah-dee-zoh
Cordonbleu Cordon blu Cordon blu Cor-don bloo
Gouldian finch Diamante di gould Diamanti di gould Dyah-man-teh dee-go-oold
Zebra finch Diamante mandarino Diamanti mandarini Dyah-man-teh man-dah-ree-noh
Star finch Diamante coda rossa Diamanti coda rossa Dyah-man-teh coh-dah ross-sah

Flightless birds in Italian

Not all birds can fly! Here’s a list of some flightless bird in Italian. By the way, do you remember how to say “to fly” in Italian? Yes, volare!

Penguins are flightless birds in Italian.

English Bird name (singular) Bird name (plural) Pronunciation
Emu Emù Emù eh-mooh
Penguin Pinguino Pinguini peen-gwee-noh
Ostrich Struzzo Struzzi stroo-tsoh
Rheae Nandù Nandù nann-dooh
Cassowary Casuario Casuari cah-soo-ah-ree
Kiwi Kiwi Kiwi kee-wee

Bird songs in Italian

Franco Battiato - Gli uccelli - 1981

This is a great classic by Italian singer and songwriter Franco Battiato: Gli uccelli. You can’t miss it!

ULTIMO - RONDINI AL GUINZAGLIO

A more recent take on songs with birds…? Here it is: Rondini al guinzaglio, by Ultimo.

Gli uccelli per bambini - Animali vertebrati - Scienze naturali per bambini

If you’re a fan of kids’ songs, here’s one for you!

Funny bird-related sayings, quotes, phrases

Italian English literal translation English meaning
Prendere due piccioni con una fava To catch two pigeons with one fava bean To kill two birds with one stone.
Meglio un uovo oggi che una gallina domani. Better an egg today than a hen tomorrow. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
Un uccellino mi ha detto che… A little bird told me that… Same as in English, when you don’t want to reveal the source of your information.
Una rondine non fa primavera. One swallow does not mean it’s spring. One swallow does not make a summer
Quando canta il merlo, siamo fuori dall’inverno. When the blackbird sings, the winter has finished. The season has changes, spring is coming.
Quando cantano le cicale, il cuculo smette di cantare. When the crickets sing, the cuckoo stops singing. -

  • Prendere due piccioni con una fava. (Lit.: To catch two pigeons with one fava bean.) To kill two birds with one stone.
  • Meglio un uovo oggi che una gallina domani. (Lit.: Better an egg today than a hen tomorrow.) A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
  • Un uccellino mi ha detto che… (Lit.: a little bird told me that…) Same as in English, when you don’t want to reveal the source of your information.
  • Una rondine non fa primavera. (Lit.: One swallow does not mean it’s spring.) One swallow does not make a summer
  • Quando canta il merlo, siamo fuori dall’inverno. (Lit.: When the blackbird sings, the winter has finished.) The season has changes, spring is coming.
  • Quando cantano le cicale, il cuculo smette di cantare. (Lit.: When the crickets sing, the cuckoo stops singing.)

Just for laughs: Parrot speaking Italian

If you just need a laugh, have a look at these adorable pappagalli speaking Italian.

Un uccellino mi ha detto che…

…You’ve become an expert in Italian bird names! Remember, to make new vocab stick, you just need to practice, practice, practice! So, in the next few weeks, channel the cute Italian parrot in the video above who diligently speaks and responds to the beautiful Italian language.

And if you want to continue the Italian vocabulary fun, keep up the joy on our free Italian lessons blog.

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