Yellowstone National Park offers birds an array of 

habitat types: lower elevation sagebrush-grasslands 

and riparian-willow communities, mid-elevation 

forests of lodgepole pines and other conifers, high 

elevation alpine meadows and whitebark pine forests. The park’s signature geyser basins and areas of 

thermal features also provide habitat for birds yearround. Consequently, a diversity of birds occurs in 

the park, especially during migration and summer. 

This checklist follows the American Ornithological 

Society, Checklist of North American Birds, and was 

revised in May, 2020. Bird species that are accidental, vagrant, and those with few verified observations have been grouped at the end of the checklist. 

Some species listed in previous revisions lacked 

adequate documentation, so they were removed 

from the current checklist. This checklist was 

designed to help you determine the likelihood of 

observing various bird species.

Thank you for your interest in the birds of 

Yellowstone. Your observations contribute to 

knowledge and conservation of birds found here.

—Yellowstone National Park Bird Program

Yellowstone National Park 

P.O. Box 168

Yellowstone, WY 82190

www.nps.gov/yell

Season

W F S Sp B/b

Geese, Swans & Ducks

R R (Anser caerulescens) Snow Goose 

R R R (Anser rossii) Ross’s Goose 

C A A A B (Branta canadensis) Canada Goose 

Trumpeter Swan 

(Cygnus buccinator) C U U U B

U U (Cygnus columbianus) Tundra Swan 

R R (Aix sponsa) Wood Duck 

O U U U B (Spatula discors) Blue-winged Teal 

C C C B (Spatula cyanoptera) Cinnamon Teal 

O C C C B (Spatula clypeata) Northern Shoveler 

U C C C B (Mareca strepera) Gadwall 

U C C C B (Mareca americana) American Wigeon 

A A A A B (Anas platyrhynchos) Mallard 

U C C C B (Anas acuta) Northern Pintail 

U C C C B (Anas crecca) Green-winged Teal 

U U U B (Aythya valisineria) Canvasback 

U U U B (Aythya americana) Redhead 

O C C C B (Aythya collaris) Ring-necked Duck 

R R (Aythya marila) Greater Scaup 

O C C C B (Aythya affinis) Lesser Scaup 

Harlequin Duck 

(Histrionicus histrionicus) U U U B

C C C C B (Bucephala albeola) Bufflehead 

Common Goldeneye 

(Bucephala clangula) C C

Barrow’s Goldeneye 

(Bucephala islandica) A A A A B

Hooded Merganser 

(Lophodytes cucullatus) O R O R B

Common Merganser 

(Mergus merganser) C C C C B

Red-breasted Merganser 

(Mergus serrator) U U

C C C B (Oxyura jamaicensis) Ruddy Duck 

Grouse

R C C C B (Bonasa umbellus) Ruffed Grouse 

R C C C B (Dendragapus obscurus) Dusky Grouse 

Season

W F S Sp B/b

Grebes

Pied-billed Grebe 

(Podilymbus podiceps) O C C C B

R O R B (Podiceps auritus) Horned Grebe

Red-necked Grebe 

(Podiceps grisegena) R R R B 

U U U B (Podiceps nigricollis) Eared Grebe 

Western Grebe 

(Aechmophorus occidentalis) R R R b

Clark’s Grebe 

(Aechmophorus clarkii) R R R

Pigeons & Doves

U U U U B (Columba livia) *Rock Pigeon 

*Eurasian Collared-Dove 

(Streptopelia decaocto) R R R

R R R B (Zenaida macroura) Mourning Dove 

Nighthawks

Common Nighthawk 

(Chordeiles minor) C C B

Swifts & Hummingbirds

White-throated Swift 

(Aeronautes saxatalis) U U U B

Broad-tailed Hummingbird 

(Selasphorus platycercus) R B

Rufous Hummingbird 

(Selasphorus rufus) R B

Calliope Hummingbird 

(Selasphorus calliope) R B

Rails, Coots, & Cranes

R R R R B (Rallus limicola) Virginia Rail 

C C C B (Porzana carolina) Sora 

U A A A B (Fulica americana) American Coot 

C C C B (Antigone canadensis) Sandhill Crane 

Stilts & Avocets

Black-necked Stilt 

(Himantopus mexicanus) R R

American Avocet 

(Recurvirostra americana) R R

Season

W F S Sp B/b

Plovers 

Black-bellied Plover 

(Pluvialis squatarola) R R

U C C C B (Charadrius vociferus) Killdeer 

Semipalmated Plover 

(Charadrius semipalmatus) R R

Sandpipers & Allies

Upland Sandpiper 

(Bartramia longicauda) R R R

Long-billed Curlew 

(Numenius americanus) R R R B

R R (Limosa fedoa) Marbled Godwit 

R R (Arenaria interpres) Ruddy Turnstone 

R R (Calidris alba) Sanderling 

U U (Calidris bairdii) Baird’s Sandpiper 

R R (Calidris minutilla) Least Sandpiper 

White-rumped Sandpiper

(Calidris fuscicollis) R R

Pectoral Sandpiper 

(Calidris melanotos) R R

Semipalmated Sandpiper 

(Calidris pusilla) R R

R R (Calidris mauri) Western Sandpiper 

Short-billed Dowitcher 

(Limnodromus griseus) R R

Long-billed Dowitcher 

(Limnodromus scolopaceus) U U

R C C C B (Gallinago delicata) Wilson’s Snipe 

C C C B (Actitis macularius) Spotted Sandpiper 

R R (Tringa solitaria) Solitary Sandpiper 

R R R (Tringa flavipes) Lesser Yellowlegs 

U U U (Tringa semipalmata) Willet 

Greater Yellowlegs 

(Tringa melanoleuca) U U

Wilson’s Phalarope 

(Phalaropus tricolor) U U U B

Red-necked Phalarope 

(Phalaropus lobatus) R R

Using this checklist

* Indicates non-native species. 

Breeding status 

(B) Breeding: Confirmed as breeding in 

Yellowstone including historic breeding.

(b) Unconfirmed breeding: Suspected of breeding, but not confirmed by eggs or young.

Seasons

(Sp) Spring: mid-March–early June

(S) Summer: early June–mid-August

(F) Fall: mid-August–November

(W) Winter: December–mid-March

Abundance Categories

(A) Abundant: Found in moderate to large numbers and easily found in appropriate habitat.

(C) Common: Found in moderate numbers and 

usually easy to find in appropriate habitat.

(U) Uncommon: Found in small numbers and usually, but not always, found with some effort in 

appropriate habitat.

(R) Rare: Occurs annually in very small numbers or 

in a very restricted habitat. Difficult to find.

(O) Occasional: Occurs in some years, but not 

every year.

Reminder: Appreciate Birds 

RESPONSIBLY and RESPECTFULLY

• The use of audio bird calls is illegal in the park.

• Approaching on foot within 25 yards (23 m) 

of wildlife, including birds, is prohibited

in Yellowstone.

• All birds are sensitive to human disturbance,

especially during the nesting season.

• Do not feed birds or any wildlife.

Feeding animals is prohibited in the park.

Accidental and vagrant species

The species listed below are accidental, vagrant, or 

species with few observations. Please document 

any observations of accidental and vagrant species 

and any species not on this bird checklist online at 

https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/wildlife-sightings.

htm. Please include a detailed description of the 

bird, its behavior, location and date of observation, 

and a photo if possible.

Greater White-fronted Goose, Cackling Goose, 

Whooper Swan, Eurasian Wigeon, Surf Scoter, 

White-winged Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, *Chukar, 

*Gray Partridge, Wild Turkey, Band-tailed Pigeon, 

Black-billed Cuckoo, Yellow Rail, Whooping 

Crane, Sabine’s Gull, Mew Gull, Black Tern, Arctic 

Tern, Pacific Loon, American Bittern, Great Egret, 

Snowy Egret, Tricolored Heron, Cattle Egret, 

Green Heron, Red-shouldered Hawk, Flammulated 

Owl, Western Screech Owl, Snowy Owl, Burrowing 

Owl, Crested Caracara, Ash-throated Flycatcher, 

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Least Flycatcher, Say’s 

Phoebe, Cassin’s Vireo, Plumbeous Vireo, Redeyed Vireo, Pygmy Nuthatch, Canyon Wren, Bluegray Gnatcatcher, Veery, Varied Thrush, Lesser 

Goldfinch, Lapland Longspur, McCown’s Longspur, 

Black-throated Sparrow, Lark Bunting, Claycolored Sparrow, Harris’s Sparrow, White-throated 

Sparrow, Sagebrush Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, 

Yellow-breasted Chat, Bobolink, Rusty Blackbird, 

Common Grackle, Ovenbird, Prothonotary 

Warbler, Hooded Warbler, Cape May Warbler, 

Chestnut-sided Warbler, Black-throated Gray 

Warbler, Rose-breasted Grosbeak.

More Information: 

Chesser, R. T., K. J. Burns, C. Cicero, J. L. Dunn, 

A. W. Kratter, I. J. Lovette, P. C. Rasmussen, J. 

V. Remsen, Jr., D. F. Stotz, and K. Winker. 2019. 

Check-list of North American Birds (online). 

American Ornithological Society. http://checklist.aou.

org/taxa

Birds of Yellowstone
Season

B/b Sp S F W

Gulls & Terns

Bonaparte’s Gull 

(Chroicocephalus philadelphia) R R

Franklin’s Gull (Leucophaeus pipixcan) R R R

Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) C C C

California Gull (Larus californicus) B C C C

Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) R R

Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia) B R R R

Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) R R

Forster’s Tern (Sterna forsteri) B R R R

Loons

Common Loon (Gavia immer) B U U U

Cormorants

 Double-crested Cormorant 

(Phalacrocorax auritus) B U U U

Pelicans, Herons, & Ibises

American White Pelican (Pelecanus 

erythrorhynchos) B C C C

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) B C C C R

Black-crowned Night-Heron 

(Nycticorax nycticorax) R R R

White-faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi) R R

Vultures

Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) U U U

Hawks, Eagles, & Allies 

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) B C C C

Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) B U U U U

Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius) B U U U R

Sharp-shinned Hawk 

(Accipiter striatus) B U U U R

Cooper’s Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) B U U U R

Northern Goshawk 

(Accipiter gentilis) B U U U R

Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) B C C C C

Broad-winged Hawk 

(Buteo platypterus) R R

Swainson’s Hawk (Buteo swainsoni) B U C C

Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) B C A C R

Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus) U U R

Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis) U U

Owls 

Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) B C C C C

Northern Pygmy-Owl 

(Glaucidium gnoma) B R R R U

Great Gray Owl (Strix nebulosa) B U U U R

Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) B R R R

Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) B R R R

Boreal Owl (Aegolius funereus) B R R R R

Northern Saw-whet Owl 

(Aegolius acadicus) B R R R R

Kingfishers 

Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) B U U U R

Woodpeckers & Allies

Lewis’s Woodpecker 

(Melanerpes lewis) B R R R

Williamson’s Sapsucker 

(Sphyrapicus thyroideus) B U U U

Red-naped Sapsucker 

(Sphyrapicus nuchalis) B U U U

American Three-toed Woodpecker 

(Picoides dorsalis) B U U U U

Black-backed Woodpecker 

(Picoides arcticus) B R R R R

Downy Woodpecker 

(Dryobates pubescens) B U U U U

Hairy Woodpecker (Dryobates villosus) B C C C C

Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) B C C C R

Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus 

pileatus) B R R R R

Falcons

American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) B U U U R

Merlin (Falco columbarius) R R

Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) B U U U

Prairie Falcon (Falco mexicanus) B U U U R

Flycatchers

Western Kingbird 

(Tyrannus verticalis) R R R

Eastern Kingbird 

(Tyrannus tyrannus) R R R

Olive-sided Flycatcher 

(Contopus cooperi) B C C C

Western Wood-Pewee 

(Contopus sordidulus) B U U U

Season

B/b Sp S F W

Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii) B U U U

Hammond’s Flycatcher 

(Empidonax hammondii) B U U U

Dusky Flycatcher 

(Empidonax oberholseri) B C C C

Cordilleran Flycatcher 

(Empidonax occidentalis) B R R R

Shrikes

Loggerhead Shrike 

(Lanius ludovicianus) R R R

Northern Shrike (Lanius borealis) U U

Vireos

Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus) B C C C

Jays, Magpies, Crows, & Ravens

Canada Jay (Perisoreus canadensis) B U U U U

Pinyon Jay 

(Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus) R R R R

Steller’s Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri) B U U U U

Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)  R O

Clark’s Nutcracker 

(Nucifraga columbiana) B A A A A

Black-billed Magpie (Pica hudsonia) B A A A A

American Crow 

(Corvus brachyrhynchos) B U U U

Common Raven (Corvus corax) B A A A A

Larks

Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris) B U U U U

Swallows

Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia) B R U R

Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) B U C U

Violet-green Swallow 

(Tachycineta thalassina) B U C U

Northern Rough-winged Swallow 

(Stelgidopteryx serripennis) B R U R

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) B R U R

Cliff Swallow 

(Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) B U C U

Chickadees, Nuthatches & Allies

Black-capped Chickadee 

(Poecile atricapillus) B U U U U

Mountain Chickadee (Poecile gambeli) B A A A A

Red-breasted Nuthatch 

(Sitta canadensis) B C C C C

White-breasted Nuthatch 

(Sitta carolinensis) B U U U U

Brown Creeper (Certhia americana) B U U U U

Wrens

Rock Wren (Salpinctes obsoletus) B U U U

House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) B C C C

Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris) B R R R

Dippers

American Dipper (Cinclus mexicanus) B U U U U

Kinglets

Golden-crowned Kinglet 

(Regulus satrapa) B R U R R

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 

(Regulus calendula) B A A A

Thrushes

Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana) R R R

Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides) B C C C

Townsend’s Solitaire 

(Myadestes townsendi) B C C C C

Swainson’s Thrush (Catharus ustulatus) B U U U

Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) B C C C

American Robin (Turdus migratorius) B A A A U

Catbirds & Thrashers

Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) B R U U

Sage Thrasher (Orescoptes montanus) B U U U

Starlings 

*European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) B U U U R

Waxwings 

Bohemian Waxwing 

(Bombycilla garrulus) C C

Cedar Waxwing 

(Bombycilla cedrorum) B U U U U

Old World Sparrows 

*House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) B C C C U

Pipits

American Pipit (Anthus rubescens) B R R R

Season

B/b Sp S F W

Finches & Allies

Evening Grosbeak 

(Coccothraustes vespertinus) B O O O O

Pine Grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator) B U U U U

Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch 

(Leucosticte tephrocotis) O O O R

Black-rosy Finch (Leucosticte atrata) B U U U R

House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) R R R R

Cassin’s Finch (Haemorhous cassinii) B C C C R

Common Redpoll (Acanthis flammea) R U

Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) B U U U U

White-winged Crossbill 

(Loxia leucoptera) b R R R R

Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus) B C C C R

American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) B R R R R

Snow Buntings

Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis) O

Sparrows

Grasshopper Sparrow

(Ammodramus savannarum) O

Lark Sparrow 

(Chondestes grammacus) O O O

Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) B A A A

Brewer’s Sparrow (Spizella breweri) B C C C

Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca) B R R R

American Tree Sparrow 

(Spizelloides arborea) U

Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) B A A A O

White-crowned Sparrow 

(Zonotrichia leucophrys) B C C C

Vesper Sparrow 

(Pooecetes gramineus) B C C C

Savannah Sparrow 

(Passerculus sandwichensis) B C C C

Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) B C C C

Lincoln’s Sparrow 

(Melospiza lincolnii) B C C C

Green-tailed Towhee 

(Pipilo chlorurus) B U U U

Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus) B R R R

Blackbirds & Allies

Yellow-headed Blackbird

(Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) B C C C

Western Meadowlark

(Sturnella neglecta) B C C C

Bullock’s Oriole (Icterus bullockii) B R R R

Red-winged Blackbird 

(Agelaius phoeniceus) B C C C O

Brown-headed Cowbird 

(Molothrus ater) B C C C

Brewer’s Blackbird 

(Euphagus cyanocephalus) B C C C

Warblers

Northern Waterthrush 

(Parkesia noveboracensis) b R R R

Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta 

varia) R O R

Tennessee Warbler 

(Leiothlypis peregrina) R R

Orange-crowned Warbler (Leiothlypis 

celata) B U U U

Nashville Warbler (Leiothlypis ruficapilla) R R

MacGillivray’s Warbler 

(Geothlypis tolmiei) B U U U

Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis 

trichas) B C C C

American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) B R R R

Blackburnian Warbler (Setophaga fusca) R R

Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia) B C C C

Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata) R R

Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga 

coronata) B A A A

Townsend’s Warbler 

(Setophaga townsendi) R R

Wilson’s Warbler (Cardellina pusilla) B U U U

Tanagers & Allies

Western Tanager 

(Piranga ludoviciana) B C C C

Black-headed Grosbeak 

(Pheucticus melanocephalus) b R R R

Lazuli Bunting (Passerina amoena) B C C C

YELL 274 • 6/21