Examples of birds with green feathers include the American purple gallinule, anna’s hummingbird, Asian green bee-eater, budgerigar, and Carolina parakeet.
When most people think of birds, they think of creatures with colorful feathers. However, there are a number of bird species that have green feathers. While these birds may not be as flashy as their brightly-colored counterparts, they are still beautiful in their own way.
Let’s take a look at some of the most common birds with green feathers.
Examples of Birds with Green Feathers
1. American Purple Gallinule
| Scientific Name | Porphyrio martinicus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | dense freshwater wetlands in the extreme southeastern U.S. and farther south |
The American purple gallinule is a small bird that is found in wetland areas across North and South America. The bird gets its name from its purple plumage, which is accented by its green back and wings.
2. Anna’s Hummingbird
| Scientific Name | Calypte anna |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | mainly in California |
Found in western North America, this is one of the most widespread hummingbird species. The green feathers on its back and head are iridescent, meaning they change color in different lights.
Related Article: Do Anna’s Hummingbird Have Red on Head?
3. Asian Green Bee-Eater
| Scientific Name | Merops orientalis |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Afrotropics, the Palearctic, and the indo-malayan realm |
The Asian green bee-eater is a small bird that is found in parts of Asia and Africa. These birds get their name from their diet, which consists mostly of bees and other insects. The feathers on the Asian green bee-eater’s back are green, while the rest of its body is mostly blue.
4. Budgerigar
| Scientific Name | Melopsittacus undulatus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | through most of Australia’s interior west of the Great Dividing Range |
The budgerigar, also known as the budgie, is a small parrot that is native to Australia. Budgies are one of the most popular pet birds in the world. They are known for their playful personalities and their ability to mimic human speech. Budgies come in a variety of colors, but the green variety is one of the most common.
5. Carolina Parakeet
| Scientific Name | Conuropsis carolinensis |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | southern New York and Wisconsin to the Gulf of Mexico |
The Carolina parakeet was a small, green parrot that was native to the southeastern United States. Unfortunately, this bird is now extinct. The last known Carolina parakeet died in captivity in 1939.
6. Double-eyed Fig Parrot
| Scientific Name | Cyclopsitta diophthalma |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | New Guinea |
The Double-eyed Fig Parrot is a small parrot that is found in the rainforests of South America. The upper part of its body is green, while the lower part is yellow. It has a black beak and two white rings around its eyes.
7. Eclectus Parrot
| Scientific Name | Eclectus roratus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | throughout the rainforests of eastern parts of far north Queensland, the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, and Moluccas |
The Eclectus Parrot is a brightly-colored bird that is native to Australia and New Guinea. These parrots are easily recognizable by their green feathers and red beaks.
8. European Greenfinch
| Scientific Name | Chloris chloris |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | throughout Europe, North Africa, and Southwest Asia |
The European greenfinch is a small songbird that is found throughout Europe and Asia. These birds have greenish-brown plumage with a yellow breast. They are often seen in gardens and parks, where they feed on seeds and insects.
9. Glistening-Green Tanager
| Scientific Name | Chlorochrysa phoenicotis |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Colombia and Ecuador |
The Glistening-Green Tanager is a small bird that is found in the forests of Central and South America. The bird gets its name from its glittering green feathers, which have a metallic sheen.
10. Great Green Macaw
| Scientific Name | Ara ambiguus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Nicaragua, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, and Ecuador |
The great green macaw is a large bird found in the rainforests of Central and South America. These birds have green feathers, with a red patch on their wings. They are also one of the loudest birds in the world, thanks to their raucous calls.
11. Great Tit
| Scientific Name | Parus major |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | across all of Europe except for Iceland and northern Scandinavia, including numerous Mediterranean islands |
The great tit is a member of the tit family. It is found in Eurasia and North Africa. The great tit has a black head, white chin, and greenish-black upper parts. Its wings are black with white bars. The great tit’s tail is black with white edges.
12. Green Broadbill
| Scientific Name | Calyptomena viridis |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | broadleaved evergreen forests of Borneo, Sumatra, and the Malay Peninsula |
The Green Broadbill is a small bird that is found in the forests of Southeast Asia. It has bright green feathers and a black beak.
13. Green Catbird
| Scientific Name | Ailuroedus crassirostris |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Australia |
The green catbird is a small bird that is found in eastern Australia. The bird gets its name from its call, which sounds like a cat meowing. The green catbird has olive-green feathers and a yellow beak.
14. Green Honeycreeper
| Scientific Name | Chlorophanes spiza |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | in the tropical New World from southern Mexico south to Brazil, and on Trinidad |
The Green Honeycreeper is a small bird that is found in Central and South America. These birds are mostly green, with a blue chest and yellow belly. They get their name from their habit of eating honey.
15. Green Jay
| Scientific Name | Cyanocorax yncas |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | west-central Mexico south to the highlands of Guatemala and northern Honduras |
The Green Jay is a colorful bird found in the southern United States and parts of Mexico. It has a green body with blue and yellow wing feathers.
16. Green Kingfisher
| Scientific Name | Chloroceryle americana |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | southern Texas in the United States south through Central and South America to central Argentina |
The Green Kingfisher is a small bird that is found in parts of Africa and Asia. These birds have bright green feathers, with a blue band on their chest. They are often seen near water, where they hunt for fish.
17. Green-Breasted Mango
| Scientific Name | Anthracothorax prevostii |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | widespread in the American tropics and ranges as far north as northeastern Mexico |
The Green-breasted Mango is a tropical bird that is found in Central and South America. This bird gets its name from the green feathers that cover its chest. The rest of its body is covered in yellow, orange, and red feathers.
18. Green-Cheeked Parakeet
| Scientific Name | Pyrrhura molinae |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | west-central and southern Mato Grosso, Brazil, northern and eastern Bolivia, northwestern Argentina, and western Paraguay |
The Green-Cheeked Parakeet is a small parrot that is native to Central and South America. These birds are mostly green, with a splash of color on their cheeks.
19. Guinea Turaco
| Scientific Name | Tauraco persa |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | and Central Africa |
The guinea turaco is a brightly-colored bird found in Africa. The plumage on its back is green, while the rest of its body is covered in red, blue, and yellow feathers. This bird is also known for its long tail and crest.
20. Hawai’i ʻAmakihi
| Scientific Name | Chlorodrepanis virens |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | on the Big Island, Maui, and Molokaʻi in Hawaii |
The Hawai’i ʻAmakihi is a small songbird that is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. This little bird has olive-green plumage and yellowish legs. It is one of the most common forest birds in Hawaii and can be found on all of the major islands.
21. Hummingbirds
| Scientific Name | Trochilidae |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Worldwide |
Hummingbirds are small birds with iridescent feathers. The majority of their feathers are some shade of green, but they may also have other colors, such as blue or red. Hummingbirds are native to the Americas and are known for their ability to fly backward.
22. Lewis’s Woodpecker
| Scientific Name | Melanerpes lewis |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | tropical rainforests |
The Lewis’s woodpecker is a medium-sized bird that is found in the western United States. This bird has a green back and wings, with a white belly. The Lewis’s woodpecker is an excellent flier and is known for its acrobatic abilities.
23. Lovebirds
| Scientific Name | Agapornis |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | the forests and savannas of Sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar |
As their name suggests, lovebirds are small birds that are known for being affectionate towards one another. They are native to Africa and have bright green feathers with a yellowish tint on their belly.
24. Mallard Ducks
| Scientific Name | Anas platyrhynchos |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | almost any body of freshwater across Asia, Europe, and North America |
The mallard is a dabbling duck that is native to North America, Europe, and Asia. The males have glossy green heads and white chests, while the females are brownish-gray with light-colored throats. Mallards are often found in ponds and lakes, and they are known for their distinct quack.
25. Northern Emerald-Toucanet
| Scientific Name | Aulacorhynchus prasinus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | the foothills forests of Central America from Mexico to far-eastern Panama |
The Northern Emerald-Toucanet is a small member of the toucan family. It is found in the forests of Central and South America. The bird has green feathers with black markings. It also has a yellow beak and feet.
26. Northern Lapwing
| Scientific Name | Vanellus vanellus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | parts of the world except for North America |
The northern lapwing is a small wading bird that is found in Europe and Asia. This bird has greenish-brown feathers on its back and wings, with a white belly. The northern lapwing is also known for its long, curved beak.
27. Orange-Winged Amazon
| Scientific Name | Amazona amazonica |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | South America |
The orange-winged amazon is a type of parrot that is native to South America. These birds are mostly green, with a splash of orange on their wings. They are also known for their loud calls, which they use to communicate with each other.
28. Oriental Dollarbird
| Scientific Name | Eurystomus orientalis |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Australia to Japan and India |
The Oriental dollar bird is a species of kingfisher that is found in parts of Asia. The male of the species is almost entirely green, with a dark blue tail and white underparts. The female is similar in coloration, but her plumage is not as vibrant.
29. Pacific Parrotlet
| Scientific Name | Forpus coelestis |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | the Pacific coast of Ecuador and northwestern Peru |
The Pacific parrotlet is a small parrot that is native to the coasts of Peru and Chile. These birds are mostly green, with a few yellow and blue feathers mixed in. They are one of the smallest parrot species, and they are also some of the loudest.
30. Puerto Rican Tody
| Scientific Name | Todus mexicanus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | the main island of Puerto Rico |
The Puerto Rican tody is a small, brightly-colored bird found in the forests of Puerto Rico. The male tody has green upperparts and yellow underparts, while the female has green upperparts with white spots. These birds are insectivores, and they use their long beaks to catch insects in flight.
More Examples of Birds with Green Feathers
- Rainbow Bee-Eater
- Red-Crowned Amazon
- Resplendent Quetzal
- Rose-Ringed Parakeet
- Rosy-Faced Lovebird
- Superb Fruit-Dove
- Turaco
- Violet-Green Swallow
- White-Eyed Parakeet
- White-Winged Parakeet
Conclusion
Birds with green feathers can be found all over the world. These birds get their color from a variety of sources, including diet, location, and genetics. While there are many different types of green-feathered birds, they all share one thing in common they all have green feathers.
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.