List of birds of the United States facts for kids

This article lists all the different types of birds found in the United States. It includes birds from all 50 states and Washington D.C. as of July 2022. Birds found in other U.S. territories are also included.

Many birds in the continental United States are similar to those in Eurasia. This is because these landmasses were once connected long ago. Some bird groups, however, are unique to the Americas. These include hummingbirds, New World vultures, New World quail, tyrant flycatchers, vireos, mimids, New World warblers, tanagers, cardinals, and icterids.

Some common birds in the U.S. are not originally from North America. Birds like the house sparrow, rock pigeon, European starling, and mute swan were brought here by humans. These are called introduced species and are marked with (I) on the list. Many other non-native birds, often pets like parrots and finches, sometimes escape and live in the wild but are not usually on this list.

The status of the ivory-billed woodpecker is a bit of a mystery. For a long time, people thought it was extinct. Then, in 2005, some thought they saw one in Cache River National Wildlife Refuge in Arkansas. But not everyone agrees, and some bird experts still list it as extinct.

Hawaii has many unique bird species that are found nowhere else. Sadly, many of these are in danger or have already become extinct. On Guam, the number of birds has dropped a lot because of brown tree snakes that were brought there. Some unique Guam birds, like the Guam flycatcher, have disappeared. Others, like the Guam rail, disappeared from the wild but are now being brought back. Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands also have many birds found only there. American Samoa has birds from the South Pacific that are not seen anywhere else in the U.S.

Where This Bird List Comes From

Most of this bird list comes from a special book called the Check-list of North and Middle American Birds. This book is put together by the American Ornithological Society (AOS). It covers birds in the 48 main states, Washington D.C., Alaska, Hawaii, nearby islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The list also includes birds from other U.S. territories. These are places like American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Minor Outlying Islands. So, this list includes birds from all 50 states, Washington D.C., and all U.S. territories.

If a bird is only found in a U.S. territory, like Puerto Rico, that territory's name is noted next to the bird's name.

Understanding Bird Status and Names

For birds found in the 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, the names and how they are grouped (like families and species) follow what the AOS says. The AOS is the main scientific group for birds in North and Middle America. However, the common names for bird families come from the Clements taxonomy. The AOS believes that a "species" is a group of birds that can reproduce together and are separate from other groups. For birds in American Samoa, Guam, and the U.S. Minor Outlying Islands, the Clements taxonomy is used for their names and groups.

Most birds on this list are regularly seen in the U.S. They might live here all the time, visit in summer or winter, or pass through during migration. Special tags are used for some birds:

• (A) Accidental - Seen only once or twice, not expected to be here often.
• (C) Casual - Seen a few times, but might be seen again.
• (E) Extinct - This bird no longer exists anywhere.
• (Ex) Extirpated - This bird no longer lives in the U.S., but it still lives in other parts of the world.
• (I) Introduced - Humans brought this bird here, it's not native.
• (EH) Endemic to Hawaii - Found only in Hawaii.
• (EG) Endemic to Guam - Found only in Guam.
• (ENM) Endemic to the Northern Mariana Islands - Found only in the Northern Mariana Islands.
• (EP) Endemic to Puerto Rico - Found only in Puerto Rico.
• (EU) Endemic to the U.S. Minor Outlying Islands - Found only in these small islands.
• (EM) Endemic to the mainland - Found only in the 48 main states, Alaska, and nearby islands.

The (A) and (C) tags match codes used by the American Birding Association. The (E), (Ex), and (I) tags are from the AOS. The (EH) tags are from the AOS list, and (EM) tags are from the Clements taxonomy.

The symbols below show how safe a bird species is worldwide. This is based on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. For birds found only in the U.S., the symbol shows their status here.

= Least concern (doing well) = Near threatened (might be in trouble soon) = Vulnerable (at risk) = Endangered (high risk of extinction) = Critically endangered (very high risk of extinction) = Extinct in the wild (only lives in zoos or special places) = Extinct (no longer exists)

Bird Numbers in the U.S.

This list has 1125 bird species found in the 50 states and Washington D.C.

• 155 of these are accidental visitors.
• 101 are casual visitors.
• 55 were introduced by humans.
• 33 are known to be extinct.
• One, the thick-billed parrot, no longer lives in the U.S. but still lives in Mexico.
• 33 living species are found only in Hawaii. Another 28 unique Hawaiian birds are now extinct.
• 16 species are found only in the 48 main states, and one is only in Alaska.

There are also 146 more species found only in U.S. territories. Some of these are now extinct. In total, the list has 1267 bird species. Some birds found in the 50 states are also found in the territories.

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, flat bills, and feathers that shed water easily.

Megapodes

Order: Galliformes   Family: Megapodiidae

Megapodes are chunky, chicken-like birds with small heads and big feet. Most live in jungles and are brown or black.

• Micronesian scrubfowl, Megapodius laperouse (Northern Mariana Islands; extirpated from Guam)

Guans, Chachalacas, and Curassows

Order: Galliformes   Family: Cracidae

These birds are large, like turkeys. Guans and curassows live in trees, while smaller chachalacas prefer open, bushy areas. They usually have dull feathers, but some have colorful faces.

• Plain chachalaca, Ortalis vetula

New World Quail

Order: Galliformes   Family: Odontophoridae

New World quails are small, round birds that live on the ground. They look similar to Old World quails but are not closely related.

• Mountain quail, Oreortyx pictus
• Northern bobwhite, Colinus virginianus
• Crested bobwhite, Colinus cristatus (U.S. Virgin Islands) (Ex) (I)
• Scaled quail, Callipepla squamata
• California quail, Callipepla californica
• Gambel's quail, Callipepla gambelii
• Montezuma quail, Cyrtonyx montezumae

Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies

Order: Galliformes   Family: Phasianidae

This family includes pheasants and their relatives. They are ground-dwelling birds, usually plump with wide, short wings. Many are hunted for sport or raised for food.

Flamingos

Order: Phoenicopteriformes   Family: Phoenicopteridae

Flamingos are tall, social wading birds found in many parts of the world. They filter small shellfish and algae from the water using their special upside-down beaks.

• American flamingo, Phoenicopterus ruber

Grebes

Order: Podicipediformes   Family: Podicipedidae

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

• Least grebe, Tachybaptus dominicus
• Little grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis (Northern Mariana Islands) (A)
• Pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps
• Horned grebe, Podiceps auritus
• Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena
• Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis
• Western grebe, Aechmophorus occidentalis
• Clark's grebe, Aechmophorus clarkii

Sandgrouse

Order: Pterocliformes   Family: Pteroclidae

Sandgrouse have small heads and necks like pigeons, but strong, compact bodies. They have long, pointed wings and fly fast and straight. Their legs are feathered down to their toes.

• Chestnut-bellied sandgrouse, Pterocles exustus (I)

Pigeons and Doves

Order: Columbiformes   Family: Columbidae

Pigeons and doves are plump birds with short necks and thin bills. They eat seeds, fruits, and plants. Unlike most birds, both male and female doves and pigeons make a special "crop milk" to feed their young.

Cuckoos

Order: Cuculiformes   Family: Cuculidae

This family includes cuckoos, roadrunners, and anis. They vary in size but have slender bodies, long tails, and strong legs.

• Greater ani, Crotophaga major (U.S. Virgin Islands) (A)
• Smooth-billed ani, Crotophaga ani
• Groove-billed ani, Crotophaga sulcirostris
• Greater roadrunner, Geococcyx californianus
• Common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus
• Oriental cuckoo, Cuculus optatus (C)
• Chestnut-winged cuckoo, Clamator coromandus (Guam) (A)
• Dark-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus melacoryphus (A)
• Yellow-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus
• Mangrove cuckoo, Coccyzus minor
• Black-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus erythropthalmus
• Puerto Rican lizard-cuckoo, Coccyzus vielloti (Puerto Rico) (EP)
• Long-tailed koel, Urodynamis tailtensis (American Samoa, U.S. Minor Outlying Islands)

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 blend in with bark or leaves.

• Lesser nighthawk, Chordeiles acutipennis
• Common nighthawk, Chordeiles minor
• Antillean nighthawk, Chordeiles gundlachii
• Common pauraque, Nyctidromus albicollis
• Common poorwill, Phalaenoptilus nuttallii
• Chuck-will's-widow, Antrostomus carolinensis
• Buff-collared nightjar, Antrostomus ridgwayi
• Eastern whip-poor-will, Antrostomus vociferus
• Mexican whip-poor-will, Antrostomus arizonae
• Puerto Rican nightjar, Antrostomus noctitherus (Puerto Rico) (EP)
• White-tailed nightjar, Hydropsalis cayennensis (Puerto Rico) (A)
• Gray nightjar, Caprimulgus jotaka (A)

Potoos

Order: Caprimulgiformes   Family: Nyctibiidae

Potoos are large, nocturnal birds that eat insects. They are related to nightjars but do not have bristles around their mouths.

• Northern potoo, Nyctibius jamaicensis (Puerto Rico) (A)

Swifts

Order: Apodiformes   Family: Apodidae

Swifts are small birds that spend most of their lives flying. They have very short legs and never land on the ground. They perch only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long, swept-back wings that look like a crescent moon.

• Black swift, Cypseloides niger
• White-collared swift, Streptoprocne zonaris (C)
• Chimney swift, Chaetura pelagica
• Vaux's swift, Chaetura vauxi
• Short-tailed swift, Chaetura brachyura (U.S. Virgin Islands)
• White-throated needletail Hirundapus caudacutus (A)
• White-rumped swiftlet, Aerodramus spodiopygius (American Samoa)
• Uniform swiftlet, Aerodramus vanikorensis (Guam)
• Mariana swiftlet, Aerodramus bartschi (I)
• Caroline Islands swiftlet, Aerodramus inquietus (Guam, Northern Mariana Islands)
• Common swift, Apus apus (A)
• Fork-tailed swift, Apus pacificus (A)
• Alpine swift, Apus melba (Puerto Rico) (A)
• White-throated swift, Aeronautes saxatalis
• Antillean palm-swift, Tachornis phoenicobia (A)

Hummingbirds

Order: Apodiformes   Family: Trochilidae

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

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 usually shy and hard to spot. Most have strong legs and long toes for walking on soft ground. They have short, rounded wings and are not strong fliers.

Finfoots

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Heliornithidae

Finfoots look like rails but have long necks, slender bodies, wide tails, and sharp bills. Their legs and feet are brightly colored. Only one species, the sungrebe, is found in the Americas.

• Sungrebe, Heliornis fulica (A)

Limpkin

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Aramidae

The limpkin is a unique bird that looks like a large rail. It lives in marshes with trees or bushes in the Caribbean, South America, and southern Florida.

• Limpkin, Aramus guarauna

Cranes

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Gruidae

Cranes are large birds with long legs and necks. Unlike herons, cranes fly with their necks stretched out. Most cranes have loud and fancy courtship dances.

• Sandhill crane, Antigone canadensis
• Common crane, Grus grus (C)
• Whooping crane, Grus americana
• Hooded crane, Grus monacha (A)

Thick-knees

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Burhinidae

Thick-knees are wading birds found in tropical areas worldwide. They are medium to large birds with strong black or yellow-black bills, large yellow eyes, and camouflaged feathers. Even though they are waders, most prefer dry or semi-dry places.

• Double-striped thick-knee, Burhinus bistriatus (A)

Stilts and Avocets

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Recurvirostridae

This family includes avocets and stilts. Avocets have long legs and long, upward-curved bills. Stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills.

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

Oystercatchers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Haematopodidae

Oystercatchers are large, easy-to-spot, and noisy birds. They have strong bills that they use to smash or pry open molluscs.

• Eurasian oystercatcher, Haematopus ostralegus (A)
• American oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus
• Black oystercatcher, Haematopus bachmani

Plovers and Lapwings

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Charadriidae

This family includes plovers, dotterels, and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short necks, and long, pointed wings. They live in open areas worldwide, often near water.

• Northern lapwing, Vanellus vanellus (C)
• Masked lapwing, Vanellus miles (American Samoa) (A)
• Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola
• European golden-plover, Pluvialis apricaria (C)
• American golden-plover, Pluvialis dominica
• Pacific golden-plover, Pluvialis fulva
• Eurasian dotterel, Charadrius morinellus (C)
• Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus
• Common ringed plover, Charadrius hiaticula
• Semipalmated plover, Charadrius semipalmatus
• Piping plover, Charadrius melodus
• Little ringed plover, Charadrius dubius (A)
• Lesser sand-plover, Charadrius mongolus
• Greater sand-plover, Charadrius leschenaultii (A)
• Wilson's plover, Charadrius wilsonia
• Collared plover, Charadrius collaris (A)
• Kentish plover, Charadrius alexandrinus (Guam, Northern Mariana Islands)
• Snowy plover, Charadrius nivosus
• Mountain plover, Charadrius montanus

Jacanas

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Jacanidae

Jacanas are wading birds found in tropical areas worldwide. They have huge feet and claws that let them walk on floating plants in shallow lakes.

• Pheasant-tailed jacana, Hydrophasianus chirurgus (Northern Mariana Islands) (A)
• Northern jacana, Jacana spinosa (C)

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 snipes. Most of these birds eat small invertebrates from mud or soil. Different bill and leg lengths allow many species to feed in the same areas without competing for food.

Pratincoles and Coursers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Glareolidae

Pratincoles have short legs, very long pointed wings, and long forked tails. They are unusual for wading birds because they often catch insects while flying, like swallows. Their short bills are perfect for eating insects in the air. They fly fast and gracefully.

• Oriental pratincole, Glareola maldivarum (A)

Skuas and Jaegers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Stercorariidae

Skuas are medium to large birds, usually gray or brown, often with white on their wings. They have longish bills with hooked tips and webbed feet with sharp claws. They look like large, dark gulls but have a fleshy area above their upper bill. They are strong, agile fliers.

• Great skua, Stercorarius skua
• South polar skua, Stercorarius maccormicki
• Pomarine jaeger, Stercorarius pomarinus
• Parasitic jaeger, Stercorarius parasiticus
• Long-tailed jaeger, Stercorarius longicaudus

Auks, Murres, and Puffins

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Alcidae

Alcids look a bit like penguins with their black and white colors and upright stance. However, they are not closely related to penguins and can fly. Auks live in the open sea and only come to land to nest.

Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Laridae

This family includes gulls, terns, and skimmers. Gulls are usually gray or white with black markings. They have strong bills and webbed feet. Terns are medium to large seabirds, often gray or white with black heads. Most terns dive for fish. Skimmers are tropical birds that fly low over the water, using their long lower bill to catch small fish.

Tropicbirds

Order: Phaethontiformes   Family: Phaethontidae

Tropicbirds are slender white birds of tropical oceans. They have very long central tail feathers. Their long wings and heads have black markings.

• White-tailed tropicbird, Phaethon lepturus
• Red-billed tropicbird, Phaethon aethereus
• Red-tailed tropicbird, Phaethon rubricauda

Loons

Order: Gaviiformes   Family: Gaviidae

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

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

Albatrosses

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Diomedeidae

Albatrosses are among the largest flying birds. The great albatrosses have the biggest wingspans of any living bird.

• Yellow-nosed albatross, Thalassar chlororhynchus (C)
• White-capped albatross, Thalassarche cauta (C)
• Chatham albatross, Thalassarche eremita (A)
• Salvin's albatross, Thalassarche salvini (A)
• Black-browed albatross, Thalassarche melanophris (A)
• Light-mantled albatross, Phoebetria palpebrata (A)
• Wandering albatross, Diomedea exulans (A)
• Laysan albatross, Phoebastria immutabilis
• Black-footed albatross, Phoebastria nigripes
• Short-tailed albatross, Phoebastria albatrus

Southern Storm-Petrels

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Oceanitidae

Storm-petrels are the smallest seabirds. They are related to petrels and eat tiny crustaceans and small fish from the water's surface, often while hovering. Their flight is fluttery, sometimes like a bat.

• Wilson's storm-petrel, Oceanites oceanicus
• White-faced storm-petrel, Pelagodroma marina
• Black-bellied storm-petrel, Fregetta tropica (A)
• Polynesian storm-petrel, Nesofregetta fuliginosa (American Samoa)

Northern Storm-Petrels

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Hydrobatidae

These storm-petrels look and act like southern storm-petrels. However, genetic differences show they belong in a separate family.

• European storm-petrel, Hydrobates pelagicus (C)
• Fork-tailed storm-petrel, Hydrobates furcatus
• Ringed storm-petrel, Hydrobates hornbyi (A)
• Swinhoe's storm-petrel, Hydrobates monorhis (A)
• Leach's storm-petrel, Hydrobates leucorhous
• Townsend's storm-petrel, Hydrobates socorroensis
• Ashy storm-petrel, Hydrobates homochroa
• Band-rumped storm-petrel, Hydrobates castro
• Wedge-rumped storm-petrel, Hydrobates tethys (C)
• Black storm-petrel, Hydrobates melania
• Tristram's storm-petrel, Hydrobates tristrami
• Least storm-petrel, Hydrobates microsoma
• Matsudaira's storm-petrel, Oceanodroma matsudairae (Guam, Northern Mariana Islands)

Shearwaters and Petrels

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Procellariidae

This group includes medium-sized "true petrels." They have nostrils that are joined together and a long outer wing feather that works well for flying.

Storks

Order: Ciconiiformes   Family: Ciconiidae

Storks are large, heavy wading birds with long legs, long necks, and strong bills. They have wide wings. Unlike other wading birds, storks do not have special "powder down" feathers to clean fish slime. Storks cannot make sounds.

• Jabiru, Jabiru mycteria (C)
• Wood stork, Mycteria americana

Frigatebirds

Order: Suliformes   Family: Fregatidae

Frigatebirds are large seabirds found in tropical oceans. They are black or black and white, with long wings and deeply forked tails. Males have colorful throat pouches that can inflate. They do not swim or walk and cannot take off from flat ground. They have the largest wingspan for their body weight, allowing them to stay in the air for over a week.

• Lesser frigatebird, Fregata ariel (C)
• Magnificent frigatebird, Fregata magnificens
• Great frigatebird, Fregata minor

Boobies and Gannets

Order: Suliformes   Family: Sulidae

This family includes gannets and boobies. Both are medium-large coastal seabirds that dive into the water to catch fish.

• Masked booby, Sula dactylatra
• Nazca booby, Sula granti (C)
• Blue-footed booby, Sula nebouxii (C)
• Brown booby, Sula leucogaster
• Red-footed booby, Sula sula
• Abbott's booby, Papasula abbotti (Northern Mariana Islands) (A)
• Northern gannet, Morus bassanus

Anhingas

Order: Suliformes   Family: Anhingidae

Anhingas are water birds that look like cormorants. They have very long necks and long, straight beaks. They eat fish and often swim with only their neck above the water.

• Anhinga, Anhinga anhinga

Cormorants and Shags

Order: Suliformes   Family: Phalacrocoracidae

Cormorants are medium to large water birds. They usually have dark feathers and colored skin on their faces. Their bills are long, thin, and hooked. They have four webbed toes.

• Little pied cormorant, Microcarbo melanoleucos (Northern Mariana Islands) (A)
• Brandt's cormorant, Urile penicillatus
• Red-faced cormorant, Urile urile
• Pelagic cormorant, Urile pelagicus
• Great cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo
• Double-crested cormorant, Nannopterum auritum
• Neotropic cormorant, Nannopterum brasilianum

Pelicans

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Pelecanidae

Pelicans are very large water birds. They have a special pouch under their beak. Like other birds in their order, they have four webbed toes.

• American white pelican, Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
• Brown pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis

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. Birds in this family fly with their necks pulled back, unlike storks or ibises.

Ibises and Spoonbills

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Threskiornithidae

This family includes ibises and spoonbills. They have long, wide wings and long bodies and legs. Ibises have long, curved bills, while spoonbills have straight, flattened bills.

• White ibis, Eudocimus albus
• Scarlet ibis, Eudocimus ruber (A)
• Glossy ibis, Plegadis falcinellus
• White-faced ibis, Plegadis chihi
• Roseate spoonbill, Platalea ajaja
• African sacred ibis, Threskiornis aethiopicus (I)

New World Vultures

Order: Cathartiformes   Family: Cathartidae

New World vultures look like Old World vultures but are not closely related. They both eat dead animals. Unlike Old World vultures, New World vultures have a good sense of smell to find food.

• California condor, Gymnogyps californianus (Ex)
• Black vulture, Coragyps atratus
• Turkey vulture, Cathartes aura

Osprey

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Pandionidae

This family has only one species, the osprey. It is a fish-eating bird of prey. It has a very large, strong, hooked beak, powerful legs, sharp talons, and excellent eyesight.

• Osprey, Pandion haliaetus

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 to tear meat. They also have strong legs, powerful talons, and sharp eyesight.

Barn-Owls

Order: Strigiformes   Family: Tytonidae

Owls in this family are medium to large with big heads and heart-shaped faces.

• Barn owl, Tyto alba

Owls

Order: Strigiformes   Family: Strigidae

"True" owls are usually solitary birds of prey that hunt at night. They have large eyes that face forward, good hearing, a hooked beak, and a circle of feathers around each eye.

Trogons

Order: Trogoniformes   Family: Trogonidae

Trogons live in tropical forests around the world. They eat insects and fruit. Their wide bills and weak legs show their diet and how they live in trees. They fly fast but don't like to fly long distances. Trogons do not migrate. They have soft, often colorful feathers, and males and females look different. They nest in tree holes or termite nests.

• Elegant trogon, Trogon elegans
• Eared quetzal, Euptilotis neoxenus (C)

Hoopoes

Order: Upupiformes   Family: Upupidae

Hoopoes spend a lot of time on the ground looking for insects and worms. This black, white, and pink bird is easy to spot, especially when it flies like a giant butterfly. Its crest can stand up, but it's usually flat. It walks like a starling. Its song sounds like "oop-oop-oop," which is where its name comes from.

• Eurasian hoopoe, Upupa epops (A)

Todies

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Todidae

Todies are small forest birds found only in the Caribbean. They have colorful feathers and look like kingfishers, but with flattened, saw-edged bills. They eat small prey like insects and lizards.

• Puerto Rican tody, Todus mexicanus (Puerto Rico) (EP)

Kingfishers

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Alcedinidae

Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long, pointed bills, short legs, and stubby tails.

• Common kingfisher, Alcedo atthis (Guam) (A)
• Pacific kingfisher, Todiramphus sacer (American Samoa)
• Guam kingfisher, Todiramphus cinnamominus (Guam) (EG)
• Collared kingfisher, Todiramphus chloris (American Samoa)
• Mariana kingfisher, Todiramphus albicilla (Northern Mariana Islands) (ENM)
• Ringed kingfisher, Megaceryle torquata
• Belted kingfisher, Megaceryle alcyon
• Amazon kingfisher, Chloroceryle amazona (A)
• Green kingfisher, Chloroceryle americana

Rollers

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Coraciidae

Rollers are similar in size and shape to crows, but they are more closely related to kingfishers and bee-eaters. They are also colorful, mostly blue and brown. Their two inner front toes are joined, but the outer toe is not.

• Oriental dollarbird, Eurystomus orientalis (Guam, Northern Mariana Islands) (A)

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. Some have two toes pointing forward and two backward, while others have only three toes. Many woodpeckers tap loudly on tree trunks with their beaks.

Falcons and Caracaras

Order: Falconiformes   Family: Falconidae

This family includes falcons and caracaras. They are birds of prey that hunt during the day. Unlike hawks and eagles, they kill their prey with their beaks, not their talons.

• Collared forest-falcon, Micrastur semitorquatus (A)
• Crested caracara, Caracara plancus
• Eurasian kestrel, Falco tinnunculus (C)
• American kestrel, Falco sparverius
• Red-footed falcon, Falco vespertinus (A)
• Amur falcon, Falco amurensis (Northern Mariana Islands) (A)
• Merlin, Falco columbarius
• Eurasian hobby, Falco subbuteo (C)
• Aplomado falcon, Falco femoralis
• Gyrfalcon, Falco rusticolus
• Peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus
• Prairie falcon, Falco mexicanus

Cockatoos

Order: Psittaciformes   Family: Cacatuidae

Cockatoos are similar to true parrots. They have a curved beak and two toes pointing forward and two backward. They are different because they have a movable crest on their heads and are usually larger than true parrots.

• Tanimbar corella, Cacatua goffiniana (Puerto Rico) (I)
• Sulphur-crested cockatoo, Cacatua galerita (Puerto Rico) (I)
• White cockatoo, Cacatua alba (Puerto Rico) (I)

New World and African Parrots

Order: Psittaciformes   Family: Psittacidae

Parrots have a strong, curved bill, an upright posture, and strong legs with clawed feet. Many are brightly colored. They range in size from very small to very large. Most of the species in this family are found in the Americas.

• Monk parakeet, Myiopsitta monachus (I)
• Carolina parakeet, Conuropsis carolinensis (E)
• Orange-fronted parakeet, Eupsittula canicularis (Puerto Rico) (I)
• Brown-throated parakeet, Eupsittula pertinax (Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands) (I)(Ex?)
• Nanday parakeet, Aratinga nenday (I)
• Green parakeet, Psittacara holochlorus
• Puerto Rican parakeet, Psittacara maugei (Puerto Rico) (EP)
• Hispaniolan parakeet, Psittacara choloropterus (Puerto Rico) (I)
• Mitred parakeet, Psittacara mitratus (I)
• Red-masked parakeet, Psittacara erythrogenys (Puerto Rico) (I)
• Thick-billed parrot, Rhynchopsitta pachyrhyncha (Ex)
• White-winged parakeet, Brotogeris versicolurus (I)
• Yellow-chevroned parakeet, Brotogeris chiriri (I)
• White-fronted parrot, Amazon albifrons (Puerto Rico) (I)
• Hispaniolan parrot, Amazona ventralis (Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands) (I)
• Puerto Rican parrot, Amazona vittata (Puerto Rico) (EP)
• Orange-winged parrot, Amazona amazonica (Puerto Rico) (I)
• Red-crowned parrot, Amazona viridigenalis (I)
• Yellow-headed parrot, Amazona oratrix (Puerto Rico) (I)

Old World Parrots

Order: Psittaciformes   Family: Psittaculidae

Parrots have a strong, curved bill, an upright posture, and strong legs with clawed feet. Many are brightly colored. Old World parrots are found in Africa, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.

• Rose-ringed parakeet, Psittacula krameri (I)
• Blue-crowned lorikeet, Vini australis (American Samoa)
• Rosy-faced lovebird, Agapornis roseicollis (I)

Tityras and Allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Tityridae

This family of birds lives in forests and woodlands in the Americas. They are small to medium-sized birds.

• Masked tityra, Tityra semifasciata (A)
• Gray-collared becard, Pachyramphus major (A)
• Rose-throated becard, Pachyramphus aglaiae

Honeyeaters

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Meliphagidae

Honeyeaters are a large and diverse family of small to medium-sized birds. They are most common in Australia and New Guinea. They feed on nectar and look similar to other nectar-eating birds.

• Micronesian myzomela, Myzomela rubratra (Northern Mariana Islands; extirpated from Guam)
• Cardinal myzomela, Myzomela cardinalis (American Samoa, extirpated from Guam)
• Mao, Gymnomyza samoensis (American Samoa) (Ex)
• Eastern wattled-honeyeater, Foulehaio carunculatus (American Samoa)

Cuckooshrikes

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Campephagidae

Cuckooshrikes are small to medium-sized birds. They are mostly grayish with white and black, but some species are brightly colored.

• Ashy minivet, Pericrocotus divaricatus (Northern Mariana Islands) (A)

Drongos

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Dicruridae

Drongos are mostly black or dark gray, sometimes with shiny colors. They have long, forked tails. They have short legs and sit very upright when perched. They catch insects in the air or from the ground.

• Black drongo, Dicrurus macrocercus (Guam, Northern Mariana Islands) (I)

Fantails

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Rhipiduridae

Fantails are small birds that eat insects. They are experts at catching insects while flying.

• Rufous fantail, Rhipidura rufifrons (Guam, Northern Mariana Islands) (Ex)

Tyrant Flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Tyrannidae

Tyrant flycatchers are birds found throughout North and South America. They look a bit like Old World flycatchers but are stronger and have thicker bills. They do not have complex songs like other songbirds. Most are plain in color. As their name suggests, most eat insects.

Vireos, Shrike-Babblers, and Erpornis

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Vireonidae

Vireos are small to medium-sized birds mostly found in the Americas. They are usually greenish and look like wood-warblers, but have stronger bills.

Monarch Flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Monarchidae

Monarch flycatchers are a group of birds mostly from the Southern Hemisphere. They are small to medium-sized birds that eat insects, often catching them in flight. Five species are found in the United States. Sadly, one species, the Guam flycatcher, is extinct because of the introduced brown tree snake on Guam.

• Kauai elepaio, Chasiempis sclateri (EH)
• Oahu elepaio, Chasiempis ibidis (EH)
• Hawaii elepaio, Chasiempis sandwichensis (EH)
• Fiji shrikebill, Clytorhynchus vitiensi (American Samoa)
• Tinian monarch, Monarcha takatsukasae (Northern Mariana Islands) (ENM)
• Guam flycatcher, Myiagra freycineti (Guam) (EG) (E)

Shrikes

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Laniidae

Shrikes are birds known for catching other birds and small animals. They often impale the parts they don't eat on thorns. A shrike's beak is hooked, like a bird of prey.

• Brown shrike, Lanius cristatus (C)
• Red-backed shrike, Lanius collurio (A)
• Loggerhead shrike, Lanius ludovicianus
• Northern shrike, Lanius borealis

Crows, Jays, and Magpies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Corvidae

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

Penduline-Tits

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Remizidae

The verdin is the only member of this family in the Americas. It is one of the smallest songbirds in North America. It is gray with a bright yellow head and a reddish "shoulder patch" on adults. Verdins eat insects and are usually found alone, except when they pair up to build their nests.

• Verdin, Auriparus flaviceps

Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Paridae

This family includes small, stocky woodland birds with short, strong bills. Some have crests. They are adaptable and eat a mix of seeds and insects.

• Carolina chickadee, Poecile carolinensis (EM)
• Black-capped chickadee, Poecile atricapillus
• Mountain chickadee, Poecile gambeli
• Mexican chickadee, Poecile sclateri
• Chestnut-backed chickadee, Poecile rufescens
• Boreal chickadee, Poecile hudsonicus
• Gray-headed chickadee, Poecile cinctus
• Bridled titmouse, Baeolophus wollweberi
• Oak titmouse, Baeolophus inornatus
• Juniper titmouse, Baeolophus ridgwayi
• Tufted titmouse, Baeolophus bicolor
• Black-crested titmouse, Baeolophus atricristatus

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.

• Eurasian skylark, Alauda arvensis
• Horned lark, Eremophila alpestris

Reed Warblers and Allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Acrocephalidae

These "warblers" are usually quite large. Most are plain olive-brown above and yellow to beige below. They live in open woodlands, reedbeds, or tall grass.

• Icterine warbler, Hippolais icterina (A)
• Thick-billed warbler, Arundinax aedon (A)
• Millerbird, Acrocephalus familiaris (EH)
• Sedge warbler, Acrocephalus schoenobaenus (A)
• Icterine warbler, Acrocephalus icterina (A)
• Blyth's reed warbler, Acrocephalus dumetorum (A)
• Nightingale reed warbler, Acrocephalus luscinius (Guam) (EG) (E)
• Saipan reed warbler, Acrocephalus hiwae (Northern Mariana Islands) (ENM)
• Aguiguan reed warbler, Acrocephalus nijoi (Northern Mariana Islands) (ENM) (E)
• Pagan reed warbler, Acrocephalus yamashinae (Northern Mariana Islands) (ENM) (E)

Grassbirds and Allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Locustellidae

This family includes small insect-eating songbirds found in Eurasia, Africa, and Australia. They are small birds with tails that are usually long and pointed. They tend to be dull brownish or buffy all over.

• Pallas's grasshopper warbler, Helopsaltes certhiola (A)
• Middendorff's grasshopper warbler, Helopsaltes ochotensis (C)
• Lanceolated warbler, Locustella lanceolata (A)
• River warbler, Locustella fluviatilis (A)

Swallows

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Hirundinidae

Swallows are birds that are built for catching food in the air. They have slender bodies, long pointed wings, and short bills with wide mouths. Their feet are made for perching, not walking.

Long-tailed Tits

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Aegithalidae

Long-tailed tits are small birds with medium to long tails. They build woven, bag-like nests in trees. Most eat a mix of insects.

• Bushtit, Psaltriparus minimus

Bush Warblers and Allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Scotocercidae

The birds in this family are found in Africa, Asia, and Polynesia.

• Japanese bush-warbler, Horornis diphone (I)

Leaf Warblers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Phylloscopidae

Leaf warblers are small insect-eating birds found mostly in Eurasia. The Arctic warbler also breeds in Alaska. They come in various sizes, often green above and yellow below, or more subdued grayish-green to grayish-brown.

• Willow warbler, Phylloscopus trochilus (A)
• Common chiffchaff, Phylloscopus collybita (A)
• Wood warbler, Phylloscopus sibilatrix (A)
• Dusky warbler, Phylloscopus fuscatus (C)
• Pallas's leaf warbler, Phylloscopus proregulus (A)
• Yellow-browed warbler, Phylloscopus inornatus (C)
• Arctic warbler, Phylloscopus borealis
• Kamchatka leaf warbler, Phylloscopus examinandus (A)

Bulbuls

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Pycnonotidae

Bulbuls are a family of medium-sized songbirds from Africa and tropical Asia. They are noisy and social birds with often beautiful songs.

• Red-vented bulbul, Pycnonotus cafer (I)
• Red-whiskered bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus (I)

Sylviid Warblers, Parrotbills, and Allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sylviidae

This family is a group of small insect-eating songbirds. They mostly breed in Europe, Asia, and Africa. Most look plain, but many have unique songs.

• Lesser whitethroat, Sylvia curruca (A)
• Wrentit, Chamaea fasciata

White-Eyes, Yuhinas, and Allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Zosteropidae

White-eyes are small birds from tropical and subtropical Africa, southern Asia, and Australasia. They are usually dull greenish-olive above, but some have white or bright yellow throats or breasts. Many species have a clear ring around their eyes. They have rounded wings and strong legs. White-eyes are social birds, forming large flocks. They mainly eat insects, but also nectar and fruits.

• Golden white-eye, Cleptornis marchei (Northern Mariana Islands) (ENM)
• Warbling white-eye, Zosterops japonicus (I)
• Bridled white-eye, Zosterops conspicullatus(Northern Mariana Islands; Extirpated from Guam) (ENM)
• Rota white-eye, Zosterops rotensis (Northern Mariana Islands) (ENM)

Laughingthrushes

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Leiothrichidae

Laughingthrushes are a large family of Old World songbirds. They vary in size and color but have soft, fluffy feathers. These birds have strong legs and many spend time on the ground. They do not migrate much and have short, rounded wings, so they are not strong fliers.

• Greater necklaced laughingthrush, Garrulax pectoralis (I)
• Hwamei, Garrulax canorus (I)
• Red-billed leiothrix, Leiothrix lutea (I)

Kinglets

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Regulidae

Kinglets are a small family of birds that look like some warblers. They are very small birds that eat insects. Adult kinglets have colored crowns, which gives them their name.

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

Waxwings

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Bombycillidae

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

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

Silky-Flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Ptiliogonatidae

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

• Gray silky-flycatcher, Ptiliogonys cinereus (A)
• Phainopepla, Phainopepla nitens

Hawaiian Honeyeaters

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Mohoidae

Hawaiian honeyeaters moved quickly from branch to branch, reaching up, sideways, or hanging upside down to feed. They had a special brush-tipped tongue that soaked up liquids. The tongue was quickly flicked into flowers, and the upper bill would squeeze out any liquid when closed. All the Hawaiian honeyeater species listed below were unique to Hawaii but are now extinct. The Kauai oo was the last to survive, seen last in 1987.

• Kauai oo, Moho braccatus (EH) (E)
• Oahu oo, Moho apicalus (EH) (E)
• Bishop's oo, Moho bishopi (EH) (E)
• Hawaii oo, Moho nobilis (EH) (E)
• Kioea, Chaetoptila angustipluma (EH) (E)

Nuthatches

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sittidae

Nuthatches are small woodland birds. They have a unique ability to climb down trees headfirst, unlike most other birds that only climb up. 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
• Brown-headed nuthatch, Sitta pusilla (EM)

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, like woodpeckers, which help them support themselves on vertical trees.

• Brown creeper, Certhia americana

Gnatcatchers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Polioptilidae

These delicate birds look like Old World warblers in how they are built and how they act. They move restlessly through leaves, looking for insects. Gnatcatchers are mostly soft bluish-gray and have the long, sharp bill typical of insect-eaters. Many species have distinct black head patterns (especially males) and long, often upright, black-and-white tails.

• Blue-gray gnatcatcher, Polioptila caerulea
• Black-tailed gnatcatcher, Polioptila melanura
• California gnatcatcher, Polioptila californica
• Black-capped gnatcatcher, Polioptila nigriceps

Wrens

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Troglodytidae

Wrens are small and not easily seen, except for their loud songs. They have short wings and thin, down-curved bills. Several species often hold their tails straight up. All wrens eat insects.

• Rock wren, Salpinctes obsoletus
• Canyon wren, Catherpes mexicanus
• House wren, Troglodytes aedon
• Pacific wren, Troglodytes pacificus
• Winter wren, Troglodytes hiemalis
• Sedge wren, Cistothorus platensis
• Marsh wren, Cistothorus palustris
• Carolina wren, Thryothorus ludovicianus
• Bewick's wren, Thryomanes bewickii
• Cactus wren, Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus
• Sinaloa wren, Thryothorus sinaloa (A)

Mockingbirds and Thrashers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Mimidae

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

• Blue mockingbird, Melanotis caerulescens (A)
• Gray catbird, Dumetella carolinensis
• Pearly-eyed thrasher, Margarops fuscatus (Puerto Rico)
• Curve-billed thrasher, Toxostoma curvirostre
• Brown thrasher, Toxostoma rufum
• Long-billed thrasher, Toxostoma longirostre
• Bendire's thrasher, Toxostoma bendirei
• California thrasher, Toxostoma redivivum
• LeConte's thrasher, Toxostoma lecontei
• Crissal thrasher, Toxostoma crissale
• Sage thrasher, Oreoscoptes montanus
• Bahama mockingbird, Mimus gundlachii (C)
• Northern mockingbird, Mimus polyglottos

Starlings

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sturnidae

Starlings and mynas are small to medium-sized birds with strong feet. They fly strongly and directly, and most are very social. They prefer open areas and eat insects and fruit. Many species have dark feathers with a metallic shine.

• Micronesian starling, Aplonis opaca (Guam, Northern Mariana Islands) (ENM / EG)
• Polynesian starling, Aplonis tabuensis (American Samoa)
• Samoan starling, Alponis atrifusca (American Samoa)
• European starling, Sturnus vulgaris (I)
• White-cheeked starling, Spodiopsar cineraceus (Northern Mariana Islands) (A)
• Common myna, Acridotheres tristis (I)
• Jungle myna, Acridotheres fuscus (American Samoa) (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 movements. These birds can dive underwater and walk on the bottom to find insect larvae.

• American dipper, Cinclus mexicanus

Thrushes and Allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Turdidae

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

Old World Flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Muscicapidae

Old World flycatchers are a large family of small birds. They are mainly small birds that live in trees and eat insects, often catching them in flight.

Olive Warbler

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Peucedramidae

The olive warbler has a gray body with some olive-green on its wings and two white wing bars. The male's head and chest are orange, and it has a black patch through its eye. This is the only species in its family.

• Olive warbler, Peucedramus taeniatus

Weavers and Allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Ploceidae

Weavers are small birds related to finches. They eat seeds and have rounded, cone-shaped bills. Most breed in Africa, but some are in tropical Asia. Weavers are named for the large, woven nests many species build. They are social birds and often nest in groups.

• Northern red bishop, Euplectes franciscanus (Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands) (I)
• Yellow-crowned bishop, Euplectes afer (Puerto Rico) (I)

Indigobirds

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Viduidae

This family includes indigobirds and whydahs, found in Africa. All species are "brood parasites," meaning they lay their eggs in the nests of other finches. These birds usually have black or indigo feathers.

• Pin-tailed whydah, Vidua macroura (Puerto Rico) (I)

Waxbills and Allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Estrildidae

The birds in this family are small and live in tropical parts of the Old World. They are social birds that eat seeds and have short, thick, pointed bills. They all have similar body shapes and habits, but their feather colors and patterns vary widely.

• Bronze mannikin, Spermestes cucullata (Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands) (I)
• African silverbill, Euodice cantans (I)
• Indian silverbill, Euodice malabarica (I)
• Java sparrow, Padda oryzivora (I)
• Scaly-breasted munia, Lonchura punctulata (I)
• Tricolored munia, Lonchura malacca (I)
• Chestnut munia, Lonchura atricapilla (Guam, Puerto Rico) (I)
• Red avadavat, Amandava amandava (I)
• Lavender waxbill, Glaucestrilda caerulescens (I)
• Common waxbill, Estrilda astrild (I)

Accentors

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Prunellidae

Accentors are small, rather plain birds that look a bit like sparrows, but are not related. They have thin, sharp bills, which they use to eat insects in summer and seeds and berries in winter.

• Siberian accentor, Prunella montanella (C)

Old World Sparrows

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Passeridae

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

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

Wagtails and Pipits

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Motacillidae

This family includes wagtails, longclaws, and pipits. They are small birds with medium to long tails. They are slender, insect-eating birds that live in open areas and feed on the ground.

• Western yellow wagtail, Motacilla flava (Northern Mariana Islands) (A)
• Eastern yellow wagtail, Motacilla tschutschensis
• Citrine wagtail, Motacilla citreola (A)
• Gray wagtail, Motacilla cinerea (C)
• White wagtail, Motacilla alba
• Tree pipit, Anthus trivialis (A)
• Olive-backed pipit, Anthus hodgsoni
• Pechora pipit, Anthus gustavi (C)
• Red-throated pipit, Anthus cervinus
• American pipit, Anthus rubescens
• Sprague's pipit, Anthus spragueii

Finches, Euphonias, and Allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Fringillidae

Finches are seed-eating birds that are small to medium-large. They have strong, often cone-shaped beaks. All have twelve tail feathers and nine primary wing feathers. These birds fly with a bouncing motion and most sing well.

Longspurs and Snow Buntings

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Calcariidae

This family includes birds that were once grouped with New World sparrows. They are different in some ways and usually live in open grassy areas.

• Lapland longspur, Calcarius lapponicus
• Chestnut-collared longspur, Calcarius ornatus
• Smith's longspur, Calcarius pictus
• Thick-billed longspur, Rhynchophanes mccownii
• Snow bunting, Plectrophenax nivalis
• McKay's bunting, Plectrophenax hyperboreus (EM)

Old World Buntings

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Emberizidae

This family of birds contains only one group. Until 2017, New World sparrows were also part of this family.

• Pine bunting, Emberiza leucocephalos (A)
• Yellow-browed bunting, Emberiza chrysophrys (A)
• Little bunting, Emberiza pusilla (C)
• Rustic bunting, Emberiza rustica (A)
• Yellow-throated bunting, Emberiza elegans (A)
• Yellow-breasted bunting, Emberiza aureola (A)
• Gray bunting, Emberiza variabilis (A)
• Pallas's bunting, Emberiza pallasi (A)
• Reed bunting, Emberiza schoeniclus (C)

New World Sparrows

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Passerellidae

These birds were considered part of the Emberizidae family until 2017. Most are called sparrows, but they are not closely related to the Old World sparrows. Many have unique patterns on their heads.

Puerto Rican Tanager

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Nesospingidae

This bird was once classified as a tanager but was placed in its own family in 2017.

• Puerto Rican tanager, Nesospingus speculiferus (Puerto Rico) (EP)

Spindalises

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Spindalidae

The birds in this small family are native to the Greater Antilles. One species is seen fairly often in Florida.

• Western spindalis, Spindalis zena
• Puerto Rican spindalis, Spindalis portoricensis (Puerto Rico) (EP)

Yellow-Breasted Chat

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Icteriidae

This species was historically placed with the wood-warblers, but experts were unsure if it truly belonged there. It was placed in its own family in 2017.

• Yellow-breasted chat, Icteria virens

Troupials and Allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Icteridae

This group includes grackles, New World blackbirds, and New World orioles. They are small to medium-sized birds, often colorful, and found only in the Americas. Most species have black as a main feather color, often brightened by yellow, orange, or red.

New World Warblers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Parulidae

Wood-warblers are a group of small, often colorful birds found only in the Americas. Most live in trees, but some spend more time on the ground. Most birds in 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.

• Hepatic tanager, Piranga flava
• Summer tanager, Piranga rubra
• Scarlet tanager, Piranga olivacea
• Western tanager, Piranga ludoviciana
• Flame-colored tanager, Piranga bidentata
• Crimson-collared grosbeak, Rhodothraupis celaeno (C)
• Northern cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis
• Pyrrhuloxia, Cardinalis sinuatus
• Yellow grosbeak, Pheucticus chrysopeplus (C)
• Rose-breasted grosbeak, Pheucticus ludovicianus
• Black-headed grosbeak, Pheucticus melanocephalus
• Blue bunting, Cyanocompsa parellina (C)
• Blue grosbeak, Passerina caerulea
• Lazuli bunting, Passerina amoena
• Indigo bunting, Passerina cyanea
• Varied bunting, Passerina versicolor
• Painted bunting, Passerina ciris
• Dickcissel, Spiza americana

Tanagers and Allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Thraupidae

Tanagers are a large group of small to medium-sized birds found only in the Americas, mostly in tropical areas. Many species are brightly colored. As a family, they eat a variety of foods, but individual species might specialize in fruits, seeds, insects, or other things.

• Red-crested cardinal, Paroaria coronata (I)
• Yellow-billed cardinal, Paroaria capitata (I)
• Saffron finch, Sicalis flaveola (I)
• Red-legged honeycreeper, Cyanerpes cyaneus (A)
• Bananaquit, Coereba flaveola (C)
• Yellow-faced grassquit, Tiaris olivaceus (C)
• Puerto Rican bullfinch, Melopyrrha portoricensis (Puerto Rico) (EP)
• Lesser Antillean bullfinch, Loxigilla noctis (U.S. Virgin Islands)
• Black-faced grassquit, Melanospiza bicolor (C)
• Morelet's seedeater, Sporophila morelleti

Images for kids

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  Tree swallow

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  Northern mockingbird