List of birds of West Virginia facts for kids

Over 300 species of birds can be found in the state of West Virginia during some seasons. Of these species, only around 75 actually breed within the state; the remainder are migrating or wintering species that are only present during the spring or winter months.

In West Virginia, bird diversity is highest from late spring to early fall, but around 50 species can be encountered in the state during the cold winter months.

The taxa

Two of these species have become extinct since 1914. In addition, the IUCN classifies four of these species as vulnerable and thirteen as near-threatened .

Order Gaviiformes (loons)

Family Gaviidae (loons)

• Red-throated loon (Gavia stellata)
• Common loon (Gavia immer)

Order Podicipediformes (grebes)

Family Podicipedidae (grebes)

• Pied-billed grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)
• Horned grebe (Podiceps auritus)
• Red-necked grebe (Podiceps grisegena)

Order Pelecaniformes (pelicans, herons, and ibises)

Family Pelecanidae (pelicans)

• American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)

Family Ardeidae (herons)

• 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)
• Cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis)
• Green heron (Butorides virescens)
• Black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
• Yellow-crowned night heron (Nyctanassa violacea)

Family Threskiornithidae (ibises)

• American white ibis (Eudocimus albus) rare
• Glossy ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) rare

Order Suliformes (cormorants and relatives)

Family Phalacrocoracidae (cormorants)

• Double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)
• Great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) rare

Order Ciconiiformes (storks)

Family Ciconiidae (storks)

• Wood stork (Mycteria americana)

Order Cathartiformes (New World vultures)

Family Cathartidae (New World vultures)

• Black vulture (Coragyps atratus)
• Turkey vulture (Cathartes aura)

Order Anseriformes (ducks, geese, and swans)

Family Anatidae (ducks, geese, and swans)

• Black-bellied whistling duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis) rare
• Greater white-fronted goose (Anser albifrons)
• Snow goose (Chen caerulescens)
• Ross's goose (Chen rossii) rare
• Canada goose (Branta canadensis)
• Brant (Branta bernicla)
• Mute swan (Cygnus olor)
• Trumpeter swan (Cygnus buccinator) rare
• Tundra swan (Cygnus columbianus)
• Wood duck (Aix sponsa)
• Gadwall (Anas strepera)
• Eurasian wigeon (Anas penelope)
• American wigeon (Anas americana)
• American black duck (Anas rubripes)
• Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
• Blue-winged teal (Anas discors)
• Northern shoveler (Anas clypeata)
• Northern pintail (Anas acuta)
• Green-winged teal (Anas carolinensis)
• Canvasback (Aythya valisineria)
• Redhead (Aythya americana)
• Ring-necked duck (Aythya collaris)
• Greater scaup (Aythya marila)
• Lesser scaup (Aythya affinis)
• King eider (Somateria spectabilis) rare
• Surf scoter (Melanitta perspicillata)
• White-winged scoter (Melanitta deglandi)
• Black scoter (Melanitta americana)
• Long-tailed duck (Clangula hyemalis)
• Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)
• Common goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)
• Hooded merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus)
• Common merganser (Mergus merganser)
• Red-breasted merganser (Mergus serrator)
• Ruddy duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)

Order Accipitriformes (birds of prey)

Family Pandionidae (osprey)

• Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)

Family Accipitridae (hawks, eagles, and kites)

• Swallow-tailed kite (Elanoides forficatus) rare
• Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
• Hen harrier (Circus cyaneus)
• Sharp-shinned hawk (Accipiter striatus)
• Cooper's hawk (Accipiter cooperii)
• Northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis)
• Red-shouldered hawk (Buteo lineatus)
• Broad-winged hawk (Buteo platypterus)
• Swainson's hawk (Buteo swainsoni) rare
• Red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
• Rough-legged buzzard (Buteo lagopus)
• Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)

Order Falconiformes (falcons)

Family Falconidae (falcons)

• American kestrel (Falco sparverius)
• Merlin (Falco columbarius)
• Peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus)

Order Galliformes (gamefowl)

Family Phasianidae (pheasants)

• Common pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) introduced
• Ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus)
• Wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)

Family Odontophoridae (New World quail)

• Northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus)

Order Gruiformes (cranes, rails, and relatives)

Family Rallidae (rails, coots, and gallinules)

• Yellow rail (Coturnicops noveboracensis) rare
• King rail (Rallus elegans)
• Virginia rail (Rallus limicola)
• Sora (Porzana carolina)
• American purple gallinule (Porphyrio martinicus)
• Common gallinule (Gallinula galeata)
• American coot (Fulica americana)

Family Gruidae (cranes)

• Sandhill crane (Grus canadensis)

Order Charadriiformes (waders, gulls, and relatives)

Family Charadriidae (plovers)

• Grey plover (Pluvialis squatarola)
• American golden plover (Pluvialis dominica)
• Semipalmated plover (Charadrius semipalmatus)
• Piping plover (Charadrius melodus) rare,
• Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)

Family Recurvirostridae (avocets and stilts)

• Black-necked stilt (Himantopus mexicanus) rare
• American avocet (Recurvirostra americana)

Family Scolopacidae (sandpipers)

• Greater yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)
• Lesser yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes)
• Solitary sandpiper (Tringa solitaria)
• Willet (Tringa semipalmata)
• Spotted sandpiper (Actitis macularius)
• Upland sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda)
• Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus)* Hudsonian godwit (Limosa haemastica) rare
• Marbled godwit (Limosa fedoa) rare
• Ruddy turnstone (Arenaria interpres)
• Sanderling (Calidris alba)
• Semipalmated sandpiper (Calidris pusilla)
• Western sandpiper (Calidris mauri)
• Least sandpiper (Calidris minutilla)
• White-rumped sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis)
• Baird's sandpiper (Calidris bairdii)
• Pectoral sandpiper (Calidris melanotos)
• Dunlin (Calidris alpina)
• Stilt sandpiper (Calidris himantopus)
• Buff-breasted sandpiper (Tryngites subruficollis)
• Short-billed dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus)
• Long-billed dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus) rare
• Wilson's snipe (Gallinago delicata)
• American woodcock (Scolopax minor)
• Wilson's phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor)
• Red-necked phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus)
• Red phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius) rare

Family Stercorariidae (skuas)

• Parasitic jaeger (Stercorarius parasiticus) rare

Family Laridae (gulls)

• Laughing gull (Leucophaeus atricilla)
• Franklin's gull (Leucophaeus pipixcan) rare
• Ring-billed gull (Larus delawarensis)
• American herring gull (Larus smithsonianus)
• Glaucous gull (Larus hyperboreus) rare
• Bonaparte's gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia)
• Sabine's gull (Xema sabini) rare
• Black-legged kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) rare

Family Sternidae (terns)

• Caspian tern (Hydroprogne caspia)
• Common tern (Sterna hirundo)
• Forster's tern (Sterna forsteri)
• Least tern (Sternula antillarum)
• Sooty tern (Onychoprion fuscatus) rare
• Black tern (Chlidonias niger)

Order Columbiformes (pigeons and doves)

Family Columbidae (pigeons and doves)

• Rock dove (Columba livia) introduced
• Mourning dove (Zenaida macroura)
• Passenger pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius)

Order Cuculiformes (cuckoos)

Family Cuculidae (cuckoos)

• Black-billed cuckoo (Coccyzus erythropthalmus)
• Yellow-billed cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus)

Order Strigiformes (owls)

Family Tytonidae (barn-owls)

• Barn owl (Tyto alba)

Family Strigidae (true owls)

• Eastern screech owl (Megascops asio)
• Great horned owl (Bubo virginianus)
• Snowy owl (Bubo scandiacus)
• Barred owl (Strix varia)
• Long-eared owl (Asio otus)
• Short-eared owl (Asio flammeus)
• Northern saw-whet owl (Aegolius acadicus)

Order Caprimulgiformes (nightjars)

Family Caprimulgidae (nightjars)

• Common nighthawk (Chordeiles minor)
• Chuck-will's-widow (Antrostomus carolinensis)
• Eastern whip-poor-will (Antrostomus vociferus)

Order Apodiformes (swifts and hummingbirds)

Family Apodidae (swifts)

• Chimney swift (Chaetura pelagica)

Family Trochilidae (hummingbirds)

• Ruby-throated hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)
• Rufous hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) rare

Order Coraciiformes (kingfishers and relatives)

Family Alcedinidae (kingfishers)

• Belted kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)

Order Piciformes (woodpeckers and Relatives)

Family Picidae (woodpeckers)

• Red-headed woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus)
• Red-bellied woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)
• Yellow-bellied sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius)
• Downy woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)
• Hairy woodpecker (Picoides villosus)
• Northern flicker (Colaptes auratus)
• Pileated woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)

Order Psittaciformes (parrots)

Family Psittacidae (true parrots)

• Carolina parakeet (Conuropsis carolinensis)

Order Passeriformes (passerines)

Family Tyrannidae (tyrant flycatchers)

• 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)
• Ash-throated flycatcher (Myiarchus cinerascens) rare
• Great crested flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus)
• Western kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis)
• Eastern kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)

Family Laniidae (shrikes)

• Loggerhead shrike (Lanius ludovicianus)
• Great grey shrike (Lanius excubitor) rare

Family Vireonidae (vireos)

• White-eyed vireo (Vireo griseus)
• Yellow-throated vireo (Vireo flavifrons)
• Blue-headed vireo (Vireo solitarius)
• Warbling vireo (Vireo gilvus)
• Philadelphia vireo (Vireo philadelphicus)
• Red-eyed vireo (Vireo olivaceus)

Family Corvidae (crows, jays, and magpies)

• Blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata)
• Black-billed magpie (Pica hudsonia) rare
• American crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)
• Fish crow (Corvus ossifragus)
• Common raven (Corvus corax)

Family Alaudidae (larks)

• Horned lark (Eremophila alpestris)

Family Hirundinidae (swallows)

• Purple martin (Progne subis)
• Tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)
• Northern rough-winged swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis)
• Sand martin (Riparia riparia)
• American cliff swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota)
• Barn swallow (Hirundo rustica)

Family Paridae (tits)

• Carolina chickadee (Poecile carolinensis)
• Black-capped chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)
• Boreal chickadee (Poecile hudsonicus) rare
• Tufted titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)

Family Sittidae (nuthatches)

• Red-breasted nuthatch (Sitta canadensis)
• White-breasted nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)

Family Certhiidae (treecreepers)

• Brown creeper (Certhia americana)

Family Troglodytidae (wrens)

• Carolina wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)
• Bewick's wren (Thryomanes bewickii)
• House wren (Troglodytes aedon)
• Winter wren (Troglodytes hiemalis)
• Sedge wren (Cistothorus platensis)
• Marsh wren (Cistothorus palustris)

Family Regulidae (kinglets)

• Golden-crowned kinglet (Regulus satrapa)
• Ruby-crowned kinglet (Regulus calendula)

Family Polioptilidae (gnatcatchers)

• Blue-gray gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea)

Family Turdidae (thrushes)

• Eastern bluebird (Sialia sialis)
• Veery (Catharus fuscescens)
• Grey-cheeked thrush (Catharus minimus)
• Bicknell's thrush (Catharus bicknelli) rare
• Swainson's thrush (Catharus ustulatus)
• Hermit thrush (Catharus guttatus)
• Wood thrush (Hylocichla mustelina)
• American robin (Turdus migratorius)
• Varied thrush (Ixoreus naevius) rare

Family Mimidae (thrashers, mockingbirds, and catbirds)

• Gray catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)
• Northern mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)
• Brown thrasher (Toxostoma rufum)

Family Sturnidae (starlings)

• Common starling (Sturnus vulgaris) introduced

Family Motacillidae (pipits)

• Buff-bellied pipit (Anthus rubescens)

Family Bombycillidae (waxwings)

• Bohemian waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus)
• Cedar waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)

Family Parulidae (New World warblers)

• Blue-winged warbler (Vermivora cyanoptera)
• Golden-winged warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera)
• Brewster's warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera x cyanoptera)
• Lawrence's warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera x cyanoptera)
• Tennessee warbler (Oreothlypis peregrina)
• Orange-crowned warbler (Oreothlypis celata)
• Nashville warbler (Oreothlypis ruficapilla)
• Northern parula (Setophaga americana)
• American yellow warbler (Setophaga petechia)
• Chestnut-sided warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica)
• Magnolia warbler (Setophaga magnolia)
• Cape May warbler (Setophaga tigrina)
• Black-throated blue warbler (Setophaga caerulescens)
• Yellow-rumped warbler (Setophaga coronata)
• Black-throated green warbler (Setophaga virens)
• Blackburnian warbler (Setophaga fusca)
• Yellow-throated warbler (Setophaga dominica)
• Pine warbler (Setophaga pinus)
• Prairie warbler (Setophaga discolor)
• Palm warbler (Setophaga palmarum)
• Bay-breasted warbler (Setophaga castanea)
• Blackpoll warbler (Setophaga striata)
• Cerulean warbler (Setophaga cerulea)
• American redstart (Setophaga ruticilla)
• Hooded warbler (Setophaga citrina)
• Black-and-white warbler (Mniotilta varia)
• Prothonotary warbler (Protonotaria citrea)
• Worm-eating warbler (Helmitheros vermivorus)
• Swainson's warbler (Limnothlypis swainsonii)
• Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla)
• Northern waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracencis)
• Louisiana waterthrush (Parkesia motacilla)
• Kentucky warbler (Geothlypis formosa)
• Mourning warbler (Geothlypis philadelphia)
• Common yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)
• Connecticut warbler (Oporornis agilis)
• Wilson's warbler (Cardellina pusilla)
• Canada warbler (Cardellina canadensis)

Family Incertae sedis (of uncertain placement)

• Yellow-breasted chat (Icteria virens)

Family Cardinalidae (cardinals)

• Summer tanager (Piranga rubra)
• Scarlet tanager (Piranga olivacea)
• Northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
• Rose-breasted grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus)
• Black-headed grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus)
• Blue grosbeak (Passerina caerulea)
• Indigo bunting (Passerina cyanea)
• Dickcissel (Spiza americana)

Family Emberizidae (American sparrows)

• Green-tailed towhee (Pipilo chlorurus) rare
• Spotted towhee (Pipilo maculatus) rare
• Eastern towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus)
• Bachman's sparrow (Peucaea aestivalis)
• American tree sparrow (Spizelloides arborea)
• Chipping sparrow (Spizella passerina)
• Clay-colored sparrow (Spizella pallida) rare
• Field sparrow (Spizella pusilla)
• Vesper sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus)
• Lark sparrow (Chondestes grammacus)
• Lark bunting (Calamospiza melanocorys) rare
• Savannah sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)
• Grasshopper sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum)
• Henslow's sparrow (Ammodramus henslowii)
• Le Conte's sparrow (Ammodramus leconteii) rare
• Nelson's sparrow (Ammodramus nelsoni)
• Fox sparrow (Passerella iliaca)
• Song sparrow (Melospiza melodia)
• Lincoln's sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii)
• Swamp sparrow (Melospiza georgiana)
• White-throated sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)
• Harris's sparrow (Zonotrichia querula)
• White-crowned sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)
• Dark-eyed junco (Junco hyemalis)

Family Calcariidae (longspurs and relatives)

• Lapland longspur (Calcarius lapponicus)
• Smith's longspur (Calcarius pictus) rare
• Snow bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis)

Family Icteridae (New World blackbirds, orioles, and relatives)

• 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)
• Brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater)
• Orchard oriole (Icterus spurius)
• Baltimore oriole (Icterus galbula)

Family Fringillidae (finches)

• Pine grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator)
• Purple finch (Haemorhous purpureus)
• House finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) introduced
• Red crossbill (Loxia curvirostra)
• Two-barred crossbill (Loxia leucoptera)
• Common redpoll (Acanthis flammea)
• Arctic redpoll (Acanthis hornemanni) rare
• Pine siskin (Spinus pinus)
• American goldfinch (Spinus tristis)
• Evening grosbeak (Coccothraustes vespertinus)

Family Passeridae (sparrows)

• House sparrow (Passer domesticus) introduced

Images for kids

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  The northern cardinal is the state bird of West Virginia.