List of birds of Nebraska
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This list of birds of Nebraska includes species documented in the U.S. state of Nebraska and accepted by Nebraska Ornithologists' Union (NOU). As of August 2021, there are 467 species included in the official list. Of them, 95 are classed as accidental, 19 are classed as casual, two are
extinct Extinction is the termination of a kind of organism or of a group of kinds (taxon), usually a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and ...
, and three have been extirpated. Four have been introduced to North America. This list is presented in the taxonomic sequence of the ''Check-list of North and Middle American Birds'', 7th edition through the 62nd 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. Unless otherwise noted, all species listed below are considered to occur regularly in Nebraska as permanent residents, summer or winter visitors, or migrants. These tags are used to annotate some species: *(C) - Casual - "acceptably reported in 4-7 of the past 10 years" per the NOU *(A) - Accidental - "acceptably reported in 0-2 of the past 10 years" per the NOU *(Ex) - Extirpated - "not acceptably reported in the past 50 years" per the NOU *(X) - Extinct - "no longer found alive anywhere in the world" per the NOU *(I) - Introduced - established in North America as a result of human action


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 swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, bills which are flattened to a greater or lesser extent, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to special oils. Forty-six species have been recorded in Nebraska. * Black-bellied whistling-duck, ''Dendrocygna autumnalis'' * Fulvous whistling-duck, ''Dendrocygna bicolor'' (A) * Emperor goose, ''Anser canagica'' (A) * Snow goose, ''Anser caerulescens'' * Ross's goose, ''Anser rossii'' * Greater white-fronted goose, ''Anser albifrons'' * Taiga bean goose, ''Anser fabalis'' (A) * Brant, ''Branta bernicla'' (C) *
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'' *
Mute swan The mute swan (''Cygnus olor'') is a species of swan and a member of the waterfowl family Anatidae. It is native to much of Eurosiberia, and (as a rare winter visitor) the far north of Africa. It is an introduced species in North America, home ...
, ''Cygnus olor'' (A) (Introduced) * Trumpeter swan, ''Cygnus buccinator'' * Tundra swan, ''Cygnus columbianus'' * Wood duck, ''Aix sponsa'' * Garganey, ''Spatula querquedula'' (A) * 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'' * Eurasian wigeon, ''Mareca penelope'' (C) * 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 platyrhynchos'' * American black duck, ''Anas rubripes'' * Mottled duck, ''Anas fulvigula'' (A) * Northern pintail, ''Anas acuta'' * Green-winged teal, ''Anas crecca'' * Canvasback, ''Aythya valisineria'' * Redhead, ''Aythya americana'' * Ring-necked duck, ''Aythya collaris'' * Tufted duck, ''Aythya fuligula'' (A) * Greater scaup, ''Aythya marila'' * Lesser scaup, ''Aythya affinis'' * King eider, ''Somateria spectabilis'' (A) * Common eider, ''Somateria mollissima'' (A) * Harlequin duck, ''Histrionicus histrionicus'' (A) * Surf scoter, ''Melanitta perspicillata'' * White-winged scoter, ''Melanitta deglandi'' * 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'' * 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. One species has been recorded in Nebraska. * Northern bobwhite, ''Colinus virginianus''


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. 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. Eight species have been recorded in Nebraska. * Wild turkey, ''Meleagris gallopavo'' * Ruffed grouse, ''Bonasa umbellus'' (Ex) * Greater sage-grouse, ''Centrocercus urophasianus'' (A) * Sharp-tailed grouse, ''Tympanuchus phasianellus'' * Greater prairie-chicken, ''Tympanuchus cupido'' * Lesser prairie-chicken, ''Tympanuchus pallidicinctus'' (Ex) *
Gray partridge The grey partridge (''Perdix perdix''), also known as the gray-legged partridge, English partridge, Hungarian partridge, or hun, is a gamebird in the pheasant family Phasianidae of the order Galliformes, gallinaceous birds. The scientific name i ...
, ''Perdix perdix'' (I) * Ring-necked pheasant, ''Phasianus colchicus'' (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. Six species have been recorded in Nebraska. * 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. Eight species have been recorded in Nebraska. * 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'' (A) * Eurasian collared-dove, ''Streptopelia decaocto'' (I) * Passenger pigeon, ''Ectopistes migratorius'' (X) * Inca dove, ''Columbina inca'' (A) * Common ground dove, ''Columbina passerina'' (A) * 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. Three species have been recorded in Nebraska. *
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'' (A) * 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. Four species have been recorded in Nebraska. * 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'' *
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''


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 very long, swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang. Two species have been recorded in Nebraska. * Chimney swift, ''Chaetura pelagica'' *
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. Eight species have been recorded in Nebraska. * 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'' (C) *
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'' (A) *
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'' * 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'' (A)


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 tend to be weak fliers. Nine species have been recorded in Nebraska. * Clapper rail, ''Rallus crepitans'' (A) *
King rail The king rail (''Rallus elegans'') is a waterbird, the largest North American rail. Description Distinct features are a long bill with a slight downward curve, with adults being brown on the back and rusty-brown on the face and breast with a da ...
, ''Rallus elegans'' (A) *
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'' (C) * 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'' (A) * Yellow rail, ''Coturnicops noveboracensis'' (C) * Black rail, ''Laterallus jamaicensis'' (A)


Limpkin

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: Aramidae The limpkin is an odd bird that looks like a large rail, but is skeletally closer to the
cranes Crane or cranes may refer to: Common meanings * Crane (bird), a large, long-necked bird * Crane (machine), industrial machinery for lifting ** Crane (rail), a crane suited for use on railroads People and fictional characters * Crane (surname), ...
. * Limpkin, ''Aramus guarauna'' (A)


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, and long-necked birds. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back. Most have elaborate and noisy courting displays or "dances". Four species have been recorded in Nebraska. * Sandhill crane, ''Antigone canadensis'' * Common crane, ''Grus grus'' (A) * Whooping crane, ''Grus americana'' * Hooded crane, ''Grus monacha'' (A)


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. Two species have been recorded in Nebraska. *
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''


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. Seven species have been recorded in Nebraska. * 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'' * Killdeer, ''Charadrius vociferus'' * 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'' * 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. Thirty-three species have been recorded in Nebraska. * Upland sandpiper, ''Bartramia longicauda'' * Whimbrel, ''Numenius phaeopus'' * Eskimo curlew, ''Numenius borealis'' (Classed as Ex by the NOU, but generally considered as possibly extinct) *
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'' *
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'' * Red knot, ''Calidris canutus'' (A) *
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'' (A) * Sharp-tailed sandpiper, ''Calidris acuminata'' (A) * Stilt sandpiper, ''Calidris himantopus'' * Curlew sandpiper, ''Calidris ferruginea'' (A) * 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'' * Baird's sandpiper, ''Calidris bairdii'' * 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'' * American woodcock, ''Scolopax minor'' * Wilson's snipe, ''Gallinago delicata'' *
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 macularius'' *
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'' * Lesser yellowlegs, ''Tringa flavipes'' * Willet, ''Tringa semipalmata'' * Greater yellowlegs, ''Tringa melanoleuca'' * Wilson's phalarope, ''Phalaropus tricolor'' * Red-necked phalarope, ''Phalaropus lobatus'' * Red phalarope, ''Phalaropus fulicarius'' (C)


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. Three species have been recorded in Nebraska. *
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'' (A) *
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'' (A) * Long-tailed jaeger, ''Stercorarius longicaudus'' (C)


Auks, murres, and puffins

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Alcidae The family Alcidae includes auks, murres, and puffins. These are short-winged birds that live on the open sea and normally only come ashore for breeding. One species has been recorded in Nebraska. * Ancient murrelet, ''Synthliboarmphus antiquus'' (A)


Gulls, terns, and skimmers

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Laridae Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds and includes jaegers, skuas, 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. Twenty-four species have been recorded in Nebraska. *
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'' (C) * Sabine's gull, ''Xema sabini'' * Bonaparte's gull, ''Chroicocephalus philadelphia'' * Black-headed gull, ''Chroicocephalus ridibundus'' (A) * Little gull, ''Hydrocoloeus minutus'' (A) * Ross's gull, ''Rhodostethia rosea'' (A) * 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'' *
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'' (C) * Ring-billed gull, ''Larus delawarensis'' * 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'' * Glaucous-winged gull, ''Larus glaucescens'' (A) *
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'' * Least tern, ''Sternula antillarum'' * Caspian tern, ''Hydroprogne caspia'' * Black tern, ''Chlidonias niger'' * 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'' (A) * 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 maxima'' (A)


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 Loons are aquatic birds the size of a large duck, to which they are unrelated. Their plumage is largely gray or black, and they have spear-shaped bills. Loons swim well and fly adequately, but are almost hopeless on land, because their legs are placed towards the rear of the body. Four species have been recorded in Nebraska. * Red-throated loon, ''Gavia stellata'' (C) *
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'' (A)


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. One species has been recorded in Nebraska. * Wood stork, ''Mycteria americana'' (A)


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. One species has been recorded in Nebraska. * Magnificent frigatebird, ''Fregata magnificens'' (A)


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. One species has been recorded in Nebraska. *
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'' (A)


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. One species has been recorded in Nebraska. * Anhinga, ''Anhinga anhinga'' (A)


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. Two species have been recorded in Nebraska. * 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. Two species have been recorded in Nebraska. *
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'' (A)


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. Twelve species have been recorded in Nebraska. * 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'' (A) *
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'' (A) *
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. Four species have been recorded in Nebraska. * White ibis, ''Eudocimus albus'' (A) * 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'' (A)


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. Two species have been recorded in Nebraska. * Black vulture, ''Coragyps atratus'' (A) * 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 family of fish-eating birds of prey possessing a very large, powerful hooked beak for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons, and keen eyesight. The family is monotypic. * 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. Seventeen species have been recorded in Nebraska. * White-tailed kite, ''Elanus leucurus'' (A) * Swallow-tailed kite, ''Elanoides forficatus'' (A) (Ex) * 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'' *
American goshawk The American goshawk (''Astur atricapillus'') is a species of raptor (bird), raptor in the family Accipitridae. It was first described by Alexander Wilson (ornithologist), Alexander Wilson in 1812. The American goshawk was previously considered c ...
, ''Accipiter atricapillus'' *
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'' * Harris's hawk, ''Parabuteo unicinctus'' (A) * 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'' (A) * 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. One species has been recorded in Nebraska. *
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. Eleven species have been recorded in Nebraska. *
Eastern screech-owl The eastern screech owl (''Megascops asio'') or eastern screech-owl, is a small owl that is relatively common in Eastern North America, from Mexico to Canada. This species is native to most wooded environments of its distribution, and more so th ...
, ''Megascops asio'' * Great horned owl, ''Bubo virginianus'' * Snowy owl, ''Bubo scandiacus'' * Northern hawk owl, ''Surnia ulula'' (A) * Burrowing owl, ''Athene cunicularia'' * 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'' (A) * 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'' * Boreal owl, ''Aegolius funereus'' (A) * 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. One species has been recorded in Nebraska. *
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. Twelve species have been recorded in Nebraska. * Lewis's woodpecker, ''Melanerpes lewis'' * Red-headed woodpecker, ''Melanerpes erythrocephalus'' * Acorn woodpecker, ''Melanerpes formicivorus'' (A) *
Red-bellied woodpecker The red-bellied woodpecker (''Melanerpes carolinus'') is a medium-sized woodpecker of the family Picidae. It breeds mainly in the eastern United States, ranging as far south as Florida and as far north as Canada. Though it has a vivid orange-red ...
, ''Melanerpes carolinus'' *
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'' (A) *
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'' (C) *
American three-toed woodpecker The American three-toed woodpecker (''Picoides dorsalis'') is a medium-sized woodpecker (family Picidae), which is native to North America. Description This woodpecker has a length of , a wingspan of , and an average weight of ; its maximum li ...
, ''Picoides dorsalis'' (A) * Downy woodpecker, ''Dryobates pubescens'' *
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'' *
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'' * 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. Six species have been recorded in Nebraska. * Crested caracara, ''Caracara plancus'' (A) * 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'' (A) *
Peregrine falcon The peregrine falcon (''Falco peregrinus''), also known as the peregrine, and historically as the duck hawk in North America, is a Cosmopolitan distribution, cosmopolitan bird of prey (Bird of prey, raptor) in the family (biology), family Falco ...
, ''Falco peregrinus'' * Prairie falcon, ''Falco mexicanus''


New World and African parrots

Order: PsittaciformesFamily: Psittacidae Parrots are small to large birds with a characteristic curved beak. Their upper mandibles have slight mobility in the joint with the skull and they have a generally erect stance. All parrots are zygodactyl, having the four toes on each foot placed two at the front and two to the back. Most of the more than 150 species in this family are found in the New World. One species has been recorded in Nebraska. * Carolina parakeet, ''Conuropsis carolinensis'' (X)


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. Twenty-three species have been recorded in Nebraska. * Ash-throated flycatcher, ''Myiarchus cinerascens'' (A) * Great crested flycatcher, ''Myiarchus crinitus'' * Great kiskadee, ''Pitangus sulphuratus'' (A) *
Cassin's kingbird Cassin's kingbird (''Tyrannus vociferans'') is a large tyrant flycatcher native to western North America. The name of this bird commemorates the American ornithologist John Cassin. Taxonomy Cassin's kingbird was formally described in 1826 by En ...
, ''Tyrannus vociferans'' * Western kingbird, ''Tyrannus verticalis'' * Eastern kingbird, ''Tyrannus tyrannus'' * Scissor-tailed flycatcher, ''Tyrannus forficatus'' *
Olive-sided flycatcher The olive-sided flycatcher (''Contopus cooperi'') is a small to medium sized passerine bird in the family Tyrannidae, the Tyrant flycatcher family. It is a migratory species that travels from South to North America to breed during the summer. It ...
, ''Contopus cooperi'' *
Western wood-pewee The western wood pewee (''Contopus sordidulus'') is a small tyrant flycatcher. Adults are gray-olive on the upperparts with light underparts, washed with olive on the breast. They have two wing bars and a dark bill with yellow at the base of the ...
, ''Contopus sordidulus'' * Eastern wood-pewee, ''Contopus virens'' *
Yellow-bellied flycatcher The yellow-bellied flycatcher (''Empidonax flaviventris'') is a small insect-eating bird of the tyrant flycatcher family. Description Adults have greenish upperparts and yellowish underparts (especially on the throat), with a dusky wash on the ...
, ''Empidonax flaviventris'' *
Acadian flycatcher The Acadian flycatcher (''Empidonax virescens'') is a small insect-eating bird of the tyrant flycatcher family. Description Adults have olive upperparts, darker on the wings and tail, with whitish underparts; they have a white eye ring, white ...
, ''Empidonax virescens'' *
Alder flycatcher The alder flycatcher (''Empidonax alnorum'') is a small insect-eating bird of the tyrant flycatcher family. The genus name ''Empidonax'' is from Ancient Greek ''empis'', "gnat", and ''anax'', "master". The specific ''alnorum'' is Latin and means ...
, ''Empidonax alnorum'' *
Willow flycatcher The willow flycatcher (''Empidonax traillii'') is a small insect-eating, neotropical migrant bird of the tyrant flycatcher family. There are four subspecies of the willow flycatcher currently recognized, all of which breed in North America (inc ...
, ''Empidonax traillii'' *
Least flycatcher The least flycatcher (''Empidonax minimus'') (also called chebec, or chebecker, after the sound it makes) is a small insect-eating bird. It is the smallest ''Empidonax'' flycatcher in eastern North America. Taxonomy The closest relative to the ...
, ''Empidonax minimus'' *
Hammond's flycatcher Hammond's flycatcher (''Empidonax hammondii'') is a flycatcher in the family Tyrannidae. This small insectivorous bird inhabits the coniferous and mixed forests of western North America. The name of this bird commemorates William Alexander Hammon ...
, ''Empidonax hammondii'' * Gray flycatcher, ''Empidonax wrightii'' (A) * Dusky flycatcher, ''Empidonax oberholseri'' *
Western flycatcher The western flycatcher (''Empidonax difficilis'') is a small insectivorous bird in the family Tyrannidae. It is native to western North America, where it breeds in the Rocky Mountains and Pacific Coast forests and mountain ranges from California ...
, ''Empidonax difficilis'' *
Black phoebe The black phoebe (''Sayornis nigricans'') is a passerine bird in the tyrant-flycatcher family. It breeds from southwest Oregon and California south through Central and South America. It occurs year-round throughout most of its range and migrates ...
, ''Sayornis nigricans'' (A) *
Eastern phoebe The eastern phoebe (''Sayornis phoebe'') is a small passerine bird. The genus name ''Sayornis'' is constructed from the specific part of Charles Lucien Bonaparte's name for Say's phoebe, ''Muscicapa saya'', and Ancient Greek ''ornis'', "bird". ...
, ''Sayornis phoebe'' *
Say's phoebe Say's phoebe (''Sayornis saya'') is a passerine bird in the tyrant flycatcher family. A common bird across western North America, it prefers dry, desolate areas. This bird was named for Thomas Say, the American naturalist. Taxonomy Say's phoebe ...
, ''Sayornis saya'' * Vermilion flycatcher, ''Pyrocephalus rubinus'' (A)


Vireos, shrike-babblers, and erpornis

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Vireonidae The vireos are a group of small to medium-sized passerine birds. They are typically greenish in color and resemble wood-warblers apart from their heavier bills. Ten species have been recorded in Nebraska. * Black-capped vireo, ''Vireo atricapilla'' (A) * White-eyed vireo, ''Vireo griseus'' *
Bell's vireo Bell's vireo (''Vireo bellii'') is a songbird that migrates between a breeding range in Western North America and a winter range in Central America. It is dull olive-gray above and whitish below. It has a faint white eye ring and faint wing bars ...
, ''Vireo bellii'' * Yellow-throated vireo, ''Vireo flavifrons'' *
Cassin's vireo Cassin's vireo (''Vireo cassinii'') is a small North American songbird, ranging from southern British Columbia in Canada through the western coastal states of the United States. This bird migrates, spending the winter from southern Arizona (th ...
, ''Vireo cassinii'' *
Blue-headed vireo The blue-headed vireo (''Vireo solitarius'') is a Neotropical migrating song bird found in North and Central America. There are currently two recognized subspecies that belong to the blue-headed vireo. It has a range that extends across Canada an ...
, ''Vireo solitarius'' *
Plumbeous vireo The plumbeous vireo (''Vireo plumbeus'') is a small North American songbird, ranging from far southeastern Montana and western South Dakota south to the Pacific coast of Mexico, including the extreme southern regions of Baja California Sur. It is ...
, ''Vireo plumbeus'' *
Philadelphia vireo The Philadelphia vireo (''Vireo philadelphicus'') is a small North American songbird in the vireo family (''Vireonidae''). "Vireo" is a Latin word referring to a green migratory bird, perhaps the female golden oriole, possibly the European green ...
, ''Vireo philadelphicus'' *Warbling vireo, ''Vireo gilvus'' *Red-eyed vireo, ''Vireo olivaceus''


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. Two species have been recorded in Nebraska. *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. Ten species have been recorded in Nebraska. *Canada jay, ''Perisoreus canadensis'' (A) *Pinyon jay, ''Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus'' *Steller's jay, ''Cyanocitta stelleri'' (C) *Blue jay, ''Cyanocitta cristata'' *Clark's nutcracker, ''Nucifraga columbiana'' *Black-billed magpie, ''Pica hudsonia'' *American crow, ''Corvus brachyrhynchos'' *Fish crow, ''Corvus ossifragus'' (A) *Chihuahuan raven, ''Corvus cryptoleucus'' (A) *Common raven, ''Corvus corax'' (A)


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. Three species have been recorded in Nebraska. *Black-capped chickadee, ''Poecile atricapilla'' *Mountain chickadee, ''Poecile gambeli'' (C) *Tufted titmouse, ''Baeolophus bicolor''


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. One species has been recorded in Nebraska. *Horned lark, ''Eremophila alpestris''


Swallows

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Hirundinidae The family Hirundinidae is a group of passerines characterized by their adaptation to aerial feeding. These adaptations include a slender streamlined body, long pointed wings, and short bills with a wide gape. The feet are adapted to perching rather than walking, and the front toes are partially joined at the base. Eight species have been recorded in Nebraska. *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'' (A)


Kinglets

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


Waxwings

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Bombycillidae The waxwings are a group of passerine birds with soft silky plumage and unique red tips to some of the wing feathers. In the Bohemian and cedar waxwings, these tips look like sealing wax and give the group its name. These are arboreal birds of northern forests. They live on insects in summer and berries in winter. Two species have been recorded in Nebraska. *Bohemian waxwing, ''Bombycilla garrulus'' (C) *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, although the range of one species extends to central California. They are related to waxwings and like that group, have soft silky plumage, usually gray or pale yellow in color. One species has been recorded in Nebraska. *Phainopepla, ''Phainopepla nitens'' (A)


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. Four species have been recorded in Nebraska. *Red-breasted nuthatch, ''Sitta canadensis'' *White-breasted nuthatch, ''Sitta carolinensis'' *Pygmy nuthatch, ''Sitta pygmaea'' *Brown-headed nuthatch, ''Sitta pusilla'' (A)


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. One species has been recorded in Nebraska. *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. One species has been recorded in Nebraska. *Blue-gray gnatcatcher, ''Polioptila caerulea''


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. Nine species have been recorded in Nebraska. *Rock wren, ''Salpinctes obsoletus'' *Canyon wren, ''Catherpes mexicanus'' (A) *House wren, ''Troglodytes aedon'' *Pacific wren, ''Troglodytes pacificus'' (A) *Winter wren, ''Troglodytes hiemalis'' *Sedge wren, ''Cistothorus platensis'' *Marsh wren, ''Cistothorus palustris'' *Carolina wren, ''Thryothorus ludovicianus'' *Bewick's wren, ''Thryomanes bewickii'' (A)


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. Five species have been recorded in Nebraska. *Gray catbird, ''Dumetella carolinensis'' *Curve-billed thrasher, ''Toxostoma curvirostre'' (A) *Brown thrasher, ''Toxostoma rufum'' *Sage thrasher, ''Oreoscoptes montanus'' *Northern mockingbird, ''Mimus polyglottos''


Starlings

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Sturnidae Starlings are small to medium-sized passerine birds. They are medium-sized passerines with strong feet. Their flight is strong and direct and they are very gregarious. Their preferred habitat is fairly open country, and they eat insects and fruit. Plumage is typically dark with a metallic sheen. One species has been recorded in Nebraska. *European starling, ''Sturnus vulgaris'' (I)


Dippers

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Cinclidae Dippers are small, stout, birds that feed in cold, fast-moving streams. One species has been recorded in Nebraska. *American dipper, ''Cinclus mexicanus'' (A)


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. Ten species have been recorded in Nebraska. *Eastern bluebird, ''Sialia sialis'' *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'' *American robin, ''Turdus migratorius'' *Varied thrush, ''Ixoreus naevius'' (C)


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. Two species have been recorded in Nebraska. *House sparrow, ''Passer domesticus'' (I) *Eurasian tree sparrow, ''Passer montana'' (I) (A)


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. Two species have been recorded in Nebraska. *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. Fifteen species have been recorded in Nebraska. *Brambling, ''Fringilla montifringilla'' (A) *Evening grosbeak, ''Coccothraustes vespertinus'' *Pine grosbeak, ''Pinicola enucleator'' (C) *Gray-crowned rosy-finch, ''Leucosticte tephrocotis'' *Black rosy-finch, ''Leucosticte atrata'' (A) *House finch, ''Haemorhous mexicanus'' (native to the southwestern U.S.; introduced in the east) *Purple finch, ''Haemorhous purpureus'' *Cassin's finch, ''Haemorhous cassinii'' *Common redpoll, ''Acanthis flammea'' *Hoary redpoll, ''Acanthis hornemanni'' (A) *Red crossbill, ''Loxia curvirostra'' *White-winged crossbill, ''Loxia leucoptera'' (C) *Pine siskin, ''Spinus pinus'' *Lesser goldfinch, ''Spinus psaltria'' *American goldfinch, ''Spinus tristis''


Longspurs and snow buntings

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Calcariidae The Calcariidae are a group of passerine birds that were traditionally grouped with the New World sparrows, but differ in a number of respects and are usually found in open grassy areas. Five species have been recorded in Nebraska. *Lapland longspur, ''Calcarius lapponicus'' *Chestnut-collared longspur, ''Calcarius ornatus'' *Smith's longspur, ''Calcarius pictus'' *Thick-billed longspur, ''Rhynchophanes mccownii'' *Snow bunting, ''Plectrophenax nivalis''


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. Twenty-nine species have been recorded in Nebraska. *Cassin's sparrow, ''Peucaea cassinii'' *Grasshopper sparrow, ''Ammodramus savannarum'' *Black-throated sparrow, ''Amphispiza bilineata'' (A) *Lark sparrow, ''Chondestes grammacus'' *Lark bunting, ''Calamospiza melanocorys'' *Chipping sparrow, ''Spizella passerina'' *Clay-colored sparrow, ''Spizella pallida'' *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'' (A) *Harris's sparrow, ''Zonotrichia querula'' *White-throated sparrow, ''Zonotrichia albicollis'' *Sagebrush sparrow, ''Artemisiospiza nevadensis'' (A) *Vesper sparrow, ''Pooecetes gramineus'' *LeConte's sparrow, ''Ammospiza leconteii'' *Nelson's sparrow, ''Ammospiza nelsoni'' *Baird's sparrow, ''Centronyx bairdii'' (A) *Henslow's sparrow, ''Centronyx henslowii'' *Savannah sparrow, ''Passerculus sandwichensis'' *Song sparrow, ''Melospiza melodia'' *Lincoln's sparrow, ''Melospiza lincolnii'' *Swamp sparrow, ''Melospiza georgiana'' *Green-tailed towhee, ''Pipilo chlorurus'' *Spotted towhee, ''Pipilo maculatus'' *Eastern towhee, ''Pipilo erythrophthalmus''


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. Fifteen species have been recorded in Nebraska. *Yellow-headed blackbird, ''Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus'' *Bobolink, ''Dolichonyx oryzivorus'' *Eastern meadowlark, ''Sturnella magna'' *Western meadowlark, ''Sturnella neglecta'' *Orchard oriole, ''Icterus spurius'' *Hooded oriole, ''Icterus cucullatus'' (A) *Bullock's oriole, ''Icterus bullockii'' *Baltimore oriole, ''Icterus galbula'' *Scott's oriole, ''Icterus parisorum'' (A) *Red-winged blackbird, ''Agelaius phoeniceus'' *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 often colorful passerine birds restricted to the New World. Most are arboreal, but some like the ovenbird and the two waterthrushes, are more terrestrial. Most members of this family are insectivores. Forty-two species have been recorded in Nebraska. *Ovenbird, ''Seiurus aurocapilla'' *Worm-eating warbler, ''Helmitheros vermivorum'' (A) *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'' *Swainson's warbler, ''Limnothlypis swainsonii'' (A) *Tennessee warbler, ''Leiothlypis peregrina'' *Orange-crowned warbler, ''Leiothlypis celata'' *Nashville warbler, ''Leiothlypis ruficapilla'' *Virginia's warbler, ''Leiothlypis virginiae'' (A) *Connecticut warbler, ''Oporornis agilis'' (C) *MacGillivray's warbler, ''Geothlypis tolmiei'' *Mourning warbler, ''Geothlypis philadelphia'' *Kentucky warbler, ''Geothlypis formosa'' *Common yellowthroat, ''Geothlypis trichas'' *Hooded warbler, ''Setophaga citrina'' *American redstart, ''Setophaga ruticilla'' *Cape May warbler, ''Setophaga tigrina'' *Cerulean warbler, ''Setophaga cerulea'' (C) *Northern parula, ''Setophaga americana'' *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'' (A) *Grace's warbler, ''Setophaga graciae'' (A) *Black-throated gray warbler, ''Setophaga nigrescens'' (A) *Townsend's warbler, ''Setophaga townsendi'' *Hermit warbler, ''Setophaga occidentalis'' (A) *Black-throated green warbler, ''Setophaga virens'' *Canada warbler, ''Cardellina canadensis'' *Wilson's warbler, ''Cardellina pusilla''


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. Twelve species have been recorded in Nebraska. *Hepatic tanager, ''Piranga flava'' (A) *Summer tanager, ''Piranga rubra'' *Scarlet tanager, ''Piranga olivacea'' *Western tanager, ''Piranga ludoviciana'' *Northern cardinal, ''Cardinalis cardinalis'' *Rose-breasted grosbeak, ''Pheucticus ludovicianus'' *Black-headed grosbeak, ''Pheucticus melanocephalus'' *Blue grosbeak, ''Passerina caerulea'' *Lazuli bunting, ''Passerina amoena'' *Indigo bunting, ''Passerina cyanea'' *Painted bunting, ''Passerina ciris'' (A) *Dickcissel, ''Spiza americana''


See also

*List of birds *Lists of birds by region *List of North American birds


References


External links


Nebraska Ornithologists' UnionBirds of Nebraska-Online
{{DEFAULTSORT:List Of Birds Of Nebraska Lists of birds of the United States, Nebraska Lists of fauna of Nebraska, Birds