List of birds of California
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This list of birds of California is a comprehensive listing of all the bird species seen naturally in the U.S. state of California as determined by the California Bird Records Committee (CBRC). As of August 5, 2022, there are 681 species on the CBRC list. Two of these species are endemic, 13 were introduced by humans (directly or indirectly), one species has been extirpated, and one was extirpated in the wild but its reintroduction is in progress. Five additional species have been documented but "the CBRC could not reach a consensus as to whether records of these species involved true naturally occurring vagrants or escapes from captivity." The following tags note species in each of those categories and one additional category: *(En) Endemic to California *(I) Introduced but now established in California *(Ex) Extirpated from California *(RI) Reintroduction in progress - not yet established *(*) California Bird Records Committee Review Species (200 species; in general, review species average four or fewer occurrences per year in California over the most recent ten-year period.) *(UO) Of unknown origin Individuals or even flocks of many additional species have been recorded in California but these birds are assumed to be deliberately released or escaped from captivity. In the absence of evidence of wild origin, they are not included in the CBRC list. This list is presented in the taxonomic sequence of the ''Check-list of North and Middle American Birds'', 7th edition through the 623rd Supplement, published by the American Ornithological Society (AOS). Common and scientific names are also those of the ''Check-list'', except that the common names of families are from the
Clements taxonomy ''The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World'' is a book by Jim Clements which presents a list of the bird species of the world. The most recent printed version is the sixth edition (2007), but has been updated yearly, the last version in 2022 ...
because the AOS list does not include them.


Ducks, geese, and waterfowl

Order:
Anseriformes Anseriformes is an order of birds also known as waterfowl that comprises about 180 living species of birds in three families: Anhimidae (three species of screamers), Anseranatidae (the magpie goose), and Anatidae, the largest family, which in ...
Family: Anatidae The family Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and
swan Swans are birds of the family (biology), family Anatidae within the genus ''Cygnus''. The swans' closest relatives include the goose, geese and ducks. Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in the subfamily Anserinae where they form t ...
s. 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'' (*) * Emperor goose, ''Anser canagica'' (*) * Snow goose, ''Anser caerulescens'' * Ross's goose, ''Anser rossii'' * Greater white-fronted goose, ''Anser albifrons'' *
Tundra bean-goose The tundra bean goose (''Anser serrirostris'') is a goose that breeds in northern Siberia. This and the taiga bean goose are recognised as separate species by the American Ornithological Society and International Ornithologists' Union, but are co ...
, ''Anser serrirostris'' (*) * Brant, ''Branta bernicla'' *
Cackling goose The cackling goose (''Branta hutchinsii'') is a species of goose found in North America. Description The black head and neck with white "chinstrap" distinguish this goose from all other geese except the larger Canada goose (''Branta canadensis'' ...
, ''Branta hutchinsii'' *
Canada goose The Canada goose (''Branta canadensis''), or Canadian goose, is a large wild goose with a black head and neck, white cheeks, white under its chin, and a brown body. It is native to the arctic and temperate regions of North America, and it is o ...
, ''Branta canadensis'' * Trumpeter swan, ''Cygnus buccinator'' * Tundra swan, ''Cygnus columbianus'' * Whooper swan, ''Cygnus cygnus'' (*) * Wood duck, ''Aix sponsa'' * Baikal teal, ''Sibirionetta formosa'' (*) * Garganey, ''Spatula querquedula'' (*) * Blue-winged teal, ''Spatula discors'' * Cinnamon teal, ''Spatula cyanoptera'' * Northern shoveler, ''Spatula clypeata'' *
Gadwall The gadwall (''Mareca strepera'') is a common and widespread dabbling duck in the family Anatidae. Taxonomy The gadwall was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his landmark 1758 10th edition of ''Systema Naturae''. DNA studies have shown that ...
, ''Mareca strepera'' * Falcated duck, ''Mareca falcata'' (*) * Eurasian wigeon, ''Mareca penelope'' * American wigeon, ''Mareca americana'' *
Mallard The mallard () or wild duck (''Anas platyrhynchos'') is a dabbling duck that breeds throughout the temperate and subtropical Americas, Eurasia, and North Africa, and has been introduced to New Zealand, Australia, Peru, Brazil, Uruguay, Arge ...
, ''Anas platydiazirhynchos'' * Mexican duck, ''Anas diazi'' (*) * American black duck, ''Anas rubripes'' (*) * Northern pintail, ''Anas acuta'' * 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'' (*) * King eider, ''Somateria spectabilis'' (*) * Common eider, ''Somateria mollissima'' (*) * Harlequin duck, ''Histrionicus histrionicus'' * Surf scoter, ''Melanitta perspicillata'' * White-winged scoter, ''Melanitta deglandi'' * Common scoter, ''Melanitta nigra'' (*) * Black scoter, ''Melanitta americana'' * Long-tailed duck, ''Clangula hyemalis'' *
Bufflehead The bufflehead (''Bucephala albeola'') is a small sea duck of the genus ''Bucephala'', the goldeneyes. This species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his landmark 1758 10th edition of ''Systema Naturae'' as ''Anas albeola''. The genus na ...
, ''Bucephala albeola'' * Common goldeneye, ''Bucephala clangula'' * Barrow's goldeneye, ''Bucephala islandica'' *
Smew The smew (''Mergellus albellus'') is a species of duck, and is the only living member of the genus ''Mergellus''. ''Mergellus'' is a diminutive of '' Mergus'' and ''albellus'' is from Latin ''albus'' "white". This genus is closely related to ' ...
, ''Mergellus albellus'' (*) * Hooded merganser, ''Lophodytes cucullatus'' * Common merganser, ''Mergus merganser'' * Red-breasted merganser, ''Mergus serrator'' * Ruddy duck, ''Oxyura jamaicensis''


New World quail

Order: GalliformesFamily: 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 The mountain quail (''Oreortyx pictus'') is a small ground-dwelling bird in the New World quail family. This species is the only one in the genus ''Oreortyx'', which is sometimes included in ''Callipepla''. This is not appropriate, however, as t ...
, ''Oreortyx pictus'' * California quail, ''Callipepla californica'' * Gambel's quail, ''Callipepla gambelii''


Pheasants, grouse, and allies

Order: GalliformesFamily:
Phasianidae The Phasianidae are a family (biology), family of heavy, ground-living birds, which includes pheasants, partridges, junglefowl, chickens, Turkey bird, turkeys, Old World quail, and peafowl. The family includes many of the most popular Game (hunti ...
Phasianidae consists of the pheasants and their allies, including partridges, grouse, turkeys, and Old World quail. 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. * Wild turkey, ''Meleagris gallopavo'' (I) * Ruffed grouse, ''Bonasa umbellus'' * White-tailed ptarmigan, ''Lagopus leucurus'' (I) * Sooty grouse, ''Dendragapus fuliginosus'' * Sharp-tailed grouse, ''Tympanuchus phasianellus'' (Ex) * Greater sage-grouse, ''Centrocercus urophasianus'' * Ring-necked pheasant, ''Phasianus colchicus'' (I) * Chukar, ''Alectoris chukar'' (I)


Grebes

Order: PodicipediformesFamily: 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 The red-necked grebe (''Podiceps grisegena'') is a migratory aquatic bird found in the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. Its wintering habitat is largely restricted to calm waters just beyond the waves around ocean coasts, although ...
, ''Podiceps grisegena'' *
Eared grebe The black-necked grebe or eared grebe (''Podiceps nigricollis'') is a member of the grebe family of water birds. It was described in 1831 by Christian Ludwig Brehm. There are currently three accepted subspecies, including the nominate subspeci ...
, ''Podiceps nigricollis'' * Western grebe, ''Aechmorphorus occidentalis'' *
Clark's grebe Clark's grebe (''Aechmophorus clarkii'') is a North American waterbird species in the grebe family. Until the 1980s, it was thought to be a pale Polymorphism (biology), morph of the western grebe, which it resembles in size, range, and behavior. ...
, ''Aechmorphorus clarkii''


Pigeons and doves

Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere. * Rock pigeon, ''Columba livia'' (I) *
Band-tailed pigeon The band-tailed pigeon (''Patagioenas fasciata'') is a medium-sized bird of the Americas. Its closest relatives are the Chilean pigeon and the ring-tailed pigeon, which form a clade of ''Patagioenas'' with a terminal tail band and iridescent pl ...
, ''Patagioenas fasciata'' *
Oriental turtle-dove The Oriental turtle dove or rufous turtle dove (''Streptopelia orientalis'') is a member of the bird family Columbidae. The species has a wide native distribution range from Europe, east across Asia to Japan. The populations show variations in th ...
, ''Streptopelia orientalis'' (*) * Eurasian collared-dove, ''Streptopelia decaocto'' (I) *
Spotted dove The spotted dove (''Spilopelia chinensis'') is a small and somewhat long-tailed pigeon that is a common resident breeding bird across its native range on the Indian subcontinent and in Southeast Asia. The species has been introduced to many parts ...
, ''Spilopelia chinensis'' (I) * Inca dove, ''Columbina inca'' * Common ground dove, ''Columbina passerina'' * Ruddy ground dove, ''Columbina talpacoti'' (*) * White-winged dove, ''Zenaida asiatica'' * Mourning dove, ''Zenaida macroura''


Cuckoos

Order: CuculiformesFamily: Cuculidae The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners, and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails, and strong legs. The Old World cuckoos are
brood parasite Brood parasites are animals that rely on others to raise their young. The strategy appears among birds, insects and fish. The brood parasite manipulates a host, either of the same or of another species, to raise its young as if it were its own ...
s. *
Groove-billed ani The groove-billed ani (''Crotophaga sulcirostris'') is a tropical bird in the cuckoo family with a long tail and a large, curved beak. It is a resident species throughout most of its range, from southern Texas, central Mexico and The Bahamas, thr ...
, ''Crotophaga sulcirostris'' (*) * Common cuckoo, ''Cuculus canorus'' (*) * Greater roadrunner, ''Geococcyx californianus'' * Yellow-billed cuckoo, ''Coccyzus americanus'' *
Black-billed cuckoo The black-billed cuckoo (''Coccyzus erythropthalmus'') is a New World species in the Cuculidae (cuckoo) family. The scientific name is from Ancient Greek. The genus name, ''kokkuzo'', means to call like a common cuckoo, and ''erythropthalmus'' i ...
, ''Coccyzus erythropthalmus'' (*)


Nightjars and allies

Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: 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'' * Common poorwill, '' Phalaenoptilus nuttallii'' *
Chuck-will's-widow The chuck-will's-widow (''Antrostomus carolinensis'') is a nocturnal bird of the nightjar family Caprimulgidae. It is mostly found in the southeastern United States (with disjunct populations in Long Island, New York, Ontario, Canada and Cape Cod ...
, ''Antrostomus carolinensis'' (*) * Buff-collared nightjar, ''Antrostomus ridgwayi'' (*) *
Eastern whip-poor-will The eastern whip-poor-will (''Antrostomus vociferus'') is a medium-sized (22–27 cm; 8.7-10.6 ins.) bird within the nightjar family, Caprimulgidae, from North America. The whip-poor-will is commonly heard within its range, but less of ...
, ''Antrostomus vociferus'' (*) *
Mexican whip-poor-will The Mexican whip-poor-will, (''Antrostomus arizonae''), is a medium-sized nightjar of the southwestern United States, Mexico, and northern Central America. Taxonomy and systematics Until 2010 the Mexican whip-poor-will and what is now the eas ...
, ''Antrostomus arizonae''


Swifts

Order: ApodiformesFamily: 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 The American black swift, or more simply black swift (''Cypseloides niger''), is a species of bird that is found from northern British Columbia in Canada through the United States and Mexico to Costa Rica and Brazil. They are also found in the Ca ...
, ''Cypseloides niger'' *
White-collared swift The white-collared swift (''Streptoprocne zonaris'') is a species of bird in subfamily Cypseloidinae of the swift family Apodidae. It is found in Mexico, the Greater and Lesser Antilles, Trinidad, and every mainland South America country excep ...
, ''Streptoprocne zonaris'' (*) * Chimney swift, ''Chaetura pelagica'' *
Vaux's swift Vaux's swift (''Chaetura vauxi'') is a small swift native to North America, Central America, and northern South America. It was named for the American scientist William Sansom Vaux. Description This is a small swift, even compared to other ''C ...
, ''Chaetura vauxi'' * Common swift, ''Apus apus'' (*) *
White-throated swift The white-throated swift (''Aeronautes saxatalis'') is a Swift (bird), swift of the family Apodidae native to western North America, south to cordilleran western Honduras.Ryan TP, Collins CT. 2000. White-throated Swift (''Aeronautes saxatalis''). ...
, ''Aeronautes saxatalis''


Hummingbirds

Order: ApodiformesFamily: 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 The Mexican violetear (''Colibri thalassinus'') is a medium-sized, metallic green hummingbird species commonly found in forested areas from Mexico to Nicaragua. This species, together with the lesser violetear were previously considered conspecifi ...
, ''Colibri thalassinus'' (*) *
Rivoli's hummingbird Rivoli's hummingbird (''Eugenes fulgens''), also known as the magnificent hummingbird, is a species of hummingbird in the "mountain gems", tribe Lampornithini in subfamily Trochilinae. It is found in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nica ...
, ''Eugenes fulgens'' (*) * Blue-throated mountain-gem, ''Lampornis clemenciae'' (*) * Ruby-throated hummingbird, ''Archilochus colubris'' (*) * Black-chinned hummingbird, ''Archilochus alexandri'' *
Anna's hummingbird Anna's hummingbird (''Calypte anna'') is a medium-sized bird species of the family Trochilidae. It was named after Anna Masséna, Duchess of Rivoli. It is native to western coastal regions of North America. In the early 20th century, Anna's hu ...
, ''Calypte anna'' *
Costa's hummingbird Costa's hummingbird (''Calypte costae'') is a bird species in the hummingbird family Trochilidae. It breeds in the arid region of the southwest United States and northwest Mexico; it winters in western Mexico. Taxonomy Costa's hummingbird was f ...
, ''Calypte costae'' *
Calliope hummingbird The calliope hummingbird ( ; ''Selasphorus calliope'') is the smallest bird native to the United States and Canada. It has a western breeding range mainly from California to British Columbia, and migrates to the Southwestern United States, Mexic ...
, ''Selasphorus calliope'' *
Rufous hummingbird The rufous hummingbird (''Selasphorus rufus'') is a small hummingbird, about long with a long, straight and slender bill. These birds are known for their extraordinary flight skills, flying during their migratory transits. It is one of nine sp ...
, ''Selasphorus rufus'' * Allen's hummingbird, ''Selasphorus sasin'' * Broad-tailed hummingbird, ''Selasphorus platycercus'' *
Broad-billed hummingbird The broad-billed hummingbird (''Cynanthus latirostris'') is a small-sized hummingbird that resides in Mexico and the southwestern United States. The bird displays sexual dimorphism, and the juveniles resemble the female adult more than the male a ...
, ''Cynanthus latirostris'' (*) * Xantus's hummingbird, ''Basilinna xantusii'' (*) * Violet-crowned hummingbird, ''Leucolia violiceps'' (*)


Rails, gallinules, and coots

Order:
Gruiformes The Gruiformes are an order (biology), order containing a considerable number of living and extinct bird family (biology), families, with a widespread geographical diversity. Gruiform means "crane-like". Traditionally, a number of wading and t ...
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. *
Ridgway's rail Ridgway's rail (''Rallus obsoletus'') is a near-threatened species of bird. It is found principally in California's San Francisco Bay to southern Baja California. A member of the rail family, Rallidae, it is a chicken-sized bird that rarely flie ...
, ''Rallus obsoletus'' *
Virginia rail The Virginia rail (''Rallus limicola'') is a small waterbird, of the family Rallidae. These birds remain fairly common despite continuing loss of habitat, but are secretive by nature and more often heard than seen. They are also considered a ga ...
, ''Rallus limicola'' * Sora, ''Porzana carolina'' * Common gallinule, ''Gallinula galeata'' * American coot, ''Fulica americana'' *
Purple gallinule Purple gallinule is an alternative name for two species of birds in the rail family. It can refer to: * Purple swamphen, a group of closely related species of swamphen of the Old World * American purple gallinule The purple gallinule (''Porphyr ...
, ''Porphyrio martinicus'' (*) * Yellow rail, ''Coturnicops noveboracensis'' * Black rail, ''Laterallus jamaicensis''


Cranes

Order:
Gruiformes The Gruiformes are an order (biology), order containing a considerable number of living and extinct bird family (biology), families, with a widespread geographical diversity. Gruiform means "crane-like". Traditionally, a number of wading and t ...
Family: Gruidae Cranes are large, long-legged, 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". *
Demoiselle crane The demoiselle crane (''Grus virgo'') is a species of crane found in central Eurosiberia, ranging from the Black Sea to Mongolia and North Eastern China. There is also a small breeding population in Turkey. These cranes are migratory birds. Bir ...
, ''Anthropoides virgo'' (UO) * Sandhill crane, ''Antigone canadensis'' * Common crane, ''Grus grus'' (*)


Stilts and avocets

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: 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-necked stilt The black-necked stilt (''Himantopus mexicanus'') is a locally abundant shorebird of American wetlands and coastlines. It is found from the coastal areas of California through much of the interior western United States and along the Gulf of Mexic ...
, ''Himantopus mexicanus'' * American avocet, ''Recurvirostra americana''


Oystercatchers

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Haematopodidae The oystercatchers are large, obvious, and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open
mollusc Mollusca is the second-largest phylum of invertebrate animals after the Arthropoda, the members of which are known as molluscs or mollusks (). Around 85,000  extant species of molluscs are recognized. The number of fossil species is esti ...
s. * American oystercatcher, ''Haematopus palliatus'' *
Black oystercatcher The black oystercatcher (''Haematopus bachmani'') is a conspicuous black bird found on the shoreline of western North America. It ranges from the Aleutian Islands of Alaska to the coast of the Baja California peninsula. The black oystercatcher ...
, ''Haematopus bachmani''


Plovers and lapwings

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: 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. * Black-bellied plover, ''Pluvialis squatarola'' *
American golden-plover The American golden plover (''Pluvialis dominica''), is a medium-sized plover. The genus name is Latin and means relating to rain, from ''pluvia'', "rain". It was believed that golden plovers flocked when rain was imminent. The species name ''d ...
, ''Pluvialis dominica'' * Pacific golden-plover, ''Pluvialis fulva'' *
Eurasian dotterel The Eurasian dotterel (''Charadrius morinellus''), also known in Europe as just dotterel, is a small wader in the plover family of birds. The dotterel is a brown and black streaked bird with a broad white eye-stripe and an orange-red chest ban ...
, ''Charadrius morinellus'' (*) * Killdeer, ''Charadrius vociferus'' * Common ringed plover, ''Charadrius hiaticula'' (*) * Semipalmated plover, ''Charadrius semipalmatus'' *
Piping plover The piping plover (''Charadrius melodus'') is a small sand-colored, sparrow-sized shorebird that nests and feeds along coastal sand and gravel beaches in North America. The adult has yellow-orange-red legs, a black band across the forehead from e ...
, ''Charadrius melodus'' (*) *
Lesser sand-plover The lesser sand plover (''Charadrius mongolus'') is a small wader in the plover family of birds. The spelling is commonly given as lesser sand-plover, but the official British Ornithologists' Union spelling is "lesser sand plover". The genus ...
, ''Charadrius mongolus'' (*) * Greater sand-plover, ''Charadrius leschenaultii'' (*) * Wilson's plover, ''Charadrius wilsonia'' (*) * Snowy plover, ''Charadrius nivosus'' * Mountain plover, ''Charadrius montanus''


Sandpipers and allies

Order: CharadriiformesFamily:
Scolopacidae Sandpipers are a large family, Scolopacidae, of waders. They include many species called sandpipers, as well as those called by names such as curlew and snipe. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. ...
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'' (*) * Bristle-thighed curlew, ''Numenius tahitiensis'' (*) * Whimbrel, ''Numenius phaeopus'' *
Little curlew The little curlew (''Numenius minutus'') is a wader in the large bird family Scolopacidae. It is a very small curlew, which breeds in the far north of Siberia. It is closely related to the North American Eskimo curlew. The word "curlew" is imita ...
, ''Numenius minutus'' (*) *
Long-billed curlew The long-billed curlew (''Numenius americanus'') is a large North American shorebird of the family Scolopacidae. This species was also called "sicklebird" and the "candlestick bird". The species breeds in central and western North America, migrat ...
, ''Numenius americanus'' * Bar-tailed godwit, ''Limosa lapponica'' (*) *
Hudsonian godwit The Hudsonian godwit (''Limosa haemastica'') is a large shorebird in the sandpiper family, Scolopacidae. The genus name ''Limosa'' is from Latin and means "muddy", from ''limus'', "mud". The specific ''haemastica'' is from Ancient Greek and means ...
, ''Limosa haemastica'' (*) *
Marbled godwit The marbled godwit (''Limosa fedoa'') is a large migratory shorebird in the family Scolopacidae. On average, it is the largest of the four species of godwit. Taxonomy In 1750 the English naturalist George Edwards included an illustration and a ...
, ''Limosa fedoa'' * Ruddy turnstone, ''Arenaria interpres'' *
Black turnstone The black turnstone (''Arenaria melanocephala'') is a species of small wading bird. It is one of two species of turnstone in the genus ''Arenaria'' the ruddy turnstone (''A. interpres'') being the other. It is now classified in the sandpiper fam ...
, ''Arenaria melanocephala'' * Red knot, ''Calidris canutus'' *
Surfbird The surfbird (''Calidris virgata'') is a small stocky wader in the family Scolopacidae. It was once considered to be allied to the turnstones, and placed in the monotypic genus ''Aphriza'', but is now placed in the genus ''Calidris''. This bird ...
, ''Calidris virgata'' *
Ruff Ruff may refer to: Places *Ruff, Virginia, United States, an unincorporated community *Ruff, Washington, United States, an unincorporated community Other uses *Ruff (bird) (''Calidris pugnax'' or ''Philomachus pugnax''), a bird in the wader fami ...
, ''Calidris pugnax'' * Sharp-tailed sandpiper, ''Calidris acuminata'' * Stilt sandpiper, ''Calidris himantopus'' * Curlew sandpiper, ''Calidris ferruginea'' (*) * Long-toed stint, ''Calidris subminuta'' (*) * Red-necked stint, ''Calidris ruficollis'' (*) * Sanderling, ''Calidris alba'' *
Dunlin The dunlin (''Calidris alpina'') is a small wader, formerly sometimes separated with the other "stints" in the genus ''Erolia''. The English name is a dialect form of "dunling", first recorded in 1531–1532. It derives from ''dun'', "dull brown ...
, ''Calidris alpina'' * Rock sandpiper, ''Calidris ptilocnemis'' * Purple sandpiper, ''Calidris maritima'' (*) * Baird's sandpiper, ''Calidris bairdii'' * Little stint, ''Calidris minuta'' (*) * Least sandpiper, ''Calidris minutilla'' *
White-rumped sandpiper The white-rumped sandpiper (''Calidris fuscicollis'') is a small shorebird that breeds in the northern tundra of Canada and Alaska. This bird can be difficult to distinguish from other similar tiny shorebirds; these are known collectively as "pee ...
, ''Calidris fuscicollis'' (*) *
Buff-breasted sandpiper The buff-breasted sandpiper (''Calidris subruficollis'') is a small wader, shorebird. The species name ''subruficollis'' is from Latin ''subrufus'', "reddish" (from ''sub'', "somewhat", and ''rufus'', "rufous") and ''collis'', "-necked/-throated" ...
, ''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 The jack snipe or jacksnipe (''Lymnocryptes minimus'') is a small stocky wader. It is the smallest snipe, and the only member of the genus ''Lymnocryptes''. Features such as its sternum make it quite distinct from other snipes or woodcocks. Et ...
, ''Lymnocryptes minimus'' (*) * American woodcock, ''Scolopax minor'' (*) * Common snipe, ''Gallinago gallinago'' (*) * Wilson's snipe, ''Gallinago delicata'' * Terek sandpiper, ''Xenus cinereus'' (*) *
Spotted sandpiper The spotted sandpiper (''Actitis macularius'') is a small shorebird. Together with its sister species the common sandpiper (''A. hypoleucos''), it makes up the genus ''Actitis''. They replace each other geographically; stray birds may settle dow ...
, ''Actitis macularia'' *
Solitary sandpiper The solitary sandpiper (''Tringa solitaria'') is a small shorebird. The genus name ''Tringa'' is the New Latin name given to the green sandpiper by Aldrovandus in 1599 based on Ancient Greek ''trungas'', a thrush-sized, white-rumped, tail-bobbin ...
, ''Tringa solitaria'' *
Gray-tailed tattler The grey-tailed tattler (''Tringa brevipes'', formerly ''Heteroscelus brevipes''Banks, Richard C.; Cicero, Carla; Dunn, Jon L.; Kratter, Andrew W.; Rasmussen, Pamela C.; Remsen, J. V. Jr.; Rising, James D. & Stotz, Douglas F. (2006):Forty-seventh ...
, ''Tringa brevipes'' (*) *
Wandering tattler The wandering tattler (''Tringa incana''; formerly ''Heteroscelus incanus'': Pereira & Baker, 2005; Banks ''et al.'', 2006), is a medium-sized wading bird. It is similar in appearance to the closely related gray-tailed tattler, ''T. brevipes''. ...
, ''Tringa incana'' * Lesser yellowlegs, ''Tringa flavipes'' * Willet, ''Tringa semipalmata'' * Spotted redshank, ''Tringa erythropus'' (*) * Common greenshank, ''Tringa nebularia'' (*) * Greater yellowlegs, ''Tringa melanoleuca'' *
Wood sandpiper The wood sandpiper (''Tringa glareola'') is a small wader. This Eurasian species is the smallest of the shanks, which are mid-sized long-legged waders of the family Scolopacidae. The genus name ''Tringa'' is the New Latin name given to the green ...
, ''Tringa glareola'' (*) *
Marsh sandpiper The marsh sandpiper (''Tringa stagnatilis'') is a small wader. It is a rather small shank, and breeds in open grassy steppe and taiga wetlands from easternmost Europe to the Russian Far East. The genus name ''Tringa'' is the New Latin name given ...
, ''Tringa stagnatilis'' (*) * Wilson's phalarope, ''Phalaropus tricolor'' * Red-necked phalarope, ''Phalaropus lobatus'' * Red phalarope, ''Phalaropus fulicarius''


Skuas and jaegers

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Stercorariidae Skuas and jaegers 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. * South polar skua, ''Stercorarius maccormicki'' *
Pomarine jaeger The pomarine jaeger (''Stercorarius pomarinus''), pomarine skua, or pomatorhine skua, is a seabird in the skua family Stercorariidae. It is a migrant, wintering at sea in the tropical oceans. Taxonomy Its relationships are not fully resolved; i ...
, ''Stercorarius pomarinus'' *
Parasitic jaeger The parasitic jaeger (''Stercorarius parasiticus''), also known as the Arctic skua, Arctic jaeger or parasitic skua, is a seabird in the skua family Stercorariidae. It is a migratory species that breeds in Northern Scandinavia, Scotland, Iceland, ...
, ''Stercorarius parasiticus'' * Long-tailed jaeger, ''Stercorarius longicaudus''


Auks, murres, and puffins

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Alcidae Alcids are superficially similar to
penguin Penguins (order (biology), order List of Sphenisciformes by population, Sphenisciformes , family (biology), family Spheniscidae ) are a group of Water bird, aquatic flightless birds. They live almost exclusively in the Southern Hemisphere: on ...
s 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. * Common murre, ''Uria aalge'' *
Thick-billed murre The thick-billed murre or Brünnich's guillemot (''Uria lomvia'') is a bird in the auk family (Alcidae). This bird is named after the Danish zoologist Morten Thrane Brünnich. The very deeply black North Pacific subspecies ''Uria lomvia arra'' i ...
, ''Uria lomvia'' (*) * Pigeon guillemot, ''Cepphus columba'' *
Long-billed murrelet The long-billed murrelet (''Brachyramphus perdix'') is a small seabird from the North Pacific. The genus name ''Brachyramphus'' is from Ancient Greek ''brakhus'', "short", and ''rhamphos'', "bill". The species name ''perdix'' is Latin for "partr ...
, ''Brachyramphus perdix'' (*) * Marbled murrelet, ''Brachyramphus marmoratus'' *
Kittlitz's murrelet Kittlitz's murrelet (''Brachyramphus brevirostris'') is a small alcid found in the waters off Alaska and Eastern Siberia. This near threatened species is, like the closely related marbled murrelet, unusual for seabirds in not being colonial, nes ...
, ''Brachyramphus brevirostris'' (*) *
Scripps's murrelet Scripps's murrelet (''Synthliboramphus scrippsi'') is a small seabird found in the California Current system in the Pacific Ocean. This auk breeds on islands off California and Mexico. It is threatened by predators introduced to its breeding col ...
, ''Synthliboramphus scrippsi'' *
Guadalupe murrelet The Guadalupe murrelet (''Synthliboramphus hypoleucus'') or Xantus' Murrelet is a small seabird found in the California Current system in the Pacific Ocean. This auk breeds on islands off California and Mexico. It is threatened by predators intr ...
, ''Synthliboramphus hypoleucus'' *
Craveri's murrelet Craveri's murrelet (''Synthliboramphus craveri'') is a small seabird which breeds on offshore islands in both the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of California off the Baja peninsula of Mexico. It also wanders fairly regularly as far as central Calif ...
, ''Synthliboramphus craveri'' * Ancient murrelet, ''Synthliboramphus antiquus'' * Cassin's auklet, ''Ptychoramphus aleuticus'' *
Parakeet auklet The parakeet auklet (''Aethia psittacula'') is a small seabird of the North Pacific. Parakeet Auklets used to be placed on its own in the genus ''Cyclorrhynchus'' ( Kaup, 1829) but recent morphological and genetic evidence suggest it should be pl ...
, ''Aethia psittacula'' *
Least auklet The least auklet (''Aethia pusilla'') is a seabird and the smallest species of auk. It is the most abundant seabird in North America, and one of the most abundant in the world, with a population of around nine million birds. They breed on the isl ...
, ''Aethia pusilla'' (*) * Crested auklet, ''Aethia cristatella'' (*) *
Rhinoceros auklet The rhinoceros auklet (''Cerorhinca monocerata'') is a seabird and a close relative of the puffins. It is the only extant species of the genus ''Cerorhinca''. Given its close relationship with the puffins, the common name rhinoceros puffin has b ...
, ''Cerorhinca monocerata'' *
Horned puffin The horned puffin (''Fratercula corniculata'') is an auk found in the North Pacific Ocean, including the coasts of Alaska, Siberia and British Columbia. It is a pelagic seabird that feeds primarily by diving for fish. It nests in colonies, often ...
, ''Fratercula corniculata'' * Tufted puffin, ''Fratercula cirrhata''


Gulls, terns, and skimmers

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: 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'' (*) *
Black-legged kittiwake The black-legged kittiwake (''Rissa tridactyla'') is a seabird species in the gull family Laridae. This species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his landmark 1758 10th edition of ''Systema Naturae'' as ''Larus tridactylus''. The English ...
, ''Rissa tridactyla'' * Red-legged kittiwake, ''Rissa brevirostris'' (*) *
Ivory gull The ivory gull (''Pagophila eburnea'') is a small gull, the only species in the genus ''Pagophila''. It breeds in the high Arctic and has a circumpolar distribution through Greenland, northernmost North America, and Eurasia. Taxonomy The ivory ...
, ''Pagophila eburnea'' (*) * Sabine's gull, ''Xema sabini'' * Bonaparte's gull, ''Chroicocephalus philadelphia'' * Black-headed gull, ''Chroicocephalus ridibundus'' (*) * Little gull, ''Hydrocoloeus minutus'' * Ross's gull, ''Rhodostethia rosea'' (*) * Laughing gull, ''Leucophaeus atricilla'' *
Franklin's gull Franklin's gull (''Leucophaeus pipixcan'') is a small (length 12.6–14.2 in, 32–36 cm) gull. The genus name ''Leucophaeus'' is from Ancient Greek ''leukos'', "white", and ''phaios'', "dusky". The specific ''pipixcan'' is a Nahuatl name fo ...
, ''Leucophaeus pipixcan'' *
Belcher's gull Belcher's gull (''Larus belcheri''), also known as the band-tailed gull, is a bird in the family Laridae found along the Pacific coast of South America South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the ...
, ''Larus belcheri'' (*) * Black-tailed gull, ''Larus crassirostris'' (*) * Heermann's gull, ''Larus heermanni'' *
Short-billed gull The short-billed gull (''Larus brachyrhynchus'') is a medium-sized species of gull that breeds in northwestern North America. In North America it was previously known as the mew gull, when it was considered conspecific with the palearctic common g ...
, ''Larus brachyrhynchus'' * Ring-billed gull, ''Larus delawarensis'' * Western gull, ''Larus occidentalis'' *
Yellow-footed gull The yellow-footed gull (''Larus livens'') is a large gull, closely related to the western gull and thought to be a subspecies until the 1960s. It is endemic to the Gulf of California. Description Adults are similar in appearance to the western g ...
, ''Larus livens'' * California gull, ''Larus californicus'' * Herring gull, ''Larus argentatus'' *
Iceland gull The Iceland gull (''Larus glaucoides'') is a medium-sized gull that breeds in the Arctic regions of Canada and Greenland, but not in Iceland (as its name suggests), where it is only seen during winter. The genus name is from Latin ''larus'', whic ...
, ''Larus glaucoides'' * Lesser black-backed gull, ''Larus fuscus'' *
Slaty-backed gull The slaty-backed gull (''Larus schistisagus'') is a large, white-headed gull that breeds on the north-eastern coast of the Palearctic, but travels widely during nonbreeding seasons. It is similar in appearance to the western gull and the glaucou ...
, ''Larus schistisagus'' (*) * Glaucous-winged gull, ''Larus glaucescens'' *
Glaucous gull The glaucous gull (''Larus hyperboreus'') is a large gull, the second-largest gull in the world. It breeds in Arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere and winters south to shores of the Holarctic. The genus name is from Latin ''larus'', which a ...
, ''Larus hyperboreus'' * Great black-backed gull, ''Larus marinus'' (*) * Kelp gull, ''Larus dominicanus'' (*) *
Sooty tern The sooty tern (''Onychoprion fuscatus'') is a seabird in the family Laridae. It is a bird of the tropical oceans, returning to land only to breed on islands throughout the equatorial zone. Taxonomy The sooty tern was described by Carl Linnaeu ...
, ''Onychoprion fuscata'' (*) *
Bridled tern The bridled tern (''Onychoprion anaethetus'') is a seabird of the family Laridae. It is a bird of the tropical oceans. The scientific name is from Ancient Greek. The genus comes from ' meaning "claw" or "nail", and , meaning "saw". The specific ...
, ''Onychoprion anaethetus'' (*) * Least tern, ''Sternula antillarum'' * Gull-billed tern, ''Gelochelidon nilotica'' * Caspian tern, ''Hydroprogne caspia'' * Black tern, ''Chlidonias niger'' * White-winged tern, ''Chlidonias leucopterus'' (*) * Common tern, ''Sterna hirundo'' *
Arctic tern The Arctic tern (''Sterna paradisaea'') is a tern in the family Laridae. This bird has a circumpolar breeding distribution covering the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions of Europe (as far south as Brittany), Asia, and North America (as far south a ...
, ''Sterna paradisaea'' * Forster's tern, ''Sterna forsteri'' *
Royal tern The royal tern (''Thalasseus maximus'') is a tern in the family Laridae. The species is endemic to the Americas, though strays have been identified in Europe.Buckley, P. A. and F. G. Buckley (2020). Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus), version 1.0. ...
, ''Thalasseus maximus'' * Sandwich tern, ''Thalasseus sandvicensis'' (*) * Elegant tern, ''Thalasseus elegans'' *
Black skimmer The black skimmer (''Rynchops niger'') is a tern-like seabird, one of three similar birds species in the skimmer genus ''Rynchops'' in the gull family Laridae. It breeds in North and South America. Northern populations winter in the warmer water ...
, ''Rynchops niger''


Tropicbirds

Order: PhaethontiformesFamily: 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 The red-tailed tropicbird (''Phaethon rubricauda'') is a seabird native to tropical parts of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. One of three closely related species of tropicbird (Phaethontidae), it was described by Pieter Boddaert in 1783. Superfic ...
, ''Phaethon rubricauda'' (*)


Loons

Order:
Gaviiformes Gaviiformes is an order of aquatic birds containing the loons or divers and their closest extinct relatives. Modern gaviiformes are found in many parts of North America and northern Eurasia (Europe, Asia and debatably Africa), though prehistori ...
Family: Gaviidae
Loon Loons (North American English) or divers (British / Irish English) are a group of aquatic birds found in much of North America and northern Eurasia. All living species of loons are members of the genus ''Gavia'', family Gaviidae and order Gavi ...
s 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 The black-throated loon (''Gavia arctica''), also known as the Arctic loon and the black-throated diver, is a migratory aquatic bird found in the northern hemisphere, primarily breeding in freshwater lakes in northern Europe and Asia. It winter ...
, ''Gavia arctica'' (*) *
Pacific loon The Pacific loon or Pacific diver (''Gavia pacifica''), is a medium-sized member of the loon, or diver, family. Taxonomy and etymology The Pacific loon, previously considered conspecific with the similar black-throated loon, was classified as ...
, ''Gavia pacifica'' * Common loon, ''Gavia immer'' * Yellow-billed loon, ''Gavia adamsii'' (*)


Albatrosses

Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Diomedeidae The albatrosses are amongst the largest of flying birds, and the great albatrosses from the genus ''Diomedea'' have the largest wingspans of any extant birds. * White-capped albatross, ''Thalassarche cauta'' (*) * Chatham albatross, ''Thalassarche eremita'' (*) *
Salvin's albatross Salvin's albatross (''Thalassarche salvini'') or Salvin's mollymawk, is a large seabird that breeds mainly on the Bounty Islands of New Zealand, with scant amounts on islands across the Southern Ocean. A medium-sized mollymawk, it was long consi ...
, ''Thalassarche salvini'' (*) * Light-mantled albatross, ''Phoebetria palpebrata'' (*) * Wandering albatross, ''Diomedea exulans'' (*) *
Laysan albatross The Laysan albatross (''Phoebastria immutabilis'') is a large seabird that ranges across the North Pacific. The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands are home to 99.7% of the population. This small (for its family) gull-like albatross is the second-most ...
, ''Phoebastria immutabilis'' * Black-footed albatross, ''Phoebastria nigripes'' * Short-tailed albatross, ''Phoebastria albatrus'' (*)


Southern storm-petrels

Order: ProcellariiformesFamily:
Oceanitidae Austral storm petrels, or southern storm petrels, are seabirds in the family Oceanitidae, part of the order Procellariiformes. These smallest of seabirds feed on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hove ...
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. Until 2018, this family's three species were included with the other storm-petrels in family Hydrobatidae. * Wilson's storm-petrel, ''Oceanites oceanicus''


Northern storm-petrels

Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Hydrobatidae Though the members of this family are similar in many respects to the southern storm-petrels, including their general appearance and habits, there are enough genetic differences to warrant their placement in a separate family. *
Fork-tailed storm-petrel The fork-tailed storm petrel (''Hydrobates furcatus'') is a small seabird of the storm petrel family Hydrobatidae. It is the second-most abundant and widespread storm petrel (after Leach's storm petrel) and is the only bird in its family that is ...
, ''Hydrobates furcatus'' * Ringed storm-petrel, ''Hydrobates hornbyi'' (*) *
Leach's storm-petrel Leach's storm petrel or Leach's petrel (''Hydrobates leucorhous'') is a small seabird of the tubenose order. It is named after the British zoologist William Elford Leach. The scientific name is derived from Ancient Greek. ''Hydrobates'' is from ...
, ''Hydrobates leucorhous'' * Townsend's storm-petrel, ''Hydrobates socorroensis'' * Ashy storm-petrel, ''Hydrobates homochroa'' *
Band-rumped storm-petrel The band-rumped storm petrel, Madeiran storm petrel, or Harcourt's storm petrel (''Hydrobates castro'') is of the storm petrel family Hydrobatidae. Description The band-rumped storm petrel is 19–21 cm in length with a 43–46 cm wi ...
, ''Hydrobates castro'' (*) *
Wedge-rumped storm-petrel The wedge-rumped storm petrel (''Hydrobates tethys'') is a storm petrel. It breeds in the Galápagos Islands and on the coast of Peru. It was formerly defined in the genus ''Oceanodroma'' before that genus was synonymized with ''Northern storm pe ...
, ''Hydrobates tethys'' (*) * Black storm-petrel, ''Hydrobates melania'' *
Tristram's storm-petrel Tristram's storm petrel or ''akihikeehiale'' (''Hydrobates tristrami'') is a species of seabird in the storm petrel family Hydrobatidae. The species' common and scientific name is derived from the English clergyman Henry Baker Tristram; the specie ...
, ''Hydrobates tristrami'' (*) *
Least storm-petrel The least storm petrel (''Hydrobates microsoma'') is a small seabird of the storm petrel family Hydrobatidae. It is 13–15 cm in length, with a wingspan of 32 cm. It is the smallest member of the order Procellariiformes. It was form ...
, ''Hydrobates microsoma''


Shearwaters and petrels

Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: 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 The northern fulmar (''Fulmarus glacialis''), fulmar, or Arctic fulmar is a highly abundant seabird found primarily in subarctic regions of the North Atlantic and North Pacific oceans. There has been one confirmed sighting in the Southern Hemis ...
, ''Fulmarus glacialis'' *
Gray-faced petrel The grey-faced petrel (''Pterodroma gouldi'') is a petrel endemic to the North Island of New Zealand. In New Zealand it is also known by its Māori name and (along with other species such as the sooty shearwater) as a muttonbird. Taxonomy Th ...
, ''Pterodroma gouldi'' (*) * Kermadec petrel, ''Pterodroma neglecta'' (*) * Murphy's petrel, ''Pterodroma ultima'' *
Mottled petrel The mottled petrel (''Pterodroma inexpectata'') or kōrure is a species of seabird and a member of the gadfly petrels. It usually attains in length with a wingspan. This species is highly pelagic, rarely approaching land, except to nest and re ...
, ''Pterodroma inexpectata'' *
Hawaiian petrel The Hawaiian petrel or ''uau'' (''Pterodroma sandwichensis'') is a large, dark grey-brown and white petrel that is endemic to Hawaii. Distribution The Hawaiian petrel was formerly found on all the main Hawaiian Islands except Niihau, but today i ...
, ''Pterodroma sandwichensis'' *
Cook's petrel Cook's petrel (''Pterodroma cookii'') or the blue-footed petrel, is a Procellariform seabird. It is a member of the gadfly petrels and part of the subgroup known as Cookilaria petrels, which includes the very similar Stejneger's petrel. Morphol ...
, ''Pterodroma cookii'' *
Stejneger's petrel Stejneger's petrel (''Pterodroma longirostris'') is a species of seabird and a member of the gadfly petrels. The bird is 26–31 cm in size, with a 53–66 cm wingspan. This species is highly pelagic, rarely approaching land, except t ...
, ''Pterodroma longirostris'' (*) * Bulwer's petrel, ''Bulweria bulwerii'' (*) *
Jouanin's petrel Jouanin's petrel (''Bulweria fallax'') is a species of seabird in the family Procellariidae. It is found throughout the northwestern Indian Ocean. Its natural habitats are open seas and shallow seas. It has been recorded breeding on Socotra ...
, ''Bulweria fallax'' (*) *
White-chinned petrel The white-chinned petrel (''Procellaria aequinoctialis'') also known as the Cape hen and shoemaker, is a large shearwater in the family Procellariidae. It ranges around the Southern Ocean as far north as southern Australia, Peru and Namibia, and ...
, ''Procellaria aequinoctialis'' (*) *
Parkinson's petrel The black petrel (''Procellaria parkinsoni''), also called the Parkinson's petrel, is a medium-sized, black-plumaged petrel, the smallest of the ''Procellaria''. The species is an endemic breeder of New Zealand, breeding only on Great Barrier Is ...
, ''Procellaria parkinsoni'' (*) *
Streaked shearwater The streaked shearwater (''Calonectris leucomelas'') is a species of seabird. The adult bird averages in length, with a wingspan. Description The streaked shearwater feeds mainly on fish and squid. It follows fishing boats, attracted to ancho ...
, ''Calonectris leucomelas'' (*) * Cory's shearwater, ''Calonectris diomedea'' (*) * Wedge-tailed shearwater, ''Ardenna pacificus'' (*) *
Buller's shearwater Buller's shearwater (''Ardenna bulleri'') is a Pacific species of seabird in the family Procellariidae; it is also known as the grey-backed shearwater or New Zealand shearwater. A member of the black-billed wedge-tailed ''Thyellodroma'' group, a ...
, ''Ardenna bulleri'' *
Short-tailed shearwater The short-tailed shearwater or slender-billed shearwater (''Ardenna tenuirostris''; formerly ''Puffinus tenuirostris''), also called yolla or moonbird, and commonly known as the muttonbird in Australia, is the most abundant seabird species in A ...
, ''Ardenna tenuirostris'' * Sooty shearwater, ''Ardenna griseus'' * Great shearwater, ''Ardenna gravis'' (*) *
Pink-footed shearwater The pink-footed shearwater (''Ardenna creatopus'') is a species of seabird. The bird is in length, with a wingspan. It is polymorphic, having both darker- and lighter-phase populations. Together with the equally light-billed flesh-footed shea ...
, ''Ardenna creatopus'' * Flesh-footed shearwater, ''Ardenna carneipes'' *
Manx shearwater The Manx shearwater (''Puffinus puffinus'') is a medium-sized shearwater in the seabird family Procellariidae. The scientific name of this species records a name shift: Manx shearwaters were called Manks puffins in the 17th century. Puffin is an ...
, ''Puffinus puffinus'' (*) *
Newell's shearwater Newell's shearwater or Hawaiian shearwater (''ʻaʻo''), (''Puffinus newelli'') is a seabird in the family Procellariidae. It belongs to a confusing group of shearwaters which are difficult to identify and whose classification is controversial. I ...
, ''Puffinus newelli'' (*) *
Black-vented shearwater The black-vented shearwater (''Puffinus opisthomelas'') is a species of seabird. The bird is 30–38 cm in length with a 76–89 cm wingspan. Formerly considered a subspecies of the Manx shearwater, its actual taxonomic relationships ...
, ''Puffinus opisthomelas''


Storks

Order: CiconiiformesFamily: 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. * Wood stork, ''Mycteria americana'' (*)


Frigatebirds

Order: SuliformesFamily: 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. * Lesser frigatebird, ''Fregata ariel'' (*) * Magnificent frigatebird, ''Fregata magnificens'' *
Great frigatebird The great frigatebird (''Fregata minor'') is a large seabird in the frigatebird family. There are major nesting populations in the tropical Pacific (including the Galapagos Islands) and Indian Oceans, as well as a tiny population in the South At ...
, ''Fregata minor'' (*)


Boobies and gannets

Order: SuliformesFamily: Sulidae The sulids comprise the gannets and boobies. Both groups are medium-large coastal seabirds that plunge-dive for fish. * Masked booby, ''Sula dactylatra'' (*) * Nazca booby, ''Sula granti'' *
Blue-footed booby The blue-footed booby (''Sula nebouxii'') is a marine bird native to subtropical and tropical regions of the eastern Pacific Ocean. It is one of six species of the genus '' Sula'' – known as boobies. It is easily recognizable by its distinct ...
, ''Sula nebouxii'' *
Brown booby The brown booby (''Sula leucogaster'') is a large seabird of the booby family Sulidae, of which it is perhaps the most common and widespread species. It has a pantropical range, which overlaps with that of other booby species. The gregarious brow ...
, ''Sula leucogaster'' *
Red-footed booby The red-footed booby (''Sula sula'') is a large seabird of the booby family, Sulidae. Adults always have red feet, but the colour of the plumage varies. They are powerful and agile fliers, but they are clumsy in takeoffs and landings. They are f ...
, ''Sula sula'' (*) * Northern gannet, ''Morus bassanus'' (*)


Anhingas

Order: SuliformesFamily: 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'' (*)


Cormorants and shags

Order: SuliformesFamily: 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. *
Brandt's cormorant Brandt's cormorant (''Urile penicillatus'') is a strictly marine bird of the cormorant family of seabirds that inhabits the Pacific coast of North America. It ranges, in the summer, from Alaska to the Gulf of California, but the population nort ...
, ''Urile penicillatus'' * Pelagic cormorant, ''Urile pelagicus'' * Double-crested cormorant, ''Nannopterum auritum'' * Neotropic cormorant, ''Nannopterum brasilianum''


Pelicans

Order: PelecaniformesFamily: 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 The American white pelican (''Pelecanus erythrorhynchos'') is a large aquatic soaring bird from the order Pelecaniformes. It breeds in interior North America, moving south and to the coasts, as far as Central America and South America, in winte ...
, ''Pelecanus erythrorhynchos'' * Brown pelican, ''Pelecanus occidentalis''


Herons, egrets, and bitterns

Order: PelecaniformesFamily: 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'' * Least bittern, ''Ixobrychus exilis'' *
Great blue heron The great blue heron (''Ardea herodias'') is a large wading bird in the heron family Ardeidae, common near the shores of open water and in wetlands over most of North America and Central America, as well as the Caribbean and the Galápagos ...
, ''Ardea herodias'' * Great egret, ''Ardea alba'' *
Snowy egret The snowy egret (''Egretta thula'') is a small white heron. The genus name comes from Provençal French for the little egret, , which is a diminutive of , 'heron'. The species name ''thula'' is the Araucano term for the black-necked swan, app ...
, ''Egretta thula'' * Little blue heron, ''Egretta caerulea'' * Tricolored heron, ''Egretta tricolor'' (*) *
Reddish egret The reddish egret (''Egretta rufescens'') is a medium-sized heron that is a resident breeder in Central America, The Bahamas, the Caribbean, the Gulf Coast of the United States (primarily Texas), and Mexico. The egret is known for its unusual ...
, ''Egretta rufescens'' *
Cattle egret The cattle egret (''Bubulcus ibis'') is a cosmopolitan species of heron (family Ardeidae) found in the tropics, subtropics, and warm-temperate zones. It is the only member of the monotypic genus ''Bubulcus'', although some authorities regard it ...
, ''Bubulcus ibis'' *
Green heron The green heron (''Butorides virescens'') is a small heron of North and Central America. ''Butorides'' is from Middle English ''butor'' "bittern" and Ancient Greek ''-oides'', "resembling", and ''virescens'' is Latin for "greenish". It was long c ...
, ''Butorides virescens'' *
Black-crowned night-heron The black-crowned night heron (''Nycticorax nycticorax''), or black-capped night heron, commonly shortened to just night heron in Eurasia, is a medium-sized heron found throughout a large part of the world, including parts of Europe, Asia, and ...
, ''Nycticorax nycticorax'' * Yellow-crowned night-heron, ''Nyctanassa violacea''


Ibises and spoonbills

Order: PelecaniformesFamily: 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'' (*) * Glossy ibis, ''Plegadis falcinellus'' (*) *
White-faced ibis The white-faced ibis (''Plegadis chihi'') is a wading bird in the ibis family, Threskiornithidae. This species breeds colonially in marshes, usually nesting in bushes or low trees. Its breeding range extends from the western United States south ...
, ''Plegadis chihi'' * Roseate spoonbill, ''Platalea ajaja'' (*)


New World vultures

Order: CathartiformesFamily:
Cathartidae The New World vulture or condor family, Cathartidae, contains seven extant species in five genera. It includes five extant vultures and two extant condors found in warm and temperate areas of the Americas. The "New World" vultures were widespread ...
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. * California condor, ''Gymnogyps californianus'' (RI) * Black vulture, ''Coragyps atratus'' (*) * Turkey vulture, ''Cathartes aura''


Osprey

Order: AccipitriformesFamily:
Pandionidae ''Pandion'' is a genus of birds of prey, known as ospreys, the only genus of family Pandionidae. Most taxonomic treatments have regarded this genus as describing a single extant species, separated to subspecies or races, while some treatments rec ...
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, eagles, and kites

Order: AccipitriformesFamily: 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. * White-tailed kite, ''Elanus leucurus'' * Swallow-tailed kite, ''Elanoides forficatus'' (*) * Golden eagle, ''Aquila chrysaetos'' *
Northern harrier The northern harrier (''Circus hudsonius''), or ring-tailed hawk, is a bird of prey. It breeds throughout the northern parts of the northern hemisphere in Canada and the northernmost USA. The northern harrier migrates to more southerly areas ...
, ''Circus hudsonius'' * Sharp-shinned hawk, ''Accipiter striatus'' * Cooper's hawk, ''Accipiter cooperii'' *
Northern goshawk The northern goshawk (; ''Accipiter gentilis'') is a species of medium-large bird of prey, raptor in the Family (biology), family Accipitridae, a family which also includes other extant diurnal raptors, such as eagles, buzzards and harrier (bird) ...
, ''Accipiter gentilis'' *
Bald eagle The bald eagle (''Haliaeetus leucocephalus'') is a bird of prey found in North America. A sea eagle, it has two known subspecies and forms a species pair with the white-tailed eagle (''Haliaeetus albicilla''), which occupies the same niche as ...
, ''Haliaeetus leucocephalus'' * Mississippi kite, ''Ictinia mississippiensis'' (*) *
Common black hawk The common black hawk (''Buteogallus anthracinus'') is a bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which also includes the eagles, hawks, and Old World vultures. Description The adult common black-hawk is long and weighs on average. It has very ...
, ''Buteogallus anthracinus'' (*) * Harris's hawk, ''Parabuteo unicinctus'' *
Gray hawk The gray hawk (''Buteo plagiatus'') or Mexican goshawk is a smallish raptor found in open country and forest edges. It is sometimes placed in the genus ''Asturina'' as ''Asturina plagiata''. The species was split by the American Ornithological So ...
, ''Buteo plagiatus'' (*) * Red-shouldered hawk, ''Buteo lineatus'' * Broad-winged hawk, ''Buteo platypterus'' * Swainson's hawk, ''Buteo swainsoni'' *
Zone-tailed hawk The zone-tailed hawk (''Buteo albonotatus'') is a medium-sized buzzard, hawk of warm, dry parts of the Americas. It is somewhat similar in plumage and flight style to a common scavenger, the turkey vulture, and may benefit from being able to blen ...
, ''Buteo albonotatus'' * Red-tailed hawk, ''Buteo jamaicensis'' *
Rough-legged hawk The rough-legged buzzard or rough-legged hawk (''Buteo lagopus'') is a medium-large bird of prey. It is found in Arctic and Subarctic regions of North America, Europe, and Russia during the breeding season and migrates south for the winter. It ...
, ''Buteo lagopus'' * Ferruginous hawk, ''Buteo regalis''


Barn-owls

Order: StrigiformesFamily: Tytonidae Barn-owls are medium to large owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long strong legs with powerful talons. *
Barn owl The barn owl (''Tyto alba'') is the most widely distributed species of owl in the world and one of the most widespread of all species of birds, being found almost everywhere except for the polar and desert regions, Asia north of the Himalaya ...
, ''Tyto alba''


Owls

Order: StrigiformesFamily: Strigidae Typical 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. *
Flammulated owl The flammulated owl (''Psiloscops flammeolus'') is a small migratory North American owl in the family Strigidae. It is the only species placed in the genus ''Psiloscops''. Taxonomy The flammulated owl was formally described in 1852 by the Germ ...
, ''Psiloscops flammeolus'' * Western screech-owl, ''Megascops kennicottii'' * Great horned owl, ''Bubo virginianus'' * Snowy owl, ''Bubo scandiacus'' (*) *
Northern pygmy-owl The northern pygmy owl (''Glaucidium californicum'') is a small owl native to western North America. Taxonomy Some taxonomic authorities, including the International Ornithologists' Union, separate this species from the mountain pygmy owl, th ...
, ''Glaucidium gnoma'' * Elf owl, ''Micrathene whitneyi'' (*) * Burrowing owl, ''Athene cunicularia'' * Spotted owl, ''Strix occidentalis'' * Barred owl, ''Strix varia'' *
Great gray owl The great grey owl (''Strix nebulosa'') (also great gray owl in American English) is a very large owl, documented as the world's largest species of owl by length. It is distributed across the Northern Hemisphere, and it is the only species in th ...
, ''Strix nebulosa'' * Long-eared owl, ''Asio otus'' *
Short-eared owl The short-eared owl (''Asio flammeus'') is a widespread grassland species in the family Strigidae. Owls belonging to genus ''Asio'' are known as the eared owls, as they have tufts of feathers resembling mammalian ears. These "ear" tufts may or ...
, ''Asio flammeus'' * Northern saw-whet owl, ''Aegolius acadicus''


Kingfishers

Order: CoraciiformesFamily: Alcedinidae Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long pointed bills, short legs, and stubby tails. *
Belted kingfisher The belted kingfisher (''Megaceryle alcyon'') is a large, conspicuous water kingfisher, native to North America. All kingfishers were formerly placed in one family, Alcedinidae, but recent research suggests that this should be divided into three ...
, ''Megaceryle alcyon''


Woodpeckers

Order: PiciformesFamily:
Picidae Woodpeckers are part of the bird family Picidae, which also includes the piculets, wrynecks, and sapsuckers. Members of this family are found worldwide, except for Australia, New Guinea, New Zealand, Madagascar, and the extreme polar regions. M ...
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 The Eurasian wryneck or northern wryneck (''Jynx torquilla'') is a species of wryneck in the woodpecker family. This species mainly breeds in temperate regions of Europe and Asia. Most populations are migratory, wintering in tropical Africa and ...
, ''Jynx torquilla'' (*) * Lewis's woodpecker, ''Melanerpes lewis'' * Red-headed woodpecker, ''Melanerpes erythrocephalus'' (*) * Acorn woodpecker, ''Melanerpes formicivorus'' * Gila woodpecker, ''Melanerpes uropygialis'' *
Williamson's sapsucker Williamson's sapsucker (''Sphyrapicus thyroideus'') is a medium-sized woodpecker belonging to the genus '' Sphyrapicus'' (sapsuckers). Habitat and range Breeding habitat is open forested areas with conifers, mainly ponderosa pine, douglas-fir, a ...
, ''Sphyrapicus thyroideus'' *
Yellow-bellied sapsucker The yellow-bellied sapsucker (''Sphyrapicus varius'') is a medium-sized woodpecker that breeds in Canada and the northeastern United States. Taxonomy The yellow-bellied sapsucker was described and illustrated using a hand-coloured plate by the E ...
, ''Sphyrapicus varius'' *
Red-naped sapsucker The red-naped sapsucker (''Sphyrapicus nuchalis'') is a medium-sized North American woodpecker. Long thought to be a subspecies of the yellow-bellied sapsucker, it is now known to be a distinct species. Systematics The red-naped sapsucker is on ...
, ''Sphyrapicus nuchalis'' *
Red-breasted sapsucker The red-breasted sapsucker (''Sphyrapicus ruber'') is a medium-sized woodpecker of the forests of the west coast of North America. Description Adults have a red head and upper chest; they have a white lower belly and rump. They are black on the ...
, ''Sphyrapicus ruber'' *
Black-backed woodpecker The black-backed woodpecker (''Picoides arcticus''), also known as the Arctic three-toed woodpecker, is a medium-sized woodpecker ( long) inhabiting the forests of North America. Taxonomy The black-backed woodpecker was described and illustrat ...
, ''Picoides arcticus'' * Downy woodpecker, ''Dryobates pubescens'' *
Nuttall's woodpecker Nuttall's woodpecker (''Dryobates nuttallii'') is a species of woodpecker named after naturalist Thomas Nuttall in 1843. They are found in oak woodlands of California and are similar to the ladder-backed woodpecker in both genetics and appearanc ...
, ''Dryobates nuttallii'' * Ladder-backed woodpecker, ''Dryobates scalaris'' *
Hairy woodpecker The hairy woodpecker (''Leuconotopicus villosus'') is a medium-sized woodpecker that is found over a large area of North America. It is approximately in length with a wingspan. With an estimated population in 2020 of almost nine million individ ...
, ''Dryobates villosus'' *
White-headed woodpecker The white-headed woodpecker (''Leuconotopicus albolarvatus'') is a non-migratory woodpecker that resides in pine forests of the mountains of western North America. Description It has a black body (approximately long) and white head. It has whit ...
, ''Dryobates albolarvatus'' *
Northern flicker The northern flicker or common flicker (''Colaptes auratus'') is a medium-sized bird of the woodpecker family. It is native to most of North America, parts of Central America, Cuba, and the Cayman Islands, and is one of the few woodpecker spec ...
, ''Colaptes auratus'' *
Gilded flicker The gilded flicker (''Colaptes chrysoides'') is a large-sized woodpecker (mean length of ) of the Sonoran, Yuma, and eastern Colorado Desert regions of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, including all of Baja California, ex ...
, ''Colaptes chrysoides'' * Pileated woodpecker, ''Dryocopus pileatus''


Falcons and caracaras

Order: FalconiformesFamily:
Falconidae The falcons and caracaras are around 60 species of diurnal birds of prey that make up the family Falconidae (representing all extant species in the order Falconiformes). The family is divided into three subfamilies, Herpetotherinae, which inclu ...
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. * Crested caracara, ''Caracara plancus'' (*) *
Eurasian kestrel The common kestrel (''Falco tinnunculus'') is a bird of prey species belonging to the kestrel group of the falcon family Falconidae. It is also known as the European kestrel, Eurasian kestrel, or Old World kestrel. In the United Kingdom, where no ...
, ''Falco tinnunculus'' (*) * American kestrel, ''Falco sparverius'' *
Merlin Merlin ( cy, Myrddin, kw, Marzhin, br, Merzhin) is a mythical figure prominently featured in the legend of King Arthur and best known as a mage, with several other main roles. His usual depiction, based on an amalgamation of historic and le ...
, ''Falco columbarius'' * Gyrfalcon, ''Falco rusticolus'' (*) * Peregrine falcon, ''Falco peregrinus'' * Prairie falcon, ''Falco mexicanus''


New World and African parrots

Order: PsittaciformesFamily: parrot, Psittacidae Characteristic features of parrots include a strong curved bill, an upright stance, strong legs, and clawed zygodactyl feet. Many parrots are vividly colored, and some are multi-colored. In size they range from to in length. Most of the more than 150 species in this family are found in the New World. * Yellow-chevroned parakeet, ''Brotogeris chiriri'' (I) * Red-crowned parrot, ''Amazona viridigenalis'' (I)


Tyrant flycatchers

Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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. * Dusky-capped flycatcher, ''Myiarchus tuberculifer'' * Ash-throated flycatcher, ''Myiarchus cinerascens'' * Nutting's flycatcher, ''Myiarchus nuttingi'' (*) * Great crested flycatcher, ''Myiarchus crinitus'' (*) * Brown-crested flycatcher, ''Myiarchus tyrannulus'' * Sulphur-bellied flycatcher, ''Myiodynastes luteiventris'' (*) * 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'' * Scissor-tailed flycatcher, ''Tyrannus forficatus'' * Fork-tailed flycatcher, ''Tyrannus savana'' (*) * Olive-sided flycatcher, ''Contopus cooperi'' * Greater pewee, ''Contopus pertinax'' (*) * Western wood-pewee, ''Contopus sordidulus'' * Eastern wood-pewee, ''Contopus virens'' (*) * Yellow-bellied flycatcher, ''Empidonax flaviventris'' (*) * Alder flycatcher, ''Empidonax alnorum'' (*) * Willow flycatcher, ''Empidonax traillii'' * Least flycatcher, ''Empidonax minimus'' * Hammond's flycatcher, ''Empidonax hammondii'' * American grey flycatcher, Gray flycatcher, ''Empidonax wrightii'' * American dusky flycatcher, 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''


Vireos, shrike-babblers, and erpornis

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Vireonidae The vireos and greenlets are a group of small to medium-sized passerine birds mostly restricted to the New World, though a few members of the family, called shrike-babblers, are found in Asia. They are typically greenish in color and resemble wood-warblers apart from their heavier bills. * White-eyed vireo, ''Vireo griseus'' (*) * Bell's vireo, ''Vireo bellii'' * Grey vireo, 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''


Shrikes

Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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'' (*) * Loggerhead shrike, ''Lanius ludovicianus'' * Northern shrike, ''Lanius borealis''


Crows, jays, and magpies

Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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. * Canada jay, ''Perisoreus canadensis'' * Pinyon jay, ''Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus'' * Steller's jay, ''Cyanocitta stelleri'' * Blue jay, ''Cyanocitta cristata'' (*) * Island scrub-jay, ''Aphelocoma insularis'' (En) * California scrub-jay, ''Aphelocoma californica'' * Woodhouse's scrub-jay, ''Aphelocoma woodhouseii'' * Clark's nutcracker, ''Nucifraga columbiana'' * Black-billed magpie, ''Pica hudsonia'' * Yellow-billed magpie, ''Pica nuttalli'' (En) * American crow, ''Corvus brachyrhynchos'' * Common raven, ''Corvus corax''


Penduline-tits

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Remizidae The only member of this family in the New World, the verdin is 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 insectivore, 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''


Tits, chickadees, and titmice

Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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. * Black-capped chickadee, ''Poecile atricapilla'' * Mountain chickadee, ''Poecile gambeli'' * Chestnut-backed chickadee, ''Poecile rufescens'' * Oak titmouse, ''Baeolophus inornatus'' * Juniper titmouse, ''Baeolophus ridgwayi''


Larks

Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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'' (*) * Horned lark, ''Eremophila alpestris''


Grassbirds and allies

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Locustellidae Locustellidae are a family of small insectivorous songbirds found mainly in Eurasia, Africa, and the Australian region. They are smallish birds with tails that are usually long and pointed, and tend to be drab brownish or buffy all over. * Lanceolated warbler, ''Locustella lanceolata'' (*)


Swallows

Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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. * Bank swallow, ''Riparia riparia'' * Tree swallow, ''Tachycineta bicolor'' * Violet-green swallow, ''Tachycineta thalassina'' * Northern rough-winged swallow, ''Stelgidopteryx serripennis'' * Purple martin, ''Progne subis'' * Barn swallow, ''Hirundo rustica'' * American cliff swallow, Cliff swallow, ''Petrochelidon pyrrhonota'' * Cave swallow, ''Petrochelidon fulva'' (*)


Long-tailed tits

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Aegithalidae The long-tailed tits 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. * American bushtit, Bushtit, ''Psaltriparus minimus''


Leaf warblers

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Phylloscopidae Leaf warblers are a family of small insectivorous birds found mostly in Eurasia and ranging into Wallacea and Africa. The Arctic warbler breeds east into Alaska. The species are of various sizes, often green-plumaged above and yellow below, or more subdued with grayish-green to grayish-brown colors. * Yellow-browed warbler, ''Phylloscopus inornatus'' (*) * Dusky warbler, ''Phylloscopus fuscatus'' (*) * Arctic warbler/Kamchatka leaf warbler, ''Phylloscopus borealis/examinandus'' (*)


Bulbuls

Order: PasseriformesFamily: bulbul, 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-whiskered bulbul ''Pycnonotus jocosus'' (I)


Sylviid warblers, parrotbills, and allies

Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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. * Wrentit, ''Chamaea fasciata''


Kinglets

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Regulidae The kinglets are a small family of birds which resemble the titmice. They are very small insectivorous birds. The adults have colored crowns, giving rise to their name. * Ruby-crowned kinglet, ''Corthylio calendula'' * Golden-crowned kinglet, ''Regulus satrapa''


Waxwings

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Bombycillidae The waxwings are a group of 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''


Silky-flycatchers

Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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'' (UO) * Phainopepla, ''Phainopepla nitens''


Nuthatches

Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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''


Treecreepers

Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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''


Gnatcatchers

Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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'' * Black-tailed gnatcatcher, ''Polioptila melanura'' * California gnatcatcher, ''Polioptila californica''


Wrens

Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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'' * Bewick's wren, ''Thryomanes bewickii'' * Cactus wren, ''Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus''


Mockingbirds and thrashers

Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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'' (UO) * Gray catbird, ''Dumetella carolinensis'' * Curve-billed thrasher, ''Toxostoma curvirostre'' (*) * Brown thrasher, ''Toxostoma rufum'' * Bendire's thrasher, ''Toxostoma bendirei'' * Gray thrasher, ''Toxostoma cinereum'' (UO) (not on the AOS ''Check-list''; placement is per the
Clements taxonomy ''The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World'' is a book by Jim Clements which presents a list of the bird species of the world. The most recent printed version is the sixth edition (2007), but has been updated yearly, the last version in 2022 ...
) * California thrasher, ''Toxostoma redivivum'' * LeConte's thrasher, ''Toxostoma lecontei'' * Crissal thrasher, ''Toxostoma crissale'' * Sage thrasher, ''Oreoscoptes montanus'' * Northern mockingbird, ''Mimus polyglottos''


Starlings

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Sturnidae Starlings 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)


Dippers

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Cinclidae Dippers are a group of perching birds whose habitat (ecology), 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''


Thrushes and allies

Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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. * Western bluebird, ''Sialia mexicana'' * Mountain bluebird, ''Sialia currucoides'' * Townsend's solitaire, ''Myadestes townsendi'' * Veery, ''Catharus fuscescens'' (*) * Gray-cheeked thrush, ''Catharus minimus'' (*) * Swainson's thrush, ''Catharus ustulatus'' * Hermit thrush, ''Catharus guttatus'' * Wood thrush, ''Hylocichla mustelina'' (*) * Eyebrowed thrush, ''Turdus obscurus'' (*) * Rufous-backed robin, ''Turdus rufopalliatus'' (*) * American robin, ''Turdus migratorius'' * Varied thrush, ''Ixoreus naevius''


Old World flycatchers

Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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. * Bluethroat, ''Cyanecula svecica'' (*) * Red-flanked bluetail, ''Tarsiger cyanurus'' (*) * Taiga flycatcher, ''Ficedula albicilla'' (*) * Asian stonechat, ''Saxicola maurus'' (*) * Northern wheatear, ''Oenanthe oenanthe'' (*)


Waxbills and allies

Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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. * Scaly-breasted munia, ''Lonchura punctulata'' (I)


Old World sparrows

Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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)


Wagtails and pipits

Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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'' (*) * Grey wagtail, Gray wagtail, ''Motacilla cinerea'' (*) * White wagtail, ''Motacilla alba'' (*) * Olive-backed pipit, ''Anthus hodgsoni'' (*) * Red-throated pipit, ''Anthus cervinus'' * American pipit, ''Anthus rubescens'' * Sprague's pipit, ''Anthus spragueii''


Finches, euphonias, and allies

Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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. * Brambling, ''Fringilla montifringilla'' (*) * Evening grosbeak, ''Coccothraustes vespertinus'' * Common rosefinch, ''Carpodacus erythrinus'' (*) * Pine grosbeak, ''Pinicola enucleator'' * Gray-crowned rosy-finch, ''Leucosticte tephrocotis'' * Black rosy-finch, ''Leucosticte atrata'' (*) * House finch, ''Haemorhous mexicanus'' * Purple finch, ''Haemorhous purpureus'' * Cassin's finch, ''Haemorhous cassinii'' * Oriental greenfinch, ''Chloris sinica'' (*) * Common redpoll, ''Acanthis flammea'' (*) * Red crossbill, ''Loxia curvirostra'' * White-winged crossbill, ''Loxia leucoptera'' (*) * Pine siskin, ''Spinus pinus'' * Lesser goldfinch, ''Spinus psaltria'' * Lawrence's goldfinch, ''Spinus lawrencei'' * American goldfinch, ''Spinus tristis''


Longspurs and snow buntings

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Calcariidae The Calcariidae are a group of passerine birds that had been traditionally grouped with the 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'' (*) * Thick-billed longspur, ''Rhynchophanes mccownii'' * Snow bunting, ''Plectrophenax nivalis'' (*)


Old World buntings

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Emberizidae Emberizidae is a family of passerine birds containing a single genus. Until 2017, the New World sparrows (Passerellidae) were also considered part of this family. * Little bunting, ''Emberiza pusilla'' (*) * Rustic bunting, ''Emberiza rustica'' (*)


New World sparrows

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Passerellidae Until 2017, these species were considered part of the family Emberizidae. Most of the species are known as sparrows, but these birds are not closely related to the Old World sparrows which are in the family Passeridae. Many of these have distinctive head patterns. * Cassin's sparrow, ''Peucaea cassinii'' (*) * Grasshopper sparrow, ''Ammodramus savannarum'' * Black-throated sparrow, ''Amphispiza bilineata'' * Lark sparrow, ''Chondestes grammacus'' * Lark bunting, ''Calamospiza melanocorys'' * Chipping sparrow, ''Spizella passerina'' * Clay-colored sparrow, ''Spizella pallida'' * Black-chinned sparrow, ''Spizella atrogularis'' * Field sparrow, ''Spizella pusilla'' (*) * Brewer's sparrow, ''Spizella breweri'' * Fox sparrow, ''Passerella iliaca'' * American tree sparrow, ''Spizelloides arborea'' * Dark-eyed junco, ''Junco hyemalis'' * White-crowned sparrow, ''Zonotrichia leucophrys'' * Golden-crowned sparrow, ''Zonotrichia atricapilla'' * Harris's sparrow, ''Zonotrichia querula'' * White-throated sparrow, ''Zonotrichia albicollis'' * Sagebrush sparrow, ''Artemisiospiza nevadensis'' * Bell's sparrow, ''Artemisiospiza belli'' * Vesper sparrow, ''Pooecetes gramineus'' * LeConte's sparrow, ''Ammospiza leconteii'' (*) * Nelson's sparrow, ''Ammospiza nelsoni'' * Baird's sparrow, ''Centronyx bairdii'' (*) * Savannah sparrow, ''Passerculus sandwichensis'' * Song sparrow, ''Melospiza melodia'' * Lincoln's sparrow, ''Melospiza lincolnii'' * Swamp sparrow, ''Melospiza georgiana'' * Abert's towhee, ''Melozone aberti'' * California towhee, ''Melozone crissalis'' * Rufous-crowned sparrow, ''Aimophila ruficeps'' * Green-tailed towhee, ''Pipilo chlorurus'' * Spotted towhee, ''Pipilo maculatus''


Yellow-breasted chat

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Icteriidae This species was historically placed in the wood-warblers (Parulidae) but nonetheless most authorities were unsure if it belonged there. It was placed in its own family in 2017. *Yellow-breasted chat, ''Icteria virens''


Troupials and allies

Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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, often enlivened by yellow, orange, or red. * Yellow-headed blackbird, ''Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus'' * Bobolink, ''Dolichonyx oryzivorus'' * Western meadowlark, ''Sturnella neglecta'' * Eastern meadowlark, ''Sturnella magna'' (*) * Orchard oriole, ''Icterus spurius'' * Hooded oriole, ''Icterus cucullatus'' * Streak-backed oriole, ''Icterus pustulatus'' (*) * Bullock's oriole, ''Icterus bullockii'' * Baltimore oriole, ''Icterus galbula'' * Black-backed oriole, ''Icterus abeillei'' (UO) * Scott's oriole, ''Icterus parisorum'' * Red-winged blackbird, ''Agelaius phoeniceus'' * Tricolored blackbird, ''Agelaius tricolor'' * Bronzed cowbird, ''Molothrus aeneus'' * Brown-headed cowbird, ''Molothrus ater'' * Rusty blackbird, ''Euphagus carolinus'' * Brewer's blackbird, ''Euphagus cyanocephalus'' * Common grackle, ''Quiscalus quiscula'' (*) * Great-tailed grackle, ''Quiscalus mexicanus''


New World warblers

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Parulidae The wood warblers are a group of small and 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'' * Golden-winged warbler, ''Vermivora chrysoptera'' (*) * Blue-winged warbler, ''Vermivora cyanoptera'' (*) * Black-and-white warbler, ''Mniotilta varia'' * Prothonotary warbler, ''Protonotaria citrea'' * Tennessee warbler, ''Leiothlypis peregrina'' * Orange-crowned warbler, ''Leiothlypis celata'' * Lucy's warbler, ''Leiothlypis luciae'' * Nashville warbler, ''Leiothlypis ruficapilla'' * Virginia's warbler, ''Leiothlypis virginiae'' * Connecticut warbler, ''Oporornis agilis'' (*) * 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'' * 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'' * 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'' * Canada warbler, ''Cardellina canadensis'' * Wilson's warbler, ''Cardellina pusilla'' * Red-faced warbler, ''Cardellina rubrifrons'' (*) * Painted redstart, ''Myioborus pictus''


Cardinals and allies

Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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'' * Northern cardinal, ''Cardinalis cardinalis'' * Pyrrhuloxia, ''Cardinalis sinuatus'' (*) * Rose-breasted grosbeak, ''Pheucticus ludovicianus'' * Black-headed grosbeak, ''Pheucticus melanocephalus'' * Blue grosbeak, ''Passerina caerulea'' * Lazuli bunting, ''Passerina amoena'' * Indigo bunting, ''Passerina cyanea'' * Varied bunting, ''Passerina versicolor'' (*) * Painted bunting, ''Passerina ciris'' * Dickcissel, ''Spiza americana''


References


See also

* List of birds of Channel Islands National Park * List of birds of Yosemite National Park * List of birds * Lists of birds by region {{North American birds Lists of fauna of California, Birds Lists of birds of the United States, California Native birds of the Western United States, California Native birds of the West Coast of the United States, California