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List of birds of Utah facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
LarusCalifornicus
The California gull is the state bird of Utah.

This is a list of all the different types of birds that have been seen and officially recorded in the state of Utah. As of July 2022, there are 469 bird species on this official list! Some of these birds live in Utah all the time, while others just visit during certain seasons or when they are migrating (traveling).

You'll see some special letters next to certain bird names. Here's what they mean:

  • (A) Accidental: These birds are not usually found in Utah. It's a rare surprise to see them!
  • (O) Occasional: These birds don't show up every year, but you might see a few of them sometimes in the right places.
  • (R) Rare: These birds are found in Utah every year, but only in very small numbers.
  • (I) Introduced: These birds were brought to Utah or North America by people, either on purpose or by accident. They weren't originally from here.
  • (P) Provisional: These birds have been seen, but there isn't enough strong proof (like a photo or a specimen) to fully add them to the official list yet.

This list follows the order used by bird experts in North and Middle America.

Ducks, Geese, and Swans

Branta-canadensis-004
The Canada goose is a common sight in Utah.

Order: Anseriformes Family: Anatidae

This group includes ducks, geese, and swans. These birds are amazing swimmers and divers! They have webbed feet to help them paddle and special feathers that shed water easily. About 39 different kinds of ducks, geese, and swans have been seen in Utah.

New World Quail

Order: Galliformes Family: Odontophoridae

New World quails are small, plump birds that live on the ground. They look a bit like the quails from other parts of the world, but they are not closely related. Three types of New World quails have been recorded in Utah.

Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies

Order: Galliformes Family: Phasianidae

This family includes pheasants, grouse, and similar birds. They are mostly ground-dwelling birds that vary in size. Many of them are popular for hunting or are raised for food. Ten species from this family have been seen in Utah.

Grebes

Order: Podicipediformes Family: Podicipedidae

Grebes are small to medium-sized diving birds that live in freshwater. They have special lobed toes that help them swim and dive really well. However, because their feet are set far back on their bodies, they are quite clumsy on land! Six different grebe species have been recorded in Utah.

Pigeons and Doves

Order: Columbiformes Family: Columbidae

Pigeons and doves are birds with sturdy bodies, short necks, and slender beaks. Eight different species have been recorded in Utah.

Rails, Gallinules, and Coots

Fulica americana3
The American coot is a common water bird.

Order: Gruiformes Family: Rallidae

This large family includes rails, crakes, coots, and gallinules. These birds 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 are great for walking on soft, uneven ground. Five species have been recorded in Utah.

Cranes

Order: Gruiformes Family: Gruidae

Cranes are large birds with long legs and long necks. Unlike herons, cranes fly with their necks stretched out straight. They are known for their loud calls and fancy "dances" during mating season. Two crane species have been recorded in Utah.

Stilts and Avocets

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Recurvirostridae

This family includes avocets and stilts, which are large wading birds. Avocets have long legs and bills that curve upwards. Stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills. Two species have been recorded in Utah.

Plovers and Lapwings

Killdeer
The Killdeer is a plover known for its loud call.

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Charadriidae

Plovers, dotterels, and lapwings are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies and short, thick necks. They are found in open areas around the world, especially near water. Seven species have been recorded in Utah.

Sandpipers and Allies

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Scolopacidae

This is a large and varied family of small to medium-sized shorebirds. It includes sandpipers, curlews, godwits, 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 areas without competing for food. Thirty-four species have been recorded in Utah.

Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

Larus-delawarensis-021
The Ring-billed gull is a common sight.

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Laridae

This family includes gulls, terns, and skimmers. They are medium to large seabirds, usually gray or white, often with black markings. They have strong, longish bills and webbed feet. Twenty-four species have been recorded in Utah.

Loons

Order: Gaviiformes Family: Gaviidae

Loons are aquatic birds, about the size of a large duck, but they are not related to ducks. They are mostly gray or black with spear-shaped bills. Loons are excellent swimmers and flyers, but they are very awkward on land because their legs are placed far back on their bodies. Four species have been recorded in Utah.

Pelicans

Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Pelecanidae

Pelicans are very large water birds famous for the big pouch under their beak, which they use to scoop up fish. Like other birds in their group, they have four webbed toes. Two species have been recorded in Utah.

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 are usually shorter-necked and more secretive. These birds fly with their necks pulled back, which is different from other long-necked birds like storks. Twelve species have been recorded in Utah.

New World Vultures

Order: Cathartiformes Family: Cathartidae

New World vultures look like Old World vultures, but they are not closely related. They both eat dead animals (carrion). Unlike Old World vultures, which find food by sight, New World vultures have a great sense of smell to find carcasses. Two species have been recorded in Utah.

Osprey

Order: Accipitriformes Family: Pandionidae

The Osprey is a bird of prey that eats fish. It has a very large, strong, hooked beak for tearing meat, powerful legs, sharp talons, and excellent eyesight. It's the only bird in its family.

Hawks, Eagles, and Kites

Order: Accipitriformes Family: Accipitridae

This family includes hawks, eagles, kites, and harriers. These birds of prey have very large, strong, hooked beaks for tearing meat, powerful legs, sharp talons, and keen eyesight. Seventeen species have been recorded in Utah.

Owls

Order: Strigiformes Family: Strigidae

Typical owls are solitary birds of prey that hunt mostly at night. They have large eyes that face forward and ears that help them hear very well. They also have a hawk-like beak and a circle of feathers around each eye called a facial disk. Thirteen species have been recorded in Utah.

Kingfishers

Order: Coraciiformes Family: Alcedinidae

Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long pointed bills, short legs, and stubby tails. One species has been recorded in Utah.

Woodpeckers

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 tap loudly on tree trunks with their beaks. Thirteen species have been recorded in Utah.

Falcons and Caracaras

Order: Falconiformes Family: Falconidae

This family includes falcons and caracaras. They are different from hawks and eagles because they kill their prey with their beaks instead of their talons. Five species have been recorded in Utah.

Tyrant Flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes Family: Tyrannidae

Tyrant flycatchers are songbirds found across North and South America. They look a bit like other flycatchers but are stronger and have more powerful bills. Most of them eat insects. Twenty-three species have been recorded in Utah.

Crows, Jays, and Magpies

Order: Passeriformes Family: Corvidae

This family includes crows, ravens, jays, and magpies. These birds are larger than average for songbirds, and some of the bigger species are very intelligent. Nine species have been recorded in Utah.

Swallows

Order: Passeriformes Family: Hirundinidae

Swallows are birds that are great at catching insects while flying. They have slender bodies, long pointed wings, and short bills with wide mouths. Their feet are better for perching than walking. Seven species have been recorded in Utah.

Wrens

Order: Passeriformes Family: Troglodytidae

Wrens are small, often hard-to-see birds, but they have very loud songs! They have short wings and thin, downward-curved bills. Many species hold their tails straight up. All wrens eat insects. Eight species have been recorded in Utah.

Mockingbirds and Thrashers

Order: Passeriformes Family: Mimidae

This family includes thrashers and mockingbirds. These birds are famous for their amazing songs and their ability to copy many different bird calls and other sounds they hear. They usually have dull gray and brown feathers. Eight species have been recorded in Utah.

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 metallic shine. One species has been recorded in Utah.

Thrushes and Allies

Order: Passeriformes Family: Turdidae

Thrushes are plump, soft-feathered songbirds that are small to medium-sized. They eat insects or sometimes a mix of food, often finding food on the ground. Many have beautiful songs. Eleven species have been recorded in Utah.

Finches, Euphonias, and Allies

Order: Passeriformes Family: Fringillidae

Finches are seed-eating songbirds that range from small to moderately large. They have strong, often cone-shaped beaks. All finches have twelve tail feathers and nine main wing feathers. They fly with a bouncy motion, flapping and then gliding with closed wings. Most sing well. Seventeen species have been recorded in Utah.

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. Thirty-two species have been recorded in Utah.

Troupials and Allies

Order: Passeriformes Family: Icteridae

This group includes grackles, New World blackbirds, and New World orioles. These are small to medium-sized, often colorful songbirds found only in the Americas. Most species are mainly black, sometimes with bright yellow, orange, or red colors. Sixteen species have been recorded in Utah.

New World Warblers

Order: Passeriformes Family: Parulidae

Wood-warblers are a group of small, often colorful songbirds found only in the Americas. Most live in trees, but some, like the ovenbird, spend more time on the ground. Most members of this family eat insects. Forty-one species have been recorded in Utah.

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. The males and females often have different feather colors. Twelve species have been recorded in Utah.

Images for kids

  • LarusCalifornicus

    The California gull is the state bird of Utah.

  • Branta-canadensis-004

    The Canada goose is a common sight in Utah.

  • Fulica americana3

    The American coot is a common water bird.

  • Killdeer

    The Killdeer is a plover known for its loud call.

  • Larus-delawarensis-021

    The Ring-billed gull is a common sight.

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List of birds of Utah Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.