List of birds of Yosemite National Park facts for kids

Yosemite National Park, located in California, is home to many amazing birds! This list tells you about all the different bird species that have been seen and recorded in the park. It's based on information from the National Park Service (NPS) up to 2014. In total, there are 264 bird species on this list!

The birds are organized by their scientific groups, following a special list made by bird experts called the American Ornithological Society (AOS). The common names (like "Mallard") and scientific names (like Anas platyrhynchos) also come from this list. Family names, like "Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl," come from another system called the Clements taxonomy.

You'll see some special tags next to certain bird names. These tags help explain how often these birds are seen in Yosemite:

• (R) Rare: These birds are present in very small numbers. They are often found in only a few specific spots. (16 species)
• (VR) Very rare: You might see these birds only three times or less in a season. They might not even show up every year. (31 species)
• (V) Variable: These birds might be common one year but rare or completely absent the next. (3 species)
• (4+) Additional species recorded at least four times: These are extra species that have been seen four or more times. (47 species)
• (3-) Additional species recorded fewer than four times: These are extra species that have been seen less than four times. (52 species)
• (I) Introduced: These birds were brought to North America or California by people, not naturally. (6 species)

Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl

Order: Anseriformes   Family: Anatidae

This family includes ducks, geese, and swans. These birds are built for life in the water. They have webbed feet for swimming and special oily feathers that shed water easily. Their bills are usually flat, which helps them find food in the water.

New World Quail

Order: Galliformes   Family: Odontophoridae

New World quails are small, plump birds that live on the ground. They look and act like the quails found in other parts of the world, but they are not closely related.

• Mountain quail, Oreortyx pictus
• California quail, Callipepla californica

Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies

Order: Galliformes   Family: Phasianidae

This family includes pheasants, partridges, grouse, and turkeys. They are ground-dwelling birds that vary in size. Many are hunted for sport or raised for food.

• Wild turkey, Meleagris gallopavo (I) (R)
• Greater sage-grouse, Centrocercus urophasianus (3-)
• White-tailed ptarmigan, Lagopus leucurus (I) (R)
• Sooty grouse, Dendragapus fuliginosus

Grebes

Order: Podicipediformes   Family: Podicipedidae

Grebes are small to medium-sized diving birds that live in freshwater. They are excellent swimmers and divers, thanks to their lobed toes. However, their feet are set far back on their bodies, making them clumsy on land.

• Pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps (VR)
• Horned grebe, Podiceps auritus (3-)
• Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis (VR)
• Western grebe, Aechmorphorus occidentalis (4+)
• Clark's grebe, Aechmorphorus clarkii (3-)

Pigeons and Doves

Order: Columbiformes   Family: Columbidae

Pigeons and doves are birds with sturdy bodies, short necks, and thin bills. They have a fleshy area at the base of their bill called a cere.

• Rock pigeon, Columba livia (I) (4+)
• Band-tailed pigeon, Patagioenas fasciata
• Eurasian collared-dove, Streptopelia decaocto (I) (3-)
• Mourning dove, Zenaida macroura

Cuckoos

Order: Cuculiformes   Family: Cuculidae

This family includes cuckoos and roadrunners. These birds have slender bodies, long tails, and strong legs. Some cuckoos are known for laying their eggs in other birds' nests.

• Greater roadrunner, Geococcyx californianus (3-)

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 small bills. Their soft feathers are colored to help them blend in with bark or leaves.

• Common nighthawk, Chordeiles minor (VR)
• Common poorwill, Phalaenoptilus nuttallii (VR)

Swifts

Order: Apodiformes   Family: Apodidae

Swifts are small birds that spend most of their lives flying. They have very short legs and rarely land on the ground. Instead, they perch on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long, swept-back wings that look like a crescent moon.

• Black swift, Cypseloides niger (VR)
• Vaux's swift, Chaetura vauxi
• White-throated swift, Aeronautes saxatalis

Hummingbirds

Order: Apodiformes   Family: Trochilidae

Hummingbirds are tiny birds famous for hovering in mid-air. They flap their wings incredibly fast. They are the only birds that can fly backward!

• Black-chinned hummingbird, Archilochus alexandri (4+)
• Anna's hummingbird, Calypte anna
• Calliope hummingbird, Selasphorus calliope
• Rufous hummingbird, Selasphorus rufus
• Allen's hummingbird, Selasphorus sasin (4+)
• Broad-tailed hummingbird, Selasphorus platycercus (3-)

Rails, Gallinules, and Coots

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Rallidae

This large family includes rails, crakes, coots, and gallinules. They are small to medium-sized birds that live in dense plants near water. They are often shy and hard to spot. Most have strong legs and long toes for walking on soft ground.

• Virginia rail, Rallus limicola (VR)
• Sora, Porzana carolina (4+)
• American coot, Fulica americana (4+)
• Yellow rail, Coturnicops noveboracensis (3-)

Cranes

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Gruidae

Cranes are large birds with long legs and long necks. Unlike herons, which look similar, cranes fly with their necks stretched out. Many cranes have fancy and loud "dances" during mating season.

• Sandhill crane, Antigone canadensis (3-)

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 upward. Stilts have extremely long legs and thin, straight bills.

• Black-necked stilt, Himantopus mexicanus (3-)
• American avocet, Recurvirostra americana (3-)

Plovers and Lapwings

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Charadriidae

This family includes plovers and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies and short, thick necks. They are found in open areas around the world, often near water.

• Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus (R)

Sandpipers and Allies

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Scolopacidae

This is a large family of shorebirds, including sandpipers, curlews, and snipes. Most of these birds eat small insects and worms they find in mud or soil. Different bill and leg lengths allow many species to feed in the same areas without competing for food.

• Least sandpiper, Calidris minutilla (3-)
• Wilson's snipe, Gallinago delicata (R)
• Spotted sandpiper, Actitis macularia
• Solitary sandpiper, Tringa solitaria (3-)
• Willet, Tringa semipalmata (3-)
• Greater yellowlegs, Tringa melanoleuca (3-)
• Wilson's phalarope, Phalaropus tricolor (4+)
• Red-necked phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus (4+)
• Red phalarope, Phalaropus fulicarius (4+)

Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Laridae

This family includes gulls and terns. They are medium to large seabirds, usually gray or white with black marks. They have strong, longish bills and webbed feet.

• Ring-billed gull, Larus delawarensis (4+)
• California gull, Larus californicus
• Caspian tern, Hydroprogne caspia (4+)

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 swim well and fly adequately, but they are very awkward on land because their legs are placed far back on their bodies.

• Pacific loon, Gavia pacifica (3-)
• Common loon, Gavia immer (4+)

Cormorants and Shags

Order: Suliformes   Family: Phalacrocoracidae

Cormorants are medium to large water birds, usually dark-colored with patches of colored skin on their faces. They have long, thin, hooked bills. All four of their toes are webbed.

• Double-crested cormorant, Nannopterum auritum (4+)

Pelicans

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Pelecanidae

Pelicans are very large water birds known for the distinctive pouch under their beak. Like other birds in their group, they have four webbed toes.

• American white pelican, Pelecanus erythrorhynchos (4+)
• Brown pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis (3-)

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, unlike storks or ibises.

• American bittern, Botaurus lentiginosus (3-)
• Great blue heron, Ardea herodias
• Great egret, Ardea alba (4+)
• Snowy egret, Egretta thula (4+)
• Green heron, Butorides virescens (3-)
• Black-crowned night-heron, Nycticorax nycticorax (3-)

Ibises and Spoonbills

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Threskiornithidae

This family includes ibises and spoonbills. They have long, broad wings and long bodies with long necks and legs. Ibises have long, downward-curving bills, while spoonbills have straight, flattened bills.

• White-faced ibis, Plegadis chihi (3-)

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 (scavengers). Unlike Old World vultures, New World vultures have a good sense of smell to find food.

• Turkey vulture, Cathartes aura

Osprey

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Pandionidae

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

• Osprey, Pandion haliaetus (VR)

Hawks, Eagles, and Kites

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Accipitridae

This family includes hawks, eagles, kites, and harriers. These birds of prey have very large, powerful hooked beaks for tearing meat. They also have strong legs, powerful talons, and sharp eyesight.

• White-tailed kite, Elanus leucurus (3-)
• Golden eagle, Aquila chrysaetos (VR)
• Northern harrier, Circus hudsonius (R)
• Sharp-shinned hawk, Accipiter striatus
• Cooper's hawk, Accipiter cooperii
• Northern goshawk, Accipiter gentilis
• Bald eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus (VR)
• Red-shouldered hawk, Buteo lineatus (R)
• Swainson's hawk, Buteo swainsoni (4+)
• Red-tailed hawk, Buteo jamaicensis
• Rough-legged hawk, Buteo lagopus (4+)
• Ferruginous hawk, Buteo regalis (3-)

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 talons.

• Barn owl, Tyto alba (4+)

Owls

Order: Strigiformes   Family: Strigidae

Typical owls are solitary birds of prey that are active at night. They have large eyes that face forward and excellent hearing. They also have a hawk-like beak and a circle of feathers around each eye called a facial disk.

• Flammulated owl, Psiloscops flammeolus
• Western screech-owl, Megascops kennicottii
• Great horned owl, Bubo virginianus
• Northern pygmy-owl, Glaucidium gnoma
• Burrowing owl, Athene cunicularia (4+)
• Spotted owl, Strix occidentalis
• Great gray owl, Strix nebulosa (VR)
• Long-eared owl, Asio otus (R)
• Short-eared owl, Asio flammeus (3-)
• Northern saw-whet owl, Aegolius acadicus

Kingfishers

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Alcedinidae

Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long pointed bills, short legs, and stubby tails. They are often found near water, where they dive for fish.

• 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.

• Lewis's woodpecker, Melanerpes lewis (R)
• Acorn woodpecker, Melanerpes formicivorus
• Williamson's sapsucker, Sphyrapicus thyroideus
• Red-naped sapsucker, Sphyrapicus nuchalis (VR)
• Red-breasted sapsucker, Sphyrapicus ruber
• Black-backed woodpecker, Picoides arcticus
• Downy woodpecker, Dryobates pubescens
• Nuttall's woodpecker, Dryobates nuttallii
• Hairy woodpecker, Dryobates villosus
• White-headed woodpecker, Dryobates albolarvatus
• Northern flicker, Colaptes auratus
• Pileated woodpecker, Dryocopus pileatus

Falcons and Caracaras

Order: Falconiformes   Family: Falconidae

This family includes falcons and caracaras, which are birds of prey active during the day. Unlike hawks and eagles, falcons kill their prey with their beaks instead of their talons.

• American kestrel, Falco sparverius
• Merlin, Falco columbarius (4+)
• Peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus (VR)
• Prairie falcon, Falco mexicanus (VR)

Tyrant Flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Tyrannidae

Tyrant flycatchers are songbirds found in North and South America. They look a bit like other flycatchers but have stronger bills. Most of them eat insects.

• Ash-throated flycatcher, Myiarchus cinerascens
• Western kingbird, Tyrannus verticalis (VR)
• Eastern kingbird, Tyrannus tyrannus (3-)
• Olive-sided flycatcher, Contopus cooperi
• Western wood-pewee, Contopus sordidulus
• Willow flycatcher, Empidonax traillii (VR)
• Hammond's flycatcher, Empidonax hammondii
• Gray flycatcher, Empidonax wrightii (4+)
• Dusky flycatcher, Empidonax oberholseri
• Pacific-slope flycatcher, Empidonax difficilis
• Black phoebe, Sayornis nigricans
• Say's phoebe, Sayornis saya (R)
• Vermilion flycatcher, Pyrocephalus rubinus (3-)

Vireos, Shrike-Babblers, and Erpornis

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Vireonidae

Vireos and greenlets are small to medium-sized songbirds found in the New World. They are usually greenish and have heavier bills than wood-warblers.

• Hutton's vireo, Vireo huttoni
• Cassin's vireo, Vireo cassinii
• Warbling vireo, Vireo gilvus
• Red-eyed vireo, Vireo olivaceus (3-)

Shrikes

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Laniidae

Shrikes are songbirds known for catching other birds and small animals. They sometimes impale their prey on thorns. A shrike's beak is hooked, similar to a bird of prey.

• Loggerhead shrike, Lanius ludovicianus (VR)
• Northern shrike, Lanius borealis (3-)

Crows, Jays, and Magpies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Corvidae

This family includes crows, ravens, jays, and magpies. Corvids are larger than average songbirds. Some of the bigger species are very intelligent.

• Pinyon jay, Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus (VR)
• Steller's jay, Cyanocitta stelleri
• California scrub-jay, Aphelocoma californica
• Clark's nutcracker, Nucifraga columbiana
• Black-billed magpie, Pica hudsonia (4+)
• Yellow-billed magpie, Pica nuttalli (3-)
• American crow, Corvus brachyrhynchos (VR)
• Common raven, Corvus corax

Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Paridae

The Paridae family includes small, stocky woodland birds with short, strong bills. They are adaptable birds that eat both seeds and insects.

• Mountain chickadee, Poecile gambeli
• Chestnut-backed chickadee, Poecile rufescens
• Oak titmouse, Baeolophus inornatus

Larks

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Alaudidae

Larks are small ground birds known for their often fancy songs and display flights. Most larks have plain colors. They eat insects and seeds.

• Horned lark, Eremophila alpestris (R)

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 better for perching than walking.

• Bank swallow, Riparia riparia (3-)
• Tree swallow, Tachycineta bicolor
• Violet-green swallow, Tachycineta thalassina
• Northern rough-winged swallow, Stelgidopteryx serripennis
• Barn swallow, Hirundo rustica
• Cliff swallow, Petrochelidon pyrrhonota

Long-tailed Tits

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Aegithalidae

Long-tailed tits are a family of small songbirds with medium to long tails. They build woven, bag-shaped nests in trees. Most of them eat a mix of insects and other foods.

• Bushtit, Psaltriparus minimus

Sylviid Warblers, Parrotbills, and Allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sylviidae

This family includes small insect-eating songbirds. They are mostly found in Europe, Asia, and Africa. Many have plain looks but beautiful songs.

• Wrentit, Chamaea fasciata

Kinglets

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Regulidae

Kinglets are a small family of birds that look a bit like titmice. They are very tiny insect-eating birds. Adult kinglets have colorful crowns on their heads, which gives them their name.

• Ruby-crowned kinglet, Corthylio calendula
• Golden-crowned kinglet, Regulus satrapa

Waxwings

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Bombycillidae

Waxwings are birds with soft, silky feathers. They have unique red tips on some of their wing feathers that look like sealing wax. These birds live in northern forests and eat insects in summer and berries in winter.

• Bohemian waxwing, Bombycilla garrulus (4+)
• Cedar waxwing, Bombycilla cedrorum

Silky-Flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Ptiliogonatidae

Silky-flycatchers are a small family of songbirds mostly found in Central America. They are related to waxwings, and most species have small crests on their heads.

• Phainopepla, Phainopepla nitens (4+)

Nuthatches

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sittidae

Nuthatches are small woodland birds. They have a special ability to climb down trees headfirst, unlike most other birds. Nuthatches have big heads, short tails, and strong bills and feet.

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

Treecreepers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Certhiidae

Treecreepers are small woodland birds that are brown on top and white underneath. They have thin, pointed, downward-curving bills that they use to pull insects out of tree bark. Their stiff tail feathers help them support themselves on vertical trees, like woodpeckers.

• Brown creeper, Certhia americana

Gnatcatchers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Polioptilidae

These delicate birds look and act like Old World warblers. They move constantly through leaves, looking for insects. Gnatcatchers are usually soft bluish-gray and have the long, sharp bill typical of insect-eaters. Many have distinct black patterns on their heads and long, black-and-white tails that they often hold upright.

• Blue-gray gnatcatcher, Polioptila caerulea

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, downward-curved bills. Several species often hold their tails straight up. All wrens eat insects.

• Rock wren, Salpinctes obsoletus
• Canyon wren, Catherpes mexicanus
• Bewick's wren, Thryomanes bewickii
• House wren, Troglodytes aedon
• Pacific wren, Troglodytes pacificus
• Marsh wren, Cistothorus palustris (VR)

Mockingbirds and Thrashers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Mimidae

This family includes thrashers, mockingbirds, and catbirds. These birds are famous for their amazing voices and their ability to copy many different bird calls and other sounds. They usually have dull gray and brown feathers.

• Gray catbird, Dumetella carolinensis (3-)
• California thrasher, Toxostoma redivivum (VR)
• Sage thrasher, Oreoscoptes montanus (4+)
• Northern mockingbird, Mimus polyglottos (4+)

Starlings

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sturnidae

Starlings are small to medium-sized songbirds with strong feet. They fly strongly and directly, and most live in large groups. They prefer open areas and eat insects and fruit. Many species have dark feathers with a shiny, metallic look.

• European starling, Sturnus vulgaris (I)

Dippers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Cinclidae

Dippers are a group of perching birds that live near water in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. They are named for their bobbing or "dipping" movements. These birds can dive underwater and walk on the bottom to find insect larvae to eat.

• American dipper, Cinclus mexicanus

Thrushes and Allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Turdidae

Thrushes are a group of songbirds, mostly found in the Old World. They are plump, soft-feathered, and small to medium-sized. They eat insects or a mix of foods, often feeding on the ground. Many thrushes have beautiful songs.

• Western bluebird, Sialia mexicana
• Mountain bluebird, Sialia currucoides
• Townsend's solitaire, Myadestes townsendi
• Swainson's thrush, Catharus ustulatus (VR)
• Hermit thrush, Catharus guttatus
• American robin, Turdus migratorius
• Varied thrush, Ixoreus naevius (R)

Old World Sparrows

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Passeridae

Old World sparrows are small songbirds. They are generally plump, brownish or grayish, with short tails and strong, short beaks. Sparrows mainly eat seeds, but they also eat small insects.

• House sparrow, Passer domesticus (I)

Wagtails and Pipits

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Motacillidae

This family includes wagtails and pipits. They are slender, ground-feeding insect-eaters found in open areas. They have medium to long tails.

• American pipit, Anthus rubescens

Finches, Euphonias, and Allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Fringillidae

Finches are seed-eating songbirds that range from small to medium-large. They have strong, often cone-shaped beaks. All finches have twelve tail feathers and nine primary flight feathers. They have a bouncy flight pattern and most sing well.

• Evening grosbeak, Coccothraustes vespertinus (V)
• Pine grosbeak, Pinicola enucleator (V)
• Gray-crowned rosy-finch, Leucosticte tephrocotis
• House finch, Haemorhous mexicanus
• Purple finch, Haemorhous purpureus
• Cassin's finch, Haemorhous cassinii
• Red crossbill, Loxia curvirostra (V)
• Pine siskin, Spinus pinus
• Lesser goldfinch, Spinus psaltria
• Lawrence's goldfinch, Spinus lawrencei (R)
• American goldfinch, Spinus tristis (VR)

Longspurs and Snow Buntings

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Calcariidae

This group of songbirds was once thought to be part of the New World sparrows. However, they are different in several ways and are usually found in open, grassy areas.

• Chestnut-collared longspur, Calcarius ornatus (3-)

New World Sparrows

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Passerellidae

Until 2017, these birds were grouped with another family. Most of these species are called sparrows, but they are not closely related to the Old World sparrows. Many of them have distinct patterns on their heads.

Yellow-breasted Chat

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.

• Yellow-breasted chat, Icteria virens (4+)

Troupials and Allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Icteridae

The icterids are a group of small to medium-sized, often colorful songbirds found only in the New World. They include grackles, New World blackbirds, and orioles. Most species have black as their main feather color, often with bright yellow, orange, or red.

• Yellow-headed blackbird, Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus (4+)
• Bobolink, Dolichonyx oryzivorus (3-)
• Western meadowlark, Sturnella neglecta (VR)
• Bullock's oriole, Icterus bullockii
• Scott's oriole, Icterus parisorum (3-)
• Red-winged blackbird, Agelaius phoeniceus
• Brown-headed cowbird, Molothrus ater
• Brewer's blackbird, Euphagus cyanocephalus
• Great-tailed grackle, Quiscalus mexicanus (4+)

New World Warblers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Parulidae

Wood warblers are a group of small and often colorful songbirds found only in the New World. Most live in trees, but some spend more time on the ground. Most members of this family eat insects.

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 feather colors.

• Western tanager, Piranga ludoviciana
• Rose-breasted grosbeak, Pheucticus ludovicianus (4+)
• Black-headed grosbeak, Pheucticus melanocephalus
• Blue grosbeak, Passerina caerulea (3-)
• Lazuli bunting, Passerina amoena
• Indigo bunting, Passerina cyanea (4+)

See Also

• List of birds of California