What is the difference between el ave and el pajaro?

Question

When do you use el ave as oppose to el pájaro since they both mean bird?

Hi, welcome to the forum! - rac1, Oct 16, 2012

Answer 1

I'd say aves if I were talking about all species of birds, pájaro would be my pet bird, or several birds, but not all birds. I can't think of an ostrich as a pájaro.

LoL..it's hard for me to even think of an ostrich as a bird. - viejito, Oct 16, 2012

Answer 2

“Ave” is an extremely general expression for birds. Ave cantora – singing bird, ave de corral – fowl, ave de paraíso – bird of paradise. These birds have names , but are not zoologically labeled. An "Ave" is every kind of bird...but not one kind in specific.

Pájaro – tends to be birds distinguished zoologically. Pájaro bobo – penguin, pájaro carpintero – woodpecker, pájaro diablo – European coot.

When people refer to “Pájaros” they are refering to birds with specific breedings types...whether they know the birds zoological name or not. There could be countless types. Birds in a flock are of a type.

Espero haberte ayudado - Viejito

I'd say that "pájaros" are smaller birds; big birds or *all* birds would be "aves" - diagonx, Oct 16, 2012

Yes, diagnox. You and I tend to be on the same page. A finch, a swallow, a red bird, are all small birds of specific zoological breeds. A pet bird is often a bird of some type. - viejito, Oct 16, 2012