Birds of ParadiseBirds of Paradise | Art by Marcelo Vignali

Fans of the Bird creature type in Magic: The Gathering got a huge boost when Universes Beyond: Final Fantasy released in June 2025. Before that, Birds were a major typal element of the extremely popular Bloomburrow set from 2024 as well as the typal bonanza that was the Onslaught block from the early 2000s.

Birds were also one of the original creature types, with the iconic Birds of ParadiseBirds of Paradise and the rare 3/3 flyer for (that’s it) Roc of Kher RidgesRoc of Kher Ridges featuring in Alpha, Magic’s first set.

Birds have come a long way since 1993, and especially in 2025 as the influx of Chocobos to Magic has transformed Birds from an afterthought into a typal titan. So let’s take a look at the 20 best Birds for Commander.

Honorable Mentions

• MurmurationMurmuration

• Maha, Its Feathers NightMaha, Its Feathers Night

• Jubilant SkybonderJubilant Skybonder

• MockingbirdMockingbird

• Aven InterrupterAven Interrupter

Top 20 Birds Cards for Commander

20. Judge's FamiliarJudge's Familiar

A 1/1 flyer for Azorius hybrid mana (), this tricky little owlet gives you a DisruptDisrupt on a stick for whenever you really need to win a counterspell war. Also, the flavor text on this card, “It misses nothing and it has no sense of humor,” aptly describes the state of our online society in 2025.

19. Empyrean EagleEmpyrean Eagle

While not technically a Bird “lord” due to the fact that it only affects creatures with flying – which is no longer all Birds, thanks to the debut of Chocobos – this three-mana 2/2 flyer is still a top-flight (get it?) synergy piece alongside most of the other cards on this list, as boosting the power and toughness of all of your flying creatures by +1/+1 is a useful, impactful boon.

18. Dragonhawk, Fate's TempestDragonhawk, Fate's Tempest

Similar to but somehow distinct from the Calamity Beasts found in Bloomburrow lore, this 5/5 flyer for boasts a potent effect that “impulse draws” you cards based on the number of creatures you control with power four or greater.

Then, at end of turn, Dragonhawk deals two damage to each opponent for each card still in exile. Among the best red Bird cards ever.

17. Flurry of WingsFlurry of Wings

Unlike past lists and going forward with this series, I will be including cards that are not technically “kindred” cards but are notably powerful “typal” cards. For example, a card like Flurry of WingsFlurry of Wings from Alara Reborn is not a Bird card by typing. However, it does create loads of 1/1 Birds. Thus, it qualifies for this list.

Do note that this card can be played when one of your foes attacks or you attack – depending on which one nets you more 1/1 flying bodies.

16. Balmor, Battlemage CaptainBalmor, Battlemage Captain

Debuting in 2022’s Dominaria United, Balmor, Battlemage CaptainBalmor, Battlemage Captain is an exceptional Pauper Commander option as it can easily take over a game in a Spellslinger deck.

In a dedicated Birds build, most (if not all) of your creatures will have flying already, but tacking on the eminently important trample keyword means your creatures will almost always deal some damage to foes.

15. Gwaihir the WindlordGwaihir the Windlord

The first actual Bird “lord” found herein, this Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth 4/4 flyer gives all of your Birds vigilance, which is an eminently useful ability for decks that aim to go wide – as most Bird decks do.

While is pretty steep for a 4/4 flyer with upside, if you’ve drawn two cards, you can knock that price down to . Much better.

14. Aven MindcensorAven Mindcensor

An extremely annoying card to play against and, inversely, an eminently satisfying one to play against an opponent, Aven MindcensorAven Mindcensor shuts down any cards that rifle through players’ libraries. That includes oft-played cards such as fetchlands or any tutor card.

While it’s quite fragile as a 2/1 for , the fact that it has flash means that you’ll always be able to at least get one thwarted library search’s worth of value out of it.

13. Watcher of the SpheresWatcher of the Spheres

With an effect similar to the blue talisman Warden of Evos IsleWarden of Evos Isle but for one mana less with extremely impressive upside, Watcher of the SpheresWatcher of the Spheres from Core Set 2021 lowers the cost of all of your flying creature spells by and also boosts your other flying creatures by +1/+1 whenever a flyer enters.

Again, not necessarily a Bird “lord” per se, but still great in (bird pun incoming) dedicated Bird shells.

12. Ishai, Ojutai DragonspeakerIshai, Ojutai Dragonspeaker/Esior, Wardwing FamiliarEsior, Wardwing Familiar

A double whammy, Ishai, Ojutai DragonspeakerIshai, Ojutai Dragonspeaker pairs beautifully with Esior, Wardwing FamiliarEsior, Wardwing Familiar seeing as they can both be commanders simultaneously.

Ishai can grow to obscene heights with supreme swiftness, and Esior protects itself and Ishai by making spells that target them cost a robust more. A nifty combo that’s very effective in more control-oriented Bird decks.

11. Soulcatchers' AerieSoulcatchers' Aerie

This card has seen a drastically increased price point of late (after the release of Final Fantasy, of course) seeing as it was first printed in 2002’s Judgment set and never reprinted save for on The List.

This enchantment can help your Birds grow to massive heights, as if borne upon lofty wings, especially if you’ve just cast a Flurry of WingsFlurry of Wings and a foe fires off a board wipe.

10. Baleful StrixBaleful Strix

A supremely elegant card design, this 1/1 flyer with deathtouch only costs and nets you a card upon it entering. The StrixStrix was originally printed in Planechase 2012 and reprinted myriad times across various Commander products – often with Nils Hamm’s masterful artwork from its original printing.

This card typifies the synergies that Bird decks want to employ: card draw, two notable keywords, and low mana investment. Thus, Baleful Strix represents the platonic ideal of a Bird creature in Magic.

9. Derevi, Empyrial TacticianDerevi, Empyrial Tactician

The commander tax is an integral part of understanding and enjoying the Commander format. This nifty 2/3 Bird Wizard for Bant , however, lives to ensure that you never have to pay that pesky ascending each time your commander bites it.

With DereviDerevi at the helm, you simply have to pay her mana cost plus once she’s back in the command zone, and she flutters directly into play – no questions asked.

Combine her omnipresence with a tricky and frequently pinging triggered ability, and you’ve got an exceptional Bird commander on your hands (or wings, or talons).

8. Tawnos, the ToymakerTawnos, the Toymaker

Perhaps the best non-Bird Bird typal card on this list, Tawnos, the ToymakerTawnos, the Toymaker, a Human Artificer from The Brothers’ War, produces a token artifact copy of any Bird (or Beast) spell you cast.

Tawnos is a notable character from Magic’s past as his name was featured on a number of cards from older sets (Tawnos's WandTawnos's Wand, Tawnos's CoffinTawnos's Coffin, Tawnos's WeaponryTawnos's Weaponry and Candelabra of TawnosCandelabra of Tawnos).

As a 3/5 for with no protection, Tawnos does cost quite a bit, but being able to duplicate any Bird spell you cast is a powerhouse payoff.

7. Zinnia, Valley's VoiceZinnia, Valley's Voice

A terrific Jeskai () Bird option to select as your commander, Zinnia, Valley’s Voice bestows the flavorful – and quite strong – offspring ability to any creature spells in your entire deck.

Being able to duplicate any Bird spell you cast as a 1/1 for a measly seems pretty sweet. Combine Zinnia with Tawnos, the ToymakerTawnos, the Toymaker for some truly bonkers shenanigans, as paying the for offspring once will net you: one standard artifact copy from Tawnos and two 1/1 copies (one of which will be an artifact) via the offspring trigger.

Also, giving offspring to any creature spell you cast can lead to a plethora of fairly easy infinite combos:

6. Choco, Seeker of ParadiseChoco, Seeker of Paradise

Final Fantasy delivered a massive boon to Bird typal fans upon its release, as Chocobos are now a major part of any Bird-related strategy that a Commander player might want to explore. A terrific commander choice for Bird-related shenanigans is Choco, Seeker of ParadiseChoco, Seeker of Paradise.

For only , you get a 3/5 Bird that can rifle through your library at a rapid pace, so long as you’re attacking with a flock of Birds every turn (a Flock of Seagulls, perhaps). Then, you can throw down as many lands as you find via Choco’s attack trigger, and it will get boosted by +1/+0 for each one you put into play.

A great commander and, surely, a pretty Bird.

5. Ledger ShredderLedger Shredder

While Streets of New Capenna might not have been the smash hit that, say, Bloomburrow or Final Fantasy have been for Wizards of the Coast, it did introduce a number of interesting mechanics. One such mechanic was connive, which nets you a loot (draw, then discard) with a bonus +1/+1 counter if you discard a nonland card.

Ledger ShredderLedger Shredder takes the connive keyword and tacks it onto a card that’s tailor-made to dominate a Commander pod, as this birdy will connive every time any player casts their second spell each turn. That includes you or any of your three opponents.

As such, this 1/3 Bird Advisor can grow to immense proportions rather rapidly.

4. Bartz and BokoBartz and Boko

The affinity keyword is almost always a welcome sight on any card. In this case “affinity for Birds” means that this 4/3 legendary duo Human Bird can come down far sooner than its mana cost might indicate.

When playing a stacked board full of beefed-up Birdies, this card can also act as a one-sided board wipe, as your entire field (or sky, I guess) of Birds can Rabid BiteRabid Bite (or peck, or slash) any opponents’ creatures – which can help clear the path for an uninterrupted, The Birds-style attack of a foe.

3. Birds of ParadiseBirds of Paradise

“Bolt the Bird.” It’s a credo as old as Magic itself, as both this venerable one-mana green Bird and the best red burn spell of all timebest red burn spell of all time hail from Magic’s first-ever release, Alpha. And, often, it’s a supremely sound decision, as allowing this pesky 0/1 Bird to tap for any color of mana every turn is usually a bad idea.

Players quickly realized that investing into a mana engine that could help them play their threats more swiftly each turn was a wise choice, and, as such, Birds of Paradise was an auto-include in early Magic decks and remains an oft-played staple today – as its status as our #20 Commander card indicates.

2. Kastral, the WindcrestedKastral, the Windcrested

Among the best options for your commander if you’re playing Birds, though it’s missing the ever-important-to-Birds green color, this Bloomburrow Azorius Bird Scout delivers a sterling 4/5 flying body for alongside a plethora of triggered abilities when one or more Birds you control deal combat damage to a player.

Sadly, you don’t get this trigger upon each Bird damaging your opponent, though this card would obviously be utterly bonkers if that were the case. As it stands, being able to cheat a Bird from your hand or reanimate a Bird from your graveyard, giving a +1/+1 counter to all your Birds, or simply drawing a card during each combat is still a major plus for this top-flight (last time, I promise) Commander option.

1. Traveling ChocoboTraveling Chocobo

Coming in hot after Final Fantasy’s release is this utterly amazing Bird typal card that happens to be Commander’s best Bird ever. For only you get a 3/2 Bird that allows you to look at the top card of your library and play lands and cast Bird spells from up there. Already pretty sweet, right?

Well, it’s Traveling Chocobo’s final paragraph that truly turns it into a powerhouse. Doubling ANY triggered ETB ability from a Bird or land entering means that this Bird is an absolute monster in almost any circumstance. Packing landfall triggers (like ChocoChoco's)? Traveling Chocobo doubles it up. What about doubling up the damage that Bartz and BokoBartz and Boko can create when it enters? Sure thing!

Don’t even get me started on the number of copies that this card plus ZinniaZinnia plus TawnosTawnos can create. Either way, Birds got a major boost when this card debuted, and it will be fun to see what kind of crazy, spicy brews involving this card get cooked up in the coming months.

Fly Away Home

And there we have it. Birds of a feather certainly flock together, and the cards found herein would surely be happy to flap their wings in unison and pound any prowling predators that attempt to pluck them out of the sky. Thanks for reading. “Kweh,” “wark,” “caw,” and “cuckoo” to you and yours.

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