10 Good Birbs (I’m Birbing Right Now)

If you’re unfamiliar with the internet slang word “birb,” we can best describe it as a term of endearment used to refer to a ridiculously cute bird. Extra points are given for being particularly round, fluffy, or silly. For a more in-depth introduction to birbs, check out this recent Audubon article: When Is a Bird a ‘Birb’? An Extremely Important Guide.
 
We now present 10 good birbs, in no particular order.

1. Fox Sparrow

This is a most quintessential birb: spherical body, giant round eye, and even a bit of fluffy feathering poking out.

2. Savannah Sparrow

All this cake pop of a Savannah Sparrow needs is a lollipop stick attached to its bottom.

3. Black-necked Stilt

The adult Black-necked Stilt is the very essence of elegance in a bird. We didn’t know the juvenile could be so plump and adorable!

4. California Towhee

The California Towhee’s typical shape is already a little rotund; however, this cutie took it to the extreme.

5. Oak Titmouse

The cuteness of this perfectly egg-shaped Oak Titmouse is complemented by its teeny bill and teeny crest.

6. Wilson’s Warbler

Post-bath birds are always extra darling, like this puffy Willy Warbs drying out its feathers. Bonus points for the accentuation of the black toupee!

7. Common Raven

This was a very unexpected birb. We never knew a Common Raven could create this puffball shape and look so silly!

8. Common Tody-Flycatcher

We encountered this tiny Tyrannidae in Costa Rica and were taken with its shish kabob shape.

9. Boat-billed Heron

Though not round and small, the gargantuan bill and eyes of the Boat-billed Heron definitely qualify it as a birb under the Audubon Guide’s Rule 3 “Muppet Exemption.” This might be one of our favorite birds on the planet!

10. Violet-green Swallow

Here’s an alternate photo of the Violet-green Swallow that’s commemorated in I’m Birding Right Now’s logo. From his dark round eye, to his smiling expression, to his perfectly spherical head, to his incredible coloration – we’ve never laid eyes on a cuter birb!

Honorable Mention: The “Always-Birb” Snowy Plover

An homage to birbs wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the birbiest of birds found in our area – the Snowy Plover. Always tiny, soft, and perfectly round – it’s hard to believe a creature so cute exists in the world!