Some animals have names that begin with the letter H, like horse, hummingbird, and hyena. In this post, you’ll learn new animal words and build your vocabulary with a list of creatures that all start with H. These words are helpful when studying animals by alphabet in class or at home. You’ll find mammals, birds, and insects that make learning English easier. This list makes it simple to identify each animal that starts with H and remember them better in your vocabulary.
List of Animals Starting with H with Pictures
Below is a categorized list of animals that start with the letter H.
- Haddock
- Hammerhead Shark
- Hamster
- Hare
- Harrier
- Hawk
- Hedgehog
- Hermit Crab
- Heron
- Herring
- Hippopotamus
- Honey Badger
- Hornet
- Horse
- Hummingbird
- Humpback Whale
- Hyena

Pets and Farm Animals That Start with H
These animals can live with people or on farms.
Hamster
A small pet with big cheeks. It loves to run and dig in its cage.
Horse
A large farm animal. People ride it or use it for work.
Hedgehog
A tiny animal with sharp spines. Some people keep it as a pet.
Wild Animals That Start with H
These animals live in forests, deserts, or open land.
Hare
Looks like a rabbit with long legs. It can run very fast.
Hyena
A wild animal that makes laughing sounds and eats meat.
Honey Badger
A brave animal that eats many things and lives in wild areas.
Hippopotamus
A huge animal with a big mouth, often seen near rivers.
Sea and Water Animals That Start with H
These animals live in the ocean, rivers, or lakes.
Haddock
A sea fish that people eat. It has soft, white meat.
Hammerhead Shark
A shark with a hammer-shaped head that swims in warm seas.
Hermit Crab
A crab that lives in an empty shell for protection.
Heron
A tall bird with long legs that catches fish in water.
Herring
A small fish that swims in large groups in the ocean.
Humpback Whale
A giant whale known for its songs underwater.
Hippopotamus
Also fits here because it loves water and lives near rivers.
Birds That Start with H
These animals have feathers and most of them can fly.
Harrier
A bird that hunts by flying low over open land.
Hawk
A strong bird with sharp eyes that hunts from above.
Heron
A bird with long legs that stands still to catch fish.
Hummingbird
A tiny bird that sips nectar from flowers. Its wings flap fast.
Insects That Start with H
These are small animals with six legs. Some can sting.
Hornet
A large insect that can sting. It builds paper-like nests.
Interesting Facts About H Animals
Learning with facts adds interest and boosts recall. These details help make picture vocabulary lessons more engaging.
- Hummingbirds flap their wings very fast to stay in the air.
- Horses can sleep while standing without falling over.
- Hammerhead sharks have wide vision to see both sides.
- Hyenas have strong jaws that can crush bones easily.
- Hedgehogs roll into a ball to protect themselves.
FAQs
Horses sleep standing up as a way to stay alert and escape from predators quickly if needed.
Hummingbirds can hover in place and fly backward, thanks to their unique wing structure.
Conclusion
Now we have learned 20+ animal names starting with H in English. These include pets, wild animals, birds, fish, and insects. Learning them helps build strong English vocabulary and better understanding of nature. Try saying the names, drawing the animals, or writing them down to practice every day.
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