List of birds of Yukon

This list of birds of Yukon includes species documented in the Canadian territory of Yukon. Unless otherwise noted, the list is that of the Yukon Bird Club (YBC). As of 2021, there were 348 species included in that list. Of them, 58 are casual and 60 are accidental; both terms are defined below. Four have been introduced to Yukon or elsewhere in 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 Canadian English spellings are used and the common names of families are from the Clements taxonomy because the AOS list does not include them.

The following tags are used to describe some categories of occurrence.

*(C) Casual - at least two records but not recorded every year per the YBC
*(A) Accidental - recorded only once per the YBC
*(I) Introduced - a species that has been introduced to Yukon by the actions of humans, either directly or indirectly

Ducks, geese, and waterfowl

Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anatidae

Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, bills which are flattened to a greater or lesser extent, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to special oils.

*Snow goose, ''Anser caerulescens''
*Ross's goose, ''Anser rossii'' (C)
* Greater white-fronted goose, ''Anser albifrons''
* Taiga bean-goose, ''Anser fabalis'' (A)
*Tundra bean-goose, ''Anser serrirostris'' (A)
* Brant, ''Branta bernicla''
*Cackling goose, ''Branta hutchinsii''
*Canada goose, ''Branta canadensis''
* Trumpeter swan, ''Cygnus buccinator''
* Tundra swan, ''Cygnus columbianus''
* Whooper swan, ''Cygnus cygnus'' (C)
* Wood duck, ''Aix sponsa'' (C)
* Blue-winged teal, ''Spatula discors''
* Cinnamon teal, ''Spatula cyanoptera''
* Northern shoveler, ''Spatula clypeata''
*Gadwall, ''Mareca strepera''
* Eurasian wigeon, ''Mareca penelope''
* American wigeon, ''Mareca americana''
*Mallard, ''Anas platyrhynchos''
* American black duck, ''Anas rubripes'' (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'' (C)
* Greater scaup, ''Aythya marila''
* Lesser scaup, ''Aythya affinis''
* King eider, ''Somateria spectabilis''
* Common eider, ''Somateria mollissima''
* Harlequin duck, ''Histrionicus histrionicus''
* Surf scoter, ''Melanitta perspicillata''
* White-winged scoter, ''Melanitta deglandi''
* Black scoter, ''Melanitta americana'' (C)
* Long-tailed duck, ''Clangula hyemalis''
*Bufflehead, ''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''

Pheasants, grouse, and allies

Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae

Phasianidae consists of the pheasants and their allies. These are terrestrial species, variable in size but generally plump with broad relatively short wings. Many species are gamebirds or have been domesticated as a food source for humans.

* Ruffed grouse, ''Bonasa umbellus''
* Spruce grouse, ''Canachites canadensis''
* Willow ptarmigan, ''Lagopus lagopus''
*Rock ptarmigan, ''Lagopus mutus''
* White-tailed ptarmigan, ''Lagopus leucurus''
*Dusky grouse, ''Dendragapus obscurus''
* Sharp-tailed grouse, ''Tympanuchus phasianellus''

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.

* Pied-billed grebe, ''Podilymbus podiceps''
* Horned grebe, ''Podiceps auritus''
*Red-necked grebe, ''Podiceps grisegena''
*Eared grebe, ''Podiceps nigricollis''
* Western grebe, ''Aechmorphorus occidentalis'' (C)

Pigeons and doves

Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae

Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere. They feed on seeds, fruit and plants. Unlike most other birds, the doves and pigeons produce " crop milk," which is secreted by a sloughing of fluid-filled cells from the lining of the crop. Both sexes produce this highly nutritious substance to feed to the young.

* Rock pigeon, ''Columba livia'' (I)
*Band-tailed pigeon, ''Patagioenas fasciata'' (A)
*Oriental turtle-dove, ''Streptopelia orientalis'' (A)
* Eurasian collared-dove, ''Streptopelia decaocto'' (I)
* White-winged dove, ''Zenaida asiatica'' (A)
* Mourning dove, ''Zenaida macroura'' (C)

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 coloured to resemble bark or leaves.

* Lesser nighthawk, ''Chordeiles acutipennis'' (A)
* Common nighthawk, ''Chordeiles minor''

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.

*Pacific swift, ''Apus pacificus'' (A)

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.

* Ruby-throated hummingbird, ''Archilochus colubris'' (A)
*Anna's hummingbird, ''Calypte anna'' (C)
*Calliope hummingbird, ''Selasphorus calliope'' (A)
*Rufous hummingbird, ''Selasphorus rufus''

Rails, gallinules, and coots

Order: GruiformesFamily: 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.

* Sora, ''Porzana carolina''
* American coot, ''Fulica americana''

Cranes

Order: GruiformesFamily: Gruidae

Cranes are large, long-legged, and long-necked birds. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back. Most have elaborate and noisy courting displays or "dances".

* Sandhill crane, ''Antigone canadensis''
* Common crane, ''Grus grus'' (A)
* Whooping crane, ''Grus americana'' (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.

* American avocet, ''Recurvirostra americana'' (A)

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, ''Pluvialis dominica''
* Pacific golden-plover, ''Pluvialis fulva''
* Killdeer, ''Charadrius vociferus''
* Common ringed plover, ''Charadrius hiaticula'' (C)
* Semipalmated plover, ''Charadrius semipalmatus''
* Snowy plover, ''Charadrius nivosus'' (A)

Sandpipers and allies

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Scolopacidae

Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers, and phalaropes. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Different lengths of legs and bills enable multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food.

* Upland sandpiper, ''Bartramia longicauda''
* Whimbrel, ''Numenius phaeopus''
*Long-billed curlew, ''Numenius americanus'' (A)
* Far Eastern curlew, ''Numenius madagascariensis'' (A)
* Bar-tailed godwit, ''Limosa lapponica'' (C)
*Hudsonian godwit, ''Limosa haemastica''
*Marbled godwit, ''Limosa fedoa'' (C)
* Ruddy turnstone, ''Arenaria interpres''
*Black turnstone, ''Arenaria melanocephala'' (C)
* Red knot, ''Calidris canutus'' (C)
*Surfbird, ''Calidris virgata''
*Ruff, ''Calidris pugnax'' (A)
* Sharp-tailed sandpiper, ''Calidris acuminata''
* Stilt sandpiper, ''Calidris himantopus''
* Red-necked stint, ''Calidris ruficollis'' (A)
* Sanderling, ''Calidris alba''
*Dunlin, ''Calidris alpina''
* Baird's sandpiper, ''Calidris bairdii''
* Little stint, ''Calidris minuta'' (A)
* Least sandpiper, ''Calidris minutilla''
*White-rumped sandpiper, ''Calidris fuscicollis''
*Buff-breasted sandpiper, ''Calidris subruficollis''
* Pectoral sandpiper, ''Calidris melanotos''
* Semipalmated sandpiper, ''Calidris pusilla''
* Western sandpiper, ''Calidris mauri''
* Short-billed dowitcher, ''Limnodromus griseus''
* Long-billed dowitcher, ''Limnodromus scolopaceus''
* Wilson's snipe, ''Gallinago delicata''
*Spotted sandpiper, ''Actitis macularia''
*Solitary sandpiper, ''Tringa solitaria''
*Wandering tattler, ''Tringa incana''
* Lesser yellowlegs, ''Tringa flavipes''
* Willet, ''Tringa semipalmata'' (C)
* Greater yellowlegs, ''Tringa melanoleuca''
*Wood sandpiper, ''Tringa glareola'' (A)
* 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 grey 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.

*Pomarine jaeger, ''Stercorarius pomarinus''
*Parasitic jaeger, ''Stercorarius parasiticus''
* Long-tailed jaeger, ''Stercorarius longicaudus''

Auks, murres, and puffins

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Alcidae

Alcids are superficially similar to penguins due to their black-and-white colours, 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'' (A)
*Thick-billed murre, ''Uria lomvia'' (A)
*Black guillemot, ''Cepphus grylle'' (A)
*Long-billed murrelet, ''Brachyramphus perdix'' (A)
* Ancient murrelet, ''Synthliboramphus antiquus'' (A)
*Parakeet auklet, ''Aethia psittacula'' (A)
* Crested auklet, ''Aethia cristatella'' (A)
*Horned puffin, ''Fratercula corniculata'' (C)
* Tufted puffin, ''Fratercula cirrhata'' (A)

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 grey or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet.

*Black-legged kittiwake, ''Rissa tridactyla''
* Red-legged kittiwake, ''Rissa brevirostris'' (A)
*Ivory gull, ''Pagophila eburnea'' (C)
* Sabine's gull, ''Xema sabini'' (C)
* Bonaparte's gull, ''Chroicocephalus philadelphia''
* Little gull, ''Hydrocoleus minutus'' (C)
* Ross's gull, ''Rhodostethia rosea'' (C)
*Franklin's gull, ''Leucophaeus pipixcan'' (C)
*Short-billed gull, ''Larus brachyrhynchus''
* Ring-billed gull, ''Larus delawarensis''
* California gull, ''Larus californicus''
* Herring gull, ''Larus argentatus''
*Iceland gull, ''Larus glaucoides'' (C)
* Lesser black-backed gull, ''Larus fuscus'' (C)
*Slaty-backed gull, ''Larus schistisagus'' (C)
* Glaucous-winged gull, ''Larus glaucescens''
*Glaucous gull, ''Larus hyperboreus''
* Caspian tern, ''Hydroprogne caspia'' (C)
* Black tern, ''Chlidonias niger''
*Arctic tern, ''Sterna paradisaea''

Loons

Order: GaviiformesFamily: Gaviidae

Loons are aquatic birds, the size of a large duck, to which they are unrelated. Their plumage is largely grey 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''
*Pacific loon, ''Gavia pacifica''
* Common loon, ''Gavia immer''
* Yellow-billed loon, ''Gavia adamsii''

Northern storm-petrels

Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Hydrobatidae

The storm-petrels are the smallest seabirds, relatives of the petrels, feeding on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. The flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like.

*Fork-tailed storm-petrel, ''Hydrobates furcatus'' (A)

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.

*Short-tailed shearwater, ''Ardenna tenuirostris'' (A)

Cormorants and shags

Order: SuliformesFamily: Phalacrocoracidae

Cormorants are medium-to-large aquatic birds, usually with mainly dark plumage and areas of coloured skin on the face. The bill is long, thin, and sharply hooked. Their feet are four-toed and webbed.

* Pelagic cormorant, ''Urile pelagicus'' (A)
* Double-crested cormorant, ''Nannopterum auritum'' (A)

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, ''Pelecanus erythrorhynchos'' (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.

* American bittern, ''Botaurus lentiginosus'' (A)
*Great blue heron, ''Ardea herodias'' (C)
* Great egret, ''Ardea alba'' (A)

New World vultures

Order: CathartiformesFamily: Cathartidae

The New World vultures are not closely related to Old World vultures, but superficially resemble them because of convergent evolution. Like the Old World vultures, they are scavengers. However, unlike Old World vultures, which find carcasses by sight, New World vultures have a good sense of smell with which they locate carcasses.

* Black vulture, ''Coragyps atratus'' (A)
* Turkey vulture, ''Cathartes aura'' (C)

Osprey

Order: AccipitriformesFamily: Pandionidae

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.

* Golden eagle, ''Aquila chrysaetos''
*Northern harrier, ''Circus hudsonius''
* Mississippi kite, ''Ictinia mississippiensis'' (A)
* Sharp-shinned hawk, ''Accipiter striatus''
*American goshawk, ''Accipiter atricapillus'' (A)
*Bald eagle, ''Haliaeetus leucocephalus''
* Broad-winged hawk, ''Buteo platypterus'' (A)
* Swainson's hawk, ''Buteo swainsoni'' (A)
* Red-tailed hawk, ''Buteo jamaicensis''
*Rough-legged hawk, ''Buteo lagopus''

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.

* Great horned owl, ''Bubo virginianus''
* Snowy owl, ''Bubo scandiacus''
* Northern hawk owl, ''Surnia ulula''
*Northern pygmy-owl, ''Glaucidium gnoma'' (C)
* Barred owl, ''Strix varia'' (C)
* Great grey owl, ''Strix nebulosa''
* Long-eared owl, ''Asio otus'' (C)
*Short-eared owl, ''Asio flammeus''
* Boreal owl, ''Aegolius funereus''
* 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, ''Megaceryle alcyon''

Woodpeckers

Order: PiciformesFamily: Picidae

Woodpeckers are small to medium-sized birds with chisel-like beaks, short legs, stiff tails, and long tongues used for capturing insects. Some species have feet with two toes pointing forward and two backward, while several species have only three toes. Many woodpeckers have the habit of tapping noisily on tree trunks with their beaks.

*Yellow-bellied sapsucker, ''Sphyrapicus varius''
*Red-breasted sapsucker, ''Sphyrapicus ruber'' (C)
*American three-toed woodpecker, ''Picoides dorsalis''
*Black-backed woodpecker, ''Picoides arcticus''
* Downy woodpecker, ''Dryobates pubescens''
*Hairy woodpecker, ''Dryobates villosus''
*Northern flicker, ''Colaptes auratus''
* Pileated woodpecker, ''Dryocopus pileatus''

Falcons and caracaras

Order: FalconiformesFamily: Falconidae

Falconidae is a family of diurnal birds of prey, notably the falcons and caracaras. They differ from hawks, eagles, and kites in that they kill with their beaks instead of their talons.

* American kestrel, ''Falco sparverius''
*Merlin, ''Falco columbarius''
* Gyrfalcon, ''Falco rusticolus''
*Peregrine falcon, ''Falco peregrinus''

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.

* Western kingbird, ''Tyrannus verticalis'' (C)
* Eastern kingbird, ''Tyrannus tyrannus'' (C)
* Scissor-tailed flycatcher, ''Tyrannus forficatus'' (C)
*Olive-sided flycatcher, ''Contopus cooperi''
*Western wood-pewee, ''Contopus sordidulus''
*Yellow-bellied flycatcher, ''Empidonax flaviventris''
*Alder flycatcher, ''Empidonax alnorum''
*Least flycatcher, ''Empidonax minimus''
*Hammond's flycatcher, ''Empidonax hammondii''
* Dusky flycatcher, ''Empidonax oberholseri''
* Gray flycatcher, ''Empidonax wrightii''
*Western flycatcher, ''Empidonax difficilis'' (C)
*Eastern phoebe, ''Sayornis phoebe''
*Say's phoebe, ''Sayornis saya''

Vireos, shrike-babblers, and erpornis

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Vireonidae

The vireos are a group of small to medium-sized passerine birds mostly restricted to the New World, though a few other members of the family are found in Asia. They are typically greenish in colour and resemble wood-warblers apart from their heavier bills.

*Blue-headed vireo, ''Vireo solitarius''
*Philadelphia vireo, ''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.

* 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''
*Steller's jay, ''Cyanocitta stelleri'' (C)
* Clark's nutcracker, ''Nucifraga columbiana'' (C)
*Black-billed magpie, ''Pica hudsonia''
* American crow, ''Corvus brachyrhynchos''
* Common raven, ''Corvus corax''

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'' (C)
* Boreal chickadee, ''Poecile hudsonica''
* Grey-headed chickadee, ''Poecile cincta''

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.

* Horned lark, ''Eremophila alpestris''

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''
*Purple martin, ''Progne subis'' (A)
*Tree swallow, ''Tachycineta bicolor''
*Violet-green swallow, ''Tachycineta thalassina''
*Northern rough-winged swallow, ''Stelgidopteryx serripennis''
*Purple martin, ''Progne subis'' (A)
* Barn swallow, ''Hirundo rustica''
*Cliff swallow, ''Petrochelidon pyrrhonota''

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 greyish-green to greyish-brown colours.

*Arctic warbler, ''Phylloscopus borealis'' (A)

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 coloured 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 passerine birds with soft silky plumage and unique red tips to some of the wing feathers. In the Bohemian and cedar waxwings, these tips look like sealing wax and give the group its name. These are arboreal birds of northern forests. They live on insects in summer and berries in winter.

* Bohemian waxwing, ''Bombycilla garrulus''
* Cedar waxwing, ''Bombycilla cedrorum''

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''

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'' (C)

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.

* House wren, ''Troglodytes aedon'' (A)
*Pacific wren, ''Troglodytes pacificus'' (C)
* Winter wren, ''Troglodytes hiemalis'' (C)
* Marsh wren, ''Cistothorus palustris'' (C)

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 greys and browns in their appearance.

* Grey catbird, ''Dumetella carolinensis'' (A)
* Brown thrasher, ''Toxostoma rufum'' (A)
* Northern mockingbird, ''Mimus polyglottos'' (C)

Starlings

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Sturnidae

Starlings and mynas are small to medium-sized Old World passerine birds with strong feet. Their flight is strong and direct and most are very gregarious. Their preferred habitat is fairly open country, and they eat insects and fruit. The plumage of several species is dark with a metallic sheen.

* European starling, ''Sturnus vulgaris'' (I)

Dippers

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Cinclidae

Dippers are a group of perching birds whose habitat includes aquatic environments in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. They are named for their bobbing or dipping movements. These birds have adaptations which allows them to submerge and walk on the bottom to feed on insect larvae.

* American dipper, ''Cinclus mexicanus''

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.

* Mountain bluebird, ''Sialia currucoides''
*Townsend's solitaire, ''Myadestes townsendi''
* Grey-cheeked thrush, ''Catharus minimus''
*Swainson's thrush, ''Catharus ustulatus''
* Hermit thrush, ''Catharus guttatus''
*Dusky thrush, ''Turdus eunomus'' (C)
*American robin, ''Turdus migratorius''
*Varied thrush, ''Ixoreus naevius''

Old World flycatchers

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Muscicapidae

The Old World flycatchers are 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, ''Luscinia svecica''
*Siberian blue robin, ''Luscinia cyane'' (A)
* Northern wheatear, ''Oenanthe oenanthe''

Accentors

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Prunellidae

The accentors are small, fairly drab birds with thin sharp bills superficially similar, but unrelated to, sparrows. They are endemic to the Palearctic and only appear in North America as a vagrant.

* Siberian accentor, ''Prunella montanella'' (A)

Old World sparrows

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Passeridae

Old World sparrows are small passerine birds. In general, sparrows tend to be small plump brownish or greyish 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''
* Red-throated pipit, ''Anthus cervinus'' (C)
*American pipit, ''Anthus rubescens''

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'' (C)
*Evening grosbeak, ''Coccothraustes vespertinus''
*Hawfinch, ''Coccothraustes coccothraustes'' (A)
* Pine grosbeak, ''Pinicola enucleator''
* Grey-crowned rosy-finch, ''Leucosticte tephrocotis''
*House finch, ''Haemorhous mexicanus'' (C)
*Purple finch, ''Haemorhous purpureus''
*Cassin's finch, ''Haemorhous cassinii'' (A)
* Common redpoll, ''Acanthis flammea''
*Hoary redpoll, ''Acanthis hornemanni''
*Red crossbill, ''Loxia curvirostra''
*White-winged crossbill, ''Loxia leucoptera''
*Pine siskin, ''Spinus pinus''
* Lesser goldfinch, ''Spinus psaltria'' (C)
* American goldfinch, ''Spinus tristis'' (A)

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.

* Lapland longspur, ''Calcarius lapponicus''
*Smith's longspur, ''Calcarius pictus''
*Thick-billed longspur, ''Rhynchophanes mccownii'' (A)
* Snow bunting, ''Plectrophenax nivalis''
*McKay's bunting, ''Plectrophenax hyperboreus'' (A)

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.

*Rustic bunting, ''Emberiza rustica'' (A)

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.

* Lark sparrow, ''Chondestes grammacus'' (C)
* Lark bunting, ''Calamospiza melanocorys'' (A)
*Chipping sparrow, ''Spizella passerina''
* Clay-coloured sparrow, ''Spizella pallida'' (C)
*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'' (C)
* White-throated sparrow, ''Zonotrichia albicollis''
* Vesper sparrow, ''Pooecetes gramineus'' (C)
*LeConte's sparrow, ''Ammospiza leconteii''
*Savannah sparrow, ''Passerculus sandwichensis''
* Song sparrow, ''Melospiza melodia''
*Lincoln's sparrow, ''Melospiza lincolnii''
*Swamp sparrow, ''Melospiza georgiana''
* Spotted towhee, ''Pipilo maculatus'' (A)

Troupials and allies

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Icteridae

The icterids are a group of small to medium-sized, often colourful 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 colour, often enlivened by yellow, orange, or red.

* Yellow-headed blackbird, ''Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus'' (C)
* Western meadowlark, ''Sturnella neglecta'' (C)
*Hooded oriole, ''Icterus cucullatus'' (A)
*Baltimore oriole, ''Icterus galbula'' (A)
* Red-winged blackbird, ''Agelaius phoeniceus''
* Brown-headed cowbird, ''Molothrus ater''
*Rusty blackbird, ''Euphagus carolinus''
*Brewer's blackbird, ''Euphagus cyanocephalus'' (C)
* Common grackle, ''Quiscalus quiscula'' (C)

New World warblers

Order: PasseriformesFamily: Parulidae

The wood-warblers are a group of small, often colourful, 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''
*Northern waterthrush, ''Parkesia noveboracensis''
* Black-and-white warbler, ''Mniotilta varia''
*Tennessee warbler, ''Leiothlypis peregrina''
*Orange-crowned warbler, ''Leiothlypis celata''
* Nashville warbler, ''Leiothlypis ruficapilla'' (C)
* MacGillivray's warbler, ''Geothlypis tolmiei''
*Mourning warbler, ''Geothlypis philadelphia''
*Common yellowthroat, ''Geothlypis trichas''
* American redstart, ''Setophaga ruticilla''
*Cape May warbler, ''Setophaga tigrina''
*Magnolia warbler, ''Setophaga magnolia''
* Bay-breasted warbler, ''Setophaga castanea''
* Blackburnian warbler, ''Setophaga fusca'' (A)
*Yellow warbler, ''Setophaga petechia''
* Chestnut-sided warbler, ''Setophaga pensylvanica'' (A)
* Blackpoll warbler, ''Setophaga striata''
*Palm warbler, ''Setophaga palmarum'' (C)
*Yellow-rumped warbler, ''Setophaga coronata''
*Townsend's warbler, ''Setophaga townsendi''
* 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.

* Scarlet tanager, ''Piranga olivacea'' (A)
*Western tanager, ''Piranga ludoviciana''
* Rose-breasted grosbeak, ''Pheucticus ludovicianus''
* Black-headed grosbeak, ''Pheucticus melanocephalus'' (C)
*Lazuli bunting, ''Passerina amoena'' (A)
* Indigo bunting, ''Passerina cyanea'' (A)

Notes

References

{{reflist

See also

*List of birds
* Lists of birds by region

Yukon
Birds