List of birds of Yukon
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This list of birds of Yukon includes
species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
documented in the
Canadian territory Within the geographical areas of Canada, the ten provinces and three territories are sub-national administrative divisions under the jurisdiction of the Canadian Constitution. In the 1867 Canadian Confederation, three provinces of British North ...
of
Yukon Yukon (; ; formerly called Yukon Territory and also referred to as the Yukon) is the smallest and westernmost of Canada's three territories. It also is the second-least populated province or territory in Canada, with a population of 43,964 as ...
. 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 Taxonomic sequence (also known as systematic, phyletic or taxonomic order) is a sequence followed in listing of taxa which aids ease of use and roughly reflects the evolutionary relationships among the taxa. Taxonomic sequences can exist for taxa ...
of the ''Check-list of North and Middle American Birds'', 7th edition through the 62nd Supplement, published by the
American Ornithological Society The American Ornithological Society (AOS) is an ornithological organization based in the United States. The society was formed in October 2016 by the merger of the American Ornithologists' Union (AOU) and the Cooper Ornithological Society. Its m ...
(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 ''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. 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:
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 Anatidae are the biological family of water birds that includes ducks, geese, and swans. The family has a cosmopolitan distribution, occurring on all the world's continents except Antarctica. These birds are adapted for swimming, floating ...
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 The snow goose (''Anser caerulescens'') is a species of goose native to North America. Both white and dark morphs exist, the latter often known as blue goose. Its name derives from the typically white plumage. The species was previously placed ...
, ''Anser caerulescens'' *
Ross's goose The Ross's goose (''Anser rossii'') is a white goose with black wingtips and a relatively short neck. It is the smallest of the three " white geese" that breed in North America. It is similar in appearance to a white-phase snow goose, but about 4 ...
, ''Anser rossii'' (C) * Greater white-fronted goose, ''Anser albifrons'' * Taiga bean-goose, ''Anser fabalis'' (A) *
Tundra bean-goose The tundra bean goose (''Anser serrirostris'') is a goose that breeds in northern Siberia. This and the taiga bean goose are recognised as separate species by the American Ornithological Society and International Ornithologists' Union, but are co ...
, ''Anser serrirostris'' (A) * Brant, ''Branta bernicla'' *
Cackling goose The cackling goose (''Branta hutchinsii'') is a species of goose found in North America. Description The black head and neck with white "chinstrap" distinguish this goose from all other geese except the larger Canada goose (''Branta canadensis'' ...
, ''Branta hutchinsii'' *
Canada goose The Canada goose (''Branta canadensis''), or Canadian goose, is a large wild goose with a black head and neck, white cheeks, white under its chin, and a brown body. It is native to the arctic and temperate regions of North America, and it is o ...
, ''Branta canadensis'' * Trumpeter swan, ''Cygnus buccinator'' * Tundra swan, ''Cygnus columbianus'' * Whooper swan, ''Cygnus cygnus'' (C) * Wood duck, ''Aix sponsa'' (C) * 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'' * 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'' (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 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''


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. * Ruffed grouse, ''Bonasa umbellus'' * Spruce grouse, ''Canachites canadensis'' * Willow ptarmigan, ''Lagopus lagopus'' *
Rock ptarmigan The rock ptarmigan (''Lagopus muta'') is a medium-sized game bird in the grouse family. It is known simply as the ptarmigan in the UK. It is the official bird for the Canadian territory of Nunavut, where it is known as the ''aqiggiq'' (ᐊᕿ ...
, ''Lagopus mutus'' * White-tailed ptarmigan, ''Lagopus leucurus'' *
Dusky grouse The dusky grouse (''Dendragapus obscurus'') is a species of forest-dwelling grouse native to the Rocky Mountains in North America.del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., & Sargatal, J., eds. (1994). ''Handbook of the Birds of the World'' 2: 401-402. Lynx Edi ...
, ''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 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'' (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 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) *
Oriental turtle-dove The Oriental turtle dove or rufous turtle dove (''Streptopelia orientalis'') is a member of the bird family Columbidae. The species has a wide native distribution range from Europe, east across Asia to Japan. The populations show variations in th ...
, ''Streptopelia orientalis'' (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 The Pacific swift or fork-tailed swift (''Apus pacificus'') is a species of bird that is part of the Swift family. It breeds in eastern Asia. It is strongly migratory, spending the northern hemisphere's winter in Southeast Asia and Austral ...
, ''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 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) *
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'' (A) *
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''


Rails, gallinules, and coots

Order:
Gruiformes The Gruiformes are an order (biology), order containing a considerable number of living and extinct bird family (biology), families, with a widespread geographical diversity. Gruiform means "crane-like". Traditionally, a number of wading and t ...
Family: Rallidae Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots, and gallinules. The most typical family members occupy dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps, or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and to be weak fliers. * Sora, ''Porzana carolina'' * American coot, ''Fulica americana''


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". * 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 The American golden plover (''Pluvialis dominica''), is a medium-sized plover. The genus name is Latin and means relating to rain, from ''pluvia'', "rain". It was believed that golden plovers flocked when rain was imminent. The species name ''d ...
, ''Pluvialis dominica'' * Pacific golden-plover, ''Pluvialis fulva'' * Killdeer, ''Charadrius vociferus'' * Common ringed plover, ''Charadrius hiaticula'' (C) * Semipalmated plover, ''Charadrius semipalmatus'' * Snowy plover, ''Charadrius nivosus'' (A)


Sandpipers and allies

Order: CharadriiformesFamily:
Scolopacidae Sandpipers are a large family, Scolopacidae, of waders. They include many species called sandpipers, as well as those called by names such as curlew and snipe. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. ...
Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers, and phalaropes. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Different lengths of legs and bills enable multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food. * Upland sandpiper, ''Bartramia longicauda'' * Whimbrel, ''Numenius phaeopus'' *
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'' (A) * Far Eastern curlew, ''Numenius madagascariensis'' (A) * Bar-tailed godwit, ''Limosa lapponica'' (C) *
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'' (C) * Ruddy turnstone, ''Arenaria interpres'' *
Black turnstone The black turnstone (''Arenaria melanocephala'') is a species of small wading bird. It is one of two species of turnstone in the genus ''Arenaria'' the ruddy turnstone (''A. interpres'') being the other. It is now classified in the sandpiper fam ...
, ''Arenaria melanocephala'' (C) * Red knot, ''Calidris canutus'' (C) *
Surfbird The surfbird (''Calidris virgata'') is a small stocky wader in the family Scolopacidae. It was once considered to be allied to the turnstones, and placed in the monotypic genus ''Aphriza'', but is now placed in the genus ''Calidris''. This bird ...
, ''Calidris virgata'' *
Ruff Ruff may refer to: Places *Ruff, Virginia, United States, an unincorporated community *Ruff, Washington, United States, an unincorporated community Other uses *Ruff (bird) (''Calidris pugnax'' or ''Philomachus pugnax''), a bird in the wader fami ...
, ''Calidris pugnax'' (A) * Sharp-tailed sandpiper, ''Calidris acuminata'' * Stilt sandpiper, ''Calidris himantopus'' * Red-necked stint, ''Calidris ruficollis'' (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'' * Little stint, ''Calidris minuta'' (A) * 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'' * 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 macularia'' *
Solitary sandpiper The solitary sandpiper (''Tringa solitaria'') is a small shorebird. The genus name ''Tringa'' is the New Latin name given to the green sandpiper by Aldrovandus in 1599 based on Ancient Greek ''trungas'', a thrush-sized, white-rumped, tail-bobbin ...
, ''Tringa solitaria'' *
Wandering tattler The wandering tattler (''Tringa incana''; formerly ''Heteroscelus incanus'': Pereira & Baker, 2005; Banks ''et al.'', 2006), is a medium-sized wading bird. It is similar in appearance to the closely related gray-tailed tattler, ''T. brevipes''. ...
, ''Tringa incana'' * Lesser yellowlegs, ''Tringa flavipes'' * Willet, ''Tringa semipalmata'' (C) * Greater yellowlegs, ''Tringa melanoleuca'' *
Wood sandpiper The wood sandpiper (''Tringa glareola'') is a small wader. This Eurasian species is the smallest of the shanks, which are mid-sized long-legged waders of the family Scolopacidae. The genus name ''Tringa'' is the New Latin name given to the green ...
, ''Tringa glareola'' (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 The pomarine jaeger (''Stercorarius pomarinus''), pomarine skua, or pomatorhine skua, is a seabird in the skua family Stercorariidae. It is a migrant, wintering at sea in the tropical oceans. Taxonomy Its relationships are not fully resolved; i ...
, ''Stercorarius pomarinus'' *
Parasitic jaeger The parasitic jaeger (''Stercorarius parasiticus''), also known as the Arctic skua, Arctic jaeger or parasitic skua, is a seabird in the skua family Stercorariidae. It is a migratory species that breeds in Northern Scandinavia, Scotland, Iceland, ...
, ''Stercorarius parasiticus'' * Long-tailed jaeger, ''Stercorarius longicaudus''


Auks, murres, and puffins

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Alcidae Alcids are superficially similar to
penguin Penguins (order (biology), order List of Sphenisciformes by population, Sphenisciformes , family (biology), family Spheniscidae ) are a group of Water bird, aquatic flightless birds. They live almost exclusively in the Southern Hemisphere: on ...
s due to their black-and-white 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 The thick-billed murre or Brünnich's guillemot (''Uria lomvia'') is a bird in the auk family (Alcidae). This bird is named after the Danish zoologist Morten Thrane Brünnich. The very deeply black North Pacific subspecies ''Uria lomvia arra'' i ...
, ''Uria lomvia'' (A) *
Black guillemot The black guillemot or tystie (''Cepphus grylle'') is a medium-sized seabird of the Alcidae family, native throughout northern Atlantic coasts and eastern North American coasts. It is resident in much of its range, but large populations from the ...
, ''Cepphus grylle'' (A) *
Long-billed murrelet The long-billed murrelet (''Brachyramphus perdix'') is a small seabird from the North Pacific. The genus name ''Brachyramphus'' is from Ancient Greek ''brakhus'', "short", and ''rhamphos'', "bill". The species name ''perdix'' is Latin for "partr ...
, ''Brachyramphus perdix'' (A) * Ancient murrelet, ''Synthliboramphus antiquus'' (A) *
Parakeet auklet The parakeet auklet (''Aethia psittacula'') is a small seabird of the North Pacific. Parakeet Auklets used to be placed on its own in the genus ''Cyclorrhynchus'' ( Kaup, 1829) but recent morphological and genetic evidence suggest it should be pl ...
, ''Aethia psittacula'' (A) * Crested auklet, ''Aethia cristatella'' (A) *
Horned puffin The horned puffin (''Fratercula corniculata'') is an auk found in the North Pacific Ocean, including the coasts of Alaska, Siberia and British Columbia. It is a pelagic seabird that feeds primarily by diving for fish. It nests in colonies, often ...
, ''Fratercula corniculata'' (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 The black-legged kittiwake (''Rissa tridactyla'') is a seabird species in the gull family Laridae. This species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his landmark 1758 10th edition of ''Systema Naturae'' as ''Larus tridactylus''. The English ...
, ''Rissa tridactyla'' * Red-legged kittiwake, ''Rissa brevirostris'' (A) *
Ivory gull The ivory gull (''Pagophila eburnea'') is a small gull, the only species in the genus ''Pagophila''. It breeds in the high Arctic and has a circumpolar distribution through Greenland, northernmost North America, and Eurasia. Taxonomy The ivory ...
, ''Pagophila eburnea'' (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 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'' (C) *
Short-billed gull The short-billed gull (''Larus brachyrhynchus'') is a medium-sized species of gull that breeds in northwestern North America. In North America it was previously known as the mew gull, when it was considered conspecific with the palearctic common g ...
, ''Larus brachyrhynchus'' * Ring-billed gull, ''Larus delawarensis'' * 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'' (C) * Lesser black-backed gull, ''Larus fuscus'' (C) *
Slaty-backed gull The slaty-backed gull (''Larus schistisagus'') is a large, white-headed gull that breeds on the north-eastern coast of the Palearctic, but travels widely during nonbreeding seasons. It is similar in appearance to the western gull and the glaucou ...
, ''Larus schistisagus'' (C) * Glaucous-winged gull, ''Larus glaucescens'' *
Glaucous gull The glaucous gull (''Larus hyperboreus'') is a large gull, the second-largest gull in the world. It breeds in Arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere and winters south to shores of the Holarctic. The genus name is from Latin ''larus'', which a ...
, ''Larus hyperboreus'' * Caspian tern, ''Hydroprogne caspia'' (C) * Black tern, ''Chlidonias niger'' *
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''


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 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 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''


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 The fork-tailed storm petrel (''Hydrobates furcatus'') is a small seabird of the storm petrel family Hydrobatidae. It is the second-most abundant and widespread storm petrel (after Leach's storm petrel) and is the only bird in its family that is ...
, ''Hydrobates furcatus'' (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 The short-tailed shearwater or slender-billed shearwater (''Ardenna tenuirostris''; formerly ''Puffinus tenuirostris''), also called yolla or moonbird, and commonly known as the muttonbird in Australia, is the most abundant seabird species in A ...
, ''Ardenna tenuirostris'' (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 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'' (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 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'' (C) * Great egret, ''Ardea alba'' (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. * Black vulture, ''Coragyps atratus'' (A) * Turkey vulture, ''Cathartes aura'' (C)


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. * 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'' * Mississippi kite, ''Ictinia mississippiensis'' (A) * Sharp-shinned hawk, ''Accipiter striatus'' *
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'' (A) *
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'' * Broad-winged hawk, ''Buteo platypterus'' (A) * Swainson's hawk, ''Buteo swainsoni'' (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''


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 The northern pygmy owl (''Glaucidium californicum'') is a small owl native to western North America. Taxonomy Some taxonomic authorities, including the International Ornithologists' Union, separate this species from the mountain pygmy owl, th ...
, ''Glaucidium gnoma'' (C) * Barred owl, ''Strix varia'' (C) * Great grey owl, ''Strix nebulosa'' * Long-eared owl, ''Asio otus'' (C) *
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'' * Northern saw-whet owl, ''Aegolius acadicus''


Kingfishers

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


Woodpeckers

Order: PiciformesFamily:
Picidae Woodpeckers are part of the bird family Picidae, which also includes the piculets, wrynecks, and sapsuckers. Members of this family are found worldwide, except for Australia, New Guinea, New Zealand, Madagascar, and the extreme polar regions. M ...
Woodpeckers are small to medium-sized birds with chisel-like beaks, short legs, stiff tails, and long tongues used for capturing insects. Some species have feet with two toes pointing forward and two backward, while several species have only three toes. Many woodpeckers have the habit of tapping noisily on tree trunks with their beaks. *
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-breasted sapsucker The red-breasted sapsucker (''Sphyrapicus ruber'') is a medium-sized woodpecker of the forests of the west coast of North America. Description Adults have a red head and upper chest; they have a white lower belly and rump. They are black on the ...
, ''Sphyrapicus ruber'' (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'' *
Black-backed woodpecker The black-backed woodpecker (''Picoides arcticus''), also known as the Arctic three-toed woodpecker, is a medium-sized woodpecker ( long) inhabiting the forests of North America. Taxonomy The black-backed woodpecker was described and illustrat ...
, ''Picoides arcticus'' * Downy woodpecker, ''Dryobates pubescens'' *
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. * American kestrel, ''Falco sparverius'' *
Merlin Merlin ( cy, Myrddin, kw, Marzhin, br, Merzhin) is a mythical figure prominently featured in the legend of King Arthur and best known as a mage, with several other main roles. His usual depiction, based on an amalgamation of historic and le ...
, ''Falco columbarius'' * Gyrfalcon, ''Falco rusticolus'' *
Peregrine falcon 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''


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 A robber fly eating a hoverfly An insectivore is a carnivorous animal or plant that eats insects. An alternative term is entomophage, which can also refer to the human practice of eating insects. The first vertebrate insectivores were ...
. * Western kingbird, ''Tyrannus verticalis'' (C) * Eastern kingbird, ''Tyrannus tyrannus'' (C) * Scissor-tailed flycatcher, ''Tyrannus forficatus'' (C) *
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'' *
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'' *
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'' *
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'' * Dusky flycatcher, ''Empidonax oberholseri'' * Gray flycatcher, ''Empidonax wrightii'' *
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'' (C) *
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''


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 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'' *
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 The warbling vireo (''Vireo gilvus'') is a small North American songbird. Its breeding habitat is open deciduous and mixed woods from Alaska to Mexico and the Florida Panhandle. It often nests in widely spaced trees, often cottonwood or aspen, ...
, ''Vireo gilvus'' *
Red-eyed vireo The red-eyed vireo (''Vireo olivaceus'') is a small American songbird. It is somewhat warbler-like but not closely related to the New World warblers (Parulidae). Common across its vast range, this species is not considered threatened by the IUCN. ...
, ''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,
raven A raven is any of several larger-bodied bird species of the genus ''Corvus''. These species do not form a single taxonomic group within the genus. There is no consistent distinction between "crows" and "ravens", common names which are assigned t ...
s,
jay A jay is a member of a number of species of medium-sized, usually colorful and noisy, passerine birds in the Crow family (biology), family, Corvidae. The evolutionary relationships between the jays and the magpies are rather complex. For examp ...
s, choughs,
magpie Magpies are birds of the Corvidae family. Like other members of their family, they are widely considered to be intelligent creatures. The Eurasian magpie, for instance, is thought to rank among the world's most intelligent creatures, and is one ...
s, treepies, nutcrackers, and
ground jay The ground jays or ground choughs belong to a distinct group of the passerine order of birds in the genus ''Podoces'' of the crow family Corvidae. They inhabit high altitude semi-desert areas from central Asia to Mongolia. Ground jays show adapt ...
s. Corvids are above average in size among the Passeriformes, and some of the larger species show high levels of intelligence. *
Canada jay The Canada jay (''Perisoreus canadensis''), also known as the gray jay, grey jay, camp robber, or whisky jack, is a passerine bird of the family Corvidae. It is found in boreal forests of North America north to the tree line, and in the Rock ...
, ''Perisoreus canadensis'' *
Steller's jay Steller's jay (''Cyanocitta stelleri'') is a bird native to western North America and the mountains of Central America, closely related to the blue jay found in eastern North America. It is also known as the long-crested jay, mountain jay, and pin ...
, ''Cyanocitta stelleri'' (C) * Clark's nutcracker, ''Nucifraga columbiana'' (C) *
Black-billed magpie The black-billed magpie (''Pica hudsonia''), also known as the American magpie, is a bird in the corvid family found in the western half of North America. It is black and white, with black areas on the wings and tail showing iridescent hints o ...
, ''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 The chestnut-backed chickadee (''Poecile rufescens''), formerly ''Parus rufescens'', is a small passerine bird in the tit family, Paridae. It is found in the Pacific Northwest of the United States and western Canada, from southern Alaska to sout ...
, ''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 The purple martin (''Progne subis'') is a passerine bird in the swallow family Hirundinidae. It is the largest swallow in North America. Despite its name, the purple martin is not truly purple. The dark blackish-blue feathers have an iridescent s ...
, ''Progne subis'' (A) *
Tree swallow The tree swallow (''Tachycineta bicolor'') is a migratory bird of the family Hirundinidae. Found in the Americas, the tree swallow was first described in 1807 by French ornithologist Louis Vieillot as ''Hirundo bicolor''. It has since been mov ...
, ''Tachycineta bicolor'' *
Violet-green swallow The violet-green swallow (''Tachycineta thalassina'') is a small North American passerine bird in the Hirundinidae, swallow family. These aerial insectivores are distributed along the west coast from Alaska to Mexico, extending as far east as Mon ...
, ''Tachycineta thalassina'' *
Northern rough-winged swallow The northern rough-winged swallow (''Stelgidopteryx serripennis'') is a small, migratory swallow. It is very similar to the southern rough-winged swallow, ''Stelgidopteryx ruficollis''. Taxonomy and etymology The genus name, ''Stelgidopteryx'' ...
, ''Stelgidopteryx serripennis'' *
Purple martin The purple martin (''Progne subis'') is a passerine bird in the swallow family Hirundinidae. It is the largest swallow in North America. Despite its name, the purple martin is not truly purple. The dark blackish-blue feathers have an iridescent s ...
, ''Progne subis'' (A) * Barn swallow, ''Hirundo rustica'' *
Cliff swallow The cliff swallow or American cliff swallow (''Petrochelidon pyrrhonota'') is a member of the passerine bird family Hirundinidae, the swallows and martins. The generic name ''Petrochelidon'' is derived from Ancient Greek ''petros'' meaning "roc ...
, ''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 The Arctic warbler (''Phylloscopus borealis'') is a widespread leaf warbler in birch or mixed birch forest near water throughout its breeding range in Fennoscandia and the northern Palearctic. It has established a foothold in North America, b ...
, ''Phylloscopus borealis'' (A)


Kinglets

Order: PasseriformesFamily:
Regulidae A kinglet is a small bird in the family Regulidae. Species in this family were formerly classified with the Old World warblers. "Regulidae" is derived from the Latin word ''regulus'' for "petty king" or prince, and refers to the coloured crowns ...
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 The nuthatches () constitute a genus, ''Sitta'', of small passerine birds belonging to the family Sittidae. Characterised by large heads, short tails, and powerful bills and feet, nuthatches advertise their territory using loud, simple songs. Mo ...
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 The Pacific wren (''Troglodytes pacificus'') is a very small North American bird and a member of the mainly New World wren family Troglodytidae. It was once lumped with '' Troglodytes hiemalis'' of eastern North America and '' Troglodytes trogl ...
, ''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 The Americas, which are sometimes collectively called America, are a landmass comprising the totality of North and South America. The Americas make up most of the land in Earth's Western Hemisphere and comprise the New World. Along with th ...
, 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 Townsend's solitaire (''Myadestes townsendi'') is a medium-sized thrush, the only solitaire native to America north of Mexico. Range and habitat This solitaire ranges from southern Alaska, British Columbia and Alberta to northern Zacatecas in Me ...
, ''Myadestes townsendi'' * Grey-cheeked thrush, ''Catharus minimus'' *
Swainson's thrush Swainson's thrush (''Catharus ustulatus''), also called olive-backed thrush and russet-backed thrush, is a medium-sized thrush. It is a member of genus ''Catharus'' and is typical of it in terms of its subdued coloration and beautiful, ascending ...
, ''Catharus ustulatus'' * Hermit thrush, ''Catharus guttatus'' *
Dusky thrush The dusky thrush (''Turdus eunomus'') is a member of the thrush family which breeds eastwards from central Siberia to Kamchatka wintering to Japan, South China and Myanmar. It is closely related to the more southerly breeding Naumann's thrush ...
, ''Turdus eunomus'' (C) *
American robin The American robin (''Turdus migratorius'') is a migratory bird of the true thrush genus and Turdidae, the wider thrush family. It is named after the European robin because of its reddish-orange breast, though the two species are not closel ...
, ''Turdus migratorius'' *
Varied thrush The varied thrush (''Ixoreus naevius'') is a member of the thrush family, Turdidae. It is the only species in the monotypic genus ''Ixoreus''. Taxonomy The varied thrush was formally described by the German naturalist Johann Friedrich Gmelin ...
, ''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
insectivore A robber fly eating a hoverfly An insectivore is a carnivorous animal or plant that eats insects. An alternative term is entomophage, which can also refer to the human practice of eating insects. The first vertebrate insectivores wer ...
s, many of which, as the name implies, take their prey on the wing. * Bluethroat, ''Luscinia svecica'' *
Siberian blue robin The Siberian blue robin (''Larvivora cyane'') is a small passerine bird that was formerly classified as a member of the thrush family, Turdidae, but is now more generally considered to belong to the Old World flycatcher family, Muscicapidae. It ...
, ''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 The Palearctic or Palaearctic is the largest of the eight biogeographic realms of the Earth. It stretches across all of Eurasia north of the foothills of the Himalayas, and North Africa. The realm consists of several bioregions: the Euro-Sibe ...
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 The house sparrow (''Passer domesticus'') is a bird of the sparrow family Passeridae, found in most parts of the world. It is a small bird that has a typical length of and a mass of . Females and young birds are coloured pale brown and grey, a ...
, ''Passer domesticus'' (I)


Wagtails and pipits

Order: PasseriformesFamily:
Motacillidae The wagtails, longclaws, and pipits are a family, Motacillidae, of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. Around 70 species occur in five genera. The longclaws are entirely restricted to the Afrotropics, and the wagtails are predominan ...
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 The eastern yellow wagtail (''Motacilla tschutschensis'') is a small passerine in the wagtail family Motacillidae, which also includes the pipits and longclaws. It was often classified as a subspecies of the Western yellow wagtail. This species ...
, ''Motacilla tschutschensis'' * Red-throated pipit, ''Anthus cervinus'' (C) *
American pipit The buff-bellied pipit or American pipit (''Anthus rubescens'') is a small songbird found on both sides of the northern Pacific. It was first described by Marmaduke Tunstall in his 1771 ''Ornithologia Britannica''. It was formerly classified as a ...
, ''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 The evening grosbeak (''Hesperiphona vespertina'') is a passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae found in North America. Taxonomy The IOC checklist and the ''Handbook of the Birds of the World'' place the evening grosbeak and the closel ...
, ''Coccothraustes vespertinus'' *
Hawfinch The hawfinch (''Coccothraustes coccothraustes'') is a passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae. It is the only species placed in the genus ''Coccothraustes''. Its closest living relatives are the Chinese grosbeak (''Eophona migratoria'') ...
, ''Coccothraustes coccothraustes'' (A) * Pine grosbeak, ''Pinicola enucleator'' * Grey-crowned rosy-finch, ''Leucosticte tephrocotis'' *
House finch The house finch (''Haemorhous mexicanus'') is a bird in the finch family Fringillidae. It is native to western North America and has been introduced to the eastern half of the continent and Hawaii. This species and the other two American rosef ...
, ''Haemorhous mexicanus'' (C) *
Purple finch The purple finch (''Haemorhous purpureus'') is a bird in the finch family, Fringillidae. Taxonomy This species and the other "American rosefinches" were formerly included with the rosefinches of Eurasia in the genus ''Carpodacus''; however, the ...
, ''Haemorhous purpureus'' *
Cassin's finch Cassin's finch (''Haemorhous cassinii'') is a bird in the finch family, Fringillidae. This species and the other "American rosefinches" are placed in the genus ''Haemorhous''. Description Measurements: * Length: 6.3 in (16 cm) * Weight: 0.8-1 ...
, ''Haemorhous cassinii'' (A) * Common redpoll, ''Acanthis flammea'' *
Hoary redpoll The Arctic redpoll or hoary redpoll (''Acanthis hornemanni'') is a bird species in the finch family Fringillidae. It breeds in tundra birch forest. It has two subspecies, ''A. h. hornemanni'' (Greenland or Hornemann's Arctic redpoll) of Greenlan ...
, ''Acanthis hornemanni'' *
Red crossbill The red crossbill or common crossbill (''Loxia curvirostra'') is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae. Crossbills have distinctive mandibles, crossed at the tips, which enable them to extract seeds from conifer cones and other ...
, ''Loxia curvirostra'' *
White-winged crossbill The two-barred crossbill or white-winged crossbill (''Loxia leucoptera'') is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae. Etymology The scientific name is from Ancient Greek. ''Loxia'' is from , "crosswise", and means "white-winged" ...
, ''Loxia leucoptera'' *
Pine siskin The pine siskin (''Spinus pinus'') is a North American bird in the finch family. It is a migratory bird with an extremely sporadic winter range. Taxonomy The pine siskin was formally described in 1810 by the American ornithologist Alexander ...
, ''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 Smith's longspur (''Calcarius pictus'') is a bird from the family Calcariidae, which also contains the other species of longspurs. A bird of open habitats, it breeds in northern Canada and Alaska, and winters in the southern United States. Primar ...
, ''Calcarius pictus'' *
Thick-billed longspur The thick-billed longspur, formerly known as McCown's longspur (''Rhynchophanes mccownii''), is a small ground-feeding bird in the family Calcariidae, which also contains the other longspurs and snow buntings. It is found in North America and is ...
, ''Rhynchophanes mccownii'' (A) * Snow bunting, ''Plectrophenax nivalis'' *
McKay's bunting McKay's bunting (''Plectrophenax hyperboreus'') is a passerine bird in the longspur family Calcariidae. It is most closely related to the snow bunting (''P. nivalis''). Hybrids between the two species have been observed, leading some authorities ...
, ''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 The rustic bunting (''Emberiza rustica'') is a passerine bird in the bunting family Emberizidae, a group now separated by most modern authors from the finches, Fringillidae. The genus name ''Emberiza'' is from Old German ''Embritz'', a 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 The chipping sparrow (''Spizella passerina'') is a species of New World sparrow, a passerine bird in the family Passerellidae. It is widespread, fairly tame, and common across most of its North American range. There are two subspecies, the east ...
, ''Spizella passerina'' * Clay-coloured sparrow, ''Spizella pallida'' (C) *
Brewer's sparrow Brewer's sparrow (''Spizella breweri'') is a small, slim species of American sparrow in the family Passerellidae. This bird was named after the ornithologist Thomas Mayo Brewer. Description and systematics Adults have grey-brown backs and speck ...
, ''Spizella breweri'' *
Fox sparrow The fox sparrow (''Passerella iliaca'') is a large New World sparrow. It is the only member of the genus ''Passerella'', although some authors split the species into four (see below). Taxonomy More specific information regarding plumage is avai ...
, ''Passerella iliaca'' *
American tree sparrow The American tree sparrow (''Spizelloides arborea''), also known as the winter sparrow, is a medium-sized New World sparrow. It had been classified under the genus ''Spizella'', but multilocus molecular evidence suggested placement in its own ge ...
, ''Spizelloides arborea'' * Dark-eyed junco, ''Junco hyemalis'' * White-crowned sparrow, ''Zonotrichia leucophrys'' *
Golden-crowned sparrow The golden-crowned sparrow (''Zonotrichia atricapilla'') is a large New World sparrow found in the western part of North America. Systematics The golden-crowned sparrow is one of five species in the genus ''Zonotrichia'', a group of large Americ ...
, ''Zonotrichia atricapilla'' *
Harris's sparrow Harris's sparrow (''Zonotrichia querula'') is a large sparrow. Their breeding habitat is the north part of central Canada (primarily the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, ranging slightly into northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan), making it C ...
, ''Zonotrichia querula'' (C) * White-throated sparrow, ''Zonotrichia albicollis'' * Vesper sparrow, ''Pooecetes gramineus'' (C) *
LeConte's sparrow LeConte's sparrow (''Ammospiza leconteii'') is one of the smallest New World sparrow species in North America.Terres, J.K. (1980). The Audubon Society Encyclopedia of North American Birds. New York: Alfred A. Knopf It is a very secretive bird th ...
, ''Ammospiza leconteii'' *
Savannah sparrow The Savannah sparrow (''Passerculus sandwichensis'') is a small New World sparrow. It was the only member of the genus '' Passerculus'' and is typically the only widely accepted member. Comparison of mtDNA NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 and 3 sequ ...
, ''Passerculus sandwichensis'' * Song sparrow, ''Melospiza melodia'' *
Lincoln's sparrow Lincoln's sparrow (''Melospiza lincolnii'') is a small American sparrow, sparrow native to North America. It is a less common passerine bird that often stays hidden under thick ground cover, but can be distinguished by its sweet, wrenlike song. Li ...
, ''Melospiza lincolnii'' *
Swamp sparrow The swamp sparrow (''Melospiza georgiana'') is a medium-sized New World sparrow related to the song sparrow. Description Measurements: * Length: 4.7-5.9 in (12-15 cm) * Weight: 0.5-0.8 oz (15-23 g) * Wingspan: 7.1-7.5 in (18-19 cm) ...
, ''Melospiza georgiana'' * Spotted towhee, ''Pipilo maculatus'' (A)


Troupials and allies

Order: PasseriformesFamily:
Icteridae Icterids () or New World blackbirds make up a family, the Icteridae (), of small to medium-sized, often colorful, New World passerine birds. Most species have black as a predominant plumage color, often enlivened by yellow, orange, or red. The ...
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 The hooded oriole (''Icterus cucullatus'') is a medium-sized New World oriole. The male of this species ranges in color from a bright orange to a paler yellow, with a black back, face, tail and bib, with the wing containing two white bars. The fe ...
, ''Icterus cucullatus'' (A) *
Baltimore oriole The Baltimore oriole (''Icterus galbula'') is a small icterid blackbird common in eastern North America as a migratory breeding bird. It received its name from the resemblance of the male's colors to those on the coat-of-arms of 17th century L ...
, ''Icterus galbula'' (A) * Red-winged blackbird, ''Agelaius phoeniceus'' * Brown-headed cowbird, ''Molothrus ater'' *
Rusty blackbird The rusty blackbird (''Euphagus carolinus'') is a medium-sized New World blackbird, closely related to grackles ("rusty grackle" is an older name for the species). It is a bird that prefers wet forested areas, breeding in the boreal forest and mu ...
, ''Euphagus carolinus'' *
Brewer's blackbird Brewer's blackbird (''Euphagus cyanocephalus'') is a medium-sized New World blackbird. It is named after the ornithologist Thomas Mayo Brewer. Description Adult males have black Feather, plumage with an iridescent purple head and neck and glo ...
, ''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 The northern waterthrush (''Parkesia noveboracensis'') is a species of ground-feeding migratory New World warbler of the genus ''Parkesia''. It breeds in the northern part of North America in Canada and the northern United States including Alaska ...
, ''Parkesia noveboracensis'' * Black-and-white warbler, ''Mniotilta varia'' *
Tennessee warbler The Tennessee warbler (''Leiothlypis peregrina'') is a New World warbler that breeds in eastern North America and winters in southern Central America, the Caribbean, and northern South America. The specific name ''peregrina'' is from Latin '' pe ...
, ''Leiothlypis peregrina'' *
Orange-crowned warbler The orange-crowned warbler (''Leiothlypis celata'') is a small songbird of the New World warbler family. Taxonomy The orange-crowned warbler was formally described in 1822 by the American zoologist Thomas Say under the binomial name ''Sylvia c ...
, ''Leiothlypis celata'' * Nashville warbler, ''Leiothlypis ruficapilla'' (C) * MacGillivray's warbler, ''Geothlypis tolmiei'' *
Mourning warbler The mourning warbler (''Geothlypis philadelphia'') is a small songbird of the New World warbler family. Mourning warblers are native to eastern and central North America as well as some countries in Central America.Gough, G.A., Sauer, J.R. ''Patu ...
, ''Geothlypis philadelphia'' *
Common yellowthroat The common yellowthroat (''Geothlypis trichas'') is a New World warbler. In the U.S. Midwest, it is also known as the yellow bandit. It is an abundant breeder in North America, ranging from southern Canada to central Mexico. The genus name ''Geot ...
, ''Geothlypis trichas'' * American redstart, ''Setophaga ruticilla'' *
Cape May warbler The Cape May warbler (''Setophaga tigrina'') is a species of New World warbler. It breeds in northern North America. Its breeding range spans all but the westernmost parts of southern Canada, the Great Lakes region, and New England. It is migrat ...
, ''Setophaga tigrina'' *
Magnolia warbler The magnolia warbler (''Setophaga magnolia'') is a member of the wood warbler family Parulidae. Etymology The genus name ''Setophaga'' is from Ancient Greek ''ses'', "moth", and ', "eating", and the specific ''magnolia'' refers to the type lo ...
, ''Setophaga magnolia'' * Bay-breasted warbler, ''Setophaga castanea'' * Blackburnian warbler, ''Setophaga fusca'' (A) *
Yellow warbler The yellow warbler (''Setophaga petechia'') is a New World warbler species. Yellow warblers are the most widespread species in the diverse genus ''Setophaga'', breeding in almost the whole of North America, the Caribbean, and down to northern S ...
, ''Setophaga petechia'' * Chestnut-sided warbler, ''Setophaga pensylvanica'' (A) * Blackpoll warbler, ''Setophaga striata'' *
Palm warbler The palm warbler (''Setophaga palmarum'') is a small songbird of the New World warbler family. Description Measurements: * Length: * Weight: * Wingspan: Taxonomy The species comprises two distinct subspecies that may merit specific stat ...
, ''Setophaga palmarum'' (C) *
Yellow-rumped warbler The yellow-rumped warbler (''Setophaga coronata'') is a regular North American bird species that can be commonly observed all across the continent. Its extensive distribution range connects both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of the U.S. as well ...
, ''Setophaga coronata'' *
Townsend's warbler Townsend's warbler (''Setophaga townsendi'') is a small songbird of the New World warbler family. Taxonomy Townsend's warbler was species description, formally described in 1837 by the American naturalist John Kirk Townsend under the binomial nam ...
, ''Setophaga townsendi'' * Canada warbler, ''Cardellina canadensis'' *
Wilson's warbler Wilson's warbler (''Cardellina pusilla'') is a small New World warbler. It is greenish above and yellow below, with rounded wings and a long, slim tail. The male has a black crown patch; depending on the subspecies, that mark is reduced or absent ...
, ''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 The western tanager (''Piranga ludoviciana''), is a medium-sized American songbird. Formerly placed in the tanager family (Thraupidae), other members of its genus and it are classified in the cardinal family (Cardinalidae). The species's plumag ...
, ''Piranga ludoviciana'' * Rose-breasted grosbeak, ''Pheucticus ludovicianus'' * Black-headed grosbeak, ''Pheucticus melanocephalus'' (C) *
Lazuli bunting The lazuli bunting (''Passerina amoena'') is a North American songbird named for the gemstone lapis lazuli. Description Measurements: * Length: 5.1-5.9 in (13-15 cm) * Weight: 0.5-0.6 oz (13-18 g) * Wingspan: 8.7 in (22 cm) The male i ...
, ''Passerina amoena'' (A) * Indigo bunting, ''Passerina cyanea'' (A)


Notes


References

{{reflist


See also

*
List of birds This article lists living orders and families of birds. The links below should then lead to family accounts and hence to individual species. The passerines (perching birds) alone account for well over 5,000 species. In total there are about 1 ...
* Lists of birds by region Yukon
Birds Birds are a group of warm-blooded vertebrates constituting the class Aves (), characterised by feathers, toothless beaked jaws, the laying of hard-shelled eggs, a high metabolic rate, a four-chambered heart, and a strong yet lightweigh ...