31 Birds that Are Endangered (A to Z List with Pictures)

Examples of birds that are endangered include African Grey Parrot, Araripe Manakin, Bali Mynah, Bengal Florican, and Blue-Throated Macaw.

Birds are some of the most beautiful creatures on the planet. They can be found in all kinds of environments, and come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Unfortunately, many bird species are endangered, due to factors such as habitat loss, climate change, and human interference. Here is a look at some of the most endangered birds on earth.

Examples of Birds that Are Endangered

1. African Grey Parrot

The African grey parrot is a medium-sized bird that is native to the forests of Africa. These parrots are particularly special because of their high intelligence, and their ability to mimic human speech. Unfortunately, the African grey parrot is now endangered, due to habitat loss and the pet trade.

2. Araripe Manakin

This brightly colored bird is found in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil. It is a small bird, with a long tail and a black crest on its head. The Araripe Manakin is endangered due to habitat loss and degradation.

3. Bali Mynah

The Bali mynah is a beautiful, medium-sized songbird found only on the island of Bali in Indonesia. This charismatic bird has bright orange plumage and a long white tail, which it uses to fly gracefully through the forest canopy.

Unfortunately, habitat loss and hunting have caused their numbers to decline dramatically over the past few decades, and they are now one of the most endangered bird species on earth. There are thought to be less than 100 Bali mynahs left in the wild, making them one of the rarest birds on the planet.

4. Bengal Florican

The Bengal florican is a large bird that is native to the Indian subcontinent. It is the largest member of the bustard family and is easily distinguished by its long neck and legs. Sadly, there are only an estimated 1,000-2,000 Bengal floricans remaining in the wild. The main threats to this species are habitat loss and fragmentation, as well as hunting pressure.

5. Blue-Throated Macaw

This beautiful parrot is native to Central and South America. It is considered the most endangered bird in the Americas, with only 400 individuals left in the wild.

6. California Condor

With a wingspan of nearly 10 feet, the California condor is one of the largest birds in North America. Unfortunately, it is also one of the most endangered. There are only about 337 California condors left in the wild. The primary threat to these birds is lead poisoning, which they can contract from eating the carcasses of animals that have been shot with lead ammunition.

Related Article: Do Condor Eat Dead Animals?

7. Christmas Island Frigatebird

This bird is found only on Christmas Island, a small landmass that sits in the Indian Ocean. It has been designated as endangered by both the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the IUCN due to habitat loss caused by human development. The land mass on which it lives is less than 10 square miles, so any destruction of its natural home poses a serious threat to its survival.

8. Forest Owlet

The forest Owlet is found in central India and is critically endangered due to habitat loss and fragmentation. Population estimates range from a low of 50 birds to a high of just 400.

9. Fruit Dove

One of the most endangered birds in Australia is the Fruit Dove. These small, brightly colored birds are found only in the rainforests of northern Queensland. Due to deforestation for agriculture and logging, their population has declined by as much as 95 percent.

10. Giant Ibis

The giant ibis is a large wading bird that can be found in Southeast Asia. It is classified as critically endangered, with only about 300 individuals remaining in the wild. This is primarily due to habitat loss, as their natural forest habitats are being cleared for development and agriculture.

Related Article: Do Giant Ibis Have Long Neck?

11. Golden-Cheeked Warbler

This warbler is unique to the Texas Hill Country. It has a deep blue upper body and golden-yellow cheek patches that are only visible when it sings or calls. Its population in the wild is estimated to be around 110,000 individuals, putting this bird on the list of endangered species for the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

12. Great Curassow

Found in the rainforests of Central and South America, the Great Curassow is a large bird that grows up to 3 feet tall. Unfortunately, this bird species has suffered from overhunting by humans for its meat.

13. Gunnison Sage-Grouse

The Gunnison sage-grouse primarily lives on dry, flat grasslands in Colorado. It is a ground-dwelling bird that spends most of its time on the ground, but can also fly short distances if necessary. The Gunnison sage-grouse is threatened by habitat destruction and fragmentation from oil development, grazing, and fire suppression practices.

14. Hawaiian Goose

Also known as the Nene, the Hawaiian Goose is a native of Hawaii. It is thought to be descended from Canadian geese. The bird is about the size of a mallard, and has a black head and neck, with a white ring around its eyes. The Nene was once common on all the islands of Hawaii, but due to human settlement and introduced animals, its numbers have dwindled.

15. Hooded Grebe

The hooded grebe is a small waterbird that is found in South America. It is Critically Endangered, with only about 800 to 1,000 individuals remaining in the wild. The main threats to this species are habitat loss and degradation, as well as hunting.

16. Ivory-Billed Woodpecker

The Ivory-billed Woodpecker was once found in the southeastern United States. However, due to habitat loss and deforestation, this bird is now believed to be extinct. There have been a few reported sightings of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker in recent years, but none of these have been confirmed.

17. Kagu

The Kagu is a forest bird that is found only on the remote island of New Caledonia, in the South Pacific. There are thought to be only around 1000 of these birds left in the wild. The main threat to the Kagu is habitat loss and degradation, as their forest home is being cleared for agriculture and mining.

18. Kakapo

The kakapo, or night parrot, is one of the most endangered birds in the world. This flightless bird is native to New Zealand and has unique physical characteristics that make it stand out from other bird species. It has a large, round body and short legs, with feathers that are mostly green and yellow in color.

19. Kirtland’s Warbler

The Kirtland’s warbler is a small songbird that breeds in Michigan and winters in the Bahamas. The bird was on the brink of extinction in the 1970s, due to habitat loss and the use of DDT (a pesticide that caused thinning of eggshells). Thanks to conservation efforts, the population has increased to around 2,245 pairs. However, the Kirtland’s warbler is still classified as endangered.

20. Kiwi

The kiwi is a small, round bird that is native to New Zealand. There are five different species of kiwi, and all of them are considered to be endangered. The primary threat to kiwis is habitat loss, as their forest homes are being destroyed by logging and development. In addition, introduced predators such as stoats and ferrets pose a major threat to kiwi populations.

21. Madagascar Pochard

The Madagascar pochard is a waterbird that was thought to be extinct until it was rediscovered in 2006. There are now believed to be fewer than 20 of these birds remaining in the wild. The main threat to the Madagascar pochard is habitat loss and degradation, caused by activities such as rice farming, logging, and grazing.

22. Millerbird

The Millerbird is a small songbird that is found on the Midway Atoll in Hawaii. It is one of the most endangered birds in the world, with a population of just over 775 individuals. The main threat to the Millerbird is habitat loss, as its natural habitat is being taken over by invasive species such as rats and cats.

23. Northern Bald Ibis

The Northern Bald Ibis is one of the most endangered birds in the world. A critically-endangered species, it is found primarily in Morocco, Saudi Arabia, and Syria. The bird’s population has been dwindling due to habitat loss and hunting.

24. Philippine Eagle

This impressive eagle is found in the Philippines and has a wingspan of up to seven feet. The birds were once widespread throughout their range, but now only around 400 pairs are believed to survive in the wild. Habitat loss is a major factor behind their decline.

Related Article: Do Eagles Eat Snakes?

25. Piping Plover

The piping plover is a small, beautiful bird that is native to North America. Its name comes from the distinctive “pip” call it makes, and it has been listed as an endangered species by the IUCN since 1985. The main threats to this species include habitat loss due to human development, as well as predation by other animals. There are ongoing conservation efforts to protect the piping plover, but these efforts need to be increased if this species is going to survive.

26. Regent Honeyeater

The Regent honeyeater is a small bird that is found in southeastern Australia. It has black and white plumage, with a yellow band across its chest. The Regent honeyeater is critically endangered, with only around 300 birds remaining in the wild. The main threats to this species are habitat loss and fragmentation, as well as competition from introduced species such as the Noisy Miner.

27. Snowy Owl

The snowy owl is a large bird of prey that can be found in the Arctic regions of North America, Europe, and Asia. These birds are mostly white, with some dark markings on their wings. Females are usually larger than males. Snowy owls hunt small mammals such as lemmings and voles.

28. Sumatran Ground-Cuckoo

The Sumatran Ground-Cuckoo is a species of bird that can only be found on the island of Sumatra, an Indonesian island in Asia. The population of this bird has been declining rapidly in recent years, and it is believed that there are less than one hundred individuals left alive today.

29. Ultramarine Lorikeets

The ultramarine lorikeet is a beautiful bird that is native to the Solomon Islands. These birds are brightly colored, with blue and green feathers. Unfortunately, their numbers have been declining due to habitat loss and hunting. As of 2022, there are only an estimated 1,000-2,499 ultramarine lorikeets left in the wild.

30. White-Rumped Vulture

The white-rumped vulture is a large bird of prey that is found in parts of South Asia. It has suffered a dramatic population decline of more than 97% since the early 1990s, due largely to the use of diclofenac, an anti-inflammatory drug that is deadly to vultures.

31. Whooping Crane

The whooping crane is a large bird, with a wingspan of up to 8 feet. It is mostly white, with a black cap and red patches on its face. Whooping cranes are found in North America, and once ranged from coast to coast. Today, there are only about 800 whooping cranes left in the wild.

Conclusion

Unfortunately, many bird species are in danger of becoming extinct due to a variety of threats, including habitat loss, hunting, and climate change. It is important that we do everything we can to protect these amazing animals and preserve their habitats for future generations.

Garreth

Hi, I’m Garreth. Living in South Africa I’ve had the pleasure of seeing most of these animals up close and personal. When I was younger I always wanted to be a game ranger but unfortunately, life happens and now at least I get to write about them and tell you my experiences.