List of birds of the United States facts for kids

A comprehensive listing of all the bird species confirmed in the United States follows. It includes species from all 50 states and the District of Columbia as of July 2022. Species confirmed in other U.S. territories are also included with other "as of" dates.

The birds of the continental United States most closely resemble those of Eurasia, which was connected to the continent as part of the supercontinent Laurasia until around 60 million years ago. Many groups occur throughout the Northern Hemisphere and worldwide. However some groups unique to the New World have also arisen; those represented in the list are the hummingbirds, the New World vultures, the New World quail, the tyrant flycatchers, the vireos, the mimids, the New World warblers, the tanagers, the cardinals, and the icterids.

Several common birds in the United States, such as the house sparrow, the rock pigeon, the European starling, and the mute swan are introduced species, meaning that they are not native to North America, but were brought there by humans. Introduced species are marked as (I). In addition, many non-native species which have individual escapees or small feral populations in North America are not on the list. It is especially true of birds that are commonly held as pets, such as parrots and finches.

The status of one bird on the list, the ivory-billed woodpecker, is controversial. Until 2005, the bird was widely considered to be extinct. In April of that year, it was reported that at least one adult male bird had been sighted in the Cache River National Wildlife Refuge in Arkansas. The report, however, has not been universally accepted, and the American Birding Association still lists the ivory-billed woodpecker as extinct.

Hawaii has many endemic bird species (such as the Kauaʻi ʻelepaio) that are vulnerable or endangered, and some have become extinct. The number of birds on Guam has been severely reduced by introduced brown tree snakes — several endemic species on Guam (such as the Guam flycatcher) have become extinct, while others (such as the Guam rail) have become extinct in the wild. Guam rails have since been reintroduced to the wild on Guam and Rota. There are many endemic bird species in Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands, while American Samoa has South Pacific bird species (such as the many-colored fruit dove) found in no other part of the United States.

Sources and geographic coverage

The majority of this list is derived from the Check-list of North and Middle American Birds, 7th edition through the 63rd Supplement, published by the American Ornithological Society (AOS) and the Bird Checklists of the World (Avibase). The geographic territory of that source which applies to the article is the 48 contiguous states, the District of Columbia, Alaska, Hawaii, the adjacent islands under the jurisdiction of those states, Puerto Rico, and the American Virgin Islands.

The article also includes birds found in the other U.S. territories (American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Minor Outlying Islands). In total, the list of birds in the article includes bird species found in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and all U.S. territories.

The source for birds in the U.S. territories is the Avibase website: Bird checklists of the world (American Samoa), Bird checklists of the world (Guam), Bird checklists of the world (Northern Mariana Islands), Bird checklists of the world (Puerto Rico), Bird checklists of the world (United States Virgin Islands), and Bird Checklists of the world (U.S. Minor Outlying Islands).

When a bird's presence in the U.S. only occurs within a U.S. territory such as Puerto Rico, the name of the territory is noted alongside the bird's name.

Taxonomy and status

For species found in the 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, the taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families and species) and nomenclature (common and scientific names) used in the list are those of the AOS, the recognized scientific authority on the taxonomy and nomenclature of North and Middle American birds. However, the common names of families are from the Clements taxonomy because the AOS list does not include them. The AOS's Committee on Classification and Nomenclature, the body responsible for maintaining and updating the Check-list, "strongly and unanimously continues to endorse the biological species concept (BSC), in which species are considered to be genetically cohesive groups of populations that are reproductively isolated from other such groups". The sequence and names of families and species found in American Samoa, Guam, and the U.S. Minor Outlying Islands follow the Clements taxonomy because the AOS does not address those areas.

Unless otherwise noted, the species listed here are considered to occur regularly in the United States as permanent residents, summer or winter residents or visitors, or annual migrants. The following tags are used to designate some species:

• (A) Accidental - occurrence based on one or two (rarely more) records and unlikely to occur regularly
• (C) Casual - occurrence based on two or a few records, with subsequent records not improbable
• (E) Extinct - a species which no longer exists
• (Ex) Extirpated - a species which no longer occurs in the United States, but other populations still exist elsewhere
• (I) Introduced - a species established solely as result of direct or indirect human intervention; synonymous with non-native and non-indigenous
• (EH) Endemic to Hawaii - a native species found only in Hawaii
• (EG) Endemic to Guam - a native species found only in Guam
• (ENM) Endemic to the Northern Mariana Islands - a native species found only in the Northern Mariana Islands
• (EP) Endemic to Puerto Rico - a native species found only in Puerto Rico
• (EU) Endemic to the U.S. Minor Outlying Islands - a native species found only in the U.S. Minor Outlying Islands
• (EM) Endemic to the mainland - a native species found only in the 48 contiguous states, Alaska, and their adjacent islands

The (A) and (C) tags correspond to the codes 5 and 4 respectively of the American Birding Association. The (E), (Ex), and (I) tags describe species' status according to the AOS. The (EH) tags follow the AOS list and the (EM) tags are based on the Clements taxonomy.

Population status symbols are those of the Red List published by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The symbols apply to the species' worldwide status, not their status solely in the United States except for endemic species. The symbols and their meanings, in increasing order of peril, are:

= least concern = near threatened = vulnerable = endangered = critically endangered = extinct in the wild = extinct

By the numbers

This list contains 1125 species found in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Of these 1125, 155 are tagged as accidental, 101 as casual, and 55 as introduced. Thirty-three are known to be extinct and one, the thick-billed parrot, has been extirpated though a population remains in Mexico. Thirty-three living species are endemic to Hawaii; an additional 28 former Hawaiian endemics are known to be extinct and a few others are thought to be. Sixteen species are endemic to the 48 contiguous states and one to Alaska.

There are an additional 146 species whose presence in the United States is only within one or more U.S. territories; some of those species have become extinct. The total number of bird species on the list is 1267 (i.e. the 1120 bird species found in the 50 states and District of Columbia, plus the 146 species found only in the U.S. territories). Some of the species found in the 50 states and District of Columbia are also found in the U.S. territories.

Ducks, geese, and waterfowl

Order: Anseriformes   Family: Anatidae

Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, bills which are flattened to a greater or lesser extent, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to special oils.

Megapodes

Order: Galliformes   Family: Megapodiidae

The Megapodiidae are stocky, medium-large chicken-like birds with small heads and large feet. All but the malleefowl occupy jungle habitats and most have brown or black coloring.

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

Guans, chachalacas, and curassows

Order: Galliformes   Family: Cracidae

The chachalacas, guans, and curassows are birds in the family Cracidae. These are large birds, similar in general appearance to turkeys. The guans and curassows live in trees, but the smaller chachalacas are found in more open scrubby habitats. They are generally dull-plumaged, but the curassows and some guans have colorful facial ornaments.

• Plain chachalaca, Ortalis vetula

New World quail

Order: Galliformes   Family: Odontophoridae

The New World quails are small, plump terrestrial birds only distantly related to the quails of the Old World, but named for their similar appearance and habits.

• 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

Phasianidae consists of the pheasants and their allies. These are terrestrial species, variable in size but generally plump with broad relatively short wings. Many species are gamebirds or have been domesticated as a food source for humans.

Flamingos

Order: Phoenicopteriformes   Family: Phoenicopteridae

Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually 3 to 5 feet (0.9 to 1.5 m) tall, found in both the Western and Eastern Hemispheres. Flamingos filter-feed on shellfish and algae. Their oddly shaped beaks are specially adapted to separate mud and silt from the food they consume and, uniquely, are used upside-down.

• American flamingo, Phoenicopterus ruber

Grebes

Order: Podicipediformes   Family: Podicipedidae

Grebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly 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 pigeon-like heads and necks, but sturdy compact bodies. They have long pointed wings and sometimes tails and a fast direct flight. Their legs are feathered down to the toes.

• Chestnut-bellied sandgrouse, Pterocles exustus (I)

Pigeons and doves

Order: Columbiformes   Family: Columbidae

Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere. They feed on seeds, fruit, and plants. Unlike most other birds, the doves and pigeons produce "crop milk," which is secreted by a sloughing of fluid-filled cells from the lining of the crop. Both sexes produce the highly nutritious substance to feed to the young.

Cuckoos

Order: Cuculiformes   Family: Cuculidae

The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners, and anis. These birds are of variable size with 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 nocturnal birds that usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs, and very short bills. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is cryptically colored to resemble 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 a group of large near passerine birds related to the nightjars and frogmouths. These are nocturnal insectivores which lack the bristles around the mouth found in the true nightjars.

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

Swifts

Order: Apodiformes   Family: Apodidae

The swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang.

• 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 small birds capable of hovering in mid-air due to the rapid flapping of their wings. They are the only birds that can fly backwards.

Rails, gallinules, and coots

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Rallidae

Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots, and gallinules. The most typical family members occupy dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps, or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and to be weak fliers.

Finfoots

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Heliornithidae

Finfoots resemble rails; they have long necks, slender bodies, broad tails, and sharp, pointed bills. Their legs and feet are brightly colored. The family has three species and only the sungrebe is found in the New World.

• Sungrebe, Heliornis fulica (A)

Limpkin

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Aramidae

The limpkin is an odd bird that looks like a large rail, but is skeletally closer to the cranes. It is found in marshes with some trees or scrub in the Caribbean, South America, and southern Florida.

• Limpkin, Aramus guarauna

Cranes

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Gruidae

Cranes are large, long-legged, and long-necked birds. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back. Most have elaborate and noisy courting displays or "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

The thick-knees are a group of waders found worldwide within the tropical zone, with some species also breeding in temperate Europe and Australia. They are medium to large waders with strong black or yellow-black bills, large yellow eyes, and cryptic plumage. Despite being classed as waders, most species have a preference for arid or semi-arid habitats.

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

Stilts and avocets

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Recurvirostridae

Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds which includes the avocets and stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The 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

The oystercatchers are large, obvious, and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prying open molluscs.

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

Plovers and lapwings

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Charadriidae

The family Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels, and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short thick necks, and long, usually pointed, wings. They are found in open country worldwide, mostly in habitats 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

The jacanas are a family of waders found worldwide within the tropical zone. They are identifiable by their huge feet and claws which enable them to walk on floating vegetation in the shallow lakes that are their preferred habitat.

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

Sandpipers and allies

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Scolopacidae

Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers, and phalaropes. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Different lengths of legs and bills enable multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food.

Pratincoles and coursers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Glareolidae

The pratincoles have short legs, very long pointed wings, and long forked tails. Their most unusual feature for birds classed as waders is that they typically hunt their insect prey on the wing like swallows, although they can also feed on the ground. Their short bills are an adaptation to aerial feeding. Their flight is fast and graceful like that of a swallow or a tern, with many twists and turns to pursue their prey.

• Oriental pratincole, Glareola maldivarum (A)

Skuas and jaegers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Stercorariidae

Skuas are in general medium to large birds, typically with gray or brown plumage, often with white markings on the wings. They have longish bills with hooked tips and webbed feet with sharp claws. They look like large dark gulls, but have a fleshy cere above the upper mandible. They are strong, acrobatic 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 are superficially similar to penguins due to their black-and-white colors, their upright posture, and some of their habits. However, they are only distantly related to the penguins and are able to fly. Auks live on the open sea, only deliberately coming ashore to nest.

Gulls, terns, and skimmers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Laridae

Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds and includes gulls, terns, and skimmers. Gulls are typically gray or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet. Terns are a group of generally medium to large seabirds typically with grey or white plumage, often with black markings on the head. Most terns hunt fish by diving but some pick insects off the surface of fresh water. Terns are generally long-lived birds, with several species known to live in excess of 30 years. Skimmers are a small family of tropical tern-like birds. They have an elongated lower mandible which they use to feed by flying low over the water surface and skimming the water for small fish.

Tropicbirds

Order: Phaethontiformes   Family: Phaethontidae

Tropicbirds are slender white birds of tropical oceans, with exceptionally long central tail feathers. Their long wings have black markings, as does the head.

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

Loons

Order: Gaviiformes   Family: Gaviidae

Loons are aquatic birds, the size of a large duck, to which they are unrelated. Their plumage is largely gray or black, and they have spear-shaped bills. Loons swim well and fly adequately, but are almost hopeless on land, because their legs are placed towards the rear of the body.

• 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

The albatrosses are among the largest of flying birds, and the great albatrosses of the genus Diomedea have the largest wingspans of any extant birds.

• 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

The storm-petrels are the smallest seabirds, relatives of the petrels, feeding on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. The flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like. Until 2018, these species were included with the other storm-petrels in family Hydrobatidae.

• 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

Though the members of the family are similar in many respects to the southern storm-petrels, including their general appearance and habits, there are enough genetic differences to warrant their placement 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

The procellariids are the main group of medium-sized "true petrels", characterized by united nostrils with medium septum and a long outer functional primary.

Storks

Order: Ciconiiformes   Family: Ciconiidae

Storks are large, heavy, long-legged, long-necked wading birds with long stout bills and wide wingspans. They lack the powder down that other wading birds such as herons, spoonbills, and ibises use to clean off fish slime. Storks lack a pharynx and are mute.

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

Frigatebirds

Order: Suliformes   Family: Fregatidae

Frigatebirds are large seabirds usually found over tropical oceans. They are large, black, or black-and-white, with long wings and deeply forked tails. The males have colored inflatable throat pouches. They do not swim or walk and cannot take off from a flat surface. Having the largest wingspan-to-body-weight ratio of any bird, they are essentially aerial, able to stay aloft for more than a week.

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

Boobies and gannets

Order: Suliformes   Family: Sulidae

The sulids comprise the gannets and boobies. Both groups are medium-large coastal seabirds that plunge-dive for 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 cormorant-like water birds with very long necks and long straight beaks. They are fish eaters which often swim with only their neck above the water.

• Anhinga, Anhinga anhinga

Cormorants and shags

Order: Suliformes   Family: Phalacrocoracidae

Cormorants are medium-to-large aquatic birds, usually with mainly dark plumage and areas of colored skin on the face. The bill is long, thin, and sharply hooked. Their feet are four-toed and webbed.

• 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 with a distinctive pouch under their beak. Like other birds in the order Pelecaniformes, they have four webbed toes.

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

Herons, egrets, and bitterns

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Ardeidae

The family Ardeidae contains the herons, egrets, and bitterns. Herons and egrets are medium to large wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter necked and more secretive. Members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted, unlike other long-necked birds such as storks, ibises, and spoonbills.

Ibises and spoonbills

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Threskiornithidae

The family Threskiornithidae includes the ibises and spoonbills. They have long, broad wings. Their bodies tend to be elongated, the neck more so, with rather long legs. The bill is also long, decurved in the case of the ibises, straight and distinctively flattened in the spoonbills.

• 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

The New World vultures are not closely related to Old World vultures, but superficially resemble them because of convergent evolution. Like the Old World vultures, they are scavengers. However, unlike Old World vultures, which find carcasses by sight, New World vultures have a good sense of smell with which they locate carcasses.

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

Osprey

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Pandionidae

Pandionidae is a monotypic family of fish-eating birds of prey. Its single species possesses a very large and powerful hooked beak, strong legs, strong talons, and keen eyesight.

• Osprey, Pandion haliaetus

Hawks, eagles, and kites

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Accipitridae

Accipitridae is a family of birds of prey which includes hawks, eagles, kites, harriers, and Old World vultures. These birds have very large powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons, and keen eyesight.

Barn-owls

Order: Strigiformes   Family: Tytonidae

Owls in the family Tytonidae are medium to large owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces.

• Barn owl, Tyto alba

Owls

Order: Strigiformes   Family: Strigidae

Typical or "true" owls are small to large solitary nocturnal birds of prey. They have large forward-facing eyes and ears, a hawk-like beak, and a conspicuous circle of feathers around each eye called a facial disk.

Trogons

Order: Trogoniformes   Family: Trogonidae

Trogons are residents of tropical forests worldwide with the greatest diversity in Central and South America. They feed on insects and fruit, and their broad bills and weak legs reflect their diet and arboreal habits. Although their flight is fast, they are reluctant to fly any distance. Trogons do not migrate. Trogons have soft, often colorful, feathers with distinctive male and female plumage. They nest in holes in trees or termite nests, laying white or pastel-colored eggs.

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

Hoopoes

Order: Upupiformes   Family: Upupidae

Hoopoes spend much time on the ground hunting insects and worms. This black, white, and pink bird is quite unmistakable, especially in its erratic flight, which is like that of a giant butterfly. The crest is erectile, but is mostly kept closed. It walks on the ground like a starling. The song is a trisyllabic oop-oop-oop, which gives rise to its English and scientific names.

• Eurasian hoopoe, Upupa epops (A)

Todies

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Todidae

Todies are a group of small near passerine forest species endemic to the Caribbean. These birds have colorful plumage and resembles kingfishers, but have flattened bills with serrated edges. They eat small prey such as 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 resemble crows in size and build, but are more closely related to the kingfishers and bee-eaters. They share the colorful appearance of those groups with blues and browns predominating. The two inner front toes are connected, 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 used for capturing insects. Some species have feet with two toes pointing forward and two backward, while several species have only three toes. Many woodpeckers have the habit of tapping noisily on tree trunks with their beaks.

Falcons and caracaras

Order: Falconiformes   Family: Falconidae

Falconidae is a family of diurnal birds of prey, notably the falcons and caracaras. They differ from hawks, eagles, and kites in that they kill with their beaks instead of 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 share many features with true parrots (family Psittacidae) including the characteristic curved beak shape and a zygodactyl foot, with two forward toes and two backwards toes. They differ, however in a number of characteristics, including the movable headcrest, and their lack of the Dyck texture feather composition, which gives many parrots their iridescent colors. Cockatoos are also, on average, larger than the 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

Characteristic features of parrots include a strong curved bill, an upright stance, strong legs, and clawed zygodactyl feet. Many parrots are vividly colored, and some are multi-colored. In size they range from 8 cm (3.1 in) to 1 m (3.3 ft) in length. Most of the more than 150 species in this family are found in the New World.

• 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

Characteristic features of parrots include a strong curved bill, an upright stance, strong legs, and clawed zygodactyl feet. Many parrots are vividly colored, and some are multi-colored. In size they range from 8 cm (3.1 in) to 1 m (3.3 ft) in length. Old World parrots are found from Africa east across south and southeast Asia and Oceania to 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

Tityridae is family of suboscine passerine birds found in forest and woodland in the Neotropics. The approximately 30 species in this family were formerly lumped with the families Pipridae and Cotingidae (see Taxonomy). As yet, no widely accepted common name exists for the family, although Tityras and allies and Tityras, mourners, and allies have been used. 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

The honeyeaters are a large and diverse family of small to medium-sized birds most common in Australia and New Guinea. They are nectar feeders and closely resemble other nectar-feeding passerines.

• 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

The cuckooshrikes are small to medium-sized passerine birds. They are predominantly grayish with white and black, although some species are brightly colored.

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

Drongos

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Dicruridae

The drongos are mostly black or dark gray in color, sometimes with metallic tints. They have long forked tails, and some Asian species have elaborate tail decorations. They have short legs and sit very upright when perched, like a shrike. They flycatch or take prey from the ground.

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

Fantails

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Rhipiduridae

The fantails are small insectivorous birds which are specialist aerial feeders.

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

Tyrant flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Tyrannidae

Tyrant flycatchers are Passerine birds which occur throughout North and South America. They superficially resemble the Old World flycatchers, but are more robust and have stronger bills. They do not have the sophisticated vocal capabilities of the songbirds. Most, but not all, are rather plain. As the name implies, most are insectivorous.

Vireos, shrike-babblers, and erpornis

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Vireonidae

The vireos are a group of small to medium-sized passerine birds mostly restricted to the New World, though a few other species in the family are found in Asia. They are typically greenish in color and resemble wood-warblers apart from their heavier bills.

Monarch flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Monarchidae

The Monarchinae are a relatively recent grouping of a number of seemingly very different birds, mostly from the Southern Hemisphere, which are more closely related than they at first appear. Many of the approximately 140 species making up the family were previously assigned to other groups, largely on the basis of general morphology or behavior. With the new insights generated by the DNA-DNA hybridisation studies of Sibley and his co-workers toward the end of the 20th century, however, it became clear that these apparently unrelated birds were all descended from a common ancestor. The Monarchinae are small to medium-sized insectivorous passerines, many of which hunt by flycatching.

Five of the species listed below (three species endemic to Hawaii, one species found in American Samoa, and one species endemic to the Northern Mariana Islands) represent the group in the United States. 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 passerine birds known for their habit of catching other birds and small animals and impaling the uneaten portions of their bodies on thorns. A shrike's beak is hooked, like that of a typical 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

The family Corvidae includes crows, ravens, jays, choughs, magpies, treepies, nutcrackers, and ground jays. Corvids are above average in size among the Passeriformes, and some of the larger species show high levels of intelligence. Since about 2012, nesting fish crows have increasingly been documented in Canada along the northwest shore of Lake Ontario, so the species will probably soon no longer be considered endemic to the lower 48 U.S. states.

Penduline-tits

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Remizidae

The only member of this family in the New World, the verdin is one of the smallest passerines in North America. It is gray overall and adults have a bright yellow head and rufous "shoulder patch" (the lesser coverts). Verdins are insectivorous, continuously foraging among the desert trees and scrubs. They are usually solitary except when they pair up to construct their conspicuous nests.

• Verdin, Auriparus flaviceps

Tits, chickadees, and titmice

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Paridae

The Paridae are mainly small stocky woodland species with short stout bills. Some have crests. They are adaptable birds, with a mixed diet including 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 terrestrial birds with often extravagant songs and display flights. Most larks are fairly dull in appearance. Their food is insects and seeds.

• Eurasian skylark, Alauda arvensis (see note for occurrence)
• Horned lark, Eremophila alpestris

Reed warblers and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Acrocephalidae

The members of this family are usually rather large for "warblers". Most are rather plain olivaceous brown above with much yellow to beige below. They are usually found in open woodland, reedbeds, or tall grass. The family occurs mostly in southern to western Eurasia and surroundings, but also ranges far into the Pacific, with some species in Africa.

• 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) LC
• 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

Locustellidae are a family of small insectivorous songbirds found mainly in Eurasia, Africa, and the Australian region. They are smallish birds with tails that are usually long and pointed, and tend to be drab 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

The family Hirundinidae is adapted to aerial feeding. They have a slender streamlined body, long pointed wings, and a short bill with a wide gape. The feet are adapted to perching rather than walking, and the front toes are partially joined at the base.

Long-tailed tits

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Aegithalidae

The long-tailed tits are a family of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. They make woven bag nests in trees. Most eat a mixed diet which includes insects.

• Bushtit, Psaltriparus minimus

Bush warblers and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Scotocercidae

The members of this family are found throughout Africa, Asia, and Polynesia.

• Japanese bush-warbler, Horornis diphone (I)

Leaf warblers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Phylloscopidae

Leaf warblers are a family of small insectivorous birds found mostly in Eurasia and ranging into Wallacea and Africa. The Arctic warbler breeds east into Alaska. The species are of various sizes, often green-plumaged above and yellow below, or more subdued with grayish-green to grayish-brown colors.

• 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

The bulbuls are a family of medium-sized passerine songbirds native to Africa and tropical Asia. These are noisy and gregarious birds with often beautiful striking songs.

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

Sylviid warblers, parrotbills, and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sylviidae

The family Sylviidae is a group of small insectivorous passerine birds. They mainly occur as breeding species, as the common name implies, in Europe, Asia, and to a lesser extent Africa. Most are of generally undistinguished appearance, but many have distinctive songs.

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

White-eyes, yuhinas, and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Zosteropidae

The white-eyes are small passerine birds native to tropical and sub-tropical Africa, southern Asia, and Australasia. The birds of this group are mostly of undistinguished appearance, their plumage above being generally some dull color like greenish-olive, but some species have a white or bright yellow throat, breast, or lower parts, and several have buff flanks. But as indicated by their scientific name, derived from the Ancient Greek for girdle-eye, there is a conspicuous ring around the eyes of many species. They have rounded wings and strong legs. The size ranges up to 15 cm (6 inches) in length. All the species of white-eyes are sociable, forming large flocks which only separate on the approach of the breeding season. Though mainly insectivorous, they eat nectar and fruits of various kinds.

• 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

The laughingthrushes are a large family of Old World passerine birds. They are rather diverse in size and coloration, but are characterized by soft fluffy plumage. These birds have strong legs and many are quite terrestrial. This group is not strongly migratory and most species have short rounded wings and a weak flight.

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

Kinglets

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Regulidae

The kinglets and "crests" are a small family of birds which resemble some warblers. They are very small insectivorous birds in the single genus Regulus. The adults have colored crowns, giving rise to their name.

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

Waxwings

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Bombycillidae

The waxwings are a group of passerine birds with soft silky plumage and unique red tips to some of the wing feathers. In the Bohemian and cedar waxwings, these tips look like sealing wax and give the group its name. These are arboreal birds of northern forests. They live on insects in summer and berries in winter.

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

Silky-flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Ptiliogonatidae

The silky-flycatchers are a small family of passerine birds which occur mainly in Central America. They are related to waxwings and most species have small crests.

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

Hawaiian honeyeaters

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Mohoidae

Hawaiian honeyeaters prefer to flit quickly from perch to perch in the outer foliage, stretching up or sideways or hanging upside down at need. They have a highly developed brush-tipped tongue, which is frayed and fringed with bristles which soak up liquids readily. The tongue is flicked rapidly and repeatedly into a flower, the upper mandible then compressing any liquid out when the bill is closed. All species of honeyeaters below were endemic to Hawaii, but are now extinct. The Kauai oo was the last species to survive, and was last seen in 1987.

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

Nuthatches

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sittidae

Nuthatches are small woodland birds. They have the unusual ability to climb down trees head first, unlike other birds which can only go upwards. Nuthatches have big heads, short tails, and powerful 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 above and white below. They have thin pointed down-curved bills, which they use to extricate insects from bark. They have stiff tail feathers, like woodpeckers, which they use to support themselves on vertical trees.

• Brown creeper, Certhia americana

Gnatcatchers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Polioptilidae

These dainty birds resemble Old World warblers in their structure and habits, moving restlessly through the foliage seeking insects. The gnatcatchers are mainly soft bluish gray in color and have the typical insectivore's long sharp bill. Many species have distinctive black head patterns (especially males) and long, regularly cocked, 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 inconspicuous birds, except for their loud songs. They have short wings and thin down-turned bills. Several species often hold their tails upright. All are insectivorous.

• 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

The mimids are a family of passerine birds which includes thrashers, mockingbirds, tremblers, and the New World catbirds. These birds are notable for their vocalization, especially their remarkable ability to mimic a wide variety of birds and other sounds heard outdoors. The species tend towards dull grays and browns in their appearance.

• 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 Old World passerine birds with strong feet. Their flight is strong and direct and most are very gregarious. Their preferred habitat is fairly open country, and they eat insects and fruit. The plumage of several species is dark with a metallic sheen.

• 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 whose habitat includes aquatic environments in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. They are named for their bobbing or dipping movements. These birds have adaptations which allows them to submerge and walk on the bottom to feed on insect larvae.

• American dipper, Cinclus mexicanus

Thrushes and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Turdidae

The thrushes are a group of passerine birds that occur mainly but not exclusively in the Old World. They are plump, soft plumaged, small to medium-sized insectivores or sometimes omnivores, often feeding on the ground. Many have attractive songs.

Old World flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Muscicapidae

The Old World flycatchers form a large family of small passerine birds. These are mainly small arboreal insectivores, many of which, as the name implies, take their prey on the wing.

Olive warbler

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Peucedramidae

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

• Olive warbler, Peucedramus taeniatus

Weavers and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Ploceidae

Weavers are a group of small passerine birds related to the finches. These are seed-eating birds with rounded conical bills, most of which breed in sub-Saharan Africa, with fewer species in tropical Asia. Weavers get their name from the large woven nests many species make. They are gregarious birds which often breed colonially.

• 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

The Viduidae is a family of small passerine birds native to Africa that includes indigobirds and whydahs. All species are brood parasites which lay their eggs in the nests of estrildid finches. Species usually have black or indigo predominating in their plumage.

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

Waxbills and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Estrildidae

The members of this family are small passerine birds native to the Old World tropics. They are gregarious and often colonial seed eaters with short thick but pointed bills. They are all similar in structure and habits, but have wide variation in plumage colors and patterns.

• 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, fairly drab species superficially similar, but unrelated to, sparrows. However, accentors have thin sharp bills, reflecting their diet of insects in summer, augmented with seeds and berries in winter.

• Siberian accentor, Prunella montanella (C)

Old World sparrows

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Passeridae

Old World sparrows are small passerine birds. In general, sparrows tend to be small plump brownish or grayish birds with short tails and short powerful beaks. Sparrows are seed eaters, but they also consume small insects.

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

Wagtails and pipits

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Motacillidae

Motacillidae is a family of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. They include the wagtails, longclaws, and pipits. They are slender ground-feeding insectivores of open country.

• 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 passerine birds that are small to moderately large and have a strong beak, usually conical and in some species very large. All have twelve tail feathers and nine primaries. These birds have a bouncing flight with alternating bouts of flapping and gliding on closed wings, and most sing well.

Longspurs and snow buntings

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Calcariidae

The Calcariidae are a group of passerine birds that had been traditionally grouped with the New World sparrows, but differ in a number of respects and are usually found 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

Emberizidae is a family of passerine birds containing a single genus. Until 2017, the New World sparrows (Passerellidae) were also considered 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

Until 2017, these species were considered part of the family Emberizidae. Most of the species are known as sparrows, but these birds are not closely related to the Old World sparrows which are in the family Passeridae. Many of these have distinctive head patterns.

Puerto Rican tanager

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Nesospingidae

This species was formerly classified as a tanager (family Thraupidae) but was placed in its own family in 2017.

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

Spindalises

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Spindalidae

The members of this small family are native to the Greater Antilles. One species occurs fairly frequently 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 in the wood-warblers (Parulidae) but nonetheless most authorities were unsure if it belonged there. It was placed in its own family in 2017.

• Yellow-breasted chat, Icteria virens

Troupials and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Icteridae

The icterids are a group of small to medium-sized, often colorful passerine birds restricted to the New World and include the grackles, New World blackbirds, and New World orioles. Most species have black as a predominant plumage color which is often enlivened by yellow, orange, or red.

New World warblers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Parulidae

The wood-warblers are a group of small often colorful passerine birds restricted to the New World. Most are arboreal, but some are more terrestrial. Most members of this family are insectivores.

Cardinals and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Cardinalidae

The cardinals are a family of robust seed-eating birds with strong bills. They are typically associated with open woodland. The sexes usually have distinct plumages.

• 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

The tanagers are a large group of small to medium-sized passerine birds restricted to the New World, mainly in the tropics. Many species are brightly colored. As a family they are omnivorous, but individual species specialize in eating fruits, seeds, insects, or other types of food.

• 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

See also

• List of birds
• Lists of birds by region
• List of endemic birds of Hawaii
• Fauna of the United States

Images for kids

• 

  Tree swallow

• 

  Northern mockingbird