List of birds of Canada

This is a list of bird species confirmed in Canada. Unless otherwise noted, the list is that of Bird Checklists of the World as of July 2022. Of the 704 species listed here, 236 are accidental. Twelve species were introduced to North America or directly to Canada, three species are extinct, and three (possibly four) have been extirpated. One species of uncertain origin is also included.

This list is presented in the taxonomic sequence of the Check-list of North and Middle American Birds, 7th edition through the 63rd Supplement, published by the American Ornithological Society (AOS). Common and scientific names are also those of the Check-list, except that the common names of families are from the Clements taxonomy because the AOS list does not include them.

Canadian birds 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 families which occur in Canada are also found throughout the Northern Hemisphere or worldwide. However, some families are unique to the New World; those represented in this list are the hummingbirds, the New World vultures, the New World quail, the tyrant flycatchers, the mimids, the wood-warblers, the cardinals, and the icterids. Three species on the list (Ross's goose, whooping crane, and Harris's sparrow) breed only in Canada. The extinct Labrador duck is also believed to have been a breeding endemic, though its breeding areas are not known.

Unless otherwise noted, all species listed below are considered to occur regularly in Canada as permanent residents, summer or winter visitors, or migrants. These tags are used to annotate some species:

(A) Accidental - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in Canada
(I) Introduced - a species introduced to Canada as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions
(E) Extinct - a recent species which no longer exists
(Ex) Extirpated - a species which no longer occurs in Canada but exists elsewhere

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 decreasing order of peril, are:

Ducks, geese, and waterfowl

Order: Anseriformes Family: Anatidae

The family 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.

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 ictus (I) LC
Northern bobwhite, Colinus virginianus NT
California quail, Callipepla californica (I) LC

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.

Wild turkey, Meleagris gallopavo LC
Ruffed grouse, Bonasa umbellus LC
Greater sage-grouse, Centrocercus urophasianus NT
Spruce grouse, Canachites canadensis LC
Willow ptarmigan, Lagopus lagopus LC
Rock ptarmigan, Lagopus muta LC
White-tailed ptarmigan, Lagopus leucura LC
Dusky grouse, Dendragapus obscurus LC
Sooty grouse, Dendragapus fuliginosus LC
Sharp-tailed grouse, Tympanuchus phasianellus LC
Greater prairie-chicken, Tympanuchus cupido (Ex) NT
Grey partridge, Perdix perdix (I) LC
Ring-necked pheasant, Phasianus colchicus (I) LC
Silver pheasant, Lophura nycthemera (I) (LC)
Chukar, Alectoris chukar (I) LC

Flamingos

Order: Phoenicopteriformes Family: Phoenicopteridae

Flamingos (genus Phoenicopterus monotypic in family Phoenicopteridae) 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 (A) LC

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.

Pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps LC
Horned grebe, Podiceps auritus VU
Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena LC
Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis LC
Western grebe, Aechmophorus occidentalis LC
Clark's grebe, Aechmophorus clarkii LC

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.

Rock pigeon, Columba livia (I) LC
Common wood pigeon, Columba palumbus (A) LC
White-crowned pigeon, Patagioenas leucocephala (A) NT
Band-tailed pigeon, Patagioenas fasciata LC
Oriental turtle-dove, Streptopelia orientalis (A) LC
Eurasian collared-dove, Streptopelia decaocto (I) LC
Passenger pigeon, Ectopistes migratorius (E) EX
Inca dove, Columbina inca (A) LC
Common ground dove, Columbina passerina (A) LC
White-winged dove, Zenaida asiatica (A) LC
Mourning dove, Zenaida macroura LC

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.

Groove-billed ani, Crotophaga sulcirostris (A) LC
Common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus (A) LC
Yellow-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus LC
Black-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus erythropthalmus LC

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 coloured to resemble bark or leaves.

Lesser nighthawk, Chordeiles acutipennis LC
Common nighthawk, Chordeiles minor LC
Common poorwill, Phalaenoptilus nuttallii LC
Chuck-will's-widow, Antrostomus carolinensis LC
Eastern whip-poor-will, Antrostomus vociferus NT

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 VU
White-collared swift, Streptoprocne zonaris (A) LC
Chimney swift, Chaetura pelagica VU
Vaux's swift, Chaetura vauxi LC
Common swift, Apus apus (A) LC
Pacific swift, Apus pacificus (A) LC
House swift, Apus nipalensis LC
White-throated swift, Aeronautes saxatalis LC

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.

Mexican violetear, Colibri thalassinus (A) LC
Rivoli's hummingbird, Eugenes fulgens (A) (Not yet assessed by the IUCN)
Amethyst-throated mountain-gem, Lampornis amethystinus (A) LC
Ruby-throated hummingbird, Archilochus colubris LC
Black-chinned hummingbird, Archilochus alexandri LC
Anna's hummingbird, Calypte anna LC
Costa's hummingbird, Calypte costae (A) LC
Calliope hummingbird, Selasphorus calliope LC
Rufous hummingbird, Selasphorus rufus NT
Broad-tailed hummingbird, Selasphorus platycercus (A) LC
Broad-billed hummingbird, Cynanthus latirostris (A) LC
Xantus's hummingbird, Basilinna xantusii (A) LC

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. Typically, family members occupy dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps, and 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 flyers.

Clapper rail, Rallus crepitans (A) LC
King rail, Rallus elegans NT
Virginia rail, Rallus limicola LC
Corn crake, Crex crex (A) LC
Sora, Porzana carolina LC
Common gallinule, Gallinula galeata LC
Eurasian coot, Fulica atra (A) LC
American coot, Fulica americana LC
Purple gallinule, Porphyrio martinicus (A) LC
Yellow rail, Coturnicops noveboracensis LC
Black rail, Laterallus jamaicensis (A) LC

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 (A) LC

Cranes

Order: Gruiformes Family: Gruidae

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

Sandhill crane, Antigone canadensis LC
Common crane, Grus grus (C) LC
Whooping crane, Grus americana EN

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-necked stilt, Himantopus mexicanus LC
American avocet, Recurvirostra americana LC

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) NT
American oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus (A) LC
Black oystercatcher, Haematopus bachmani LC

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 (A) NT
Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola LC
European golden-plover, Pluvialis apricaria (A) LC
American golden-plover, Pluvialis dominica LC
Pacific golden-plover, Pluvialis fulva (A) LC
Eurasian dotterel, Charadrius morinellus (A) LC
Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus LC
Common ringed plover, Charadrius hiaticula LC
Semipalmated plover, Charadrius semipalmatus LC
Piping plover, Charadrius melodus NT
Lesser sand-plover, Charadrius mongolus (A) LC
Wilson's plover, Charadrius wilsonia (A) LC
Snowy plover, Charadrius nivosus (A) NT
Mountain plover, Charadrius montanus NT

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 directly competing for food.

Skuas and jaegers

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Stercorariidae

Skuas 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.

Great skua, Stercorarius skua (A) LC
South polar skua, Stercorarius maccormicki LC
Brown skua, Stercorarius lonnbergi (A) LC
Pomarine jaeger, Stercorarius pomarinus LC
Parasitic jaeger, Stercorarius parasiticus LC
Long-tailed jaeger, Stercorarius longicaudus LC

Auks, murres, and puffins

Order: Charadriiformes Family: 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.

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 grey 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 (A) LC
Red-billed tropicbird, Phaethon aethereus (A) LC
Red-tailed tropicbird, Phaethon rubricauda (A) LC

Loons

Order: Gaviiformes Family: 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, because their legs are placed towards the rear of the body, are almost helpless on land.

Red-throated loon, Gavia stellata LC
Arctic loon, Gavia arctica (A) LC
Pacific loon, Gavia pacifica LC
Common loon, Gavia immer LC
Yellow-billed loon, Gavia adamsii NT

Albatrosses

Order: Procellariiformes Family: 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.

Yellow-nosed albatross, Thalassar chlororhynchus (A) EN
Black-browed albatross, Thalassarche melanophris (A) LC
Laysan albatross, Phoebastria immutabilis NT
Black-footed albatross, Phoebastria nigripes NT
Short-tailed albatross, Phoebastria albatrus VU

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, this family's three species were included with the other storm-petrels in family Hydrobatidae.

Wilson's storm-petrel, Oceanites oceanicus LC
White-faced storm-petrel, (A) Pelagodroma marina LC

Northern storm-petrels

Order: Procellariiformes Family: Hydrobatidae

Though the members of this 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 (A) LC
Fork-tailed storm-petrel, Hydrobates furcatus LC
Leach's storm-petrel, Hydrobates leucorhous LC
Band-rumped storm-petrel, Hydrobates castro (A) LC

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.

Northern fulmar, Fulmarus glacialis LC
Trindade petrel, Pterodroma arminjoniana (VU)
Murphy's petrel, Pterodroma ultima (A) LC
Mottled petrel, Pterodroma inexpectata (A) NT
Bermuda petrel, Pterodroma cahow (A) EN
Black-capped petrel, Pterodroma hasitata (A) EN
Hawaiian petrel, Pterodroma sandwichensis (A) EN
Fea's petrel, Pterodroma feae (A) NT
Cook's petrel, Pterodroma cookii (A) VU
Cory's shearwater, Calonectris diomedea LC
Buller's shearwater, Ardenna bulleri VU
Short-tailed shearwater, Ardenna tenuirostris LC
Sooty shearwater, Ardenna griseus NT
Great shearwater, Ardenna gravis LC
Pink-footed shearwater, Ardenna creatopus VU
Flesh-footed shearwater, Ardenna carneipes (A) NT
Manx shearwater, Puffinus puffinus LC
Black-vented shearwater, Puffinus opisthomelas (A) NT
Sargasso shearwater, Puffinus lherminieri (A) LC
Barolo shearwater, Puffinus baroli (A) (Not yet assessed by the IUCN)

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.

Wood stork, Mycteria americana (A) LC

Frigatebirds

Order: Suliformes Family: Fregatidae

Frigatebirds are large seabirds usually found over tropical oceans. They are large, black, or black-and-white birds, 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) LC

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 (A) LC
Nazca booby, Sula granti (A) LC
Blue-footed booby, Sula nebouxii (A) LC
Brown booby, Sula leucogaster (A) LC
Red-footed booby, Sula sula (A) LC
Northern gannet, Morus bassanus LC

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 water.

Anhinga, Anhinga anhinga (A) LC

Cormorants and shags

Order: Suliformes Family: 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 LC
Red-faced cormorant, Urile urile (A) LC
Pelagic cormorant, Urile pelagicus LC
Great cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo LC
Double-crested cormorant, Nannopterum auritum LC
Neotropic cormorant, Nannopterum brasilianum (A) LC

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 LC
Brown pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis LC

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.

American bittern, Botaurus lentiginosus LC
Least bittern, Ixobrychus exilis LC
Great blue heron, Ardea herodias LC
Grey heron, Ardea cinerea (A) LC
Great egret, Ardea alba LC
Little egret, Egretta garzetta (A) LC
Western reef-heron, Egretta gularis (A) LC
Snowy egret, Egretta thula LC
Little blue heron, Egretta caerulea (A) LC
Tricolored heron, Egretta tricolor (A) LC
Reddish egret, Egretta rufescens (A) NT
Cattle egret, Bubulcus ibis LC
Green heron, Butorides virescens LC
Black-crowned night-heron, Nycticorax nycticorax LC
Yellow-crowned night-heron, Nyctanassa violacea (A) LC

Ibises and spoonbills

Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Threskiornithidae

Members of this family have long, broad wings, are strong fliers and, rather surprisingly, given their size and weight, very capable soarers. The body tends 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 (A) LC
Glossy ibis, Plegadis falcinellus LC
White-faced ibis, Plegadis chihi LC
Roseate spoonbill, Ajaia ajaja (A) LC

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) CR
Black vulture, Coragyps atratus (A) LC
Turkey vulture, Cathartes aura LC

Osprey

Order: Accipitriformes Family: 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 LC

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.

White-tailed kite, Elanus leucurus (A) LC
Swallow-tailed kite, Elanoides forficatus (A) LC
Golden eagle, Aquila chrysaetos LC
Northern harrier, Circus hudsonius (Not yet assessed by the IUCN)
Sharp-shinned hawk, Accipiter striatus LC
Cooper's hawk, Accipiter cooperii LC
Eurasian goshawk, Accipiter gentilis (A) LC
American goshawk, Accipiter atricapillus LC
Bald eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus LC
Steller's sea-eagle, Haliaeetus pelagicus (A) VU
Mississippi kite, Ictinia mississippiensis (A) LC
Red-shouldered hawk, Buteo lineatus LC
Broad-winged hawk, Buteo platypterus LC
Swainson's hawk, Buteo swainsoni LC
Zone-tailed hawk, Buteo albonotatus (A) LC
Red-tailed hawk, Buteo jamaicensis LC
Rough-legged hawk, Buteo lagopus LC
Ferruginous hawk, Buteo regalis LC

Barn-owls

Order: Strigiformes Family: Tytonidae

Barn-owls are medium to large owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long, strong legs with powerful talons.

Barn owl, Tyto alba LC

Owls

Order: Strigiformes Family: 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, Psiloscops flammeolus LC
Western screech-owl, Megascops kennicottii LC
Eastern screech-owl, Megascops asio LC
Great horned owl, Bubo virginianus LC
Snowy owl, Bubo scandiacus VU
Northern hawk owl, Surnia ulula LC
Northern pygmy-owl, Glaucidium gnoma LC
Burrowing owl, Athene cunicularia LC
Spotted owl, Strix occidentalis NT
Barred owl, Strix varia LC
Great grey owl, Strix nebulosa LC
Long-eared owl, Asio otus LC
Short-eared owl, Asio flammeus LC
Boreal owl, Aegolius funereus LC
Northern saw-whet owl, Aegolius acadicus LC

Kingfishers

Order: Coraciiformes Family: Alcedinidae

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

Belted kingfisher, Megaceryle alcyon LC

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.

Lewis's woodpecker, Melanerpes lewis LC
Red-headed woodpecker, Melanerpes erythrocephalus LC
Acorn woodpecker, Melanerpes formicivorus (A) LC
Red-bellied woodpecker, Melanerpes carolinus LC
Williamson's sapsucker, Sphyrapicus thyroideus LC
Yellow-bellied sapsucker, Sphyrapicus varius LC
Red-naped sapsucker, Sphyrapicus nuchalis LC
Red-breasted sapsucker, Sphyrapicus ruber LC
American three-toed woodpecker, Picoides dorsalis LC
Black-backed woodpecker, Picoides arcticus LC
Downy woodpecker, Dryobates pubescens LC
Hairy woodpecker, Dryobates villosus LC
White-headed woodpecker, Dryobates albolarvatus LC
Northern flicker, Colaptes auratus LC
Pileated woodpecker, Dryocopus pileatus LC

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.

Crested caracara, Caracara plancus (A) LC
Eurasian kestrel, Falco tinnunculus (A) LC
American kestrel, Falco sparverius LC
Merlin, Falco columbarius LC
Gyrfalcon, Falco rusticolus LC
Peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus LC
Prairie falcon, Falco mexicanus LC

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. They are typically greenish in colour and resemble wood warblers, apart from their heavier bills.

Black-capped vireo, Vireo atricapilla (A) NT
White-eyed vireo, Vireo griseus LC
Bell's vireo, Vireo bellii (A) NT
Hutton's vireo, Vireo huttoni LC
Yellow-throated vireo, Vireo flavifrons LC
Cassin's vireo, Vireo cassinii LC
Blue-headed vireo, Vireo solitarius LC
Plumbeous vireo, Vireo plumbeus (A) LC
Philadelphia vireo, Vireo philadelphicus LC
Warbling vireo, Vireo gilvus LC
Red-eyed vireo, Vireo olivaceus LC
Yellow-green vireo, Vireo flavoviridis (A) LC

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 (A) LC
Red-backed shrike, Lanius collurio (A) LC
Loggerhead shrike, Lanius ludovicianus NT
Northern shrike, Lanius borealis LC

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.

Canada jay, Perisoreus canadensis LC
Pinyon jay, Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus (A) VU
Steller's jay, Cyanocitta stelleri LC
Blue jay, Cyanocitta cristata LC
California scrub-jay, Aphelocoma californica (A) (Not yet assessed by the IUCN)
Woodhouse's scrub-jay, Aphelocoma woodhouseii (A) (Not yet assessed by the IUCN)
Clark's nutcracker, Nucifraga columbiana LC
Black-billed magpie, Pica hudsonia LC
Eurasian jackdaw, Corvus monedula (A) LC
American crow, Corvus brachyrhynchos LC
Fish crow, Corvus ossifragus (A) LC
Chihuahuan raven, Corvus cryptoleucus (A) LC
Common raven, Corvus corax LC

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 LC
Black-capped chickadee, Poecile atricapillus LC
Mountain chickadee, Poecile gambeli LC
Chestnut-backed chickadee, Poecile rufescens LC
Boreal chickadee, Poecile hudsonicus LC
Grey-headed chickadee, Poecile cinctus LC
Tufted titmouse, Baeolophus bicolor LC

Larks

Order: Passeriformes Family: Alaudidae

Larks are small terrestrial birds with often extravagant songs and display flights. Most larks are fairly dull in appearance. They feed on insects and seeds.

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

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.

Bank swallow, Riparia riparia LC
Tree swallow, Tachycineta bicolor LC
Violet-green swallow, Tachycineta thalassina LC
Northern rough-winged swallow, Stelgidopteryx serripennis LC
Purple martin, Progne subis LC
Barn swallow, Hirundo rustica LC
Common house-martin, Delichon urbicum (A) LC
Cliff swallow, Petrochelidon pyrrhonota LC
Cave swallow, Petrochelidon fulva LC

Long-tailed tits

Order: Passeriformes Family: Aegithalidae

The long-tailed tits are a family of small passerine birds. Their plumage is typically dull grey or brown in colour. There is only one North American representative of this primarily Palearctic family.

Bushtit, Psaltriparus minimus LC

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 greyish-green to greyish-brown colours.

Yellow-browed warbler, Phylloscopus inornatus (A) LC
Arctic warbler, Phylloscopus borealis (A) LC
Kamchatka leaf warbler, Phylloscopus examinandus (A) LC

Kinglets

Order: Passeriformes Family: 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 LC
Golden-crowned kinglet, Regulus satrapa LC

Waxwings

Order: Passeriformes Family: Bombycillidae

The waxwings are a group of 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 the summer and berries in winter.

Bohemian waxwing, Bombycilla garrulus LC
Cedar waxwing, Bombycilla cedrorum LC

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.

Phainopepla, Phainopepla nitens (A) LC

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 large heads, short tails, and powerful bills and feet.

Red-breasted nuthatch, Sitta canadensis LC
White-breasted nuthatch, Sitta carolinensis LC
Pygmy nuthatch, Sitta pygmaea LC

Treecreepers

Order: Passeriformes Family: Certhiidae

Treecreepers are small woodland birds, brown above and white below. They have thin, down-pointed, curved bills, which they use to extricate insects from bark. They have stiff tail feathers, like woodpeckers, which they use to support themselves vertically on trees.

Brown creeper, Certhia americana LC

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 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 LC

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 LC
Canyon wren, Catherpes mexicanus LC
House wren, Troglodytes aedon LC
Pacific wren, Troglodytes pacificus LC
Winter wren, Troglodytes hiemalis LC
Sedge wren, Cistothorus platensis LC
Marsh wren, Cistothorus palustris LC
Carolina wren, Thryothorus ludovicianus LC
Bewick's wren, Thryomanes bewickii LC

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 greys and browns in their appearance.

Grey catbird, Dumetella carolinensis LC
Curve-billed thrasher, Toxostoma curvirostre (A) LC
Brown thrasher, Toxostoma rufum LC
Bendire's thrasher, Toxostoma bendirei (A) VU
Sage thrasher, Oreoscoptes montanus LC
Northern mockingbird, Mimus polyglottos LC

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.

European starling, Sturnus vulgaris (I) LC
Crested myna, Acridotheres cristatellus (I) (Ex) LC

Dippers

Order: Passeriformes Family: Cinclidae

Dippers are named for their bobbing or dipping movements. They are unique among passerines for their ability to dive and swim underwater.

American dipper, Cinclus mexicanus LC

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

This a large family of small passerine birds restricted to the Old World. Species below only occurs in Canada as vagrants. The appearance of these birds is highly varied, but they mostly have weak songs and harsh calls.

Siberian rubythroat, Luscinia calliope (A) LC
Bluethroat, Luscinia svecica LC
Siberian blue robin, Luscinia cyane (A) LC
Red-flanked bluetail, Tarsiger cyanurus (A) LC
Blue rock-thrush, Monticola solitarius (A) LC
Siberian stonechat, Saxicola maurus (A)
Northern wheatear, Oenanthe oenanthe LC

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 (A) LC

Old World sparrows

Order: Passeriformes Family: 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) LC
Eurasian tree sparrow, Passer montanus (I) (A) LC

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.

Eastern yellow wagtail, Motacilla tschutschensis LC
Citrine wagtail, Motacilla citreola (A) LC
Grey wagtail, Motacilla cinerea (A) LC
White wagtail, Motacilla alba (A) LC
Red-throated pipit, Anthus cervinus (A) LC
American pipit, Anthus rubescens LC
Sprague's pipit, Anthus spragueii VU

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 which 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 LC
Chestnut-collared longspur, Calcarius ornatus NT
Smith's longspur, Calcarius pictus LC
Thick-billed longspur, Rhynchophanes mccownii LC
Snow bunting, Plectrophenax nivalis LC
McKay's bunting, Plectrophenax hyperboreus (A) LC

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) LC
Little bunting, Emberiza pusilla (A) LC
Rustic bunting, Emberiza rustica (A) LC
Yellow-breasted bunting, Emberiza aureola (A) CR

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.

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 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.

New World warblers

Order: Passeriformes Family: 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.

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 woodlands. The sexes usually have distinct plumages.

Hepatic tanager, Piranga flava (A) LC
Summer tanager, Piranga rubra (A) LC
Scarlet tanager, Piranga olivacea LC
Western tanager, Piranga ludoviciana LC
Northern cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis LC
Pyrrhuloxia, Cardinalis sinuatus (A) LC
Rose-breasted grosbeak, Pheucticus ludovicianus LC
Black-headed grosbeak, Pheucticus melanocephalus LC
Blue grosbeak, Passerina caerulea (A) LC
Lazuli bunting, Passerina amoena LC
Indigo bunting, Passerina cyanea LC
Varied bunting, Passerina versicolor (A) NT
Painted bunting, Passerina ciris (A) NT
Dickcissel, Spiza americana LC