List of birds of North Dakota facts for kids

This is a list of all the different kinds of birds that have been seen in North Dakota, a state in the United States. This list comes from the North Dakota Game and Fish Department. It includes 420 types of birds that have been confirmed to live or visit North Dakota. Two types of birds on this list are now extinct, meaning they no longer exist. Some birds on the list were also introduced by humans.

This list is organized by bird family. Each bird has its common name and its scientific name (in italics).

Some birds have special tags next to their names:

• (A) Accidental: These birds don't usually live in North Dakota. They might have just flown through by accident.
• (R) Review list: These birds are rare or unusual in North Dakota. If someone sees one, they need to provide extra proof.
• (I) Introduced: These birds were brought to North America by people, and now they live here.
• (E) Extinct: These birds used to live in North Dakota but are now gone forever.

Ducks, Geese, and Swans

Order: Anseriformes Family: Anatidae

This family includes ducks, geese, and swans. These birds are great at living in water. They have webbed feet for swimming and special feathers that shed water. North Dakota has seen 43 different types of these birds.

Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies

Order: Galliformes Family: Phasianidae

This family includes pheasants and their relatives. They are ground birds, usually plump with short, wide wings. Many of these birds are hunted for sport or raised for food. Eight types have been seen in North Dakota.

• Wild turkey, Meleagris gallopavo
• Ruffed grouse, Bonasa umbellus
• Greater sage-grouse, Centrocercus urophasianus
• Willow ptarmigan, Lagopus lagopus (A) (R)
• Sharp-tailed grouse, Tympanuchus phasianellus
• Greater prairie-chicken, Tympanuchus cupido
• Gray partridge, Perdix perdix (I)
• Ring-necked pheasant, Phasianus colchicus (I)

Grebes

Order: Podicipediformes Family: Podicipedidae

Grebes are small to medium-sized birds that dive in freshwater. They have lobed toes, which make them excellent swimmers and divers. However, their feet are set far back on their bodies, so they are clumsy on land. Six types have been seen in North Dakota.

• Pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps
• Horned grebe, Podiceps auritus
• Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena
• Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis
• Western grebe, Aechmorphorus occidentalis
• Clark's grebe, Aechmophorus clarkii (R)

Pigeons and Doves

Order: Columbiformes Family: Columbidae

Pigeons and doves are birds with sturdy bodies, short necks, and thin bills. Seven types have been recorded in North Dakota.

• Rock pigeon, Columba livia (I)
• Band-tailed pigeon, Patagioenas fasciata (A) (R)
• Eurasian collared dove, Streptopelia decaocto (I)
• Passenger pigeon, Ectopistes migratorius (E)
• Inca dove, Columbina inca (A) (R)
• White-winged dove, Zenaida asiatica (A) (R)
• Mourning dove, Zenaida macroura

Cuckoos

Order: Cuculiformes Family: Cuculidae

This family includes cuckoos and roadrunners. These birds vary in size. They have slender bodies, long tails, and strong legs. Three types have been seen in North Dakota.

• Groove-billed ani, Crotophaga sulcirostris (A) (R)
• Yellow-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus (R)
• Black-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus erythropthalmus

Nightjars and Allies

Order: Caprimulgiformes Family: Caprimulgidae

Nightjars are medium-sized birds that are active at night. They usually nest 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. Three types have been seen in North Dakota.

• Common nighthawk, Chordeiles minor
• Common poorwill, Phalaenoptilus nuttallii (R)
• Eastern whip-poor-will, Antrostomus vociferus (R)

Swifts

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. One type has been seen in North Dakota.

• Chimney swift, Chaetura pelagica

Hummingbirds

Order: Apodiformes Family: Trochilidae

Hummingbirds are tiny birds that can hover in the air by flapping their wings very fast. They are the only birds that can fly backward! Five types have been seen in North Dakota.

• Ruby-throated hummingbird, Archilochus colubris
• Black-chinned hummingbird, Archilochus alexandri (A) (R)
• Calliope hummingbird, Selasphorus calliope (A) (R)
• Rufous hummingbird, Selasphorus rufus (A) (R)
• Broad-tailed hummingbird, Selasphorus platycercus (A) (R)

Rails, Gallinules, and Coots

Order: Gruiformes Family: Rallidae

This is a large family of small to medium-sized birds. They include rails, crakes, coots, and gallinules. Most of these birds live in thick plants near lakes, swamps, or rivers. They are often shy and hard to spot. Seven types have been seen in North Dakota.

• King rail, Rallus elegans (A) (R)
• Virginia rail, Rallus limicola (R)
• Sora, Porzana carolina
• Common gallinule, Gallinula galeata (A) (R)
• American coot, Fulica americana
• Yellow rail, Coturnicops noveboracensis (R)
• Black rail, Laterallus jamaicensis (A) (R)

Cranes

Order: Gruiformes Family: Gruidae

Cranes are large birds with long legs and long necks. Unlike herons, cranes fly with their necks stretched out. Most cranes have loud and fancy "dances" when they are trying to find a mate. Three types have been seen in North Dakota.

• Sandhill crane, Antigone canadensis (R)
• Common crane, Grus grus (A) (R)
• Whooping crane, Grus americana (R)

Stilts and Avocets

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Recurvirostridae

This family includes avocets and stilts. They are large wading birds. Avocets have long legs and long bills that curve upwards. Stilts have very long legs and long, thin, straight bills. Two types have been seen in North Dakota.

• Black-necked stilt, Himantopus mexicanus
• American avocet, Recurvirostra americana

Plovers and Lapwings

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Charadriidae

This family includes plovers 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, often near water. Seven types have been seen in North Dakota.

• Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola
• American golden-plover, Pluvialis dominica
• Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus
• Semipalmated plover, Charadrius semipalmatus
• Piping plover, Charadrius melodus
• Snowy plover, Charadrius nivosus (A) (R)
• Mountain plover, Charadrius montanus (A) (R)

Sandpipers and Allies

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Scolopacidae

This is a large and varied family of small to medium-sized shorebirds. It includes sandpipers, curlews, and snipes. Most of these birds eat small bugs they find in mud or soil. Different bill and leg lengths allow many types to feed in the same places without competing for food. Thirty-four types have been seen in North Dakota.

Skuas and Jaegers

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Stercorariidae

Skuas and jaegers are medium to large birds, usually gray or brown. They often have white marks on their wings. They have long bills with hooked tips and webbed feet with sharp claws. They are strong, agile fliers. Three types have been seen in North Dakota.

• South polar skua, Stercorarius maccormicki (A) (R)
• Pomarine jaeger, Stercorarius pomarinus (A) (R)
• Parasitic jaeger, Stercorarius parasiticus (A) (R)
• Long-tailed jaeger, Stercorarius longicaudus (A) (R)

Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Laridae

This family includes gulls and terns. They are medium to large seabirds. They are usually gray or white, often with black marks on their heads or wings. They have strong, longish bills and webbed feet. Twenty-two types have been seen in North Dakota.

Loons

Order: Gaviiformes Family: Gaviidae

Loons are water birds about the size of a large duck. They are mostly gray or black and have spear-shaped bills. Loons swim very well and fly well, but they are clumsy on land because their legs are at the back of their bodies. Five types have been seen in North Dakota.

• Red-throated loon, Gavia stellata (A) (R)
• Arctic loon, Gavia arctica (A) (R)
• Pacific loon, Gavia pacifica (A) (R)
• Common loon, Gavia immer (R)
• Yellow-billed loon, Gavia adamsii (A) (R)

Storks

Order: Ciconiiformes Family: Ciconiidae

Storks are large, heavy wading birds with long legs, long necks, and strong bills. They have wide wings. Storks do not have a voice box, so they are silent. One type has been seen in North Dakota.

• Wood stork, Mycteria americana (A) (R)

Boobies and Gannets

Order: Suliformes Family: Sulidae

This family includes gannets and boobies. Both are medium-large seabirds that dive into the water to catch fish. One type has been seen in North Dakota.

• Northern gannet, Morus bassanus (A) (R)

Cormorants and Shags

Order: Suliformes Family: Phalacrocoracidae

Cormorants are medium to large water birds, usually with dark feathers. They have long, thin, hooked bills. Their feet have four webbed toes. One type has been seen in North Dakota.

• Double-crested cormorant, Nannopterum auritum

Pelicans

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. Two types have been seen in North Dakota.

• American white pelican, Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
• Brown pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis (A) (R)

Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns

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 have shorter necks and are more secretive. These birds fly with their necks pulled back. Eleven types have been seen in North Dakota.

Ibises and Spoonbills

Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Threskiornithidae

This family includes ibises and spoonbills. They have long, wide wings and long bodies with long legs. Their bills are also long; ibises have down-curved bills, while spoonbills have flat, spoon-shaped bills. Three types have been seen in North Dakota.

• White ibis, Eudocimus albus (A) (R)
• Glossy ibis, Plegadis falcinellus (A) (R)
• White-faced ibis, Plegadis chihi

New World Vultures

Order: Cathartiformes Family: Cathartidae

New World vultures look like Old World vultures, but they are not closely related. Both types of vultures eat dead animals. Unlike Old World vultures, New World vultures have a good sense of smell to find food. One type has been seen in North Dakota.

• Turkey vulture, Cathartes aura

Osprey

Order: Accipitriformes Family: Pandionidae

Ospreys are birds of prey that eat fish. They have a very large, strong, hooked beak for tearing meat, strong legs, powerful claws, and excellent eyesight. There is only one type of osprey in this family.

• Osprey, Pandion haliaetus (R)

Hawks, Eagles, and Kites

Order: Accipitriformes Family: Accipitridae

This family includes hawks, eagles, and harriers. These birds of prey have very large, strong, hooked beaks for tearing meat. They also have strong legs, powerful claws, and sharp eyesight. Fifteen types have been seen in North Dakota.

Barn-Owls

Order: Strigiformes Family: Tytonidae

Barn-owls are medium to large owls with big heads and unique heart-shaped faces. They have long, strong legs with powerful claws. One type has been seen in North Dakota.

• Barn owl, Tyto alba

Owls

Order: Strigiformes Family: Strigidae

Typical owls are usually solitary birds of prey that are active at night. They have large eyes that face forward and good hearing. They have a hawk-like beak and a circle of feathers around each eye. Eleven types have been seen in North Dakota.

Kingfishers

Order: Coraciiformes Family: Alcedinidae

Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long, pointed bills, short legs, and short tails. One type has been seen in North Dakota.

• Belted kingfisher, Megaceryle alcyon

Woodpeckers

Order: Piciformes Family: Picidae

Woodpeckers are small to medium-sized birds with chisel-like beaks. They have short legs, stiff tails, and long tongues for catching insects. Many woodpeckers tap loudly on tree trunks with their beaks. Eleven types have been seen in North Dakota.

Falcons and Caracaras

Order: Falconiformes Family: Falconidae

This family includes falcons and caracaras. They are birds of prey that are active during the day. Unlike hawks and eagles, falcons kill their prey with their beaks instead of their claws. Six types have been seen in North Dakota.

• Crested caracara, Caracara plancus (A) (R)
• American kestrel, Falco sparverius
• Merlin, Falco columbarius
• Gyrfalcon, Falco rusticolus
• Peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus
• Prairie falcon, Falco mexicanus

Tyrant Flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes Family: Tyrannidae

Tyrant flycatchers are songbirds found in North and South America. Most of them eat insects. Nineteen types have been seen in North Dakota.

Vireos and Allies

Order: Passeriformes Family: Vireonidae

Vireos are small to medium-sized songbirds. They are usually greenish and have strong bills. Nine types have been seen in North Dakota.

• White-eyed vireo, Vireo griseus (A) (R)
• Bell's vireo, Vireo bellii (R)
• Yellow-throated vireo, Vireo flavifrons
• Cassin's vireo, Vireo cassinii (A) (R)
• Blue-headed vireo, Vireo solitarius (R)
• Plumbeous vireo, Vireo plumbeus (A) (R)
• Philadelphia vireo, Vireo philadelphicus (R)
• Warbling vireo, Vireo gilvus
• Red-eyed vireo, Vireo olivaceus

Shrikes

Order: Passeriformes Family: Laniidae

Shrikes are songbirds known for catching small animals and impaling them on thorns. Their beaks are hooked, like a bird of prey. Two types have been seen in North Dakota.

• Loggerhead shrike, Lanius ludovicianus (R)
• Northern shrike, Lanius borealis

Crows, Jays, and Magpies

Order: Passeriformes Family: Corvidae

This family includes crows, ravens, jays, and magpies. These birds are larger than average songbirds. Some of the bigger types are very intelligent. Seven types have been seen in North Dakota.

• Canada jay, Perisoreus canadensis
• Pinyon jay, Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus (A) (R)
• Blue jay, Cyanocitta cristata
• Clark's nutcracker, Nucifraga columbiana (R)
• Black-billed magpie, Pica hudsonia
• American crow, Corvus brachyrhynchos
• Common raven, Corvus corax (R)

Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice

Order: Passeriformes Family: Paridae

This family includes small, stocky woodland birds with short, strong bills. They can adapt to different foods, eating both seeds and insects. Three types have been seen in North Dakota.

• Black-capped chickadee, Poecile atricapilla
• Boreal chickadee, Poecile hudsonica (A) (R)
• Tufted titmouse, Baeolophus bicolor (A) (R)

Larks

Order: Passeriformes Family: Alaudidae

Larks are small ground birds known for their fancy songs and display flights. Most larks are plain in color. They eat insects and seeds. One type has been seen in North Dakota.

• Horned lark, Eremophila alpestris

Swallows

Order: Passeriformes Family: Hirundinidae

This family of birds is built for catching food while flying. They have slender bodies, long pointed wings, and short bills with wide mouths. Their feet are good for perching, not walking. Seven types have been seen in North Dakota.

• Bank swallow, Riparia riparia
• Tree swallow, Tachycineta bicolor
• Violet-green swallow, Tachycineta thalassina
• Northern rough-winged swallow, Stelgidopteryx serripennis
• Purple martin, Progne subis
• Barn swallow, Hirundo rustica
• Cliff swallow, Petrochelidon pyrrhonota

Kinglets

Order: Passeriformes Family: Regulidae

Kinglets are a small family of very tiny insect-eating birds. Adult kinglets have colorful crowns on their heads. Two types have been seen in North Dakota.

• Ruby-crowned kinglet, Corthylio calendula (R)
• Golden-crowned kinglet, Regulus satrapa (R)

Waxwings

Order: Passeriformes Family: Bombycillidae

Waxwings are songbirds with soft, silky feathers. They have unique red tips on some wing feathers that look like sealing wax. These birds live in northern forests and eat insects in summer and berries in winter. Two types have been seen in North Dakota.

• Bohemian waxwing, Bombycilla garrulus
• Cedar waxwing, Bombycilla cedrorum

Nuthatches

Order: Passeriformes Family: Sittidae

Nuthatches are small woodland birds. They have a special ability to climb down trees headfirst. They have big heads, short tails, and strong bills and feet. Three types have been seen in North Dakota.

• Red-breasted nuthatch, Sitta canadensis
• White-breasted nuthatch, Sitta carolinensis
• Pygmy nuthatch, Sitta pygmaea (A) (R)

Treecreepers

Order: Passeriformes Family: Certhiidae

Treecreepers are small woodland birds, brown on top and white underneath. They have thin, pointed, down-curved bills that they use to pull insects from tree bark. They have stiff tail feathers that help them hold onto vertical trees. One type has been seen in North Dakota.

• Brown creeper, Certhia americana (R)

Gnatcatchers

Order: Passeriformes Family: Polioptilidae

These delicate birds look and act like Old World warblers. They move around in the leaves looking for insects. Gnatcatchers are mostly soft bluish-gray and have a long, sharp bill for eating insects. One type has been seen in North Dakota.

• Blue-gray gnatcatcher, Polioptila caerulea (R)

Wrens

Order: Passeriformes Family: Troglodytidae

Wrens are small and often hard to see, but they have very loud songs. They have short wings and thin, down-curved bills. Some types often hold their tails straight up. All wrens eat insects. Eight types have been seen in North Dakota.

• Rock wren, Salpinctes obsoletus (R)
• Canyon wren, Catherpes mexicanus (A) (R)
• House wren, Troglodytes aedon
• Winter wren, Troglodytes hiemalis
• Sedge wren, Cistothorus platensis
• Marsh wren, Cistothorus palustris
• Carolina wren, Thryothorus ludovicianus (R)
• Bewick's wren, Thryomanes bewickii (A) (R)

Mockingbirds and Thrashers

Order: Passeriformes Family: Mimidae

This family of songbirds includes thrashers and mockingbirds. These birds are famous for their amazing ability to copy the songs of other birds and other sounds they hear. They are usually dull gray and brown. Four types have been seen in North Dakota.

• Gray catbird, Dumetella carolinensis
• Brown thrasher, Toxostoma rufum
• Sage thrasher, Oreoscoptes montanus (R)
• Northern mockingbird, Mimus polyglottos

Starlings

Order: Passeriformes Family: Sturnidae

Starlings are small to medium-sized songbirds with strong feet. They fly strongly and directly and often gather in large groups. They prefer open areas and eat insects and fruit. Their feathers are usually dark with a shiny, metallic look. One type has been seen in North Dakota.

• European starling, Sturnus vulgaris (I)

Thrushes and Allies

Order: Passeriformes Family: Turdidae

Thrushes are a group of songbirds that are plump and have soft feathers. They are small to medium-sized birds that eat insects or sometimes everything. They often feed on the ground. Many have beautiful songs. Eleven types have been seen in North Dakota.

Old World Flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes Family: Muscicapidae

Old World flycatchers are a large family of small songbirds. These are mainly small birds that live in trees and eat insects, often catching them in mid-air. One type has been seen in North Dakota.

• Northern wheatear, Oenanthe oenanthe (R)

Old World Sparrows

Order: Passeriformes Family: Passeridae

Old World sparrows are small songbirds. They are generally plump, brownish or grayish birds with short tails and strong beaks. Sparrows eat seeds, but they also eat small insects. Two types have been seen in North Dakota.

• House sparrow, Passer domesticus (I)
• Eurasian tree sparrow, Passer montanus (I)

Wagtails and Pipits

Order: Passeriformes Family: Motacillidae

This family includes wagtails and pipits. They are small songbirds with medium to long tails. They are slender birds that eat insects on the ground in open areas. Two types have been seen in North Dakota.

• American pipit, Anthus rubescens
• Sprague's pipit, Anthus spragueii

Finches and Allies

Order: Passeriformes Family: Fringillidae

Finches are songbirds that eat seeds. They are small to medium-sized and have strong, often cone-shaped beaks. They fly with a bouncing motion, flapping and then gliding. Most finches sing well. Fourteen types have been seen in North Dakota.

Longspurs and Snow Buntings

Order: Passeriformes Family: Calcariidae

This group of songbirds used to be with the New World sparrows. They are usually found in open grassy areas. Five types have been seen in North Dakota.

• Lapland longspur, Calcarius lapponicus
• Chestnut-collared longspur, Calcarius ornatus
• Smith's longspur, Calcarius pictus
• Thick-billed longspur, Rhyncophanes mccownii (R)
• Snow bunting, Plectrophenax nivalis

New World Sparrows

Order: Passeriformes Family: Passerellidae

These birds are often called sparrows, but they are not closely related to the Old World sparrows. Many of them have unique patterns on their heads. Twenty-seven types have been seen in North Dakota.

Yellow-breasted Chat

Order: Passeriformes Family: Icteriidae

This bird used to be grouped with the wood-warblers, but now it has its own family.

• Yellow-breasted chat, Icteria virens

Troupials and Allies

Order: Passeriformes Family: Icteridae

This group includes grackles and New World blackbirds and orioles. They are small to medium-sized songbirds, often very colorful. Most types have black feathers, sometimes with bright yellow, orange, or red. Thirteen types have been seen in North Dakota.

New World Warblers

Order: Passeriformes Family: Parulidae

Wood-warblers are a group of small, often colorful songbirds found only in the New World. Most live in trees, but some, like the ovenbird, live more on the ground. Most birds in this family eat insects. Thirty-seven types have been seen in North Dakota.

Cardinals and Allies

Order: Passeriformes Family: Cardinalidae

Cardinals are a family of strong, seed-eating birds with powerful bills. They usually live in open woodlands. Males and females often have different colored feathers. Eleven types have been seen in North Dakota.

See also

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