Taxonomy and status
The taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families and species) and nomenclature (common and scientific names) used in this list are those of the AOS, the recognized scientific authority on the taxonomy and nomenclature of North American birds. The AOS's Committee on Classification and Nomenclature, the body responsible for maintaining and updating the Check-list, "strongly and unanimously continues to endorse the biological species concept (BSC), in which species are considered to be genetically cohesive groups of populations that are reproductively isolated from other such groups".
Unless otherwise noted, the species listed here are considered to occur regularly in the United States as permanent residents, summer or winter residents or visitors, or annual migrants. The following tags are used to designate some species:
(A) Accidental - occurrence based on one or two (rarely more) records and unlikely to occur regularly
(C) Casual - occurrence based on two or a few records, with subsequent records not improbable
(E) Extinct - a recent species that no longer exists
(Ex) Extirpated - a species which no longer occurs in the United States, but other populations still exist elsewhere
(I) Introduced - a species established solely as result of direct or indirect human intervention; synonymous with non-native and non-indigenous
(EH) Endemic to Hawaii - a native species found only in Hawaii
(EM) Endemic to the mainland - a native species found only in the 48 contiguous states and their adjacent islands (There are no birds endemic to Alaska)
The (A) and (C) tags correspond to the codes 5 and 4 respectively of the American Birding Association. The (E), (Ex), and (I) tags describe species' status according to the AOS. The (EH) tags follow the AOS list and the (EM) tags are based on the Clements taxonomy.
This list contains 1103 species. Of them, 76 are tagged as accidental, 94 as casual, and 55 as introduced. Thirty-three are known to be extinct and one, the thick-billed parrot, has been extirpated though a population remains in Mexico. Thirty-three living species are endemic to Hawaii and an additional 28 former endemics are known to be extinct. Fourteen species are endemic to the 48 contiguous states.
Ducks, geese, and waterfowl
Order: Anseriformes Family: Anatidae
Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, bills which are flattened to a greater or lesser extent, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to special oils.
Black-bellied whistling-duck, Dendrocygna autumnalis
Fulvous whistling-duck, Dendrocygna bicolor
Taiga bean goose, Anser fabalis
Tundra bean goose, Anser serrirostris
Pink-footed goose, Anser brachyrhynchus (C)
Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons
Lesser white-fronted goose, Anser erythropus (A)
Graylag goose, Anser anser (A)
Emperor goose, Chen canagica
Snow goose, Chen caerulescens
Ross's goose, Chen rossii
Cackling goose, Branta hutchinsii
Canada goose, Branta canadensis
Brant, Branta bernicla
Hawaiian goose, Branta sandvicensis (EH)
Barnacle goose, Branta leucopsis (C)
Mute swan, Cygnus olor (I)
Trumpeter swan, Cygnus buccinator
Tundra swan, Cygnus columbianus
Whooper swan, Cygnus cygnus
Muscovy duck, Cairina moschata
Wood duck, Aix sponsa
Gadwall, Anas strepera
Falcated duck, Anas falcata (C)
Eurasian wigeon, Anas penelope
American wigeon, Anas americana
American black duck, Anas rubripes
Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos
Mottled duck, Anas fulvigula
Eastern spot-billed duck, Anas zonorhyncha (C)
Hawaiian duck, Anas wyvilliana (EH)
Laysan duck, Anas laysanensis (EH)
Blue-winged teal, Anas discors
Cinnamon teal, Anas cyanoptera
Northern shoveler, Anas clypeata
White-cheeked pintail, Anas bahamensis (C)
Northern pintail, Anas acuta
Garganey, Anas querquedula (C)
Baikal teal, Anas formosa (C)
Green-winged teal, Anas crecca
Canvasback, Aythya valisineria
Redhead, Aythya americana
Common pochard, Aythya ferina
Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris
Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula
Greater scaup, Aythya marila
Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis
Steller's eider, Polysticta stelleri
Spectacled eider, Somateria fischeri
King eider, Somateria spectabilis
Common eider, Somateria mollissima
Harlequin duck, Histrionicus histrionicus
Labrador duck, Camptorhynchus labradorius (E)
Surf scoter, Melanitta perspicillata
White-winged scoter, Melanitta fusca
Common scoter, Melanitta nigra (A)
Black scoter, Melanitta americana
Long-tailed duck, Clangula hyemalis
Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola
Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula
Barrow's goldeneye, Bucephala islandica
Smew, Mergellus albellus
Hooded merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus
Common merganser, Mergus merganser
Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator
Masked duck, Nomonyx dominicus
Ruddy duck, Oxyura jamaicensis
Chachalacas, curassows, and guans
Order: Galliformes Family: Cracidae
The chachalacas, guans, and curassows are birds in the family Cracidae. These are large birds, similar in general appearance to turkeys. The guans and curassows live in trees, but the smaller chachalacas are found in more open scrubby habitats. They are generally dull-plumaged, but the curassows and some guans have colorful facial ornaments.
Plain chachalaca, Ortalis vetula
Order: Galliformes Family: Numididae
Helmeted guineafowl, Numida meleagris (I)
Order: Galliformes Family: Odontophoridae
The New World quails are small, plump terrestrial birds only distantly related to the quails of the Old World, but named for their similar appearance and habits.
Mountain quail, Oreortyx pictus
Northern bobwhite, Colinus virginianus
Scaled quail, Callipepla squamata
California quail, Callipepla californica
Gambel's quail, Callipepla gambelii
Montezuma quail, Cyrtonyx montezumae
Pheasants, grouse, and allies
Order: Galliformes Family: Phasianidae
Phasianidae consists of the pheasants and their allies. These are terrestrial species, variable in size but generally plump with broad relatively short wings. Many species are gamebirds or have been domesticated as a food source for humans.
Chukar, Alectoris chukar (I)
Gray francolin, Francolinus pondicerianus (I)
Black francolin, Francolinus francolinus (I)
Erckel's francolin, Pternistis erckelii (I)
Himalayan snowcock, Tetraogallus himalayensis (I)
Gray partridge, Perdix perdix (I)
Japanese quail, Coturnix japonica (I)
Kalij pheasant, Lophura leucomelanos (I)
Ring-necked pheasant, Phasianus colchicus (I)
Common peafowl, Pavo cristatus (I)
Ruffed grouse, Bonasa umbellus
Greater sage-grouse, Centrocercus urophasianus
Gunnison sage-grouse, Centrocercus minimus (EM)
Willow ptarmigan, Lagopus lagopus
Rock ptarmigan, Lagopus mutus
White-tailed ptarmigan, Lagopus leucurus
Spruce grouse, Falcipennis canadensis
Dusky grouse, Dendragapus obscurus
Sooty grouse, Dendragapus fuliginosus
Sharp-tailed grouse, Tympanuchus phasianellus
Greater prairie-chicken, Tympanuchus cupido (EM) (Ex from former range in Canada)
Lesser prairie-chicken, Tympanuchus pallidicinctus (EM)
Wild turkey, Meleagris gallopavo
Order: Phoenicopteriformes Family: Phoenicopteridae
Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually 3 to 5 feet (0.9 to 1.5 m) tall, found in both the Western and Eastern Hemispheres. Flamingos filter-feed on shellfish and algae. Their oddly shaped beaks are specially adapted to separate mud and silt from the food they consume and, uniquely, are used upside-down.
American flamingo, Phoenicopterus ruber
Order: Podicipediformes Family: Podicipedidae
Grebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land.
Least grebe, Tachybaptus dominicus
Pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps
Horned grebe, Podiceps auritus
Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena
Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis
Western grebe, Aechmorphorus occidentalis
Clark's grebe, Aechmorphorus clarkii
Sandgrouse
Order: Pteroclidiformes Family: Pteroclididae
Sandgrouse have small pigeon-like heads and necks, but sturdy compact bodies. They have long pointed wings and sometimes tails and a fast direct flight. Their legs are feathered down to the toes.
Chestnut-bellied sandgrouse, Pterocles exustus (I)
Pigeons and doves
Order: Columbiformes Family: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere. They feed on seeds, fruit, and plants. Unlike most other birds, the doves and pigeons produce "crop milk," which is secreted by a sloughing of fluid-filled cells from the lining of the crop. Both sexes produce this highly nutritious substance to feed to the young.
Rock pigeon, Columba livia (I)
Scaly-naped pigeon, Patagioenas squamosa (A)
White-crowned pigeon, Patagioenas leucocephala
Red-billed pigeon, Patagioenas flavirostris
Band-tailed pigeon, Patagioenas fasciata
Oriental turtle-dove, Streptopelia orientalis (C)
European turtle-dove, Streptopelia turtur (A)
Eurasian collared-dove, Streptopelia decaocto (I)
Spotted dove, Spilopelia chinensis (I)
Zebra dove, Geopelia striata (I)
Passenger pigeon, Ectopistes migratorius (E)
Inca dove, Columbina inca
Common ground-dove, Columbina passerina
Ruddy ground-dove, Columbina talpacoti
Ruddy quail-dove, Geotrygon montana (A)
Key West quail-dove, Geotrygon chrysia (C)
White-tipped dove, Leptotila verreauxi
White-winged dove, Zenaida asiatica
Zenaida dove, Zenaida aurita (A)
Mourning dove, Zenaida macroura
Order: Cuculiformes Family: Cuculidae
The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners, and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails, and strong legs.
Common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus
Oriental cuckoo, Cuculus optatus (C)
Yellow-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus
Mangrove cuckoo, Coccyzus minor
Black-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus erythropthalmus
Greater roadrunner, Geococcyx californianus
Smooth-billed ani, Crotophaga ani
Groove-billed ani, Crotophaga sulcirostris
Nightjars and allies
Order: Caprimulgiformes Family: Caprimulgidae
Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds that usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs, and very short bills. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is cryptically colored to resemble bark or leaves.
Lesser nighthawk, Chordeiles acutipennis
Common nighthawk, Chordeiles minor
Antillean nighthawk, Chordeiles gundlachii
Common pauraque, Nyctidromus albicollis
Common poorwill, Phalaenoptilus nuttallii
Chuck-will's-widow, Antrostomus carolinensis
Buff-collared nightjar, Antrostomus ridgwayi
Eastern whip-poor-will, Antrostomus vociferus
Mexican whip-poor-will, Antrostomus arizonae
Gray nightjar, Caprimulgus jotaka (A)
Order: Apodiformes Family: Apodidae
The swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang.
Black swift, Cypseloides niger
White-collared swift, Streptoprocne zonaris (C)
Chimney swift, Chaetura pelagica
Vaux's swift, Chaetura vauxi
White-throated needletail Hirundapus caudacutus (A)
Mariana swiftlet, Aerodramus bartschi (I)
Common swift, Apus apus (A)
Fork-tailed swift, Apus pacificus (C)
White-throated swift, Aeronautes saxatalis
Antillean palm-swift, Tachornis phoenicobia (A)
Order: Apodiformes Family: Trochilidae
Hummingbirds are small birds capable of hovering in mid-air due to the rapid flapping of their wings. They are the only birds that can fly backwards.
Mexican violetear, Colibri thalassinus
Green-breasted mango, Anthracothorax prevostii (C)
Magnificent hummingbird, Eugenes fulgens
Plain-capped starthroat, Heliomaster constantii (C)
Blue-throated hummingbird, Lampornis clemenciae
Bahama woodstar, Calliphlox evelynae (A)
Lucifer hummingbird, Calothorax lucifer
Ruby-throated hummingbird, Archilochus colubris
Black-chinned hummingbird, Archilochus alexandri
Anna's hummingbird, Calypte anna
Costa's hummingbird, Calypte costae
Bumblebee hummingbird, Atthis heloisa (A)
Broad-tailed hummingbird, Selasphorus platycercus
Rufous hummingbird, Selasphorus rufus
Allen's hummingbird, Selasphorus sasin
Calliope hummingbird, Selasphorus calliope
Broad-billed hummingbird, Cynanthus latirostris
Berylline hummingbird, Amazilia beryllina
Buff-bellied hummingbird, Amazilia yucatanensis
Cinnamon hummingbird, Amazilia rutila (A)
Violet-crowned hummingbird, Amazilia violiceps
White-eared hummingbird, Hylocharis leucotis
Xantus's hummingbird, Hylocharis xantusii (A)
Rails, gallinules, and coots
Order: Gruiformes Family: Rallidae
Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots, and gallinules. The most typical family members occupy dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps, or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and to be weak fliers.
Yellow rail, Coturnicops noveboracensis
Black rail, Laterallus jamaicensis
Corn crake, Crex crex (C)
Ridgway's rail, Rallus obsoletus
Clapper rail, Rallus crepitans
King rail, Rallus elegans
Virginia rail, Rallus limicola
Rufous-necked wood-rail, Aramides axillaris (A)
Sora, Porzana carolina
Laysan rail, Zapornia palmeri (EH) (E)
Hawaiian rail, Zapornia sandwichensis (EH) (E)
Paint-billed crake, Neocrex erythrops (A)
Spotted rail, Pardirallus maculatus (A)
Purple gallinule, Porphyrio martinicus
Common gallinule, Gallinula galeata
Common moorhen, Gallinula chloropus (A)
Eurasian coot, Fulica atra (A)
Hawaiian coot, Fulica alai (EH)
American coot, Fulica americana
Order: Gruiformes Family: Heliornithidae
Sungrebe, Heliornis fulica (A)
Order: Gruiformes Family: Aramidae
The limpkin is an odd bird that looks like a large rail, but is skeletally closer to the cranes. It is found in marshes with some trees or scrub in the Caribbean, South America, and southern Florida.
Limpkin, Aramus guarauna
Order: Gruiformes Family: Gruidae
Cranes are large, long-legged, and long-necked birds. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back. Most have elaborate and noisy courting displays or "dances".
Sandhill crane, Antigone canadensis
Common crane, Grus grus (C)
Whooping crane, Grus americana
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Burhinidae
The thick-knees are a group of largely tropical waders in the family Burhinidae. They are found worldwide within the tropical zone, with some species also breeding in temperate Europe and Australia. They are medium to large waders with strong black or yellow-black bills, large yellow eyes, and cryptic plumage. Despite being classed as waders, most species have a preference for arid or semi-arid habitats.
Double-striped thick-knee, Burhinus bistriatus (A)
Stilts and avocets
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Recurvirostridae
Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds, which includes the avocets and stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills.
Black-winged stilt, Himantopus himantopus (A)
Black-necked stilt, Himantopus mexicanus
American avocet, Recurvirostra americana
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Haematopodidae
The oystercatchers are large, obvious, and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prying open molluscs.
Eurasian oystercatcher, Haematopus ostralegus (A)
American oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus
Black oystercatcher, Haematopus bachmani
Plovers and lapwings
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Charadriidae
The family Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels, and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short thick necks, and long, usually pointed, wings. They are found in open country worldwide, mostly in habitats near water.
Northern lapwing, Vanellus vanellus (C)
Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola
European golden-plover, Pluvialis apricaria (C)
American golden-plover, Pluvialis dominica
Pacific golden-plover, Pluvialis fulva
Lesser sand-plover, Charadrius mongolus
Greater sand-plover, Charadrius leschenaultii (A)
Collared plover, Charadrius collaris (A)
Snowy plover, Charadrius nivosus
Wilson's plover, Charadrius wilsonia
Common ringed plover, Charadrius hiaticula
Semipalmated plover, Charadrius semipalmatus
Piping plover, Charadrius melodus
Little ringed plover, Charadrius dubius (A)
Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus
Mountain plover, Charadrius montanus
Eurasian dotterel, Charadrius morinellus (C)
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Jacanidae
The jacanas are a family of waders found worldwide within the tropical zone. They are identifiable by their huge feet and claws which enable them to walk on floating vegetation in the shallow lakes that are their preferred habitat.
Northern jacana, Jacana spinosa (C)
Sandpipers and allies
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Scolopacidae
Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers, and phalaropes. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Different lengths of legs and bills enable multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food.
Upland sandpiper, Bartramia longicauda
Little curlew, Numenius minutus (A)
Eskimo curlew, Numenius borealis (E?)
Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus
Bristle-thighed curlew, Numenius tahitiensis
Far Eastern curlew, Numenius madagascariensis (C)
Slender-billed curlew, Numenius tenuirostris (A per AOS; "cannot be found" per ABA)
Eurasian curlew, Numenius arquata (C)
Long-billed curlew, Numenius americanus
Black-tailed godwit, Limosa limosa
Hudsonian godwit, Limosa haemastica
Bar-tailed godwit, Limosa lapponica
Marbled godwit, Limosa fedoa
Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres
Black turnstone, Arenaria melanocephala
Great knot, Calidris tenuirostris (C)
Red knot, Calidris canutus
Surfbird, Calidris virgata
Ruff, Calidris pugnax
Broad-billed sandpiper, Calidris falcinellus (C)
Sharp-tailed sandpiper, Calidris acuminata
Stilt sandpiper, Calidris himantopus
Curlew sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea
Temminck's stint, Calidris temminckii
Long-toed stint, Calidris subminuta
Spoon-billed sandpiper, Calidris pygmeus (C)
Red-necked stint, Calidris ruficollis
Sanderling, Calidris alba
Dunlin, Calidris alpina
Rock sandpiper, Calidris ptilocnemis
Purple sandpiper, Calidris maritima
Baird's sandpiper, Calidris bairdii
Little stint, Calidris minuta (C)
Least sandpiper, Calidris minutilla
White-rumped sandpiper, Calidris fuscicollis
Buff-breasted sandpiper, Calidris subruficollis
Pectoral sandpiper, Calidris melanotos
Semipalmated sandpiper, Calidris pusilla
Western sandpiper, Calidris mauri
Short-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus griseus
Long-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus scolopaceus
Jack snipe, Lymnocryptes minimus (C)
Wilson's snipe, Gallinago delicata
Common snipe, Gallinago gallinago
Pin-tailed snipe, Gallinago stenura (A)
Solitary snipe, Gallinago solitaria (A)
Eurasian woodcock, Scolopax rusticola (A)
American woodcock, Scolopax minor
Terek sandpiper, Xenus cinereus
Common sandpiper, Actitis hypoleucos
Spotted sandpiper, Actitis macularia
Green sandpiper, Tringa ochropus (C)
Solitary sandpiper, Tringa solitaria
Gray-tailed tattler, Tringa brevipes
Wandering tattler, Tringa incana
Spotted redshank, Tringa erythropus (C)
Greater yellowlegs, Tringa melanoleuca
Common greenshank, Tringa nebularia
Willet, Tringa semipalmata
Lesser yellowlegs, Tringa flavipes
Marsh sandpiper, Tringa stagnatilis (A)
Wood sandpiper, Tringa glareola
Common redshank, Tringa totanus (A)
Wilson's phalarope, Phalaropus tricolor
Red-necked phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus
Red phalarope, Phalaropus fulicarius
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Glareolidae
The pratincoles have short legs, very long pointed wings, and long forked tails. Their most unusual feature for birds classed as waders is that they typically hunt their insect prey on the wing like swallows, although they can also feed on the ground. Their short bills are an adaptation to aerial feeding. Their flight is fast and graceful like that of a swallow or a tern, with many twists and turns to pursue their prey.
Oriental pratincole, Glareola maldivarum (A)
Skuas and jaegers
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Stercorariidae
Skuas are in general medium to large birds, typically with gray or brown plumage, often with white markings on the wings. They have longish bills with hooked tips and webbed feet with sharp claws. They look like large dark gulls, but have a fleshy cere above the upper mandible. They are strong, acrobatic fliers.
Great skua, Stercorarius skua
South polar skua, Stercorarius maccormicki
Pomarine jaeger, Stercorarius pomarinus
Parasitic jaeger, Stercorarius parasiticus
Long-tailed jaeger, Stercorarius longicaudus
Auks, murres, and puffins
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Alcidae
Alcids are superficially similar to penguins due to their black-and-white colors, their upright posture, and some of their habits. However, they are only distantly related to the penguins and are able to fly. Auks live on the open sea, only deliberately coming ashore to nest.
Dovekie, Alle alle
Common murre, Uria aalge
Thick-billed murre, Uria lomvia
Razorbill, Alca torda
Great auk, Pinguinus impennis (E)
Black guillemot, Cepphus grylle
Pigeon guillemot, Cepphus columba
Long-billed murrelet, Brachyramphus perdix
Marbled murrelet, Brachyramphus marmoratus
Kittlitz's murrelet, Brachyramphus brevirostris
Scripps's murrelet, Synthliboramphus scrippsi
Guadalupe murrelet, Synthliboramphus hypoleucus
Craveri's murrelet, Synthliboramphus craveri
Ancient murrelet, Synthliboramphus antiquus
Cassin's auklet, Ptychoramphus aleuticus
Parakeet auklet, Aethia psittacula
Least auklet, Aethia pusilla
Whiskered auklet, Aethia pygmaea
Crested auklet, Aethia cristatella
Rhinoceros auklet, Cerorhinca monocerata
Atlantic puffin, Fratercula arctica
Horned puffin, Fratercula corniculata
Tufted puffin, Fratercula cirrhata
Gulls, terns, and skimmers
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Laridae
Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds and includes gulls, terns, kittiwakes, and skimmers. They are typically gray or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet.
Swallow-tailed gull, Creagrus furcatus (A)
Black-legged kittiwake, Rissa tridactyla
Red-legged kittiwake, Rissa brevirostris
Ivory gull, Pagophila eburnea
Sabine's gull, Xema sabini
Bonaparte's gull, Chroicocephalus philadelphia
Gray-hooded gull, Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus (A)
Black-headed gull, Chroicocephalus ridibundus
Little gull, Hydrocoleus minutus
Ross's gull, Rhodostethia rosea
Laughing gull, Leucophaeus atricilla
Franklin's gull, Leucophaeus pipixcan
Belcher's gull, Larus belcheri (A)
Black-tailed gull, Larus crassirostris (C)
Heermann's gull, Larus heermanni
Mew gull, Larus canus
Ring-billed gull, Larus delawarensis
Western gull, Larus occidentalis
Yellow-footed gull, Larus livens
California gull, Larus californicus
Herring gull, Larus argentatus
Yellow-legged gull, Larus cachinnans (C)
Thayer's gull, Larus thayeri
Iceland gull, Larus glaucoides
Lesser black-backed gull, Larus fuscus
Slaty-backed gull, Larus schistisagus
Glaucous-winged gull, Larus glaucescens
Glaucous gull, Larus hyperboreus
Great black-backed gull, Larus marinus
Kelp gull, Larus dominicanus (C)
Brown noddy, Anous stolidus
Black noddy, Anous minutus
Blue-gray noddy, Procelsterna cerulea
White tern, Gygis alba
Sooty tern, Onychoprion fuscatus
Bridled tern, Onychoprion anaethetus
Aleutian tern, Onychoprion aleuticus
Least tern, Sternula antillarum
Large-billed tern, Phaetusa simplex (A)
Gull-billed tern, Gelochelidon nilotica
Caspian tern, Hydroprogne caspia
Black tern, Chlidonias niger
White-winged tern, Chlidonias leucopterus (C)
Whiskered tern, Chlidonias hybrida (A)
Roseate tern, Sterna dougallii
Common tern, Sterna hirundo
Arctic tern, Sterna paradisaea
Forster's tern, Sterna forsteri
Royal tern, Thalasseus maximus
Sandwich tern, Thalasseus sandvicensis
Elegant tern, Thalasseus elegans
Black skimmer, Rynchops niger
Order: Phaethontiformes Family: Phaethontidae
Tropicbirds are slender white birds of tropical oceans, with exceptionally long central tail feathers. Their long wings have black markings, as does the head.
White-tailed tropicbird, Phaethon lepturus
Red-billed tropicbird, Phaethon aethereus
Red-tailed tropicbird, Phaethon rubricauda (C)
Order: Gaviiformes Family: Gaviidae
Loons are aquatic birds, the size of a large duck, to which they are unrelated. Their plumage is largely gray or black, and they have spear-shaped bills. Loons swim well and fly adequately, but are almost hopeless on land, because their legs are placed towards the rear of the body.
Red-throated loon, Gavia stellata
Arctic loon, Gavia arctica
Pacific loon, Gavia pacifica
Common loon, Gavia immer
Yellow-billed loon, Gavia adamsii
Order: Procellariiformes Family: Diomedeidae
The albatrosses are among the largest of flying birds, and the great albatrosses of the genus Diomedea have the largest wingspans of any extant birds.
Yellow-nosed albatross, Thalassarche chlororhynchos (C)
White-capped albatross, Thalassarche cauta (C)
Salvin's albatross, Thalassarche salvini (A)
Black-browed albatross, Thalassarche melanophris (A)
Light-mantled albatross, Phoebetria palpebrata (A)
Wandering albatross, Diomedea exulans (A)
Laysan albatross, Phoebastria immutabilis
Black-footed albatross, Phoebastria nigripes
Short-tailed albatross, Phoebastria albatrus
Shearwaters and petrels
Order: Procellariiformes Family: Procellariidae
The procellariids are the main group of medium-sized "true petrels", characterized by united nostrils with medium septum and a long outer functional primary.
Northern fulmar, Fulmarus glacialis
Great-winged petrel, Pterodroma macroptera (A)
Providence petrel, Pterodroma solandri (C)
Kermadec petrel, Pterodroma neglecta
Trindade petrel, Pterodroma arminjoniana
Herald petrel, Pterodroma heraldica
Murphy's petrel, Pterodroma ultima
Mottled petrel, Pterodroma inexpectata
Bermuda petrel, Pterodroma cahow
Black-capped petrel, Pterodroma hasitata
Juan Fernandez petrel, Pterodroma externa
Hawaiian petrel, Pterodroma sandwichensis
White-necked petrel, Pterodroma cervicalis
Bonin petrel, Pterodroma hypoleuca
Black-winged petrel, Pterodroma nigripennis
"Dark-rumped" petrel Pterodroma phaeopygia/sandwichensis complex
Fea's petrel, Pterodroma feae
Zino's petrel, Pterodroma madeira (A)
Cook's petrel, Pterodroma cookii
Stejneger's petrel, Pterodroma longirostris (C)
Bulwer's petrel, Bulweria bulwerii (A)
Jouanin's petrel, Bulweria fallax (A)
White-chinned petrel, Procellaria aequinoctialis (A)
Parkinson's petrel, Procellaria parkinsoni (A)
Streaked shearwater, Calonectris leucomelas (C)
Cory's shearwater, Calonectris diomedea
Cape Verde shearwater, Calonectris edwardsii (A)
Wedge-tailed shearwater, Ardenna pacificus (C)
Buller's shearwater, Ardenna bulleri
Short-tailed shearwater, Ardenna tenuirostris
Sooty shearwater, Ardenna griseus
Great shearwater, Ardenna gravis
Pink-footed shearwater, Ardenna creatopus
Flesh-footed shearwater, Ardenna carneipes
Christmas shearwater, Puffinus nativitatis
Manx shearwater, Puffinus puffinus
Townsend's shearwater, Puffinus auricularis
Newell's shearwater, Puffinus auricularis (A)
Bryan's shearwater, Puffinus bryani
Black-vented shearwater, Puffinus opisthomelas
Audubon's shearwater, Puffinus lherminieri
Barolo shearwater, Puffinus baroli (A)
Order: Procellariiformes Family: Hydrobatidae
The storm-petrels are the smallest seabirds, relatives of the petrels, feeding on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. The flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like.
Wilson's storm-petrel, Oceanites oceanicus
White-faced storm-petrel, Pelagodroma marina
European storm-petrel, Hydrobates pelagicus (C)
Black-bellied storm-petrel, Fregetta tropica(A)
Fork-tailed storm-petrel, Oceanodroma furcata
Ringed storm-petrel, Oceanodroma hornbyi (A)
Swinhoe's storm-petrel, Oceanodroma monorhis (A)
Leach's storm-petrel, Oceanodroma leucorhoa
Ashy storm-petrel, Oceanodroma homochroa
Band-rumped storm-petrel, Oceanodroma castro
Wedge-rumped storm-petrel, Oceanodroma tethys (C)
Black storm-petrel, Oceanodroma melania
Tristram's storm-petrel, Oceanodroma tristrami (A)
Least storm-petrel, Oceanodroma microsoma
Order: Ciconiiformes Family: Ciconiidae
Storks are large, heavy, long-legged, long-necked wading birds with long stout bills and wide wingspans. They lack the powder down that other wading birds such as herons, spoonbills, and ibises use to clean off fish slime. Storks lack a pharynx and are mute.
Jabiru, Jabiru mycteria (C)
Wood stork, Mycteria americana
Order: Suliformes Family: Fregatidae
Frigatebirds are large seabirds usually found over tropical oceans. They are large, black or black-and-white, with long wings and deeply forked tails. The males have colored inflatable throat pouches. They do not swim or walk and cannot take off from a flat surface. Having the largest wingspan-to-body-weight ratio of any bird, they are essentially aerial, able to stay aloft for more than a week.
Magnificent frigatebird, Fregata magnificens
Great frigatebird, Fregata minor (A)
Lesser frigatebird, Fregata ariel (A)
Boobies and gannets
Order: Suliformes Family: Sulidae
The sulids comprise the gannets and boobies. Both groups are medium-large coastal seabirds that plunge-dive for fish.
Masked booby, Sula dactylatra
Blue-footed booby, Sula nebouxii (C)
Brown booby, Sula leucogaster
Red-footed booby, Sula sula (C)
Northern gannet, Morus bassanus
Order: Suliformes Family: Phalacrocoracidae
Cormorants are medium-to-large aquatic birds, usually with mainly dark plumage and areas of colored skin on the face. The bill is long, thin, and sharply hooked. Their feet are four-toed and webbed, a distinguishing feature among the Pelecaniformes order.
Brandt's cormorant, Phalacrocorax penicillatus
Neotropic cormorant, Phalacrocorax brasilianus
Double-crested cormorant, Phalacrocorax auritus
Great cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo
Red-faced cormorant, Phalacrocorax urile
Pelagic cormorant, Phalacrocorax pelagicus
Order: Suliformes Family: Anhingidae
Anhingas are cormorant-like water birds with very long necks and long straight beaks. They are fish eaters which often swim with only their neck above the water.
Anhinga, Anhinga anhinga
Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Pelecanidae
Pelicans are very large water birds with a distinctive pouch under their beak. Like other birds in the order Pelecaniformes, they have four webbed toes.
American white pelican, Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
Brown pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis
Herons, egrets, and bitterns
Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Ardeidae
The family Ardeidae contains the herons, egrets, and bitterns. Herons and egrets are medium to large wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter necked and more secretive. Members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted, unlike other long-necked birds such as storks, ibises, and spoonbills.
American bittern, Botaurus lentiginosus
Yellow bittern, Ixobrychus sinensis (A)
Least bittern, Ixobrychus exilis
Bare-throated tiger-heron, Tigrisoma mexicanum (A)
Great blue heron, Ardea herodias
Gray heron, Ardea cinerea (A)
Great egret, Ardea alba
Intermediate egret, Mesophoyx intermedia (A)
Chinese egret, Egretta eulophotes (A)
Little egret, Egretta garzetta (C)
Western reef-heron, Egretta gularis (A)
Snowy egret, Egretta thula
Little blue heron, Egretta caerulea
Tricolored heron, Egretta tricolor
Reddish egret, Egretta rufescens
Cattle egret, Bubulcus ibis
Chinese pond-heron, Ardeola bacchus (A)
Green heron, Butorides virescens
Black-crowned night-heron, Nycticorax nycticorax
Yellow-crowned night-heron, Nyctanassa violacea
Ibises and spoonbills
Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Threskiornithidae
The family Threskiornithidae includes the ibises and spoonbills. They have long, broad wings. Their bodies tend to be elongated, the neck more so, with rather long legs. The bill is also long, decurved in the case of the ibises, straight and distinctively flattened in the spoonbills.
White ibis, Eudocimus albus
Scarlet ibis, Eudocimus ruber (A)
Glossy ibis, Plegadis falcinellus
White-faced ibis, Plegadis chihi
Roseate spoonbill, Ajaia ajaja
Order: Cathartiformes Family: Cathartidae
The New World vultures are not closely related to Old World vultures, but superficially resemble them because of convergent evolution. Like the Old World vultures, they are scavengers. However, unlike Old World vultures, which find carcasses by sight, New World vultures have a good sense of smell with which they locate carcasses.
Black vulture, Coragyps atratus
Turkey vulture, Cathartes aura
California condor, Gymnogyps californianus (Ex, but reestablishment is in progress)
Order: Accipitriformes Family: Pandionidae
Pandionidae is a monotypic family of fish-eating birds of prey. Its single species possesses a very large and powerful hooked beak, strong legs, strong talons, and keen eyesight.
Osprey, Pandion haliaetus
Hawks, kites, and eagles
Order: Accipitriformes Family: Accipitridae
Accipitridae is a family of birds of prey which includes hawks, eagles, kites, harriers, and Old World vultures. These birds have very large powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons, and keen eyesight.
Hook-billed kite, Chondrohierax uncinatus
Swallow-tailed kite, Elanoides forficatus
White-tailed kite, Elanus leucurus
Snail kite, Rostrhamus sociabilis
Double-toothed kite, Harpagus bidentatus (A)
Mississippi kite, Ictinia mississippiensis
Black kite, Milvus migrans (A in Hawaii per the AOS)
Bald eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus
White-tailed eagle, Haliaeetus albicilla (C)
Steller's sea-eagle, Haliaeetus pelagicus (C)
Northern harrier, Circus cyaneus
Chinese sparrowhawk, Accipiter soloensis (A in Hawaii per the AOS)
Sharp-shinned hawk, Accipiter striatus
Cooper's hawk, Accipiter cooperii
Northern goshawk, Accipiter gentilis
Crane hawk, Geranospiza caerulescens (A)
Common black hawk, Buteogallus anthracinus
Roadside hawk, Rupornis magnirostris (C)
Harris's hawk, Parabuteo unicinctus
White-tailed hawk, Buteo albicaudatus
Gray hawk, Buteo plagiatus
Red-shouldered hawk, Buteo lineatus
Broad-winged hawk, Buteo platypterus
Hawaiian hawk, Buteo solitarius (EH)
Short-tailed hawk, Buteo brachyurus
Swainson's hawk, Buteo swainsoni
Zone-tailed hawk, Buteo albonotatus
Red-tailed hawk, Buteo jamaicensis
Rough-legged hawk, Buteo lagopus
Ferruginous hawk, Buteo regalis
Golden eagle, Aquila chrysaetos
Order: Strigiformes Family: Tytonidae
Owls in the family Tytonidae are medium to large owls, with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. There are about 18 species in Tytonidae, including barn-owls, bay-owls, and masked-owls.
Barn owl, Tyto Alba
Order: Strigiformes Family: Strigidae
Typical or "true" owls are small to large solitary nocturnal birds of prey. They have large forward-facing eyes and ears, a hawk-like beak, and a conspicuous circle of feathers around each eye called a facial disk.
Oriental scops-owl, Otus sunia (A)
Flammulated owl, Psiloscops flammeolus
Western screech-owl, Megascops kennicottii
Eastern screech-owl, Megascops asio
Whiskered screech-owl, Megascops trichopsis
Great horned owl, Bubo virginianus
Snowy owl, Bubo scandiacus
Northern hawk owl, Surnia ulula
Northern pygmy-owl, Glaucidium gnoma
Ferruginous pygmy-owl, Glaucidium brasilianum
Elf owl, Micrathene whitneyi
Burrowing owl, Athene cunicularia
Mottled owl, Ciccaba virgata (A)
Spotted owl, Strix occidentalis
Barred owl, Strix varia
Great gray owl, Strix nebulosa
Long-eared owl, Asio otus
Stygian owl, Asio stygius (A)
Short-eared owl, Asio flammeus
Boreal owl, Aegolius funereus
Northern saw-whet owl, Aegolius acadicus
Northern boobook, Ninox scutulata (A)
Order: Trogoniformes Family: Trogonidae
Trogons are residents of tropical forests worldwide with the greatest diversity in Central and South America. They feed on insects and fruit, and their broad bills and weak legs reflect their diet and arboreal habits. Although their flight is fast, they are reluctant to fly any distance. Trogons do not migrate. Trogons have soft, often colorful, feathers with distinctive male and female plumage. They nest in holes in trees or termite nests, laying white or pastel-colored eggs.
Elegant trogon, Trogon elegans
Eared quetzal, Euptilotis neoxenus (C)
Order: Upupiformes Family: Upupidae
Hoopoes spend much time on the ground hunting insects and worms. This black, white, and pink bird is quite unmistakable, especially in its erratic flight, which is like that of a giant butterfly. The crest is erectile, but is mostly kept closed. It walks on the ground like a starling. The song is a trisyllabic oop-oop-oop, which gives rise to its English and scientific names.
Eurasian hoopoe, Upupa epops (A)
Order: Coraciiformes Family: Alcedinidae
Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long, pointed bills, short legs, and stubby tails.
Ringed kingfisher, Megaceryle torquata
Belted kingfisher, Megaceryle alcyon
Amazon kingfisher, Chloroceryle amazona (A)
Green kingfisher, Chloroceryle americana
Order: Piciformes Family: Picidae
Woodpeckers are small to medium-sized birds with chisel-like beaks, short legs, stiff tails, and long tongues used for capturing insects. Some species have feet with two toes pointing forward and two backward, while several species have only three toes. Many woodpeckers have the habit of tapping noisily on tree trunks with their beaks.
Eurasian wryneck, Jynx torquilla (A)
Lewis's woodpecker, Melanerpes lewis
Red-headed woodpecker, Melanerpes erythrocephalus
Acorn woodpecker, Melanerpes formicivorus
Gila woodpecker, Melanerpes uropygialis
Golden-fronted woodpecker, Melanerpes aurifrons
Red-bellied woodpecker, Melanerpes carolinus
Williamson's sapsucker, Sphyrapicus thyroideus
Yellow-bellied sapsucker, Sphyrapicus varius
Red-naped sapsucker, Sphyrapicus nuchalis
Red-breasted sapsucker, Sphyrapicus ruber
Great spotted woodpecker, Dendrocopos major (C)
Ladder-backed woodpecker, Picoides scalaris
Nuttall's woodpecker, Picoides nuttallii
Downy woodpecker, Picoides pubescens
Hairy woodpecker, Picoides villosus
Arizona woodpecker, Picoides arizonae
Red-cockaded woodpecker, Picoides borealis (EM)
White-headed woodpecker, Picoides albolarvatus
American three-toed woodpecker, Picoides dorsalis
Black-backed woodpecker, Picoides arcticus
Northern flicker, Colaptes auratus
Gilded flicker, Colaptes chrysoides
Pileated woodpecker, Dryocopus pileatus
Ivory-billed woodpecker, Campephilus principalis (E?)
Falcons and caracaras
Order: Falconiformes Family: Falconidae
Falconidae is a family of diurnal birds of prey, notably the falcons and caracaras. They differ from hawks, eagles, and kites in that they kill with their beaks instead of their talons.
Collared forest-falcon, Micrastur semitorquatus (A)
Crested caracara, Caracara cheriway
Eurasian kestrel, Falco tinnunculus (C)
American kestrel, Falco sparverius
Red-footed falcon, Falco vespertinus (A)
Merlin, Falco columbarius
Eurasian hobby, Falco subbuteo (C)
Aplomado falcon, Falco femoralis
Gyrfalcon, Falco rusticolus
Peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus
Prairie falcon, Falco mexicanus
New World and African parrots
Order: Psittaciformes Family: Psittacidae
Monk parakeet, Myiopsitta monachus (I)
Carolina parakeet, Conuropsis carolinensis (E)
Nanday parakeet, Aratinga nenday (I)
Green parakeet, Psittacara holochlorus
Mitred parakeet, Psittacara mitratus (I)
Thick-billed parrot, Rhynchopsitta pachyrhyncha (Ex)
White-winged parakeet, Brotogeris versicolurus (I)
Red-crowned parrot, Amazona viridigenalis
Order: Psittaciformes Family: Psittaculidae
Rose-ringed parakeet, Psittacula krameri (I)
Rosy-faced lovebird, Agapornis roseicollis (I)
Budgerigar, Melopsittacus undulatus (I)
Order: Passeriformes Family: Tyrannidae
Tyrant flycatchers are Passerine birds which occur throughout North and South America. They superficially resemble the Old World flycatchers, but are more robust and have stronger bills. They do not have the sophisticated vocal capabilities of the songbirds. Most, but not all, are rather plain. As the name implies, most are insectivorous.
Northern beardless-tyrannulet, Camptostoma imberbe
Greenish elaenia, Myiopagis viridicata (A)
White-crested elaenia, Elaenia albiceps (A)
Tufted flycatcher, Mitrephanes phaeocercus (A)
Olive-sided flycatcher, Contopus cooperi
Greater pewee, Contopus pertinax
Western wood-pewee, Contopus sordidulus
Eastern wood-pewee, Contopus virens
Cuban pewee, Contopus caribaeus (A)
Yellow-bellied flycatcher, Empidonax flaviventris
Acadian flycatcher, Empidonax virescens
Alder flycatcher, Empidonax alnorum
Willow flycatcher, Empidonax traillii
Least flycatcher, Empidonax minimus
Hammond's flycatcher, Empidonax hammondii
Gray flycatcher, Empidonax wrightii
Dusky flycatcher, Empidonax oberholseri
Pacific-slope flycatcher, Empidonax difficilis
Cordilleran flycatcher, Empidonax occidentalis
Buff-breasted flycatcher, Empidonax fulvifrons
Black phoebe, Sayornis nigricans
Eastern phoebe, Sayornis phoebe
Say's phoebe, Sayornis saya
Vermilion flycatcher, Pyrocephalus rubinus
Dusky-capped flycatcher, Myiarchus tuberculifer
Ash-throated flycatcher, Myiarchus cinerascens
Nutting's flycatcher, Myiarchus nuttingi (A)
Great crested flycatcher, Myiarchus crinitus
Brown-crested flycatcher, Myiarchus tyrannulus
La Sagra's flycatcher, Myiarchus sagrae
Great kiskadee, Pitangus sulphuratus
Social flycatcher, Myiozetetes similis (A)
Sulphur-bellied flycatcher, Myiodynastes luteiventris
Piratic flycatcher, Legatus leucophaius (C)
Variegated flycatcher, Empidonomus varius (A)
Crowned slaty flycatcher, Empidonomus aurantioatrocristatus (A)
Tropical kingbird, Tyrannus melancholicus
Couch's kingbird, Tyrannus couchii
Cassin's kingbird, Tyrannus vociferans
Thick-billed kingbird, Tyrannus crassirostris
Western kingbird, Tyrannus verticalis
Eastern kingbird, Tyrannus tyrannus
Gray kingbird, Tyrannus dominicensis
Loggerhead kingbird, Tyrannus caudifasciatus (A)
Scissor-tailed flycatcher, Tyrannus forficatus
Fork-tailed flycatcher, Tyrannus savana
Tityras and allies
Order: Passeriformes Family: Tityridae
Tityridae is family of suboscine passerine birds found in forest and woodland in the Neotropics. The approximately 30 species in this family were formerly lumped with the families Pipridae and Cotingidae (see Taxonomy). As yet, no widely accepted common name exists for the family, although Tityras and allies and Tityras, mourners, and allies have been used. They are small to medium-sized birds.
Masked tityra, Tityra semifasciata (A)
Gray-collared becard, Pachyramphus major (A)
Rose-throated becard, Pachyramphus aglaiae
Order: Passeriformes Family: Laniidae
Shrikes are passerine birds known for their habit of catching other birds and small animals and impaling the uneaten portions of their bodies on thorns. A shrike's beak is hooked, like that of a typical bird of prey.
Brown shrike, Lanius cristatus (C)
Loggerhead shrike, Lanius ludovicianus
Northern shrike, Lanius excubitor
Order: Passeriformes Family: Vireonidae
The vireos are a group of small to medium-sized passerine birds restricted to the New World, though a few other species in the family are found in Asia. They are typically greenish in color and resemble wood-warblers apart from their heavier bills.
Black-capped vireo, Vireo atricapilla
White-eyed vireo, Vireo griseus
Thick-billed vireo, Vireo crassirostris (C)
Bell's vireo, Vireo bellii
Gray vireo, Vireo vicinior
Hutton's vireo, Vireo huttoni
Yellow-throated vireo, Vireo flavifrons
Cassin's vireo, Vireo cassinii
Blue-headed vireo, Vireo solitarius
Plumbeous vireo, Vireo plumbeus
Philadelphia vireo, Vireo philadelphicus
Warbling vireo, Vireo gilvus
Red-eyed vireo, Vireo olivaceus
Yellow-green vireo, Vireo flavoviridis
Black-whiskered vireo, Vireo altiloquus
Yucatan vireo, Vireo magister (A)
Jays, crows, magpies, and ravens
Order: Passeriformes Family: Corvidae
The family Corvidae includes crows, ravens, jays, choughs, magpies, treepies, nutcrackers, and ground jays. Corvids are above average in size among the Passeriformes, and some of the larger species show high levels of intelligence.
Gray jay, Perisoreus canadensis
Brown jay, Psilorhinus morio
Green jay, Cyanocorax yncas
Pinyon jay, Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus
Steller's jay, Cyanocitta stelleri
Blue jay, Cyanocitta cristata
Florida scrub-jay, Aphelocoma coerulescens (EM)
Island scrub-jay, Aphelocoma insularis (EM)
California scrub-jay, Aphelocoma californica
Woodhouse's scrub-jay, Aphelocoma woodhouseii
Mexican jay, Aphelocoma wollweberi
Clark's nutcracker, Nucifraga columbiana
Black-billed magpie, Pica hudsonia
Yellow-billed magpie, Pica nuttalli (EM)
Eurasian jackdaw, Corvus monedula (C)
American crow, Corvus brachyrhynchos
Northwestern crow, Corvus caurinus
Tamaulipas crow, Corvus imparatus
Fish crow, Corvus ossifragus
Hawaiian crow, Corvus hawaiiensis (EH)
Chihuahuan raven, Corvus cryptoleucus
Common raven, Corvus corax
Order: Passeriformes Family: Monarchidae
The Monarchinae are a relatively recent grouping of a number of seemingly very different birds, mostly from the Southern Hemisphere, which are more closely related than they at first appear. Many of the approximately 140 species making up the family were previously assigned to other groups, largely on the basis of general morphology or behavior. With the new insights generated by the DNA-DNA hybridisation studies of Sibley and his co-workers toward the end of the 20th century, however, it became clear that these apparently unrelated birds were all descended from a common ancestor. The Monarchinae are small to medium-sized insectivorous passerines, many of which hunt by flycatching. These three species endemic to Hawaii represent the group.
Kauai elepaio, Chasiempis sclateri (EH)
Oahu elepaio, Chasiempis ibidis (EH)
Hawaii elepaio, Chasiempis sandwichensis (EH)
Order: Passeriformes Family: Alaudidae
Larks are small terrestrial birds with often extravagant songs and display flights. Most larks are fairly dull in appearance. Their food is insects and seeds.
Eurasian skylark, Alauda arvensis (regular visitor-AK) (A-CA) (Ex-NY) (I, now Ex BC & WA)
Horned lark, Eremophila alpestris
Swallows and martins
Order: Passeriformes Family: Hirundinidae
The family Hirundinidae is adapted to aerial feeding. They have a slender streamlined body, long pointed wings, and a short bill with a wide gape. The feet are adapted to perching rather than walking, and the front toes are partially joined at the base.
Purple martin, Progne subis
Cuban martin, Progne cryptoleuca (A)
Gray-breasted martin, Progne chalybea (A)
Southern martin, Progne elegans (A)
Brown-chested martin, Progne tapera (A)
Tree swallow, Tachycineta bicolor
Mangrove swallow, Tachycineta albilinea (A)
Violet-green swallow, Tachycineta thalassina
Bahama swallow, Tachycineta cyaneoviridis (C)
Northern rough-winged swallow, Stelgidopteryx serripennis
Bank swallow, Riparia riparia
Cliff swallow, Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
Cave swallow, Petrochelidon fulva
Barn swallow, Hirundo rustica
Common house-martin, Delichon urbica (C)
Chickadees and titmice
Order: Passeriformes Family: Paridae
The Paridae are mainly small stocky woodland species with short stout bills. Some have crests. They are adaptable birds, with a mixed diet including seeds and insects.
Carolina chickadee, Poecile carolinensis (EM)
Black-capped chickadee, Poecile atricapilla
Mountain chickadee, Poecile gambeli
Mexican chickadee, Poecile sclateri
Chestnut-backed chickadee, Poecile rufescens
Boreal chickadee, Poecile hudsonica
Gray-headed chickadee, Poecile cincta
Bridled titmouse, Baeolophus wollweberi
Oak titmouse, Baeolophus inornatus
Juniper titmouse, Baeolophus ridgwayi
Tufted titmouse, Baeolophus bicolor
Black-crested titmouse, Baeolophus atricristatus
Order: Passeriformes Family: Remizidae
The verdin one of the smallest passerines in North America. It is gray overall and adults have a bright yellow head and rufous "shoulder patch" (the lesser coverts). Verdins are insectivorous, continuously foraging among the desert trees and scrubs. They are usually solitary except when they pair up to construct their conspicuous nests.
Verdin, Auriparus flaviceps
Order: Passeriformes Family: Aegithalidae
The bushtits are a family of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. They make woven bag nests in trees. Most eat a mixed diet which includes insects.
Bushtit, Psaltriparus minimus
Order: Passeriformes Family: Sittidae
Nuthatches are small woodland birds. They have the unusual ability to climb down trees head first, unlike other birds which can only go upwards. Nuthatches have big heads, short tails, and powerful bills and feet.
Red-breasted nuthatch, Sitta canadensis
White-breasted nuthatch, Sitta carolinensis
Pygmy nuthatch, Sitta pygmaea
Brown-headed nuthatch, Sitta pusilla
Order: Passeriformes Family: Certhiidae
Treecreepers are small woodland birds, brown above and white below. They have thin pointed down-curved bills, which they use to extricate insects from bark. They have stiff tail feathers, like woodpeckers, which they use to support themselves on vertical trees.
Brown creeper, Certhia americana
Order: Passeriformes Family: Troglodytidae
Wrens are small and inconspicuous birds, except for their loud songs. They have short wings and thin down-turned bills. Several species often hold their tails upright. All are insectivorous.
Rock wren, Salpinctes obsoletus
Canyon wren, Catherpes mexicanus
House wren, Troglodytes aedon
Pacific wren, Troglodytes pacificus
Winter wren, Troglodytes hiemalis
Sedge wren, Cistothorus platensis
Marsh wren, Cistothorus palustris
Carolina wren, Thryothorus ludovicianus
Bewick's wren, Thryomanes bewickii
Cactus wren, Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus
Sinaloa wren, Thryothorus sinaloa (A)
Order: Passeriformes Family: Polioptilidae
These dainty birds resemble Old World warblers in their structure and habits, moving restlessly through the foliage seeking insects. The gnatcatchers are mainly soft bluish gray in color and have the typical insectivore's long sharp bill. Many species have distinctive black head patterns (especially males) and long, regularly cocked, black-and-white tails.
Blue-gray gnatcatcher, Polioptila caerulea
California gnatcatcher, Polioptila californica
Black-tailed gnatcatcher, Polioptila melanura
Black-capped gnatcatcher, Polioptila nigriceps
Order: Passeriformes Family: Cinclidae
Dippers are a group of perching birds whose habitat includes aquatic environments in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. They are named for their bobbing or dipping movements. These birds have adaptations which allows them to submerge and walk on the bottom to feed on insect larvae.
American dipper, Cinclus mexicanus
Order: Passeriformes Family: Pycnonotidae
The bulbuls are a family of medium-sized passerine songbirds native to Africa and tropical Asia. These are noisy and gregarious birds with often beautiful striking songs.
Red-vented bulbul, Pycnonotus cafer (I)
Red-whiskered bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus (I)
Order: Passeriformes Family: Regulidae
The kinglets and "crests" are a small family of birds which resemble some warblers. They are very small insectivorous birds in the single genus Regulus. The adults have colored crowns, giving rise to their name.
Golden-crowned kinglet, Regulus satrapa
Ruby-crowned kinglet, Regulus calendula
Order: Passeriformes Family: Cettiidae
Japanese bush-warbler, Horornis diphone (I)
Order: Passeriformes Family: Phylloscopidae
Willow warbler, Phylloscopus trochilus (A)
Common chiffchaff, Phylloscopus collybita (A)
Wood warbler, Phylloscopus sibilatrix (A)
Dusky warbler, Phylloscopus fuscatus (C)
Pallas's leaf warbler, Phylloscopus proregulus (A)
Yellow-browed warbler, Phylloscopus inornatus (C)
Arctic warbler, Phylloscopus borealis
Kamchatka leaf warbler, Phylloscopus examinandus (A)
Order: Passeriformes Family: Sylviidae
The family Sylviidae is a group of small insectivorous passerine birds. They mainly occur as breeding species, as the common name implies, in Europe, Asia, and to a lesser extent Africa. Most are of generally undistinguished appearance, but many have distinctive songs.
Lesser whitethroat, Sylvia curruca (A)
Wrentit, Chamaea fasciata
Order: Passeriformes Family: Zosteropidae
The white-eyes are small passerine birds native to tropical and sub-tropical Africa, southern Asia, and Australasia. The birds of this group are mostly of undistinguished appearance, their plumage above being generally some dull color like greenish-olive, but some species have a white or bright yellow throat, breast, or lower parts, and several have buff flanks. But as indicated by their scientific name, derived from the Ancient Greek for girdle-eye, there is a conspicuous ring around the eyes of many species. They have rounded wings and strong legs. The size ranges up to 15 cm (6 inches) in length. All the species of white-eyes are sociable, forming large flocks which only separate on the approach of the breeding season. Though mainly insectivorous, they eat nectar and fruits of various kinds.
Japanese white-eye, Zosterops japonicus (I)
Order: Passeriformes Family: Timaliidae
The Old World babblers or "timaliids" are a large family of mostly Old World passerine birds. They are rather diverse in size and coloration, but are characterized by soft fluffy plumage. These birds have strong legs and many are quite terrestrial. This group is not strongly migratory and most species have short rounded wings and a weak flight.
Greater necklaced laughingthrush, Garrulax pectoralis (I)
Hwamei, Garrulax canorus (I)
Red-billed leiothrix, Leiothrix lutea (I)
Order: Passeriformes Family: Acrocephalidae
Millerbird, Acrocephalus familiaris (EH)
Sedge warbler, Acrocephalus schoenobaenus (A)
Grassbirds and allies
Order: Passeriformes Family: Locustellidae
Middendorff's grasshopper-warbler, Locustella ochotensis (C)
Lanceolated warbler, Locustella lanceolata (A)
Order: Passeriformes Family: Muscicapidae
The Old World flycatchers form a large family of small passerine birds. These are mainly small arboreal insectivores, many of which, as the name implies, take their prey on the wing.
Gray-streaked flycatcher, Muscicapa griseisticta (C)
Asian brown flycatcher, Muscicapa dauurica (A)
Spotted flycatcher, Muscicapa striata (A)
Dark-sided flycatcher, Muscicapa sibirica (C)
White-rumped shama, Copsychus malabaricus (I)
Rufous-tailed robin, Luscinia sibilans (A)
Siberian rubythroat, Luscinia calliope
Bluethroat, Luscinia svecica
Siberian blue robin, Luscinia cyane (A)
Red-flanked bluetail, Tarsiger cyanurus (C)
Narcissus flycatcher, Ficedula narcissina (A)
Mugimaki flycatcher, Ficedula mugimaki (A)
Taiga flycatcher, Ficedula albicilla (C)
Common redstart, Phoenicurus phoenicurus (A)
Northern wheatear, Oenanthe oenanthe
Stonechat, Saxicola torquatus (C)
Order: Passeriformes Family: Turdidae
The thrushes are a group of passerine birds that occur mainly but not exclusively in the Old World. They are plump, soft plumaged, small to medium-sized insectivores or sometimes omnivores, often feeding on the ground. Many have attractive songs.
Eastern bluebird, Sialia sialis
Western bluebird, Sialia mexicana
Mountain bluebird, Sialia currucoides
Townsend's solitaire, Myadestes townsendi
Brown-backed solitaire, Myadestes occidentalis (A)
Kamao, Myadestes myadestinus (EH)(E)
Amaui, Myadestes woahensis (EH)(E)
Olomao, Myadestes lanaiensis (EH)
Omao, Myadestes obscurus (EH)
Puaiohi, Myadestes palmeri (EH)
Orange-billed nightingale-thrush, Catharus aurantiirostris (A)
Black-headed nightingale-thrush, Catharus mexicanus (A)
Veery, Catharus fuscescens
Gray-cheeked thrush, Catharus minimus
Bicknell's thrush, Catharus bicknelli
Swainson's thrush, Catharus ustulatus
Hermit thrush, Catharus guttatus
Wood thrush, Hylocichla mustelina
Eurasian blackbird, Turdus merula (A)
Eyebrowed thrush, Turdus obscurus
Dusky thrush, Turdus naumanni (C)
Fieldfare, Turdus pilaris (C)
Redwing, Turdus iliacus (C)
Song thrush, Turdus philomelos (A)
Clay-colored thrush, Turdus grayi
White-throated thrush, Turdus assimilis (C)
Rufous-backed robin, Turdus rufopalliatus
American robin, Turdus migratorius
Red-legged thrush, Turdus plumbeus (A)
Varied thrush, Ixoreus naevius
Aztec thrush, Ridgwayia pinicola (C)
Mockingbirds and thrashers
Order: Passeriformes Family: Mimidae
The mimids are a family of passerine birds which includes thrashers, mockingbirds, tremblers, and the New World catbirds. These birds are notable for their vocalization, especially their remarkable ability to mimic a wide variety of birds and other sounds heard outdoors. The species tend towards dull grays and browns in their appearance.
Blue mockingbird, Melanotis caerulescens (A)
Gray catbird, Dumetella carolinensis
Curve-billed thrasher, Toxostoma curvirostre
Brown thrasher, Toxostoma rufum
Long-billed thrasher, Toxostoma longirostre
Bendire's thrasher, Toxostoma bendirei
California thrasher, Toxostoma redivivum
Le Conte's thrasher, Toxostoma lecontei
Crissal thrasher, Toxostoma crissale
Sage thrasher, Oreoscoptes montanus
Bahama mockingbird, Mimus gundlachii (C)
Northern mockingbird, Mimus polyglottos
Starlings and mynas
Order: Passeriformes Family: Sturnidae
Starlings and mynas are small to medium-sized Old World passerine birds with strong feet. Their flight is strong and direct and most are very gregarious. Their preferred habitat is fairly open country, and they eat insects and fruit. The plumage of several species is dark with a metallic sheen.
European starling, Sturnus vulgaris (I)
Common myna, Acridotheres tistis (I)
Hill myna, Gracula religiosa (I)
Order: Passeriformes Family: Bombycillidae
The waxwings are a group of passerine birds with soft silky plumage and unique red tips to some of the wing feathers. In the Bohemian and cedar waxwings, these tips look like sealing wax and give the group its name. These are arboreal birds of northern forests. They live on insects in summer and berries in winter.
Bohemian waxwing, Bombycilla garrulus
Cedar waxwing, Bombycilla cedrorum
Order: Passeriformes Family: Mohoidae
Hawaiian honeyeaters prefer to flit quickly from perch to perch in the outer foliage, stretching up or sideways or hanging upside down at need. They have a highly developed brush-tipped tongue, which is frayed and fringed with bristles which soak up liquids readily. The tongue is flicked rapidly and repeatedly into a flower, the upper mandible then compressing any liquid out when the bill is closed. All species of honeyeaters below were endemic to Hawaii, but are now extinct. The Kauai oo was the last species to survive, and was last seen in 1987.
Kauai oo, Moho braccatus (EH) (E)
Oahu oo, Moho apicalus (EH) (E)
Bishop's oo, Moho bishopi (EH) (E)
Hawaii oo, Moho nobilis (EH) (E)
Kioea, Chaetoptila angustipluma (EH) (E)
Order: Passeriformes Family: Ptiliogonatidae
The silky-flycatchers are a small family of passerine birds which occur mainly in Central America. They are related to waxwings and most species have small crests.
Gray silky-flycatcher, Ptiliogonys cinereus (A)
Phainopepla, Phainopepla nitens
Order: Passeriformes Family: Peucedramidae
The olive warbler has a gray body with some olive-green on the wings and two white wing bars. The male's head and breast are orange and there is a black patch through the eye. This is the only species in its family.
Olive warbler, Peucedramus taeniatus
Order: Passeriformes Family: Prunellidae
Accentors are small, fairly drab species superficially similar, but unrelated to, sparrows. However, accentors have thin sharp bills, reflecting their diet of insects in summer, augmented with seeds and berries in winter.
Siberian accentor, Prunella montanella (C)
Waxbills, munias, and allies
Order: Passeriformes Family: Estrildidae
The members of this family are small passerine birds native to the Old World tropics. They are gregarious and often colonial seed eaters with short thick but pointed bills. They are all similar in structure and habits, but have wide variation in plumage colors and patterns.
Red-cheeked cordon-bleu, Uraeginthus bengalus (I)
Lavender waxbill, Estrilda caerulescens (I)
Orange-cheeked waxbill, Estrilda melpoda (I)
Black-rumped waxbill, Estrilda troglodytes (I)
Common waxbill, Estrilda astrild (I)
Red avadavat, Amandava amandava (I)
Indian silverbill, Euodice malabarica (I)
African silverbill, Euodice cantans (I)
Java sparrow, Lonchura oryzivora (I)
Scaly-breasted munia, Lonchura punctulata (I)
Tricolored munia, Lonchura malacca (I)
Order: Passeriformes Family: Passeridae
Old World sparrows are small passerine birds. In general, sparrows tend to be small plump brownish or grayish birds with short tails and short powerful beaks. Sparrows are seed eaters, but they also consume small insects.
House sparrow, Passer domesticus (I)
Eurasian tree sparrow, Passer montanus (I)
Wagtails and pipits
Order: Passeriformes Family: Motacillidae
Motacillidae is a family of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. They include the wagtails, longclaws, and pipits. They are slender ground-feeding insectivores of open country.
Eastern yellow wagtail, Motacilla tschutschensis
Citrine wagtail, Motacilla citreola (A)
Gray wagtail, Motacilla cinerea (C)
White wagtail, Motacilla alba
Tree pipit, Anthus trivialis (A)
Olive-backed pipit, Anthus hodgsoni
Pechora pipit, Anthus gustavi (C)
Red-throated pipit, Anthus cervinus
American pipit, Anthus rubescens
Sprague's pipit, Anthus spragueii
Order: Passeriformes Family: Fringillidae
Finches are seed-eating passerine birds that are small to moderately large and have a strong beak, usually conical and in some species very large. All have twelve tail feathers and nine primaries. These birds have a bouncing flight with alternating bouts of flapping and gliding on closed wings, and most sing well.
Common chaffinch, Fringilla coelebs (C)
Brambling, Fringilla montifringilla
Asian rosy-finch, Leucosticte arctoa (A)
Gray-crowned rosy-finch, Leucosticte tephrocotis
Black rosy-finch, Leucosticte atrata (EM)
Brown-capped rosy-finch, Leucosticte australis (EM)
Pine grosbeak, Pinicola enucleator
Eurasian bullfinch, Pyrrhula pyrrhula (C)
Poo-uli, Melamprosops phaeosoma (EH)
Akikiki, Oreomystis bairdi (EH)
Oahu alauahio, Paroreomyza maculata (EH)
Kakawahie, Paroreomyza flammea (EH) (E)
Maui alauahio, Paroreomyza montana (EH)
Palila, Loxiodes balleui (EH)
Laysan finch, Telespiza cantans (EH)
Nihoa finch, Telespiza ultima (EH)
Kona grosbeak, Chloridops kona (EH) (E)
Lesser koa-finch, Rhodacanthis flaviceps (EH) (E)
Greater koa-finch, Rhodacanthis palmeri (EH) (E)
Ula-ai-hawane, Ciridops anna (EH) (E)
Akohekohe, Palmeria dolei (EH)
Laysan honeycreeper, Himatione fraithii (EH) (E)
Apapane, Himatione sanguinea (EH)
Iiwi, Drepanis coccinea (EH)
Hawaii mamo, Drepanis pacifica (EH) (E)
Black mamo, Drepanis funerea (EH) (E)
Ou, Psittirostra psittacea (EH)
Lanai hookbill, Dysmorodropanis munroi (EH) (E)
Maui parrotbill, Pseudonestor xanthrophrys (EH)
Kauai nukupuu, Hemignathus hanapepe (EH) (E)
Oahu nukupuu, Hemignathus lucidus (EH) (E)
Maui nukupuu, Hemignathus affinis (EH) (E)
Akiapolaau, Hemignathus wilsoni (EH)
Lesser akialoa, Akialoa obscura (EH) (E)
Kauai akialoa, Akialoa stejnegeri (EH) (E)
Oahu akialoa, Akialoa ellisiana (EH) (E)
Maui-nui akialoa, Akialoa lanaiensis (EH) (E)
Anianiau, Magumma parva (EH)
Hawaii amakihi, Chlorodrepanis virens (EH)
Oahu amakihi, Chlorodrepanis flavus (EH)
Kauai amakihi, Chlorodrepanis stejnegeri (EH)
Greater amakihi, Viridonia sagittirostris (EH) (E)
Hawaii creeper, Loxops mana (EH)
Akekee, Loxops caeruleirostris (EH)
Oahu akepa, Loxops wolstenholmei (EH) (E)
Maui akepa, Loxops ochraceus (EH) (E)
Hawaii akepa, Loxops coccineus (EH)
Common rosefinch, Carpodacus erythrinus (C)
Pallas's rosefinch, Carpodacus roseus (A)
House finch, Haemorhous mexicanus
Purple finch, Haemorhous purpureus
Cassin's finch, Haemorhous cassinii
Red crossbill, Loxia curvirostra
White-winged crossbill, Loxia leucoptera
Common redpoll, Acanthis flammea
Hoary redpoll, Acanthis hornemanni
Eurasian siskin, Spinus spinus (A)
Pine siskin, Spinus pinus
Lesser goldfinch, Spinus psaltria
Lawrence's goldfinch, Spinus lawrencei
American goldfinch, Spinus tristis
Oriental greenfinch, Chloris sinica (C)
Yellow-fronted canary, Crithagra mozambicus (I)
Island canary, Serinus canaria (I)
Evening grosbeak, Coccothraustes vespertinus
Hawfinch, Coccothraustes coccothraustes (C)
Longspurs and snow buntings
Order: Passeriformes Family: Calcariidae
The Calcariidae are a group of passerine birds that had been traditionally grouped with the Emberizeridae (New World sparrows), but differ in a number of respects and are usually found in open grassy areas.
Lapland longspur, Calcarius lapponicus
Chestnut-collared longspur, Calcarius ornatus
Smith's longspur, Calcarius pictus
McCown's longspur, Rhyncophanes mccownii
Snow bunting, Plectrophenax nivalis
McKay's bunting, Plectrophenax hyperboreus
Order: Passeriformes Family: Parulidae
The wood-warblers are a group of small often colorful passerine birds restricted to the New World. Most are arboreal, but some are more terrestrial. Most members of this family are insectivores.
Ovenbird, Seiurus aurocapilla
Worm-eating warbler, Helmitheros vermivorum
Louisiana waterthrush, Parkesia motacilla
Northern waterthrush, Parkesia noveboracensis
Bachman's warbler, Vermivora bachmanii (E)
Golden-winged warbler, Vermivora chrysoptera
Blue-winged warbler, Vermivora cyanoptera
Black-and-white warbler, Mniotilta varia
Prothonotary warbler, Protonotaria citrea
Swainson's warbler, Limnothlypis swainsonii
Crescent-chested warbler, Oreothlypis superciliosa (C)
Tennessee warbler, Oreothlypis peregrina
Orange-crowned warbler, Oreothlypis celata
Colima warbler, Oreothlypis crissalis
Lucy's warbler, Oreothlypis luciae
Nashville warbler, Oreothlypis ruficapilla
Virginia's warbler, Oreothlypis virginiae
Connecticut warbler, Oporornis agilis
Gray-crowned yellowthroat, Geothlypis poliocephala (C)
MacGillivray's warbler, Geothlypis tolmiei
Mourning warbler, Geothlypis philadelphia
Kentucky warbler, Geothlypis formosa
Common yellowthroat, Geothlypis trichas
Hooded warbler, Setophaga citrina
American redstart, Setophaga ruticilla
Kirtland's warbler, Setophaga kirtlandii
Cape May warbler, Setophaga tigrina
Cerulean warbler, Setophaga cerulea
Northern parula, Setophaga americana
Tropical parula, Setophaga pitiayumi
Magnolia warbler, Setophaga magnolia
Bay-breasted warbler, Setophaga castanea
Blackburnian warbler, Setophaga fusca
Yellow warbler, Setophaga petechia
Chestnut-sided warbler, Setophaga pensylvanica
Blackpoll warbler, Setophaga striata
Black-throated blue warbler, Setophaga caerulescens
Palm warbler, Setophaga palmarum
Pine warbler, Setophaga pinus
Yellow-rumped warbler, Setophaga coronata
Yellow-throated warbler, Setophaga dominica
Prairie warbler, Setophaga discolor
Adelaide's warbler, Setophaga adelaidae
Grace's warbler, Setophaga graciae
Black-throated gray warbler, Setophaga nigrescens
Townsend's warbler, Setophaga townsendi
Hermit warbler, Setophaga occidentalis
Golden-cheeked warbler, Setophaga chrysoparia
Black-throated green warbler, Setophaga virens
Fan-tailed warbler, Basileuterus lachrymosus (C)
Rufous-capped warbler, Basileuterus rufifrons
Black-cheeked warbler, Basileuterus melanogenys
Golden-crowned warbler, Basileuterus culicivorus (C)
Canada warbler, Cardellina canadensis
Wilson's warbler, Cardellina pusilla
Red-faced warbler, Cardellina rubrifrons
Painted redstart, Myioborus pictus
Slate-throated redstart, Myioborus miniatus (C)
Yellow-breasted chat, Icteria vireos
Order: Passeriformes Family: Thraupidae
The tanagers are a large group of small to medium-sized passerine birds restricted to the New World, mainly in the tropics. Many species are brightly colored. They are seed eaters, but their preference tends towards fruit and nectar.
Red-crested cardinal, Paroaria coronata (I)
Yellow-billed cardinal, Paroaria capitata (I)
Saffron finch, Sicalis flaveola (I)
Red-legged honeycreeper, Cyanerpes cyaneus (A)
Bananaquit, Coereba flaveola (C)
Yellow-faced grassquit, Tiaris olivaceus (C)
Black-faced grassquit, Tiaris bicolor (C)
White-collared seedeater, Sporophila torqueola
Spindalises and others
Order: Passeriformes Family: Incertae sedis
As the family name attests, the AOS is unsure of the proper placement of this species but lists it following Thraupidae as of 2016.
Western spindalis, Spindalis zena
Order: Passeriformes Family: Emberizidae
Emberizidae is a large family of passerine birds. They are seed-eating birds with distinctively shaped bills. In Europe, most species are called buntings. In North America, most of the species in this family are known as sparrows, but these birds are not closely related to the Old World sparrows which are in the family Passeridae. Many emberizid species have distinctive head patterns.
Olive sparrow, Arremonops rufivirgatus
Green-tailed towhee, Pipilo chlorurus
Spotted towhee, Pipilo maculatus
Eastern towhee, Pipilo erythrophthalmus
Rufous-crowned sparrow, Aimophila ruficeps
Canyon towhee, Melozone fuscus
California towhee, Melozone crissalis
Abert's towhee, Melozone aberti
Rufous-winged sparrow, Peucaea carpalis
Botteri's sparrow, Peucaea botterii
Cassin's sparrow, Peucaea cassinii
Bachman's sparrow, Peucaea aestivalis (EM)
American tree sparrow, Spizelloides arborea
Chipping sparrow, Spizella passerina
Clay-colored sparrow, Spizella pallida
Brewer's sparrow, Spizella breweri
Field sparrow, Spizella pusilla
Worthen's sparrow, Spizella wortheni (A)
Black-chinned sparrow, Spizella atrogularis
Vesper sparrow, Pooecetes gramineus
Lark sparrow, Chondestes grammacus
Five-striped sparrow, Amphispiza quinquestriata
Black-throated sparrow, Amphispiza bilineata
Sagebrush sparrow, Artemisiospiza nevadensis
Bell's sparrow, Artemisiospiza belli
Lark bunting, Calamospiza melanocorys
Savannah sparrow, Passerculus sandwichensis
Grasshopper sparrow, Ammodramus savannarum
Baird's sparrow, Ammodramus bairdii
Henslow's sparrow, Ammodramus henslowii
Le Conte's sparrow, Ammodramus leconteii
Nelson's sparrow, Ammodramus nelsoni
Saltmarsh sparrow, Ammodramus caudacutus (EM)
Seaside sparrow, Ammodramus maritimus (EM)
Fox sparrow, Passerella iliaca
Song sparrow, Melospiza melodia
Lincoln's sparrow, Melospiza lincolnii
Swamp sparrow, Melospiza georgiana
White-throated sparrow, Zonotrichia albicollis
Harris's sparrow, Zonotrichia querula
White-crowned sparrow, Zonotrichia leucophrys
Golden-crowned sparrow, Zonotrichia atricapilla
Dark-eyed junco, Junco hyemalis
Yellow-eyed junco, Junco phaeonotus
Pine bunting, Emberiza leucocephalos (A)
Yellow-browed bunting, Emberiza chrysophrys (A)
Little bunting, Emberiza pusilla (C)
Rustic bunting, Emberiza rustica
Yellow-throated bunting, Emberiza elegans (A)
Yellow-breasted bunting, Emberiza aureola (A)
Gray bunting, Emberiza variabilis (A)
Pallas's bunting, Emberiza pallasi (A)
Reed bunting, Emberiza schoeniclus (C)
Cardinals and allies
Order: Passeriformes Family: Cardinalidae
The cardinals are a family of robust seed-eating birds with strong bills. They are typically associated with open woodland. The sexes usually have distinct plumages.
Hepatic tanager, Piranga flava
Summer tanager, Piranga rubra
Scarlet tanager, Piranga olivacea
Western tanager, Piranga ludoviciana
Flame-colored tanager, Piranga bidentata
Crimson-collared grosbeak, Rhodothraupis celaeno (C)
Northern cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis
Pyrrhuloxia, Cardinalis sinuatus
Yellow grosbeak, Pheucticus chrysopeplus (C)
Rose-breasted grosbeak, Pheucticus ludovicianus
Black-headed grosbeak, Pheucticus melanocephalus
Blue bunting, Cyanocompsa parellina (C)
Blue grosbeak, Passerina caerulea
Lazuli bunting, Passerina amoena
Indigo bunting, Passerina cyanea
Varied bunting, Passerina versicolor
Painted bunting, Passerina ciris
Dickcissel, Spiza americana
Blackbirds, meadowlarks, cowbirds, grackles, and New World orioles
Order: Passeriformes Family: Icteridae
The icterids are a group of small to medium-sized, often colorful passerine birds restricted to the New World and include the grackles, New World blackbirds, and New World orioles. Most species have black as a predominant plumage color which is often enlivened by yellow, orange, or red.
Bobolink, Dolichonyx oryzivorus
Red-winged blackbird, Agelaius phoeniceus
Tricolored blackbird, Agelaius tricolor
Tawny-shouldered blackbird, Agelaius humeralis (A)
Eastern meadowlark, Sturnella magna
Western meadowlark, Sturnella neglecta
Yellow-headed blackbird, Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus
Rusty blackbird, Euphagus carolinus
Brewer's blackbird, Euphagus cyanocephalus
Common grackle, Quiscalus quiscula
Boat-tailed grackle, Quiscalus major (EM)
Great-tailed grackle, Quiscalus mexicanus
Shiny cowbird, Molothrus bonariensis
Bronzed cowbird, Molothrus aeneus
Brown-headed cowbird, Molothrus ater
Black-vented oriole, Icterus wagleri (A)
Orchard oriole, Icterus spurius
Hooded oriole, Icterus cucullatus
Streak-backed oriole, Icterus pustulatus (C)
Bullock's oriole, Icterus bullockii
Spot-breasted oriole, Icterus pectoralis (I)
Altamira oriole, Icterus gularis
Audubon's oriole, Icterus graduacauda
Baltimore oriole, Icterus galbula
Scott's oriole, Icterus parisorum
