What's the difference between "ave" and "pájaro"?

Question

What's the difference between *el ave* and *el pájaro*?My Spanish class has used them both for the same bird and it really has me confused.Are they the same thing? Or do they have distinct differences?

Answer 1

Habituálmente se utilizan como sinónimos, pero no es correcto, ya que: el grupo más abundante de aves son pájaros... pero no todos. Por ejemplo, avestruz, emú son aves pero no pájaros, ya que no vuelan.

Answer 2

Hi, "ave" and "pajaro" are in fact the same thing. "Ave" is a more formal way to say "pajaro"; it also depends varies from which country is the person, for example in Puerto Rico we say "pajaro" but in other places they say "ave". I hope this helps you understand better!