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List of birds of Wyoming facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Western Meadowlark
The western meadowlark is the state bird of Wyoming.

This list shows the different types of birds found in Wyoming, a state in the United States. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) has recorded these birds up to May 2021. There are 452 bird species on this list. About 118 of them are considered accidental visitors. This means they don't usually live in Wyoming but show up there sometimes. Seven species have been introduced to North America by people.

This list follows the order from the Check-list of North and Middle American Birds, which is made by the American Ornithological Society (AOS). The names of the bird families come from the Clements taxonomy.

Most birds on this list live in Wyoming regularly. Some are permanent residents, while others visit in summer or winter, or just pass through during migration. Here are some special notes for certain birds:

  • (A) Accidental: These birds show up in Wyoming by chance, not regularly.
  • (I) Introduced: These birds were brought to North America by humans and now live there.

Water Birds: Ducks, Geese, and Swans

Branta-canadensis-004
Canada goose
Kappensäger männlich seitlich 050501
Hooded merganser

Order: Anseriformes (Waterfowl)   Family: Anatidae (Ducks, Geese, Swans)

The Anatidae family includes ducks, geese, and swans. These birds are great at living in water. They have webbed feet, flat bills, and special oily feathers that shed water easily. Forty-one types of these birds have been seen in Wyoming.

Quails of the New World

Order: Galliformes (Gamefowl)   Family: Odontophoridae (New World Quail)

New World quails are small, round birds that live on the ground. They are not closely related to Old World quails, but they look and act similarly. Two species have been seen in Wyoming.

Game Birds: Pheasants and Grouse

PrairieChicken
Greater prairie-chicken

Order: Galliformes (Gamefowl)   Family: Phasianidae (Pheasants, Grouse, Allies)

This family includes pheasants and similar birds. They live on land and vary in size. They are usually plump with short, wide wings. Many of these birds are hunted for sport or raised for food. Ten species have been found in Wyoming.

Grebes: Diving Birds

Clark's grebe2
Clark's grebe

Order: Podicipediformes (Grebes)   Family: Podicipedidae (Grebes)

Grebes are small to medium-sized birds that dive in freshwater. They have lobed toes, making them excellent swimmers and divers. However, their feet are set far back on their bodies, so they are clumsy on land. Six species have been recorded in Wyoming.

Pigeons and Doves

Mourning Dove 2006
Mourning dove

Order: Columbiformes (Pigeons and Doves)   Family: Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves)

Pigeons and doves are birds with sturdy bodies, short necks, and thin bills. Five species have been seen in Wyoming.

Cuckoos and Roadrunners

Order: Cuculiformes (Cuckoos)   Family: Cuculidae (Cuckoos)

This family includes cuckoos, roadrunners, and anis. These birds vary in size and have slender bodies, long tails, and strong legs. Two species have been recorded in Wyoming.

Nightjars and Nighthawks

Order: Caprimulgiformes (Nightjars)   Family: Caprimulgidae (Nightjars and Allies)

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. Three species have been found in Wyoming.

Swifts: Fast Fliers

Order: Apodiformes (Swifts and Hummingbirds)   Family: Apodidae (Swifts)

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. Four species have been recorded in Wyoming.

Hummingbirds: Tiny Wonders

Order: Apodiformes (Swifts and Hummingbirds)   Family: Trochilidae (Hummingbirds)

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! Seven species have been seen in Wyoming.

Rails, Gallinules, and Coots

Fulica americana3
American coot

Order: Gruiformes (Cranes, Rails, Allies)   Family: Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules, Coots)

Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds. This group 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 strong fliers. Seven species have been recorded in Wyoming.

Cranes: Tall Wading Birds

Order: Gruiformes (Cranes, Rails, Allies)   Family: Gruidae (Cranes)

Cranes are large birds with long legs and long necks. Unlike herons, which look similar, cranes fly with their necks stretched out. Most cranes have fancy and loud dances they perform when looking for a mate. Two species have been recorded in Wyoming.

Stilts and Avocets

Recurvirostra americana -Palo Alto Baylands-8
American avocet

Order: Charadriiformes (Shorebirds, Gulls, Auks)   Family: Recurvirostridae (Stilts and Avocets)

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 Wyoming.

Plovers and Lapwings

Killdeer
Killdeer

Order: Charadriiformes (Shorebirds, Gulls, Auks)   Family: Charadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings)

The Charadriidae 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 worldwide, often near water. Seven species have been recorded in Wyoming.

Sandpipers and Shorebirds

Order: Charadriiformes (Shorebirds, Gulls, Auks)   Family: Scolopacidae (Sandpipers and Allies)

Scolopacidae is a large and varied family of small to medium-sized shorebirds. It includes sandpipers, curlews, godwits, and many others. Most of these birds eat small bugs they find in mud or soil. Different bill and leg lengths allow many species to feed in the same places without competing for food. Twenty-nine species have been recorded in Wyoming.

Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

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Ring-billed gull

Order: Charadriiformes (Shorebirds, Gulls, Auks)   Family: Laridae (Gulls, Terns, Skimmers)

Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds. It includes gulls, terns, and skimmers. 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 species have been recorded in Wyoming.

Loons: Diving Water Birds

Order: Gaviiformes (Loons)   Family: Gaviidae (Loons)

Loons are water birds about the size of a large duck, but they are not related to ducks. They are mostly gray or black and have spear-shaped bills. Loons swim well and fly okay, but they are very clumsy on land because their legs are placed far back on their bodies. Four species have been recorded in Wyoming.

Pelicans: Birds with Pouches

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American white pelican

Order: Pelecaniformes (Pelicans, Herons, Ibises)   Family: Pelecanidae (Pelicans)

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 species have been recorded in Wyoming.

Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns

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Great blue heron

Order: Pelecaniformes (Pelicans, Herons, Ibises)   Family: Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, Bitterns)

The Ardeidae 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, unlike storks or ibises. Eleven species have been recorded in Wyoming.

Ibises and Spoonbills

Order: Pelecaniformes (Pelicans, Herons, Ibises)   Family: Threskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills)

This family includes ibises and spoonbills. They have long, wide wings and long bodies, necks, and legs. Their bills are also long; ibises have down-curved bills, while spoonbills have flat, spoon-shaped bills. Three species have been recorded in Wyoming.

New World Vultures

Turkey vulture Bluff
Turkey vulture

Order: Cathartiformes (New World Vultures)   Family: Cathartidae (New World Vultures)

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

Osprey: Fish-Eating Bird of Prey

Order: Accipitriformes (Hawks, Eagles, Kites)   Family: Pandionidae (Osprey)

The Pandionidae family has only one type of bird: the osprey. Ospreys are fish-eating birds of prey. They have a very large, strong, hooked beak to tear meat, strong legs, powerful claws, and excellent eyesight.

Hawks, Eagles, and Kites

Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis Full Body 1880px
Red-tailed hawk

Order: Accipitriformes (Hawks, Eagles, Kites)   Family: Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, Kites)

Accipitridae is a family of birds of prey. It includes hawks, eagles, kites, and harriers. These birds have very large, strong, hooked beaks for tearing meat from their prey. They also have strong legs, powerful claws, and sharp eyesight. Sixteen species have been recorded in Wyoming.

Barn-Owls

Order: Strigiformes (Owls)   Family: Tytonidae (Barn-Owls)

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

Owls: Night Hunters

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Boreal owl

Order: Strigiformes (Owls)   Family: Strigidae (Owls)

Typical owls are usually solitary birds of prey that hunt 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. Fourteen species have been recorded in Wyoming.

Kingfishers

Order: Coraciiformes (Kingfishers, Rollers, Bee-eaters)   Family: Alcedinidae (Kingfishers)

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

Woodpeckers: Tree Tappers

Order: Piciformes (Woodpeckers, Toucans, Barbets)   Family: Picidae (Woodpeckers)

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

Falcons and Caracaras

USGS Prairie Falcon
Prairie falcon

Order: Falconiformes (Falcons and Caracaras)   Family: Falconidae (Falcons and Caracaras)

Falconidae is a family of birds of prey that are active during the day. This family includes falcons and caracaras. They are different from hawks and eagles because they kill their prey with their beaks, not their claws. Six species have been recorded in Wyoming.

Tyrant Flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes (Perching Birds)   Family: Tyrannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers)

Tyrant flycatchers are perching birds found across North and South America. They look a bit like Old World flycatchers but are stronger and have thicker bills. Most of them eat insects. Twenty-one species have been recorded in Wyoming.

Vireos

Order: Passeriformes (Perching Birds)   Family: Vireonidae (Vireos)

Vireos are small to medium-sized perching birds. They are usually greenish and look like wood warblers, but they have heavier bills. Nine species have been recorded in Wyoming.

Shrikes: Impaling Hunters

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Loggerhead shrike

Order: Passeriformes (Perching Birds)   Family: Laniidae (Shrikes)

Shrikes are perching birds known for catching small animals and sticking them on thorns or barbed wire. A shrike's beak is hooked, similar to a bird of prey. Two species have been recorded in Wyoming.

Crows, Jays, and Magpies

Stellers jay - natures pics
Steller's jay

Order: Passeriformes (Perching Birds)   Family: Corvidae (Crows, Jays, Magpies)

The Corvidae family includes crows, ravens, jays, and magpies. These birds are larger than average perching birds. Some of the bigger species are very intelligent. Nine species have been recorded in Wyoming.

Chickadees and Titmice

Order: Passeriformes (Perching Birds)   Family: Paridae (Tits, Chickadees, Titmice)

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. Three species have been recorded in Wyoming.

Larks: Ground Birds with Songs

Order: Passeriformes (Perching Birds)   Family: Alaudidae (Larks)

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. One species has been recorded in Wyoming.

Swallows: Aerial Feeders

Violet-green-swallow
Violet-green swallow

Order: Passeriformes (Perching Birds)   Family: Hirundinidae (Swallows)

The Hirundinidae family is made up of birds that catch their food 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 Wyoming.

Long-tailed Tits

Order: Passeriformes (Perching Birds)   Family: Aegithalidae (Long-tailed Tits)

Long-tailed tits are small perching birds with medium to long tails. They build woven, bag-like nests in trees. Most of them eat a varied diet that includes insects. One species has been recorded in Wyoming.

Kinglets: Tiny Crowned Birds

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Ruby-crowned kinglet

Order: Passeriformes (Perching Birds)   Family: Regulidae (Kinglets)

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. Two species have been recorded in Wyoming.

Waxwings: Silky Plumage Birds

Order: Passeriformes (Perching Birds)   Family: Bombycillidae (Waxwings)

Waxwings are perching birds with soft, silky feathers. They have unique red tips on some of their wing feathers. These tips look like sealing wax, giving the birds their name. They live in northern forests and eat insects in summer and berries in winter. Two species have been recorded in Wyoming.

Nuthatches: Head-First Climbers

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White-breasted nuthatch

Order: Passeriformes (Perching Birds)   Family: Sittidae (Nuthatches)

Nuthatches are small woodland birds. They have a special ability to climb down trees head first, unlike most other birds that only climb upwards. Nuthatches have big heads, short tails, and strong bills and feet. Three species have been recorded in Wyoming.

Treecreepers

Order: Passeriformes (Perching Birds)   Family: Certhiidae (Treecreepers)

Treecreepers are small woodland birds that are brown on top and white underneath. They have thin, pointed, down-curved bills, which they use to pull insects out of tree bark. They have stiff tail feathers, like woodpeckers, which help them support themselves on vertical trees. One species has been recorded in Wyoming.

Gnatcatchers

Order: Passeriformes (Perching Birds)   Family: Polioptilidae (Gnatcatchers)

These delicate birds look and act like Old World warblers. They move quickly through leaves looking for insects. Gnatcatchers are mostly soft bluish-gray and have a long, sharp bill for eating insects. Many species have distinct black head patterns and long, black-and-white tails that they often hold upright. One species has been recorded in Wyoming.

Wrens: Small but Loud

Order: Passeriformes (Perching Birds)   Family: Troglodytidae (Wrens)

Wrens are small and often hard to see, but they have very loud songs. They have short wings and thin, down-curved bills. Several species often hold their tails straight up. All wrens eat insects. Nine species have been recorded in Wyoming.

Mockingbirds and Thrashers

Sage thrasher
Sage thrasher

Order: Passeriformes (Perching Birds)   Family: Mimidae (Mockingbirds and Thrashers)

The mimids are a family of perching birds that includes thrashers and mockingbirds. These birds are famous for their singing, especially their amazing ability to copy the sounds of other birds and outdoor noises. They usually have dull gray and brown feathers. Five species have been recorded in Wyoming.

Starlings

Order: Passeriformes (Perching Birds)   Family: Sturnidae (Starlings)

Starlings are small to medium-sized perching birds 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 species has been recorded in Wyoming.

Dippers

Order: Passeriformes (Perching Birds)   Family: Cinclidae (Dippers)

Dippers are small, sturdy birds that feed in cold, fast-moving streams. One species has been recorded in Wyoming.

Thrushes and Allies

Mountain Bluebird
Mountain bluebird

Order: Passeriformes (Perching Birds)   Family: Turdidae (Thrushes and Allies)

Thrushes are a group of perching birds, mostly found 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 have beautiful songs. Eleven species have been recorded in Wyoming.

Old World Sparrows

Passer domesticus2
House sparrow

Order: Passeriformes (Perching Birds)   Family: Passeridae (Old World Sparrows)

Old World sparrows are small perching birds. They are generally small, plump, brownish or grayish birds with short tails and strong, short beaks. Sparrows eat seeds, but they also eat small insects. One species has been recorded in Wyoming.

Wagtails and Pipits

Order: Passeriformes (Perching Birds)   Family: Motacillidae (Wagtails and Pipits)

Motacillidae is a family of small perching birds with medium to long tails. This group includes wagtails and pipits. They are slender birds that eat insects on the ground in open areas. Two species have been recorded in Wyoming.

Finches and Allies

Order: Passeriformes (Perching Birds)   Family: Fringillidae (Finches and Allies)

Finches are perching birds that eat seeds. They are small to medium-sized and have strong, often cone-shaped beaks. All finches have twelve tail feathers and nine primary flight feathers. These birds fly with a bouncy motion, flapping and then gliding with closed wings. Most finches sing well. Seventeen species have been recorded in Wyoming.

Longspurs and Snow Buntings

Order: Passeriformes (Perching Birds)   Family: Calcariidae (Longspurs and Snow Buntings)

The Calcariidae are a group of perching birds. They were once grouped with New World sparrows but are now in their own family. They are usually found in open grassy areas. Five species have been recorded in Wyoming.

New World Sparrows

Spotted Towhee
Spotted towhee

Order: Passeriformes (Perching Birds)   Family: Passerellidae (New World Sparrows)

Before 2017, these birds were part of the Emberizidae family. Most are called sparrows, but they are not closely related to the Old World sparrows. Many of these birds have unique patterns on their heads. Twenty-nine species have been recorded in Wyoming.

Yellow-breasted Chat

Order: Passeriformes (Perching Birds)   Family: Icteriidae (Yellow-breasted Chat)

This bird was once thought to be a wood-warbler, but experts were not sure. In 2017, it was placed in its own family.

Troupials and Allies

Order: Passeriformes (Perching Birds)   Family: Icteridae (Troupials and Allies)

The icterids are a group of small to medium-sized, often colorful perching birds found only in the New World. This group includes blackbirds and orioles. Most species are mainly black, often with bright yellow, orange, or red colors. Thirteen species have been recorded in Wyoming.

New World Warblers

Myrtle Warbler - Port Aransas, TX
Yellow-rumped warbler

Order: Passeriformes (Perching Birds)   Family: Parulidae (New World Warblers)

Wood-warblers are a group of small, often colorful perching birds 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-nine species have been recorded in Wyoming.

Cardinals and Allies

Order: Passeriformes (Perching Birds)   Family: Cardinalidae (Cardinals and Allies)

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. Thirteen species have been recorded in Wyoming.

See also

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