List of birds of Arkansas facts for kids
The northern mockingbird is the state bird of Arkansas.
This article is a list of all the different types of birds that have been seen and officially recorded in the state of Arkansas. The Arkansas Audubon Society (AAS) keeps this official list. As of January 2022, there are 424 bird species on the list!
Some birds are seen more often than others:
- Very rare (VR): These birds are seen only sometimes, and not very often.
- Occasional (O): These birds have been seen a few times (3-4 records), with at least two sightings since 1950.
- Accidental (A): These birds have only been seen once or twice in Arkansas.
- Introduced (I): These are birds that were brought to North America by people and now live freely in the wild.
- Extinct (E): These birds no longer exist anywhere in the world.
- Extirpated (Ex): These birds no longer live in Arkansas, but they can still be found in other places.
This list only includes birds that have made Arkansas their home and have wild populations. Birds that might have escaped from captivity are not included, even if they were seen flying around.
The birds are listed in a special order, following the "Check-list of North and Middle American Birds" from the American Ornithological Society (AOS).
Contents
- Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl: Birds of the Water
- New World Quail: Small Ground Birds
- Pheasants, Grouse, and Turkeys: Game Birds
- Grebes: Diving Birds
- Pigeons and Doves: Common Birds
- Cuckoos: Birds with Long Tails
- Nightjars and Allies: Nighttime Hunters
- Swifts: Birds Built for Flight
- Hummingbirds: Tiny, Hovering Wonders
- Rails, Gallinules, and Coots: Secretive Water Birds
- Limpkin: A Unique Wading Bird
- Cranes: Tall, Elegant Birds
- Stilts and Avocets: Long-Legged Waders
- Lapwings and Plovers: Shoreline Birds
- Sandpipers and Allies: Diverse Shorebirds
- Skuas and Jaegers: Powerful Seabirds
- Auks, Murres, and Puffins: Ocean Dwellers
- Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers: Coastal Birds
- Loons: Excellent Divers
- Storks: Large Wading Birds
- Frigatebirds: Masters of the Air
- Boobies and Gannets: Plunge Divers
- Anhingas: Snakebirds
- Cormorants and Shags: Dark Water Birds
- Pelicans: Birds with Pouches
- Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns: Wading Birds
- Ibises and Spoonbills: Unique Bill Shapes
- New World Vultures: Nature's Clean-Up Crew
- Osprey: The Fish Hawk
- Hawks, Eagles, and Kites: Powerful Hunters
- Barn-Owls: Nighttime Hunters with Heart-Shaped Faces
- Owls: Solitary Night Birds
- Kingfishers: Fisher Birds
- Woodpeckers: Tree Tappers
- Falcons and Caracaras: Fast Predators
- New World and African Parrots: Colorful and Smart
- Tyrant Flycatchers: Insect Eaters
- Vireos: Greenish Songbirds
- Shrikes: The Butcher Birds
- Crows, Jays, and Magpies: Smart Birds
- Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice: Small Woodland Birds
- Larks: Ground Birds with Songs
- Swallows: Aerial Acrobats
- Kinglets: Tiny Crowned Birds
- Waxwings: Silky Plumage and Berries
- Nuthatches: Head-First Climbers
- Treecreepers: Bark Explorers
- Gnatcatchers: Restless Insect Hunters
- Wrens: Small Birds, Loud Songs
- Mockingbirds and Thrashers: Amazing Mimics
- Starlings: Dark and Social Birds
- Thrushes and Allies: Songbirds of the Ground
- Old World Flycatchers: Rare Visitors
- Old World Sparrows: Small Seed Eaters
- Wagtails and Pipits: Ground Feeders
- Finches and Allies: Seed-Eating Songbirds
- Longspurs and Snow Buntings: Grassland Birds
- New World Sparrows: Diverse Head Patterns
- Yellow-breasted Chat: A Unique Songbird
- Troupials and Allies: Colorful New World Birds
- New World Warblers: Small and Bright
- Cardinals and Allies: Strong-Billed Seed Eaters
- See also
Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl: Birds of the Water
Order: Anseriformes Family: Anatidae
This group includes ducks, geese, and swans. These birds are perfectly built for life in the water! They have webbed feet to help them swim, and their bills are usually flat. Their feathers are also great at shedding water because of special oils.
- Black-bellied whistling-duck, Dendrocygna autumnalis
- Fulvous whistling-duck, Dendrocygna bicolor
- Snow goose, Anser caerulescens
- Ross's goose, Anser rossii
- Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons
- Tundra bean-goose, Anser serrirostris (A)
- Brant, Branta bernicla (A)
- Barnacle goose, Branta leucopsis (A)
- Cackling goose, Branta hutchinsii
- Canada goose, Branta canadensis
- Mute swan, Cygnus olor (I) (VR)
- Trumpeter swan, Cygnus buccinator
- Tundra swan, Cygnus columbianus
- Wood duck, Aix sponsa
- Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors
- Cinnamon teal, Spatula cyanoptera (VR)
- Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata
- Gadwall, Mareca strepera
- Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope (A)
- American wigeon, Mareca americana
- Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos
- American black duck, Anas rubripes
- Mottled duck, Anas fulvigula (C)
- Northern pintail, Anas acuta
- Garganey, Anas querquedula (A)
- Green-winged teal, Anas crecca
- Canvasback, Aythya valisineria
- Redhead, Aythya americana
- Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris
- Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula (A)
- Greater scaup, Aythya marila
- Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis
- Surf scoter, Melanitta perspicillata
- White-winged scoter, Melanitta deglandi
- Black scoter, Melanitta americana (VR)
- Long-tailed duck, Clangula hyemalis
- Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola
- Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula
- Barrow's goldeneye, Bucephala islandica (VR)
- Hooded merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus
- Common merganser, Mergus merganser
- Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator
- Ruddy duck, Oxyura jamaicensis
New World Quail: Small Ground Birds
Order: Galliformes Family: Odontophoridae
New World quails are small, round birds that live on the ground. They are not closely related to the quails found in other parts of the world, but they look and act similarly.
- Northern bobwhite, Colinus virginianus
Pheasants, Grouse, and Turkeys: Game Birds
Order: Galliformes Family: Phasianidae
This family includes pheasants, partridges, grouse, and turkeys. They are ground-dwelling birds that vary in size but are generally plump with wide, short wings. Many of these birds are hunted for sport or raised for food.
- Wild turkey, Meleagris gallopavo
- Ruffed grouse, Bonasa umbellus (Ex)
- Greater prairie-chicken, Tympanuchus cupido (Ex)
Grebes: Diving Birds
Order: Podicipediformes Family: Podicipedidae
Grebes are small to medium-sized birds that dive in freshwater. They have special lobed toes that make them excellent swimmers and divers. However, their feet are set far back on their bodies, which makes them clumsy on land.
- Least grebe, Tachybaptus dominicus (A)
- Pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps
- Horned grebe, Podiceps auritus
- Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena (VR)
- Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis
- Western grebe, Aechmorphorus occidentalis
Pigeons and Doves: Common Birds
Order: Columbiformes Family: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are birds with sturdy bodies, short necks, and thin bills. They often have a soft, fleshy area at the base of their bill called a cere.
- Rock pigeon, Columba livia (I)
- Eurasian collared-dove, Streptopelia decaocto (I)
- Passenger pigeon, Ectopistes migratorius (E)
- Inca dove, Columbina inca
- Common ground dove, Columbina passerina
- White-winged dove, Zenaida asiatica
- Mourning dove, Zenaida macroura
Cuckoos: Birds with Long Tails
Order: Cuculiformes Family: Cuculidae
This family includes cuckoos, roadrunners, and anis. These birds come in different sizes but usually have slender bodies, long tails, and strong legs.
- Groove-billed ani, Crotophaga sulcirostris (VR)
- Greater roadrunner, Geococcyx californianus
- Yellow-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus
- Black-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus erythropthalmus
Nightjars and Allies: Nighttime Hunters
Order: Caprimulgiformes Family: Caprimulgidae
Nightjars are medium-sized birds that are active at night. They usually build their nests on the ground. They have long wings, short legs, and very short bills. Their soft feathers are colored to help them blend in with tree bark or leaves.
- Common nighthawk, Chordeiles minor
- Chuck-will's-widow, Antrostomus carolinensis
- Eastern whip-poor-will, Antrostomus vociferus
Swifts: Birds Built for Flight
Order: Apodiformes Family: Apodidae
Swifts are small birds that spend most of their lives flying. They have very short legs and almost never land on the ground. Instead, they perch on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long, swept-back wings that look like a crescent moon or a boomerang.
- Chimney swift, Chaetura pelagica
- White-throated swift, Aeronautes saxatalis (A)
Hummingbirds: Tiny, Hovering Wonders
Order: Apodiformes Family: Trochilidae
Hummingbirds are tiny birds famous for their ability to hover in mid-air by flapping their wings very fast. They are the only birds that can fly backward!
- Mexican violetear, Colibri thalassinus (VR)
- Rivoli's hummingbird, Eugenes fulgens (A)
- Ruby-throated hummingbird, Archilochus colubris
- Black-chinned hummingbird, Archilochus alexandri (VR)
- Anna's hummingbird, Calypte anna (VR)
- Calliope hummingbird, Selasphorus calliope (A)
- Allen's hummingbird, Selasphorus sasin (A)
- Rufous hummingbird, Selasphorus rufus
- Broad-tailed hummingbird, Selasphorus platycercus (A)
- Broad-billed hummingbird, Cynanthus latirostris (A)
- Buff-bellied hummingbird, Amazilia yucatanensis (A)
Rails, Gallinules, and Coots: Secretive Water Birds
Order: Gruiformes Family: Rallidae
This is a large family of small to medium-sized birds that includes rails, crakes, coots, and gallinules. They usually live in thick plants near lakes, swamps, or rivers. They are often shy and hard to spot. Most have strong legs and long toes, which help them walk on soft, uneven ground. They tend to have short, rounded wings and are not very strong fliers.
- King rail, Rallus elegans
- Virginia rail, Rallus limicola
- Sora, Porzana carolina
- Common gallinule, Gallinula galeata
- American coot, Fulica americana
- Purple gallinule, Porphyrio martinicus
- Yellow rail, Coturnicops noveboracensis (VR)
- Black rail, Laterallus jamaicensis (VR)
Limpkin: A Unique Wading Bird
Order: Gruiformes Family: Aramidae
The limpkin is a unique bird that looks like a large rail. However, its bones show it is more closely related to cranes.
- Limpkin, Aramus guarauna (A)
Cranes: Tall, Elegant Birds
Order: Gruiformes Family: Gruidae
Cranes are large birds with long legs and long necks. Unlike herons, which look similar but are not related, cranes fly with their necks stretched out, not pulled back. Many cranes have fancy and loud courtship dances.
- Sandhill crane, Antigone canadensis
- Whooping crane, Grus americana (Ex)
Stilts and Avocets: Long-Legged Waders
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Recurvirostridae
This family includes avocets and stilts. Avocets have long legs and long bills that curve upwards. Stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills.
- Black-necked stilt, Himantopus mexicanus
- American avocet, Recurviostra americana
Lapwings and Plovers: Shoreline Birds
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Charadriidae
This family includes plovers, dotterels, and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short thick necks, and long, pointed wings. They live in open areas around the world, especially near water.
- Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola
- American golden-plover, Pluvialis dominica
- Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus
- Semipalmated plover, Charadrius semipalmatus
- Piping plover, Charadrius melodus
- Wilson's plover, Charadrius wilsonia (O)
- Snowy plover, Charadrius nivosus (O)
- Mountain plover, Charadrius montanus (A)
Sandpipers and Allies: Diverse Shorebirds
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Scolopacidae
This is a large and varied family of small to medium-sized shorebirds. It includes sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers, and phalaropes. Most of these birds eat small bugs they find in mud or soil. Their different leg and bill lengths allow many species to feed in the same places without competing for food.
- Upland sandpiper, Bartramia longicauda
- Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus (VR)
- Eskimo curlew, Numenius borealis (Classed by the AAS as extirpated, but generally considered as possibly extinct)
- Long-billed curlew, Numenius americanus (A)
- Hudsonian godwit, Limosa haemastica
- Marbled godwit, Limosa fedoa
- Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres
- Red knot, Calidris canutus (VR)
- Ruff, Calidris pugnax (VR)
- Sharp-tailed sandpiper, Calidris acuminata (A)
- Stilt sandpiper, Calidris himantopus
- Curlew sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea (A)
- Sanderling, Calidris alba
- Dunlin, Calidris alpina
- Purple sandpiper, Calidris maritima (A)
- Baird's sandpiper, Calidris bairdii
- 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
- American woodcock, Scolopax minor
- Wilson's snipe, Gallinago delicata
- Spotted sandpiper, Actitis macularius
- Solitary sandpiper, Tringa solitaria
- Lesser yellowlegs, Tringa flavipes
- Willet, Tringa semipalmata
- Greater yellowlegs, Tringa melanoleuca
- Wilson's phalarope, Phalaropus tricolor
- Red-necked phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus
- Red phalarope, Phalaropus fulicarius (VR)
Skuas and Jaegers: Powerful Seabirds
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Stercorariidae
Skuas and jaegers are medium to large birds, usually gray or brown with white marks on their wings. They have long bills with hooked tips and webbed feet with sharp claws. They look like large, dark gulls but have a fleshy area above their upper bill. They are strong and agile fliers.
- Pomarine jaeger, Stercorarius pomarinus (C)
- Parasitic jaeger, Stercorarius parasiticus (A)
- Long-tailed jaeger, Stercorarius longicaudus (C)
Auks, Murres, and Puffins: Ocean Dwellers
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Alcidae
This family includes auks, murres, and puffins. These birds have short wings and live on the open ocean. They only come to land for breeding.
- Long-billed murrelet, Brachyramphus perdix (A)
Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers: Coastal Birds
Order: Charadriiformes Family: Laridae
This family includes gulls, terns, kittiwakes, and skimmers. They are medium to large seabirds, typically gray or white, often with black marks on their heads or wings. They have strong, longish bills and webbed feet.
- Black-legged kittiwake, Rissa tridactyla (VR)
- Sabine's gull, Xema sabini
- Bonaparte's gull, Chroicocephalus philadelphia
- Black-headed gull, Chroicocephalus ridibundus (VR)
- Little gull, Hydrocoloeus minutus (VR)
- Laughing gull, Leucophaeus atricilla (VR)
- Franklin's gull, Leucophaeus pipixcan
- Short-billed gull, Larus brachyrhynchus (A)
- Ring-billed gull, Larus delawarensis
- California gull, Larus californicus (VR)
- Herring gull, Larus argentatus
- Iceland gull, Larus glaucoides (A)
- Lesser black-backed gull, Larus fuscus
- Glaucous gull, Larus hyperboreus (VR)
- Great black-backed gull, Larus marinus (A)
- Sooty tern, Onychoprion fuscata (VR)
- Bridled tern, Onychoprion anaethetus (A)
- Least tern, Sternula antillarum
- Gull-billed tern, Gelochelidon nilotica (A)
- Caspian tern, Hydroprogne caspia
- Black tern, Chlidonias niger
- Common tern, Sterna hirundo
- Forster's tern, Sterna forsteri
- Royal tern, Thalasseus maximus (VR)
- Black skimmer, Rynchops niger (VR)
Loons: Excellent Divers
Order: Gaviiformes Family: Gaviidae
Loons are aquatic birds about the size of a large duck, though they are not related. They are mostly gray or black and have bills shaped like spears. Loons swim very well and fly adequately, but they are almost helpless on land because their legs are placed far back on their bodies.
- Red-throated loon, Gavia stellata
- Pacific loon, Gavia pacifica
- Common loon, Gavia immer
- Yellow-billed loon, Gavia adamsii (A)
Storks: Large Wading Birds
Order: Ciconiiformes Family: Ciconiidae
Storks are large, heavy birds with long legs and necks, and strong, long bills. They have wide wingspans and are wading birds. Storks do not have a voice box, so they are mute.
- Wood stork, Mycteria americana
Frigatebirds: Masters of the Air
Order: Suliformes Family: Fregatidae
Frigatebirds are large seabirds usually found over tropical oceans. They are black, or black and white, with long wings and deeply forked tails. The males have colorful throat pouches that can inflate. They cannot swim or walk well and cannot take off from a flat surface. They have the largest wingspan compared to their body weight of any bird, allowing them to stay in the air for more than a week!
- Magnificent frigatebird, Fregata magnificens (VR)
Boobies and Gannets: Plunge Divers
Order: Suliformes Family: Sulidae
This family includes gannets and boobies. Both are medium-large coastal seabirds that dive headfirst into the water to catch fish.
- Brown booby, Sula leucogaster (O)
- Northern gannet, Morus bassanus (A)
Anhingas: Snakebirds
Order: Suliformes Family: Anhingidae
Anhingas are water birds that look like cormorants but have very long necks and long, straight beaks. They eat fish and often swim with only their neck above the water, which is why they are sometimes called "snakebirds."
- Anhinga, Anhinga anhinga
Cormorants and Shags: Dark Water Birds
Order: Suliformes Family: Phalacrocoracidae
Cormorants are medium to large aquatic birds, usually with mostly dark feathers and colored skin on their faces. Their bills are long, thin, and sharply hooked. They have four webbed toes on each foot.
- Double-crested cormorant, Nannopterum auritum
- Neotropic cormorant, Nannopterum brasilianum
Pelicans: Birds with Pouches
Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Pelecanidae
Pelicans are very large water birds with a special pouch under their beak. Like other birds in their group, they have four webbed toes.
- American white pelican, Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
- Brown pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis (VR)
Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns: Wading Birds
Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Ardeidae
This family includes herons, egrets, and bitterns. Herons and egrets are medium to large wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to have shorter necks and are more secretive. Unlike storks or ibises, these birds fly with their necks pulled back.
- American bittern, Botaurus lentiginosus
- Least bittern, Ixobrychus exilis
- Great blue heron, Ardea herodias
- Great egret, Ardea alba
- Snowy egret, Egretta thula
- Little blue heron, Egretta caerulea
- Tricolored heron, Egretta tricolor
- Cattle egret, Bubulcus ibis
- Green heron, Butorides virescens
- Black-crowned night-heron, Nycticorax nycticorax
- Yellow-crowned night-heron, Nyctanassa violacea
Ibises and Spoonbills: Unique Bill Shapes
Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Threskiornithidae
This family includes ibises and spoonbills. They have long, wide wings and long bodies and necks, with fairly long legs. Their bills are also long; ibises have bills that curve downwards, while spoonbills have straight bills that are distinctly flattened at the end.
- White ibis, Eudocimus albus
- Glossy ibis, Plegadis falcinellus
- White-faced ibis, Plegadis chihi
- Roseate spoonbill, Platalea ajaja (C)
New World Vultures: Nature's Clean-Up Crew
Order: Cathartiformes Family: Cathartidae
The New World vultures are not closely related to vultures found in other parts of the world, but they look similar because they evolved to do the same job. Like other vultures, they are scavengers, meaning they eat dead animals. Unlike Old World vultures, which find food by sight, New World vultures have a good sense of smell to find carcasses.
- Black vulture, Coragyps atratus
- Turkey vulture, Cathartes aura
Osprey: The Fish Hawk
Order: Accipitriformes Family: Pandionidae
The Osprey family includes only one type of bird: the Osprey! These are fish-eating birds of prey. They have a very large, strong hooked beak for tearing meat, powerful legs, strong talons, and excellent eyesight.
- Osprey, Pandion haliaetus
Hawks, Eagles, and Kites: Powerful Hunters
Order: Accipitriformes Family: Accipitridae
This family includes hawks, eagles, kites, harriers, and Old World vultures. These birds of prey have very large, powerful hooked beaks for tearing meat from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons, and keen eyesight.
- White-tailed kite, Elanus leucurus (VR)
- Swallow-tailed kite, Elanoides forficatus (VR)
- Golden eagle, Aquila chrysaetos
- Northern harrier, Circus hudsonius
- Sharp-shinned hawk, Accipiter striatus
- Cooper's hawk, Accipiter cooperii
- American goshawk, Accipiter atricapillus (VR)
- Mississippi kite, Ictinia mississippiensis
- Bald eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus
- Red-shouldered hawk, Buteo lineatus
- Broad-winged hawk, Buteo platypterus
- Swainson's hawk, Buteo swainsoni
- Red-tailed hawk, Buteo jamaicensis
- Rough-legged hawk, Buteo lagopus (VR)
- Ferruginous hawk, Buteo regalis (VR)
Barn-Owls: Nighttime Hunters with Heart-Shaped Faces
Order: Strigiformes Family: Tytonidae
Barn-owls are medium to large owls with big heads and a special heart-shaped face. They have long, strong legs with powerful talons.
- Barn owl, Tyto alba
Owls: Solitary Night Birds
Order: Strigiformes Family: Strigidae
The typical owls are small to large birds of prey that hunt alone at night. They have large eyes that face forward and good hearing. They have a hawk-like beak and a clear circle of feathers around each eye, called a facial disk.
- Eastern screech-owl, Megascops asio
- Great horned owl, Bubo virginianus
- Snowy owl, Bubo scandiacus (VR)
- Burrowing owl, Athene cunicularia
- Barred owl, Strix varia
- Long-eared owl, Asio otus (VR)
- Short-eared owl, Asio flammeus
- Northern saw-whet owl, Aegolius acadicus (VR)
Kingfishers: Fisher Birds
Order: Coraciiformes Family: Alcedinidae
Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long, pointed bills, short legs, and stubby tails. They are known for diving into water to catch fish.
- Belted kingfisher, Megaceryle alcyon
Woodpeckers: Tree Tappers
Order: Piciformes Family: Picidae
Woodpeckers are small to medium-sized birds with chisel-like beaks, short legs, stiff tails, and long tongues for catching insects. Many woodpeckers have two toes pointing forward and two backward, which helps them grip trees. They are known for tapping loudly on tree trunks with their beaks.
- Lewis's woodpecker, Melanerpes lewis (A)
- Red-headed woodpecker, Melanerpes erythrocephalus
- Red-bellied woodpecker, Melanerpes carolinus
- Yellow-bellied sapsucker, Sphyrapicus varius
- Downy woodpecker, Dryobates pubescens
- Red-cockaded woodpecker, Dryobates borealis
- Hairy woodpecker, Dryobates villosus
- Northern flicker, Colaptes auratus
- Pileated woodpecker, Dryocopus pileatus
- Ivory-billed woodpecker, Campephilus principalis (Its current status is unclear, with some debate about whether it still exists.)
Falcons and Caracaras: Fast Predators
Order: Falconiformes Family: Falconidae
This family includes falcons and caracaras. These are birds of prey that are active during the day. They are different from hawks and eagles because they kill their prey with their beaks instead of their talons.
- Crested caracara, Caracara plancus (A)
- American kestrel, Falco sparverius
- Merlin, Falco columbarius
- Peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus
- Prairie falcon, Falco mexicanus
New World and African Parrots: Colorful and Smart
Order: Psittaciformes Family: Psittacidae
Parrots are birds that can be small to large, with a special curved beak. Their upper beak can move a little where it connects to their skull, and they usually stand upright. All parrots have two toes pointing forward and two backward on each foot. Most of the more than 150 species in this family live in the Americas.
- Carolina parakeet, Conuropsis carolinensis (E)
Tyrant Flycatchers: Insect Eaters
Order: Passeriformes Family: Tyrannidae
Tyrant flycatchers are songbirds found all over North and South America. They look a bit like flycatchers from other parts of the world, but they are stronger and have tougher bills. They don't have the complex songs of many other songbirds. Most of them are plain-looking, and as their name suggests, they mostly eat insects.
- Ash-throated flycatcher, Myiarchus cinerascens (A)
- Great crested flycatcher, Myiarchus crinitus
- Great kiskadee, Pitangus sulphuratus (A)
- Tropical kingbird, Tyrannus melancholicus (A)
- Couch's kingbird, Tyrannus couchii (A)
- Cassin's kingbird, Tyrannus vociferans (A)
- Western kingbird, Tyrannus verticalis
- Eastern kingbird, Tyrannus tyrannus
- Gray kingbird, Tyrannus dominicensis (A)
- Scissor-tailed flycatcher, Tyrannus forficatus
- Fork-tailed flycatcher, Tyrannus savana (A)
- Olive-sided flycatcher, Contopus cooperi
- Eastern wood-pewee, Contopus virens
- Yellow-bellied flycatcher, Empidonax flaviventris
- Acadian flycatcher, Empidonax virescens
- Alder flycatcher, Empidonax alnorum
- Willow flycatcher, Empidonax traillii
- Least flycatcher, Empidonax minimus
- Eastern phoebe, Sayornis phoebe
- Say's phoebe, Sayornis saya
- Vermilion flycatcher, Pyrocephalus rubinus (VR)
Vireos: Greenish Songbirds
Order: Passeriformes Family: Vireonidae
Vireos are a group of small to medium-sized songbirds. They are usually greenish and look like wood warblers, but they have stronger bills.
- White-eyed vireo, Vireo griseus
- Bell's vireo, Vireo bellii
- Yellow-throated vireo, Vireo flavifrons
- Blue-headed vireo, Vireo solitarius
- Philadelphia vireo, Vireo philadelphicus
- Warbling vireo, Vireo gilvus
- Red-eyed vireo, Vireo olivaceus
Shrikes: The Butcher Birds
Order: Passeriformes Family: Laniidae
Shrikes are songbirds known for their unusual habit of catching other birds and small animals. They will sometimes impale the parts they don't eat on thorns or barbed wire. A shrike's beak is hooked, similar to a bird of prey.
- Loggerhead shrike, Lanius ludovicianus
- Northern shrike, Lanius borealis (VR)
Crows, Jays, and Magpies: Smart Birds
Order: Passeriformes Family: Corvidae
This family includes crows, ravens, jays, and magpies. Corvids are larger than average among songbirds, and some of the bigger species are very intelligent.
- Blue jay, Cyanocitta cristata
- Clark's nutcracker, Nucifraga columbiana (A)
- American crow, Corvus brachyrhynchos
- Fish crow, Corvus ossifragus
- Chihuahuan raven, Corvus cryptoleucus (A)
Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice: Small Woodland Birds
Order: Passeriformes Family: Paridae
The Paridae are mostly small, stocky woodland birds with short, strong bills. Some have crests on their heads. They are adaptable birds that eat a mix of seeds and insects.
- Carolina chickadee, Poecile carolinensis
- Tufted titmouse, Baeolophus bicolor
Larks: Ground Birds with Songs
Order: Passeriformes Family: Alaudidae
Larks are small birds that live on the ground. They often have amazing songs and display flights. Most larks look quite plain. They eat insects and seeds.
- Horned lark, Eremophila alpestris
Swallows: Aerial Acrobats
Order: Passeriformes Family: Hirundinidae
The family Hirundinidae includes songbirds that are built for catching food in the air. They have slender, streamlined bodies, long, pointed wings, and short bills with wide mouths. Their feet are better for perching than walking.
- Bank swallow, Riparia riparia
- Tree swallow, Tachycineta bicolor
- Northern rough-winged swallow, Stelgidopteryx serripennis
- Purple martin, Progne subis
- Barn swallow, Hirundo rustica
- Cliff swallow, Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
- Cave swallow, Petrochelidon fulva (A)
Kinglets: Tiny Crowned Birds
Order: Passeriformes Family: Regulidae
The kinglets are a small family of birds that look like titmice. They are very tiny birds that eat insects. Adult kinglets have colorful crowns on their heads, which is how they got their name.
- Ruby-crowned kinglet, Corthylio calendula
- Golden-crowned kinglet, Regulus satrapa
Waxwings: Silky Plumage and Berries
Order: Passeriformes Family: Bombycillidae
The waxwings are a group of birds with soft, silky feathers and unique red tips on some of their wing feathers. These tips look like sealing wax, giving them their name. These birds live in northern forests. They eat insects in the summer and berries in the winter.
- Bohemian waxwing, Bombycilla garrulus (VR)
- Cedar waxwing, Bombycilla cedrorum
Nuthatches: Head-First Climbers
Order: Passeriformes Family: Sittidae
Nuthatches are small woodland birds. They have a special ability to climb down trees headfirst, which is unusual for birds that climb. Nuthatches have big heads, short tails, and strong bills and feet.
- Red-breasted nuthatch, Sitta canadensis
- White-breasted nuthatch, Sitta carolinensis
- Brown-headed nuthatch, Sitta pusilla (Ex)
Treecreepers: Bark Explorers
Order: Passeriformes Family: Certhiidae
Treecreepers are small woodland birds, brown on top and white underneath. They have thin, pointed bills that curve downwards, which they use to pull insects out of tree bark. They have stiff tail feathers, like woodpeckers, which help them support themselves on vertical tree trunks.
- Brown creeper, Certhia americana
Gnatcatchers: Restless Insect Hunters
Order: Passeriformes Family: Polioptilidae
These delicate birds look and act like Old World warblers, moving constantly through leaves to find insects. Gnatcatchers are mostly soft bluish-gray and have the long, sharp bill typical of insect-eating birds. Many species have distinct black patterns on their heads (especially males) and long, often cocked, black-and-white tails.
- Blue-gray gnatcatcher, Polioptila caerulea
Wrens: Small Birds, Loud Songs
Order: Passeriformes Family: Troglodytidae
Wrens are small and often hard-to-see birds, except for their very loud songs. They have short wings and thin, downward-curved bills. Several species often hold their tails straight up. All wrens eat insects.
- Rock wren, Salpinctes obsoletus (C)
- House wren, Troglodytes aedon
- Winter wren, Troglodytes hiemalis
- Sedge wren, Cistothorus platensis
- Marsh wren, Cistothorus palustris
- Carolina wren, Thryothorus ludovicianus
- Bewick's wren, Thryomanes bewickii
Mockingbirds and Thrashers: Amazing Mimics
Order: Passeriformes Family: Mimidae
The mimids are a family of songbirds that includes thrashers, mockingbirds, and New World catbirds. These birds are famous for their voices, especially their incredible ability to copy the sounds of many other birds and outdoor noises. These species usually have dull gray and brown feathers.
- Gray catbird, Dumetella carolinensis
- Brown thrasher, Toxostoma rufum
- Sage thrasher, Oreoscoptes montanus (A)
- Northern mockingbird, Mimus polyglottos
Starlings: Dark and Social Birds
Order: Passeriformes Family: Sturnidae
Starlings are small to medium-sized songbirds with strong feet. They fly strongly and directly and often live in large groups. They prefer open areas and eat insects and fruit. Their feathers are usually dark with a shiny, metallic look.
- European starling, Sturnus vulgaris (I)
Thrushes and Allies: Songbirds of the Ground
Order: Passeriformes Family: Turdidae
The thrushes are a group of songbirds found mostly, but not only, in the Old World. They are plump, soft-feathered, small to medium-sized birds that eat insects or sometimes everything. They often feed on the ground. Many thrushes have beautiful songs.
- Eastern bluebird, Sialia sialis
- Mountain bluebird, Sialia currucoides (A)
- Townsend's solitaire, Myadestes townsendi (VR)
- Veery, Catharus fuscescens
- Gray-cheeked thrush, Catharus minimus
- Swainson's thrush, Catharus ustulatus
- Hermit thrush, Catharus guttatus
- Wood thrush, Hylocichla mustelina
- American robin, Turdus migratorius
- Varied thrush, Ixoreus naevius (A)
Old World Flycatchers: Rare Visitors
Order: Passeriformes Family: Muscicapidae
This is a large family of small songbirds found only in the Old World. Species from this family only appear in North America by accident. These birds look very different from each other, but they mostly have weak songs and harsh calls.
- Northern wheatear, Oenanthe oenanthe (A)
Old World Sparrows: Small Seed Eaters
Order: Passeriformes Family: Passeridae
Old World sparrows are small songbirds. Generally, sparrows are small, plump, brownish or grayish birds with short tails and strong, short beaks. Sparrows mainly eat seeds, but they also eat small insects.
- House sparrow, Passer domesticus (I)
- Eurasian tree sparrow, Passer montanus (I) (A)
Wagtails and Pipits: Ground Feeders
Order: Passeriformes Family: Motacillidae
This family includes wagtails, longclaws, and pipits. They are slender songbirds that eat insects on the ground in open areas. They often have medium to long tails.
- American pipit, Anthus rubescens
- Sprague's pipit, Anthus spragueii
Finches and Allies: Seed-Eating Songbirds
Order: Passeriformes Family: Fringillidae
Finches are songbirds that eat seeds. They are small to medium-sized and have strong beaks, usually shaped like a cone. All finches have twelve tail feathers and nine primary flight feathers. These birds have a bouncy flight, flapping and then gliding with their wings closed. Most finches sing well.
- Brambling, Fringilla montifringilla (A)
- Evening grosbeak, Coccothraustes vespertinus (VR)
- Pine grosbeak, Pinicola enucleator (A)
- Gray-crowned rosy-finch, Leucosticte tephrocotis (A)
- House finch, Haemorhous mexicanus (native to the southwestern western U.S.; introduced in the east)
- Purple finch, Haemorhous purpureus
- Common redpoll, Acanthis flammea (VR)
- Red crossbill, Loxia curvirostra
- White-winged crossbill, Loxia leucoptera (VR)
- Pine siskin, Spinus pinus
- Lesser goldfinch, Spinus psaltria (A)
- American goldfinch, Spinus tristis
Longspurs and Snow Buntings: Grassland Birds
Order: Passeriformes Family: Calcariidae
The Calcariidae are a group of songbirds that used to be grouped with the New World sparrows. However, they are different in several ways and are usually found in open grassy areas.
- Lapland longspur, Calcarius lapponicus
- Chestnut-collared longspur, Calcarius ornatus (VR)
- Smith's longspur, Calcarius pictus
- Thick-billed longspur, Rhynchophanes mccownii (A)
- Snow bunting, Plectrophenax nivalis (VR)
New World Sparrows: Diverse Head Patterns
Order: Passeriformes Family: Passerellidae
Until 2017, these birds were part of a different family. Most are known as sparrows, but they are not closely related to the Old World sparrows. Many of these birds have special patterns on their heads.
- Cassin's sparrow, Peucaea cassinii (A)
- Bachman's sparrow, Peucaea aestivalis (C)
- Grasshopper sparrow, Ammodramus savannarum
- Lark sparrow, Chondestes grammacus
- Lark bunting, Calamospiza melanocorys (O)
- Chipping sparrow, Spizella passerina
- Clay-colored sparrow, Spizella pallida
- Field sparrow, Spizella pusilla
- Brewer's sparrow, Spizella breweri (A)
- Fox sparrow, Passerella iliaca
- American tree sparrow, Spizelloides arborea
- Dark-eyed junco, Junco hyemalis
- White-crowned sparrow, Zonotrichia leucophrys
- Harris's sparrow, Zonotrichia querula
- White-throated sparrow, Zonotrichia albicollis
- Vesper sparrow, Pooecetes gramineus
- LeConte's sparrow, Ammospiza leconteii
- Nelson's sparrow, Ammospiza nelsoni
- Henslow's sparrow, Centronyx henslowii
- Savannah sparrow, Passerculus sandwichensis
- Song sparrow, Melospiza melodia
- Lincoln's sparrow, Melospiza lincolnii
- Swamp sparrow, Melospiza georgiana
- Rufous-crowned sparrow, Aimophila ruficeps
- Green-tailed towhee, Pipilo chlorurus (A)
- Spotted towhee, Pipilo maculatus
- Eastern towhee, Pipilo erythrophthalmus
Yellow-breasted Chat: A Unique Songbird
Order: Passeriformes Family: Icteriidae
This bird was once thought to be a wood-warbler, but experts were unsure. In 2017, it was placed in its own family because it's quite unique!
- Yellow-breasted chat, Icteria virens
Troupials and Allies: Colorful New World Birds
Order: Passeriformes Family: Icteridae
The icterids are a group of small to medium-sized, often colorful songbirds found only in the Americas. This family includes grackles, New World blackbirds, and New World orioles. Most species have black as their main feather color, often brightened with yellow, orange, or red.
- Bobolink, Dolichonyx oryzivorus
- Red-winged blackbird, Agelaius phoeniceus
- Eastern meadowlark, Sturnella magna
- Western meadowlark, Sturnella neglecta
- Yellow-headed blackbird, Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus
- Rusty blackbird, Euphagus carolinus
- Brewer's blackbird, Euphagus cyanocephalus
- Common grackle, Quiscalus quiscula
- Great-tailed grackle, Quiscalus mexicanus
- Brown-headed cowbird, Molothrus ater
- Orchard oriole, Icterus spurius
- Bullock's oriole, Icterus bullockii (VR)
- Baltimore oriole, Icterus galbula
- Scott's oriole, Icterus parisorum (A)
New World Warblers: Small and Bright
Order: Passeriformes Family: Parulidae
The wood warblers are a group of small, often colorful songbirds found only in the Americas. Most live in trees, but some spend more time on the ground. Most birds in this family eat insects.
- Ovenbird, Seiurus aurocapilla
- Worm-eating warbler, Helmitheros vermivorum
- Louisiana waterthrush, Parkesia motacilla
- Northern waterthrush, Parkesia noveboracensis
- Bachman's warbler, Vermivora bachmanii (E)
- Golden-winged warbler, Vermivora chrysoptera
- Blue-winged warbler, Vermivora cyanoptera
- Black-and-white warbler, Mniotilta varia
- Prothonotary warbler, Protonotaria citrea
- Swainson's warbler, Limnothlypis swainsonii
- Tennessee warbler, Leiothlypis peregrina
- Orange-crowned warbler, Leiothlypis celata
- Nashville warbler, Leiothlypis ruficapilla
- Connecticut warbler, Oporornis agilis (VR)
- Mourning warbler, Geothlypis philadelphia
- Kentucky warbler, Geothlypis formosa
- Common yellowthroat, Geothlypis trichas
- Hooded warbler, Setophaga citrina
- American redstart, Setophaga ruticilla
- Cape May warbler, Setophaga tigrina
- Cerulean warbler, Setophaga cerulea
- Northern parula, Setophaga americana
- Magnolia warbler, Setophaga magnolia
- Bay-breasted warbler, Setophaga castanea
- Blackburnian warbler, Setophaga fusca
- Yellow warbler, Setophaga petechia
- Chestnut-sided warbler, Setophaga pensylvanica
- Blackpoll warbler, Setophaga striata
- Black-throated blue warbler, Setophaga caerulescens (VR)
- Palm warbler, Setophaga palmarum
- Pine warbler, Setophaga pinus
- Yellow-rumped warbler, Setophaga coronata
- Yellow-throated warbler, Setophaga dominica
- Prairie warbler, Setophaga discolor
- Black-throated gray warbler, Setophaga nigrescens (A)
- Black-throated green warbler, Setophaga virens
- Canada warbler, Cardellina canadensis
- Wilson's warbler, Cardellina pusilla
Cardinals and Allies: Strong-Billed Seed Eaters
Order: Passeriformes Family: Cardinalidae
The Cardinalidae are a family of strong, seed-eating birds with powerful bills. They usually live in open woodlands. Males and females often have different feather colors.
- Summer tanager, Piranga rubra
- Scarlet tanager, Piranga olivacea
- Western tanager, Piranga ludoviciana (VR)
- Northern cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis
- Rose-breasted grosbeak, Pheucticus ludovicianus
- Black-headed grosbeak, Pheucticus melanocephalus (VR)
- Blue grosbeak, Passerina caerulea
- Lazuli bunting, Passerina amoena
- Indigo bunting, Passerina cyanea
- Painted bunting, Passerina ciris
- Dickcissel, Spiza americana
See also
- List of birds
- Lists of birds by region
- List of birds of North America