List of birds of British Columbia

List of birds of British Columbia
This list of birds of British Columbia includes species documented in the Canadian province of British Columbia. As of June 2021, there are 593 species included in this list. Of them, 232 are rare or accidental and 17 have been introduced to British Columbia or elsewhere in North America. Five species have been extirpated and one is extinct. Thirty-nine species have only sight records or are classed as hypothetical (see below). An additional species of questionable origin is also included here.
This list is presented in the taxonomic sequence of the Check-list of North and Middle American Birds, 7th edition through the 62nd Supplement, published by the American Ornithological Society (AOS). Common and scientific names are also those of the Check-list, except that Canadian English spellings are used and the common names of families are from the Clements taxonomy because the AOS list does not include them.
The following tags are used to describe some categories of occurrence.
(A) Accidental - a species seldom recorded in British Columbia
(I) Introduced - a species that has been introduced to British Columbia by the actions of humans, either directly or indirectly
(OU) Origin uncertain - species which might have arrived in British Columbia either from the wild or with human assistance
(SR) Sight record - species with only sight records (no photo, specimen, or other tangible evidence)
(H) Hypothetical - species with unverifiable records but which nevertheless have enough evidence for inclusion on the list
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 Canada. The symbols and their meanings, in increasing order of peril, are:
Ducks, geese, and waterfowl
Order: AnseriformesFamily: 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.
Fulvous whistling-duck, Dendrocygna bicolor (A)
Emperor goose, Anser canagica (A)
Snow goose, Anser caerulescens
Ross's goose, Anser rossii
Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons
Taiga bean-goose, Anser fabalis (A)
Pink-footed goose, Anser brachyrhynchus (A) (OU)
Brant, Branta bernicla
Cackling goose, Branta hutchinsii
Canada goose, Branta canadensis
Mute swan, Cygnus olor (I)
Trumpeter swan, Cygnus buccinator
Tundra swan, Cygnus columbianus
Whooper swan, Cygnus cygnus (A) (OU)
Wood duck, Aix sponsa
Baikal teal, Sibirionetta formosa (A)
Garganey, Spatula querquedula (A)
Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors
Cinnamon teal, Spatula cyanoptera
Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata
Gadwall, Mareca strepera
Falcated duck, Mareca falcata (A)
Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope
American wigeon, Mareca americana
Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos
American black duck, Anas rubripes (I) (A)
Northern pintail, Anas acuta
Green-winged teal, Anas crecca
Common pochard, Aythya ferina (A)
Canvasback, Aythya valisineria
Redhead, Aythya americana
Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris
Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula (A)
Greater scaup, Aythya marila
Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis
Steller's eider, Polysticta stelleri (A)
Spectacled eider, Somateria fischeri (A)
King eider, Somateria spectabilis (A)
Common eider, Somateria mollissima (A)
Harlequin duck, Histrionicus histrionicus
Surf scoter, Melanitta perspicillata
White-winged scoter, Melanitta deglandi
Black scoter, Melanitta nigra
Long-tailed duck, Clangula hyemalis
Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola
Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula
Smew, Mergellus albellus (A)
Barrow's goldeneye, Bucephala islandica
Hooded merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus
Common merganser, Mergus merganser
Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator
Ruddy duck, Oxyura jamaicensis
New World quail
Order: GalliformesFamily: 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 (I) (Extirpated)
Northern bobwhite, Colinus virginianus (I) (Extirpated)
California quail, Callipepla californica (I)
Pheasants, grouse, and allies
Order: GalliformesFamily: 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.
Wild turkey, Meleagris gallopavo (I)
Ruffed grouse, Bonasa umbellus
Greater sage-grouse, Centrocercus urophasianus (Extirpated)
Spruce grouse, Canachites canadensis
Willow ptarmigan, Lagopus lagopus
Rock ptarmigan, Lagopus muta
White-tailed ptarmigan, Lagopus leucura
Dusky grouse, Dendragapus obscurus
Sooty grouse, Dendragapus fuliginosus
Sharp-tailed grouse, Tympanuchus phasianellus
Grey partridge, Perdix perdix (I)
Ring-necked pheasant, Phasianus colchicus (I)
Silver pheasant, Lophura nycthemera (I) (Not on the AOS Check-list)
Chukar, Alectoris chukar (I)
Grebes
Order: PodicipediformesFamily: 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.
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
Pigeons and doves
Order: ColumbiformesFamily: 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 this highly nutritious substance to feed to the young.
Rock pigeon, Columba livia (I)
Band-tailed pigeon, Patagioenas fasciata
Oriental turtle-dove, Streptopelia orientalis (A) (I)
Eurasian collared-dove, Streptopelia decaocto (I)
Passenger pigeon, Ectopistes migratorius (Extinct)
White-winged dove, Zenaida asiatica (A)
Mourning dove, Zenaida macroura
Cuckoos
Order: CuculiformesFamily: Cuculidae
The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners, and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails, and strong legs.
Common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus (A)
Yellow-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus (A)
Black-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus erythropthalmus (A)
Nightjars and allies
Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: 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 coloured to resemble bark or leaves.
Lesser nighthawk, Chordeiles acutipennis (A)
Common nighthawk, Chordeiles minor
Common poorwill, Phalaenoptilus nuttallii
Eastern whip-poor-will, Antrostomus vociferus (A)
Mexican whip-poor-will, Antrostomus arizonae (A)
Swifts
Order: ApodiformesFamily: 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
Chimney swift, Chaetura pelagica (A) (SR)
Vaux's swift, Chaetura vauxi
House swift, Apus nipalensis (A) ("A carcass...found in Ladner, British Columbia on 18 May 2012 appears to be the first documented record of this species in the Americas." In 2019 the species was added to the AOS Check-list appendix because it is not certain if it died before or after crossing into Canadian waters.)
White-throated swift, Aeronautes saxatalis
Hummingbirds
Order: ApodiformesFamily: 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.
Mexican violetear, Colibri thalassinus (A)
Rivoli's hummingbird, Eugenes fulgens (A) (Not yet assessed by the IUCN)
Ruby-throated hummingbird, Archilochus colubris (A)
Black-chinned hummingbird, Archilochus alexandri
Anna's hummingbird, Calypte anna
Costa's hummingbird, Calypte costae (A)
Broad-tailed hummingbird, Selasphorus platycercus (A)
Calliope hummingbird, Stellula calliope
Rufous hummingbird, Selasphorus rufus
Xantus's hummingbird, Basilinna xantusii (A)
Rails, gallinules, and coots
Order: GruiformesFamily: 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.
Virginia rail, Rallus limicola
Sora, Porzana carolina
Common gallinule, Gallinula galeata (A)
American coot, Fulica americana
Yellow rail, Coturnicops noveboracensis (A)
Cranes
Order: GruiformesFamily: Gruidae
Demoiselle crane, Anthropoides virgo (A) (OU) (Not on the AOS Check-list)
Sandhill crane, Antigone canadensis
Common crane, Grus grus (A)
Whooping crane, Grus americana (A)
Stilts and avocets
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: 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-necked stilt, Himantopus mexicanus (A)
American avocet, Recurvirostra americana (A)
Oystercatchers
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Haematopodidae
The oystercatchers are large, obvious and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs.
Black oystercatcher, Haematopus bachmani
Plovers and lapwings
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: 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.
Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola
European golden-plover, Pluvialis apricaria (A) (SR)
American golden-plover, Pluvialis dominica
Pacific golden-plover, Pluvialis fulva
Eurasian dotterel, Charadrius morinellus (A) (SR)
Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus
Common ringed plover, Charadrius hiaticula (A)
Lesser sand-plover, Charadrius mongolus (A)
Semipalmated plover, Charadrius semipalmatus
Piping plover, Charadrius melodus (A) (SR)
Snowy plover, Charadrius nivosus (A)
Mountain plover, Charadrius montanus (A) (SR)
Sandpipers and allies
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: 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.
Upland sandpiper, Bartramia longicauda
Bristle-thighed curlew, Numenius tahitiensis (A)
Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus (A)
Little curlew, Numenius minutus (A) (SR)
Long-billed curlew, Numenius americanus
Far Eastern curlew, Numenius madagascariensis (A)
Bar-tailed godwit, Limosa lapponica (A)
Black-tailed godwit, Limosa limosa (A) (SR)
Hudsonian godwit, Limosa haemastica
Marbled godwit, Limosa fedoa (A)
Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres
Black turnstone, Arenaria melanocephala
Great knot, Calidris tenuirostris (A) (SR)
Red knot, Calidris canutus
Surfbird, Calidris virgata
Ruff, Calidris pugnax (A)
Sharp-tailed sandpiper, Calidris acuminata
Stilt sandpiper, Calidris himantopus
Curlew sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea (A)
Temminck's stint, Calidris temminckii (A)
Long-toed stint, Calidris subminuta (A) (SR)
Spoon-billed sandpiper, Calidris pygmea (A)
Red-necked stint, Calidris ruficollis (A)
Sanderling, Calidris alba
Dunlin, Calidris alpina
Rock sandpiper, Calidris ptilocnemis
Purple sandpiper, Calidris maritima (A)
Baird's sandpiper, Calidris bairdii
Little stint, Calidris minuta (A)
Least sandpiper, Calidris minutilla
White-rumped sandpiper, Calidris fuscicollis (A)
Buff-breasted sandpiper, Calidris subruficollis (A)
Pectoral sandpiper, Calidris melanotos
Semipalmated sandpiper, Calidris pusilla (A)
Western sandpiper, Calidris mauri
Short-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus griseus
Long-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus scolopaceus
Asian dowitcher, Limnodromus semipalmatus (A) (H) (Not on the AOS Check-list)
Jack snipe, Lymnocryptes minimus (A)
American woodcock, Scolopax minor (A) (OU)
Wilson's snipe, Gallinago delicata
Terek sandpiper, Xenus cinereus (A)
Spotted sandpiper, Actitis macularius
Solitary sandpiper, Tringa solitaria
Grey-tailed tattler, Tringa brevipes (A)
Wandering tattler, Tringa incana
Lesser yellowlegs, Tringa flavipes
Willet, Tringa semipalmata (A)
Spotted redshank, Tringa erythropus (A)
Common greenshank, Tringa nebularia (A) (SR)
Greater yellowlegs, Tringa melanoleuca
Wood sandpiper, Tringa glareola (A)
Wilson's phalarope, Phalaropus tricolor
Red-necked phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus
Red phalarope, Phalaropus fulicarius
Skuas and jaegers
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Stercorariidae
Skuas and jaegers are in general medium to large birds, typically with grey 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.
South polar skua, Stercorarius maccormicki
Pomarine jaeger, Stercorarius pomarinus
Parasitic jaeger, Stercorarius parasiticus
Long-tailed jaeger, Stercorarius longicaudus
Auks, murres, and puffins
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Alcidae
Alcids are superficially similar to penguins due to their black-and-white colours, 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.
Dovekie, Alle alle (A)
Common murre, Uria aalge
Thick-billed murre, Uria lomvia (A)
Black guillemot, Cepphus grylle (A) (SR)
Pigeon guillemot, Cepphus columba
Long-billed murrelet, Brachyramphus perdix (A)
Marbled murrelet, Brachyramphus marmoratus
Kittlitz's murrelet, Brachyramphus brevirostris (A)
Scripps's murrelet, Synthliboramphus scrippsi (A)
Guadalupe murrelet, Synthliboramphus hypoleucus (A) (SR)
Ancient murrelet, Synthliboramphus antiquus
Cassin's auklet, Ptychoramphus aleuticus
Parakeet auklet, Aethia psittacula
Least auklet, Aethia pusilla (A)
Whiskered auklet, Aethia pygmaea (A) (SR)
Crested auklet, Aethia cristatella (A)
Rhinoceros auklet, Cerorhinca monocerata
Horned puffin, Fratercula corniculata
Tufted puffin, Fratercula cirrhata
Gulls, terns, and skimmers
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Laridae
Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds and includes gulls, terns, kittiwakes, and skimmers. They are typically grey or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet.
Black-legged kittiwake, Rissa tridactyla
Red-legged kittiwake, Rissa brevirostris (A)
Ivory gull, Pagophila eburnea (A)
Sabine's gull, Xema sabini
Bonaparte's gull, Chroicocephalus philadelphia
Black-headed gull, Chroicocephalus ridibundus (A)
Little gull, HydrocolOeus minutus (A)
Ross's gull, Rhodostethia rosea (A)
Laughing gull, Leucophaeus atricilla (A)
Franklin's gull, Leucophaeus pipixcan
Black-tailed gull, Larus crassirostris (A)
Heermann's gull, Larus heermanni
Common gull, Larus canus (A)
Short-billed gull, Larus brachyrhynchus
Ring-billed gull, Larus delawarensis
California gull, Larus californicus
Western gull, Larus occidentalis
Herring gull, Larus argentatus
Iceland gull, Larus glaucoides
Lesser black-backed gull, Larus fuscus (A)
Slaty-backed gull, Larus schistisagus (A)
Glaucous-winged gull, Larus glaucescens
Glaucous gull, Larus hyperboreus
Great black-backed gull, Larus marinus (A)
Aleutian tern, Onychoprion aleuticus (A)
Least tern, Sternula antillarum (A)
Caspian tern, Hydroprogne caspia (A)
Black tern, Chlidonias niger
Common tern, Sterna hirundo
Arctic tern, Sterna paradisaea
Forster's tern, Sterna forsteri
Elegant tern, Thalasseus elegans (A)
Tropicbirds
Order: PhaethontiformesFamily: 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.
Red-tailed tropicbird, Phaethon rubricauda (A)
Penguins
Order: SphenisciformesFamily: Spheniscidae
The penguins are a group of aquatic, flightless birds living almost exclusively in the Southern Hemisphere. Most penguins feed on krill, fish, squid and other forms of sealife caught while swimming underwater.
Humboldt penguin, Spheniscus humboldti (A) (H) (OU)
Loons
Order: GaviiformesFamily: Gaviidae
Loons are aquatic birds, the size of a large duck, to which they are unrelated. Their plumage is largely grey 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 (A)
Pacific loon, Gavia pacifica
Common loon, Gavia immer
Yellow-billed loon, Gavia adamsii (A)
Albatrosses
Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Diomedeidae
The albatrosses are amongst the largest of flying birds, and the great albatrosses from the genus Diomedea have the largest wingspans of any extant birds.
Laysan albatross, Phoebastria immutabilis
Black-footed albatross, Phoebastria nigripes
Short-tailed albatross, Phoebastria albatrus
Northern storm-petrels
Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Hydrobatidae
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.
Fork-tailed storm-petrel, Hydrobates furcatus
Leach's storm-petrel, Hydrobates leucorhous
Ashy storm-petrel, Hydrobates homochroa (A) (SR)
Shearwaters and petrels
Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: 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.
Northern fulmar, Fulmarus glacialis (A)
Providence petrel, Pterodroma solandri (A)
Murphy's petrel, Pterodroma ultima (A)
Mottled petrel, Pterodroma inexpectata
Hawaiian petrel, Pterodroma sandwichensis (A) (SR)
Cook's petrel, Pterodroma cookii (A)
Streaked shearwater, Calonectris leucomelas (A) (SR)
Wedge-tailed shearwater, Ardenna pacifica (A) (SR)
Buller's shearwater, Ardenna bulleri
Short-tailed shearwater, Ardenna tenuirostris
Sooty shearwater, Ardenna grisea
Great shearwater, Ardenna gravis (A)
Pink-footed shearwater, Ardenna creatopus
Flesh-footed shearwater, Ardenna carneipes
Manx shearwater, Puffinus puffinus (A)
Black-vented shearwater, Puffinus opisthomelas (A)
Storks
Order: CiconiiformesFamily: 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.
Wood stork, Mycteria americana (A)
Frigatebirds
Order: SuliformesFamily: 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 coloured 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.
Magnificent frigatebird, Fregata magnificens (A)
Boobies and gannets
Order: SuliformesFamily: Sulidae
The sulids comprise the gannets and boobies. Both groups are medium-large coastal seabirds that plunge-dive for fish.
Masked booby, Sula dactylatra (A) (SR)
Nazca booby, Sula granti (A)
Blue-footed booby, Sula nebouxii (A)
Brown booby, Sula leucogaster (A)
Red-footed booby, Sula sula (A)
Cormorants and shags
Order: SuliformesFamily: Phalacrocoracidae
Cormorants are medium-to-large aquatic birds, usually with mainly dark plumage and areas of coloured skin on the face. The bill is long, thin, and sharply hooked. Their feet are four-toed and webbed.
Brandt's cormorant, Urile penicillatus
Red-faced cormorant, Urile urile (A)
Pelagic cormorant, Urile pelagicus
Double-crested cormorant, Nannopterum auritum
Pelicans
Order: PelecaniformesFamily: 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: PelecaniformesFamily: 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.
American bittern, Botaurus lentiginosus
Least bittern, Ixobrychus exilis (A)
Great blue heron, Ardea herodias
Grey heron, Ardea cinerea (A)
Great egret, Ardea alba
Snowy egret, Egretta thula (A)
Little blue heron, Egretta caerulea (A)
Cattle egret, Bubulcus ibis (A)
Green heron, Butorides virescens
Black-crowned night-heron, Nycticorax nycticorax
Ibises and spoonbills
Order: PelecaniformesFamily: 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-faced ibis, Plegadis chihi (A)
New World vultures
Order: CathartiformesFamily: 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 (A) (H) (Extirpated)
Black vulture, Coragyps atratus (A)
Turkey vulture, Cathartes aura
Osprey
Order: AccipitriformesFamily: Pandionidae
Pandionidae is a family of fish-eating birds of prey possessing a very large, powerful hooked beak for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons, and keen eyesight. The family is monotypic.
Osprey, Pandion haliaetus
Hawks, eagles, and kites
Order: AccipitriformesFamily: 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.
White-tailed kite, Elanus leucurus (A)
Golden eagle, Aquila chrysaetos
Northern harrier, Circus hudsonius (Not yet assessed by the IUCN)
Sharp-shinned hawk, Accipiter striatus
Cooper's hawk, Accipiter cooperii
American goshawk, Accipiter atricapillus
Bald eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Red-shouldered hawk, Buteo lineatus (A)
Broad-winged hawk, Buteo platypterus
Swainson's hawk, Buteo swainsoni
Red-tailed hawk, Buteo jamaicensis
Ferruginous hawk, Buteo regalis
Rough-legged hawk, Buteo lagopus
Barn-owls
Order: StrigiformesFamily: 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: StrigiformesFamily: Strigidae
Typical 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.
Flammulated owl, Otus flammeolus
Western screech-owl, Megascops kennicottii
Great horned owl, Bubo virginianus
Snowy owl, Bubo scandiacus
Northern hawk owl, Surnia ulula
Northern pygmy-owl, Glaucidium gnoma
Burrowing owl, Athene cunicularia (A)
Spotted owl, Strix occidentalis
Barred owl, Strix varia
Great grey owl, Strix nebulosa
Long-eared owl, Asio otus
Short-eared owl, Asio flammeus
Boreal owl, Aegolius funereus
Northern saw-whet owl, Aegolius acadicus
Kingfishers
Order: CoraciiformesFamily: Alcedinidae
Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long, pointed bills, short legs, and stubby tails.
Belted kingfisher, Megaceryle alcyon
Woodpeckers
Order: PiciformesFamily: 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.
Lewis's woodpecker, Melanerpes lewis
Red-headed woodpecker, Melanerpes erythrocephalus
Acorn woodpecker, Melanerpes formicivorus (A)
Williamson's sapsucker, Sphyrapicus thyroideus
Yellow-bellied sapsucker, Sphyrapicus varius
Red-naped sapsucker, Sphyrapicus nuchalis
Red-breasted sapsucker, Sphyrapicus ruber
American three-toed woodpecker, Picoides dorsalis
Black-backed woodpecker, Picoides arcticus
Downy woodpecker, Dryobates pubescens
Hairy woodpecker, Dryobates villosus
White-headed woodpecker, Dryobates albolarvatus (A)
Northern flicker, Colaptes auratus
Pileated woodpecker, Dryocopus pileatus
Falcons and caracaras
Order: FalconiformesFamily: 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.
Crested caracara, Caracara plancus (A)
Eurasian kestrel, Falco tinnunculus (A)
American kestrel, Falco sparverius
Merlin, Falco columbarius
Eurasian hobby, Falco subbuteo (A) (SR)
Gyrfalcon, Falco rusticolus
Peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus
Prairie falcon, Falco mexicanus
Tyrant flycatchers
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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.
Ash-throated flycatcher, Myiarchus cinerascens (A)
Great crested flycatcher, Myiarchus crinitus (A)
Great kiskadee, Pitangus sulphuratus (A) (H)
Tropical kingbird, Tyrannus melancholicus (A)
Thick-billed kingbird, Tyrannus crassirostris (A)
Western kingbird, Tyrannus verticalis
Eastern kingbird, Tyrannus tyrannus
Grey kingbird, Tyrannus dominicensis (A)
Scissor-tailed flycatcher, Tyrannus forficatus (A)
Fork-tailed flycatcher, Tyrannus savana (A) (H)
Olive-sided flycatcher, Contopus cooperi
Western wood-pewee, Contopus sordidulus
Eastern wood-pewee, Contopus virens
Yellow-bellied flycatcher, Empidonax flaviventris
Acadian flycatcher, Empidonax virescens (A)
Alder flycatcher, Empidonax alnorum
Willow flycatcher, Empidonax traillii
Least flycatcher, Empidonax minimus
Hammond's flycatcher, Empidonax hammondii
Grey flycatcher, Empidonax wrightii (A)
Dusky flycatcher, Empidonax oberholseri
Western flycatcher, Empidonax difficilis
Black phoebe, Sayornis nigricans (A)
Eastern phoebe, Sayornis phoebe
Say's phoebe, Sayornis saya
Vermilion flycatcher, Pyrocephalus rubinus (A) (SR)
Vireos, shrike-babblers, and erpornis
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Vireonidae
The vireos are a group of small to medium-sized passerine birds mostly restricted to the New World, though a few other members of the family are found in Asia. They are typically greenish in colour and resemble wood warblers apart from their heavier bills.
Black-capped vireo, Vireo atricapilla (A)
Bell's vireo, Vireo bellii (A)
White-eyed vireo, Vireo griseus (A)
Cassin's vireo, Vireo cassinii
Blue-headed vireo, Vireo solitarius
Hutton's vireo, Vireo huttoni
Yellow-throated vireo, Vireo flavifrons (A) (H)
Philadelphia vireo, Vireo philadelphicus
Warbling vireo, Vireo gilvus
Red-eyed vireo, Vireo olivaceus
Yellow-green vireo, Vireo flavoviridis (A)
Shrikes
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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 (A)
Red-backed shrike, Lanius collurio (A)
Loggerhead shrike, Lanius ludovicianus (A)
Northern shrike, Lanius borealis (Not yet assessed by the IUCN)
Crows, jays, and magpies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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.
Canada jay, Perisoreus canadensis
Pinyon jay, Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus (A)
Steller's jay, Cyanocitta stelleri
Blue jay, Cyanocitta cristata
California scrub-jay, Aphelocoma californica (A) (not yet assessed by the IUCN)
Clark's nutcracker, Nucifraga columbiana
Black-billed magpie, Pica hudsonia
American crow, Corvus brachyrhynchos
Common raven, Corvus corax
Tits, chickadees, and titmice
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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.
Black-capped chickadee, Poecile atricapillus
Mountain chickadee, Poecile gambeli
Chestnut-backed chickadee, Poecile rufescens
Boreal chickadee, Poecile hudsonica
Larks
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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 (I)
Horned lark, Eremophila alpestris
Swallows
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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.
Bank swallow, Riparia riparia
Tree swallow, Tachycineta bicolor
Violet-green swallow, Tachycineta thalassina
Northern rough-winged swallow, Stelgidopteryx serripennis
Purple martin, Progne subis
Barn swallow, Hirundo rustica
Common house-martin, Delichon urbicum (A)
Cliff swallow, Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
Cave swallow, Petrochelidon fulva (A)
Long-tailed tits
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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
Leaf warblers
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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 greyish-green to greyish-brown colours.
Yellow-browed warbler, Phylloscopus inornatus (A)
Dusky warbler, Phylloscopus fuscatus (A) (SR)
Kinglets
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Regulidae
The kinglets are a small family of birds which resemble the titmice. They are very small insectivorous birds. The adults have coloured crowns, giving rise to their name.
Ruby-crowned kinglet, Corthylio calendula
Golden-crowned kinglet, Regulus satrapa
Waxwings
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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: PasseriformesFamily: 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.
Phainopepla, Phainopepla nitens (A) (SR)
Nuthatches
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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
Treecreepers
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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: PasseriformesFamily: 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 grey in colour 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-grey gnatcatcher, Polioptila caerulea (A)
Wrens
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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 (A)
Marsh wren, Cistothorus palustris
Bewick's wren, Thryomanes bewickii
Mockingbirds and thrashers
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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 greys and browns in their appearance.
Grey catbird, Dumetella carolinensis
Curve-billed thrasher, Toxostoma curvirostre (A)
Brown thrasher, Toxostoma rufum (A)
Sage thrasher, Oreoscoptes montanus
Northern mockingbird, Mimus polyglottos
Starlings
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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.
European starling, Sturnus vulgaris (I)
Crested myna, Acridotheres cristatellus (I) (Extirpated) (Not on the AOS Check-list)
Dippers
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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: PasseriformesFamily: 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.
Eastern bluebird, Sialia sialis (A)
Western bluebird, Sialia mexicana
Mountain bluebird, Sialia currucoides
Townsend's solitaire, Myadestes townsendi
Veery, Catharus fuscescens
Grey-cheeked thrush, Catharus minimus
Swainson's thrush, Catharus ustulatus
Hermit thrush, Catharus guttatus
Wood thrush, Hylocichla mustelina (A)
Eyebrowed thrush, Turdus obscurus (A) (SR)
Dusky thrush, Turdus eunomus (A)
Fieldfare, Turdus pilaris (A)
Redwing, Turdus iliacus (A)
American robin, Turdus migratorius
Varied thrush, Ixoreus naevius
Old World flycatchers
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Muscicapidae
The Old World flycatchers are 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.
Blue rock-thrush, Monticola solitarius (A) (Not on the AOS Check-list)
Red-flanked bluetail, Tarsiger cyanurus (A)
Siberian stonechat, Saxicola maurus (A) (H) (Not on the AOS Check-list)
Northern wheatear, Oenanthe oenanthe (A)
Accentors
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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 (A)
Old World sparrows
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Passeridae
Old World sparrows are small passerine birds. In general, sparrows tend to be small plump brownish or greyish birds with short tails and short powerful beaks. Sparrows are seed eaters, but they also consume small insects.
House sparrow, Passer domesticus (I)
Wagtails and pipits
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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.
Eastern yellow wagtail, Motacilla tschutschensis (A)
Citrine wagtail, Motacilla citreola (A)
Grey wagtail, Motacilla cinerea (A)
White wagtail, Motacilla alba (A)
Red-throated pipit, Anthus cervinus (A)
American pipit, Anthus rubescens
Sprague's pipit, Anthus spragueii (A)
Finches, euphonias, and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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.
Brambling, Fringilla montifringilla (A)
Evening grosbeak, Coccothraustes vespertinus
Pine grosbeak, Pinicola enucleator
Grey-crowned rosy-finch, Leucosticte tephrocotis
Purple finch, Haemorhous purpureus
Cassin's finch, Haemorhous cassinii
House finch, Haemorhous mexicanus
Common redpoll, Acanthis flammea
Hoary redpoll, Acanthis hornemanni
Red crossbill, Loxia curvirostra
White-winged crossbill, Loxia leucoptera
Pine siskin, Spinus pinus
Lesser goldfinch, Spinus psaltria (A)
American goldfinch, Spinus tristis
Oriental greenfinch, Chloris sinica (A)
Longspurs and snow buntings
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Calcariidae
The Calcariidae are a group of passerine birds that were 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 (A)
Smith's longspur, Calcarius pictus
Thick-billed longspur, Rhynchophanes mccownii (A)
Snow bunting, Plectrophenax nivalis
McKay's bunting, Plectrophenax hyperboreus (A)
Old World buntings
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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)
Little bunting, Emberiza pusilla (A)
Rustic bunting, Emberiza rustica (A)
New World sparrows
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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.
Grasshopper sparrow, Ammodramus savannarum
Black-throated sparrow, Amphispiza bilineata (A)
Lark sparrow, Chondestes grammacus
Lark bunting, Calamospiza melanocorys (A)
Chipping sparrow, Spizella passerina
Clay-coloured sparrow, Spizella pallida
Field sparrow, Spizella pusilla (A)
Brewer's sparrow, Spizella breweri
Fox sparrow, Passerella iliaca
American tree sparrow, Spizelloides arborea
Dark-eyed junco, Junco hyemalis
White-crowned sparrow, Zonotrichia leucophrys
Golden-crowned sparrow, Zonotrichia atricapilla
Harris's sparrow, Zonotrichia querula
White-throated sparrow, Zonotrichia albicollis
Sagebrush sparrow, Artemisiospiza nevadensis (A)
Bell's sparrow, Artemisiospiza belli (A)
Vesper sparrow, Pooecetes gramineus
LeConte's sparrow, Ammospiza leconteii
Nelson's sparrow, Ammospiza nelsoni
Baird's sparrow, Centronyx bairdii (A) (H)
Savannah sparrow, Passerculus sandwichensis
Song sparrow, Melospiza melodia
Lincoln's sparrow, Melospiza lincolnii
Swamp sparrow, Melospiza georgiana
Green-tailed towhee, Pipilo chlorurus (A)
Spotted towhee, Pipilo maculatus
Eastern towhee, Pipilo erythrophthalmus (A) (H)
Yellow-breasted chat
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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: PasseriformesFamily: Icteridae
The icterids are a group of small to medium-sized, often colourful 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 colour, often enlivened by yellow, orange, or red.
Yellow-headed blackbird, Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus
Bobolink, Dolichonyx oryzivorus
Western meadowlark, Sturnella neglecta
Orchard oriole, Icterus spurius (A)
Hooded oriole, Icterus cucullatus (A)
Bullock's oriole, Icterus bullockii
Baltimore oriole, Icterus galbula
Scott's oriole, Icterus parisorum (A) (H)
Red-winged blackbird, Agelaius phoeniceus
Brown-headed cowbird, Molothrus ater
Rusty blackbird, Euphagus carolinus
Brewer's blackbird, Euphagus cyanocephalus
Common grackle, Quiscalus quiscula
Great-tailed grackle, Quiscalus mexicanus (A)
New World warblers
Order: PasseriformesFamily: Parulidae
The wood-warblers are a group of small, often colourful, passerine birds restricted to the New World. Most are arboreal, but some are more terrestrial. Most members of this family are insectivores.
Ovenbird, Seiurus aurocapilla
Northern waterthrush, Parkesia noveboracensis
Golden-winged warbler, Vermivora chrysoptera (A)
Blue-winged warbler, Vermivora cyanoptera (A) (SR)
Black-and-white warbler, Mniotilta varia
Prothonotary warbler, Protonotaria citrea (A)
Tennessee warbler, Leiothlypis peregrina
Orange-crowned warbler, Leiothlypis celata
Lucy's warbler, Leiothlypis luciae (A)
Nashville warbler, Leiothlypis ruficapilla
Virginia's warbler, Leiothlypis virginiae (A) (SR)
Connecticut warbler, Oporornis agilis
MacGillivray's warbler, Geothlypis tolmiei
Mourning warbler, Geothlypis philadelphia
Kentucky warbler, Geothlypis formosa (A) (SR)
Common yellowthroat, Geothlypis trichas
Hooded warbler, Setophaga citrina (A)
American redstart, Setophaga ruticilla
Cape May warbler, Setophaga tigrina
Cerulean warbler, Setophaga cerulea (A) (SR)
Northern parula, Setophaga americana (A)
Magnolia warbler, Setophaga magnolia
Bay-breasted warbler, Setophaga castanea
Blackburnian warbler, Setophaga fusca (A)
Yellow warbler, Setophaga petechia
Chestnut-sided warbler, Setophaga pensylvanica (A)
Blackpoll warbler, Setophaga striata
Black-throated blue warbler, Setophaga caerulescens (A)
Palm warbler, Setophaga palmarum
Pine warbler, Setophaga pinus (A)
Yellow-rumped warbler, Setophaga coronata
Yellow-throated warbler, Setophaga dominica (A)
Prairie warbler, Setophaga discolor (A)
Black-throated grey warbler, Setophaga nigrescens
Townsend's warbler, Setophaga townsendi
Hermit warbler, Setophaga occidentalis (A)
Black-throated green warbler, Setophaga virens
Canada warbler, Cardellina canadensis
Wilson's warbler, Cardellina pusilla
Painted redstart, Myioborus pictus (A)
Cardinals and allies
Order: PasseriformesFamily: 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.
Summer tanager, Piranga rubra (A)
Scarlet tanager, Piranga olivacea (A)
Western tanager, Piranga ludoviciana
Northern cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis (A) (H)
Yellow grosbeak, Pheucticus chrysopeplus (A) (OU)
Rose-breasted grosbeak, Pheucticus ludovicianus
Black-headed grosbeak, Pheucticus melanocephalus
Blue grosbeak, Passerina caerulea (A)
Lazuli bunting, Passerina amoena
Indigo bunting, Passerina cyanea (A)
Painted bunting, Passerina ciris (A)
Dickcissel, Spiza americana (A)
Notes
References
birds
British Columbia